A Highland Family Affair (Highlands #3)

Chapter 16

16

The morning of Christmas Eve was blessed with another covering of snow that made the castle look like a scene from a Currier and Ives print. Mirren was in the kitchen preparing home-made sausage rolls and apple pie for the evening buffet and Dougie had gone to collect some firewood from the woodshed, so Brodie, Olivia, Kerr and the dogs went for a long walk around the grounds and down to the chapel. The dogs zoomed around chasing each other for a while and then Wilf and Sir Lancelot took turns rolling around in the snow on their backs like toddlers, as their humans looked on, laughing.

Brodie ran off with a big stick he found under the snow and the three dogs eagerly ran after him, tongues lolling and ears flapping. Olivia watched for a few moments but then turned her attention to the little chapel with its snow-capped roof. She sighed as memories of the various services that had taken place there over the years came flooding back.

Kerr walked over to her. ‘Why don’t you just not do the cathedral thing, Liv? It’s so clear you don’t want to. And when have you ever stuck to convention when it comes to this place and your life?’ Kerr said.

He was right to a certain extent. ‘This is what our family has always done. I’m not sure I should break tradition like that.’

‘But why not? You hate the idea of it all. Surely no one would expect you to do something you don’t want to do in the name of tradition. I mean, you being the heir has broken with tradition.’ He shrugged. ‘You moving to New York broke with tradition.’

She shook her head. ‘It’s too late to change things now. Brodie has spoken to the bishop. Uncle Innes has compiled the list of dignitaries for the formal invites. I just need to put my big girl pants on and suck it up. Mum told me once that she was determined not to do it but then just sort of got carried along. She said it wasn’t so bad but that the chapel ceremony meant more to her.’

‘Look, it will be a fantastic day whatever you choose. And I’ll support you. It’s just not like you to be told what to do.’ He chuckled. ‘My against the grain sister. I’ve always admired that about you.’ He paused when she cocked her eyebrow at him. ‘Okay, well, maybe not always , but since I’ve woken up to myself, I have. You’re a decision maker, Olivia. And even though this is a huge decision, only you know the best way to go.’

Christmas Eve was in full swing when the doorbell rang. Kerr went to greet the visitors and Olivia sat snuggled up to Brodie, clutching her second glass of Baileys. The Christmas tree was illuminated in the drawing room, and everyone had dressed in Christmas jumpers for the occasion. It was the first time Olivia had witnessed Adaira in anything remotely casual. She wore a pair of tailored black trousers and in complete contrast to them she wore a bright red jumper with the words ‘I’m On the Naughty List’ emblazoned on the front with lots of sequins and sparkle to embellish it. Fair play to her; she had really embraced the fun of the evening. Innes wore a slightly more subtle, but only just, jumper with a Christmas tree on the front. Then he delighted in pressing a button at the hem that made the tree lights flash.

Gene Autry sang about good old Frosty the Snowman in the background and Dougie had taken Mirren’s hand to spin her around the rustic oak-planked floor. She giggled uncontrollably as they danced, and Olivia couldn’t help the wide smile that spread across her face at watching them having fun. They were meant to be, that one thing was certain.

Kerr walked into the room with Charlotte and Will, and Olivia and Brodie got up to greet them.

‘Thanks so much for coming,’ Olivia said with a kiss to Charlotte’s cheek.

‘Thank you for inviting us,’ Charlotte said with an expression of genuine happiness. ‘We feel like part of the family.’

‘Hi, Will, great T-shirt,’ Brodie said to the teenager who wore a long-sleeved black top with an image of the Grinch on the front and the words ‘Bah Humbug’. ‘So, are you excited about Santa?’ he asked with a wink.

Will laughed. ‘Oh, yeah, I’m sure he’s been very busy sorting my presents out. In fact, we’d better not be too late as he won’t leave them if I’m not asleep.’ He glanced sideways at his mum.

Charlotte nudged him. ‘Aww, I remember when you did believe. It was so magical watching your face light up on Christmas morning.’

‘Yeah, until I saw you stuffing presents into the stocking at the end of my bed wearing your hair in curlers and your fluffy pink robe with some icky green gunk all over your face. It kind of ruined the illusion for me then.’

‘Now that sounds like a sight to behold,’ Kerr teased.

Charlotte whacked her son’s arm playfully. ‘Thanks for that, Will. They were revitalising face masks that I used to use. Honestly, be warned, Olivia, there are no secrets when you have kids.’

Olivia glanced at Brodie, and he smiled adoringly at her. ‘Right, what can we get you two to drink?’

‘Something non-alcoholic for me, please, I’m driving,’ Charlotte said.

‘I’m not driving so I’ll have a mojito,’ Will said with a grin.

Brodie chuckled. ‘Erm, you’re fourteen, pal, it’s not happening.’

Will shrugged. ‘It was worth a try. Orange juice it is then.’

Later, during the festivities and while everyone else was playing charades, Olivia pulled Innes aside.

‘How are the wedding plans coming along?’ he asked.

‘Pretty well so far. I guess the panicking doesn’t set in until the weeks or days just before the wedding is due to take place,’ Olivia replied with a smile. ‘I have something I wanted to ask you about that, actually.’ Her stomach knotted as she thought about her mum and dad and how they wouldn’t be there to see her walk down the aisle. She swallowed a hard lump of emotion down.

‘Ask away, my dear. If I can help, you know I will.’ Olivia loved how he was always there for her, no matter what.

‘I wondered if you would maybe walk me down the aisle and give me away?’

Innes’s eyes widened and became glassy. He cleared his throat. ‘Oh, Olivia, darling. I would be absolutely honoured… although… Please don’t take this as a refusal but… have you thought about asking Kerr?’

Olivia crumpled her brow. ‘Kerr? I… I don’t suppose I had thought about that, no. Do you think he would like to?’

Innes smiled warmly. ‘My dear, I think he would be just as honoured as I would. But I think it would mean so much to him. He’s worked so very hard to get his life back on track and I think this would be the ultimate sign to him that you forgive him. And that you trust him again. Don’t you?’

Olivia shook her head. ‘I think it would. It’s just that, since I knew I was getting married, I always imagined you being by my side.’

He placed a hand on each of her arms. ‘And I will happily be there, Olivia. And if that’s what you truly want, then of course. I just believe… I believe that Kerr would love to feel he’s part of the family again. And I think this would make that happen. It’s your decision, though. As I said, I will be more than happy to walk you down the aisle. It would be wonderful to do so. Just perhaps think on it a little longer?’

After the trouble Kerr had caused Innes throughout the years, it was a true testament to the man’s character that he would step aside and sacrifice such a thing. It was selfless and thoughtful.

Olivia nodded. ‘Perhaps you’re right. He really has made amends and I do feel like I’m able to trust him more and more each day. It would be lovely for him to be involved.’

Innes squeezed her arm. ‘You have your answer, darling. But please know that I am here and if I can help in any other way at all you just need to say the word, okay? You’re like a daughter to me and I simply want to see you happy.’ He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

The group were on the final game of charades of the evening and Olivia noticed Adaira and Kerr off to the side talking. She worried for her uncle, briefly, but then saw how Kerr glanced off to Charlotte every so often with a smile she had never seen before; contentment. Perhaps he was apologising to Adaira like he had to most of the others he had hurt. She knew she had to have a little more faith in him. He was continuing to go to meetings and was really making changes.

‘ Blade Runner ?’ Brodie called out as Will zoomed around the drawing room with an angry look on his face. He stopped, rolled his eyes and shook his head. Brodie raised his hands and let them flop into his lap. ‘Ugh, I’ve no bloody clue.’

‘ Speed ?’ Mirren called out. Another shake of Will’s head.

‘I’ve got it! Forrest Gump !’ was Dougie’s offering but it was still wrong, and everyone moaned. ‘What? He does a lot of running in the film. And he always looks quite serious.’

Uncle Innes stood and held up his hands to halt the chatter. With a wry smile, he said, ‘You’re all pretty useless at this game, I have to say.’ A rumble of groans travelled the group. A few napkins were thrown at him, in good humour. ‘Come on now, don’t be sore losers. I’ve known what it is for a while.’

‘Oh, aye, so why didnae you say anything?’ Mirren asked, her brow creased with disbelief.

Innes chuckled. ‘It was fun watching you all fumble.’ More groans ensued.

‘Hey, now, that’s fighting talk,’ Dougie said laughing. ‘Come on then, Barry Norman, what is it?’

‘I think you’ll find it’s Fast and Furious ,’ he said plainly.

Will raised his hands in the air. ‘Yes! At last! I was actually almost genuinely furious after that!’ There was a magnanimous round of applause.

Olivia was impressed. ‘Uncle Innes, how do you know that?’

‘Oh, you know, I’m pretty down with the kids these days,’ he said with a grin. ‘I love a good Vin Diesel movie.’

‘Sorry, Innes, but no one actually says that, you know,’ Will told him and everyone laughed.

At the end of the evening, Dougie and Mirren headed off to their cottage within the grounds and Innes took Adaira’s hand. ‘Come on, my love. Your carriage awaits,’ he told her.

‘Thank you for inviting me, dears. It’s been splendid,’ Adaira said with a kiss to Olivia’s cheeks and a shake of Brodie’s hand.

‘You’re very welcome,’ Olivia replied. ‘Merry Christmas.’

‘Merry Christmas, darlings.’

‘And thank you from us too,’ Charlotte said as she hugged Olivia. ‘You’ve all made us feel so welcome and it’s been wonderful. Merry Christmas.’

Will shook the hands of the hosts too. ‘Yeah, what Mum said. Cheers.’

Kerr hugged Charlotte. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow evening then?’

Charlotte nodded. ‘That would be lovely. I’ll cook. Merry Christmas, Kerr.’

Kerr’s face lit up. ‘Can’t wait. Merry Christmas, Charlotte. And to you, Will. Don’t eat too much chocolate, eh?’

Will laughed. ‘Erm, that’s a promise I’m not going to keep.’

On Christmas morning, the family gathered once more by the drawing room tree in their pyjamas. Mirren had made bacon sandwiches and Kerr had opened a couple of bottles of Buck’s Fizz for everyone else while he stuck to orange juice. Snow was falling heavily outside, and Mariah Carey was singing about what she wanted for Christmas. The fire was crackling away, and the three dogs were snoozing together in a kind of rugby scrum that Olivia found highly amusing. The fragrance of fresh pine wafted through the warm air from the tree that Kerr had picked out personally this year from the stock at the nursery. It had been lovely to share the decorating with him too, as they had as children, only this time there was no arguing over what went where and who had added the most baubles.

Once breakfast was done, they handed out thoughtfully procured gifts. Olivia couldn’t stop smiling. It was the type of Christmas she remembered from childhood and the type of Christmas she never expected to experience again, perhaps until she was a mum.

Brodie was sitting by the tree and had taken charge of handing out the gifts. He picked up a box and read the label then passed it to Kerr, who seemed surprised to have been included.

He hesitated and raised his eyebrows. ‘For me?’

‘Go on, Kerr, open it. There are a few more for you but this is a special one from me,’ Olivia told him.

He ripped off the paper eagerly to reveal a cardboard box. He glanced up at Olivia and for a split second he reminded her of his childhood self, fresh-faced and happy, then continued with his task. Once the box was open, he reached inside to retrieve a hand-painted mug. He read aloud, ‘Kerr, number one brother.’

‘I commissioned it from the potter who supplies the pieces for the gift shop, so it’s unique to you,’ Olivia said.

He stared at the mug, silent, fixated almost, and Olivia worried he was a little disappointed.

He raised his face; his eyes were glassy, and he cleared his throat. ‘Wow… I wasn’t expecting this. It’s… it’s absolutely brilliant, Liv. Thank you so much.’

Olivia breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Thank goodness! I was worried for a second that you didn’t like it.’

He shook his head. ‘No, that’s not it at all. I’m just… I’m a wee bit overwhelmed.’ He shook his head and Olivia stood and walked over to sit beside him. She took his hand and he squeezed hers. ‘Thanks again, sis. It really does mean the world to me.’ He hugged her hard as if he was making up for lost time, or for all the hugs he had missed out on giving her as they drifted apart.

When all the gifts were open, Brodie stood. ‘I have one more gift for Olivia. One second.’ He disappeared and returned a few minutes later with an envelope. The last time he had handed her an envelope, it had been a booking letter for Skye, so her heart skipped. What had he been planning this time?

‘I know it’s not really tradition for the groom to book the bride’s hen weekend, but after we talked about what we’d both like to do, I decided it would be a nice thing to try and organise. So…’ He handed her the envelope, and she took out the contents.

Inside was a booking slip from a cottage rental company. On the slip was a photograph of a beautiful double-fronted stone structure with the name plaque Balloan Farm Cottage on the front. The setting was idyllic, surrounded by rolling countryside and trees.

‘Oh, wow, Brodie, this is amazing!’ She flicked through the photos of the cottage and butterflies set fluttering around inside of her. ‘Thank you so much.’ She stood and walked over to climb into his lap. ‘I can’t wait to go. But what about you? We need to sort something for you.’

‘You leave that with me,’ Dougie said with a tap to his nose. ‘I’m his best man and I’ve got plans.’

Olivia hugged and kissed Brodie. ‘I’m so lucky to have you.’

He ran his nose down hers. ‘Nah, I’m the lucky one.’