A Highland Family Affair (Highlands #3)

Chapter 26

26

The sun was shining, the sky was a glorious shade of cerulean and there wasn’t a cloud to be seen. Olivia stood in front of her full-length mirror, shaking. Her heart was racing, and she had been fighting tears all morning. A combination of happy tears and tears for the absence of her parents. But today was the day. Today she would marry the person she had loved since she was fourteen years old. If fourteen-year-old Olivia could see me now, she’d be doing cartwheels , Olivia thought as she took in her reflection.

The vintage lace-covered gown fit to perfection and as per Scottish tradition was finished off with a tartan sash in the groom’s tartan, MacLeod of Harris antique, with its blues and greens, worn over her left shoulder – because she was a noblewoman – and it was fastened at her hip with her mother’s silver sash brooch. Her hair was in loose waves because she preferred a more natural look, and it felt in keeping with the seventies design of the dress. She couldn’t remember a time she had felt so beautiful.

Her stunning pink peony, blue hydrangea and ivory rose hand-tied bouquet had been made by Ellen, the florist in Drumblair village. The blue of the hydrangeas had been the colour she had chosen for her bridesmaids to wear, but she was yet to see their dresses. They had decided to get ready in one of the guest rooms so they could appreciate the impact of seeing Olivia when she was ready, and she could experience the same with them.

She glanced over at the painting Brodie had commissioned for her that he had hung on the wall a couple of days before, and she sighed. She closed her eyes for a few moments and could imagine her mum and dad on each side of her, beaming proudly at their only daughter, dressed exactly as they were in the painting. For a moment, her breath hitched and her heart ached with the loss she felt and the pain of missing them so very much, but she knew they were there in spirit; she could feel them.

She opened her eyes and gazed at the photo of her mother that was stuck into the frame of the mirror and smiled. ‘This is it, Mum. I’m marrying Brodie MacLeod; can you believe it?’ She sighed. ‘I wish you and Dad could be here to walk me down the aisle. It won’t be the same without you. I still can’t quite believe you’re gone.’ Her throat constricted and her heart ached. ‘It’s times like this that having neither of you with me hurts so much. But I know you’re here with me in spirit. And I hope you like the dress. It was as close to the design of yours as I could get. And I’m wearing Grandma’s engagement ring.’ She held up her hand to show the photo. ‘I miss you and Dad so much. But I hope I make you proud.’ She dabbed at the tears that were on the verge of escape.

There was a knock on the door. ‘Olivia, darling, may I come in?’ Uncle Innes asked.

‘Of course you can,’ she replied.

He opened the door, walked into her room and gasped. ‘You look so beautiful, the image of your mother,’ he said with a wavering voice. ‘Speaking of which, I have a gift for you.’

Olivia hadn’t noticed the white box he was carrying at first, but he handed it to her. It was tied with a gold ribbon. She unfastened it and Innes interrupted her.

‘I’ll leave before you open it. I already know the contents, but I think you may want a few moments to yourself. I’ll see you at the church, my dear girl.’ He kissed the top of her head and left.

Olivia was a little confused until she lifted the lid from the box. Therein lay an envelope and, beneath that, the most stunning diamond tiara. It was the one her mother had worn on her own wedding day. Olivia covered her mouth with one hand and her eyes welled with more tears. She took the envelope and eagerly opened it, hoping it was a letter from her mum.

Dear Olivia

My darling daughter. If you are reading this then I have already gone, and for that I’m heartbroken. Because if you are holding this box it means it’s your wedding day and that I can’t be with you. I want you to know how very proud of you both your father and I are and always were. The fact that you are without either of us on such an important day really does pain me. But I know Uncle Innes and Mirren will be there for you so I must take comfort in that. This is such a difficult letter to write because I know you will be upset and there is nothing more that I want than to be able to hold you. I’m hoping you were able to find my wedding dress and that perhaps you have adapted it for today with your wonderful artistic talents. Although you have far better taste than I so you may have thought better of that! I just know you will look stunning whatever you have designed or acquired. You always do.

I hope you like the tiara; I wore it on my own wedding day, and it has been in the bank vault until now with instructions left with Innes on how to proceed. I hope it complements your dress and doesn’t ruin it!

I hope your husband-to-be knows how fortunate he is to be marrying you. And I know he will make you happy because you wouldn’t be marrying him if you had any doubt in your heart about that, so I wish you both a wonderful, long and happy marriage, like your father and I experienced. All I want is your happiness, darling Olivia. My other wish is that Kerr has changed his ways and that you and he have managed to find the relationship you always should have had. I’m just sorry I was unable to convince him he needed help.

I will close now as Marley is keen to go for a walk in the grounds. I hope he is behaving himself for you. He is such a wonderful companion.

I love you with all my heart.

Mum

Tears streamed down Olivia’s face as she clutched the letter. She placed the tiara on her head and smiled. She really did resemble her mother and that was such a wonderful thing.

There was another knock on the door. ‘Can we come in?’ Bella asked.

Olivia shook herself and inhaled a calming breath. ‘Absolutely!’ The door opened and in walked her two bridesmaids. Olivia gasped. ‘Oh, wow, look at you both! You’re stunning.’

Bella’s dress was a one-shoulder affair that was fitted at the waist and skimmed her curves, landing in a pool at her feet, and Skye’s was also floor-length but a strapless design, gathered at the bust. They were exactly what Olivia had hoped to see. She hugged her friends and handed them their bouquets, which were a mini version of hers and tied with the same MacLeod tartan ribbon.

‘You look incredible too,’ Bella said, placing a hand over her heart. ‘Brodie is so lucky.’

‘He is and you really do!’ Skye said but immediately tilted her head. ‘Hey, are you okay? You’re crying.’ She hugged her again.

Olivia’s throat tightened and she couldn’t respond. She held up the letter and pointed to the tiara, simply uttering the words, ‘From Mum.’

‘Oh, honey,’ Bella said, and her two friends pulled her into another embrace. ‘Come on, let’s retouch that make-up and have a glass of this.’ She reached under Olivia’s bed and pulled out a champagne bottle and three glasses.

Olivia laughed. ‘When did you hide those?’

Bella tapped her nose before handing out the glasses and popping the cork. She poured out the champagne and reached into her dress. ‘I love a dress with pockets!’ she said as she retrieved her phone. Olivia applied powder to her flushed cheeks and a little concealer under her eyes. Bella then snapped a selfie of the three of them and glanced at Olivia’s bedside clock. ‘Are you ready? It’s almost time.’

Olivia nodded eagerly. ‘One hundred per cent ready.’

There was a gentle tapping at the door and Olivia called out, ‘If that’s you, Kerr, you can come in.’

He opened the door and stepped inside. Olivia was shocked to find he was wearing a MacLeod tartan kilt with the traditional jacket and waistcoat in navy and a crisp white shirt. The men’s clothing had been dealt with by Brodie and she was impressed.

‘We’ll wait for you downstairs,’ Skye said before she and Bella left the room.

‘Kerr, you look amazing. So smart and handsome,’ she said, placing her hand on his chest.

He gave a 360-degree twirl with his arms outstretched at this sides. ‘I scrub up well, eh?’

‘You really do.’

He smiled down at her. ‘And you look absolutely stunning. Brodie MacLeod is a very lucky man.’ His eyes were becoming misty. ‘Thank you again, Olivia, for asking me to give you away. And thank you for giving me a second chance. I’m hoping that one day you can forgive me.’ His voice broke and cleared his throat. ‘Sorry, I’m a bit of an emotional wreck lately for some reason, although it sounds like it’s quite common to be emotional when you’re in AA so I’m going to blame that.’

She put down her bouquet on her dressing table and placed a hand on either side of his face. ‘Kerr, I forgive you. In fact, I think I forgave you a long time ago.’

He placed his hands over hers. ‘Really?’ He closed his eyes briefly. ‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’

She stepped back. ‘Now… will I pass as a bride?’

He chuckled. ‘I think the dress is a bit of a giveaway. And yes, you look so beautiful, Liv. Mum and Dad will be looking down with the proudest smiles today.’ His voice wavered. ‘And I want you to know I’m proud of you too. Not just for today but for everything you’ve achieved with the castle. Thanks to you, Mum and Dad and the MacBain clan will be remembered for years and years to come. I’m so sorry I ever doubted you.’

‘Thank you. I’m really glad we’ve sorted out our issues because having you here today means the world to me.’ There was a pause where they both fought with the emotions connected to the healing of their relationship, and therefore, their family. ‘Now let’s go and get me married.’

Olivia approached the chapel by the loch with her brother and two best friends. There was an arch of flowers around the chapel door and bees were already hard at work visiting each colourful bloom in turn. This day and this wedding location were a long-held dream come true. Those hobnail-boot-clad butterflies had already started tap-dancing around her insides and she squeezed Kerr’s arm. ‘Can we stop for a moment?’

Kerr’s brow crumpled. ‘Is everything okay?’

‘You’re not having second thoughts, are you?’ Bella asked and Skye elbowed her. ‘Because if you are, I have Harris’s car. We can be out of here in seconds.’

‘Bella,’ Skye whispered angrily.

‘What? I’m just saying.’

Olivia smiled as she gazed out over the loch. The sun was glinting on the surface of the calm water, and it looked like someone had scattered diamonds across it. A gentle, warm breeze ruffled her long waves around her shoulders and caused the flower petals to wave as if beckoning her inside. It really was the perfect spring day.

‘No second thoughts. No doubts,’ she said. ‘I just wanted to take in the view and remind myself how lucky I am that this is the wedding I’m getting, instead of all the pomp and ceremony.’

Kerr sighed. ‘There’s just one thing missing. Well, when I say thing , I mean person.’

Olivia turned to him. ‘Mum?’ She frowned. ‘Or rather Mum and Dad?’

Kerr cringed. ‘Okay, three people missing.’

Olivia tilted her head, a little confused. ‘Three?’

Kerr coughed loudly and someone appeared from around the other side of the chapel, wearing a hydrangea-blue trouser suit with a MacLeod tartan pocket square and tie. A buttonhole that matched the bouquets was pinned to her lapel.

‘Harper!’ Olivia squealed and ran towards her friend, whose arms were open. ‘Oh, my goodness! How? You said you couldn’t… I don’t… What about Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week? I… And again how ?’

Harper hugged her before holding her at arm’s length and nodding towards Kerr. ‘Thank your brother. He made it happen. Apparently he can be very persuasive when he wants to be. Nina didn’t stand a chance.’

Olivia turned to look at Kerr, who stood there with Bella and Skye, huge grins on all their faces. A familiar lump of emotion took up residence in her throat again and she tried to speak but only managed to mouth the words, ‘Thank you.’

‘You look amazing, by the way,’ Harper said, she too a little misty-eyed. ‘MacLeod’s a lucky guy.’

‘Harper, you look beautiful. I love the suit. It looks familiar.’

Harper laughed. ‘Can’t get anything past you, huh? It’s a Nina special. It was from the fashion show here at the castle. She insisted on getting it altered to fit me when she said I could come over. She knew it was perfect for the colour scheme you’d chosen. She’s really sorry she can’t be here herself, but I’ve promised a million photos.’

‘I can’t believe you’re here,’ Olivia said, shaking her head. Her heart skipped and suddenly everything was slotting into place.

‘Neither can I, but here I am. Ready to go get married?’

Olivia nodded. ‘You betcha!’ She linked arms with Kerr and the three bridesmaids, each with their own individual style, took their positions in front of her.

The church doors opened, and Debussy’s ‘Clair de Lune’ floated from inside the chapel. A calm serenity washed over Olivia as it always did when she heard this music. The delicate piano piece had such an uplifting effect, and she couldn’t help smiling.

‘Ready, sis?’ Kerr asked with a pat to her hand.

‘Ready,’ Olivia replied.

Will stood by the door holding the order-of-service booklets, looking handsome in his navy-blue suit and MacLeod tartan tie to honour his soon-to-be Uncle Brodie. He truly was the image of his father. Kerr had been delighted when Brodie had suggested including him as an usher and the look of pride on the boy’s face was clearly evident in his smile and bright eyes. ‘You look beautiful, Aunt Olivia,’ he whispered. It was the first time he had addressed her as such, and her heart filled with love on hearing it.

Beside Will sat Wilf, Marley and Sir Lancelot, all sporting matching tartan dickie bows around their necks in lieu of their usual collars – the benefit of getting wed in your own chapel , Olivia thought, knowing full well dogs would not have been allowed at the cathedral.

They began their walk down the aisle with all eyes on them, but now, Olivia couldn’t see anyone else. All she could see was Brodie, waiting for her. The sweet fragrance of the flowers on the window ledges and stands at the front of the chapel wafted through the air and Olivia heard mumbles of ‘so beautiful’ and ‘stunning’ as she passed each pew.

Olivia was shocked when she realised Bishop Latham was standing there at the front of the church before the altar ready to preside over the ceremony and her heart tripped over itself. Brodie sure knew how to pull strings. Just in front of the bishop was Brodie, balanced precariously on one crutch, with his dad beside him. He looked so ridiculously handsome in his kilt. The added accessory of the bulky black Velcro boot didn’t even detract from his beauty. He fixed his gaze on Olivia, and she fixed hers on him. The love in his eyes made her heart melt, and her smile broadened.

When she arrived beside him, he shook his head, his eyes watery. ‘You are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever, ever seen,’ he whispered. ‘I can’t quite believe you’re mine.’

‘All yours,’ she replied. ‘And you look wonderful.’

‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ the bishop began…