New Love, New Home, and a New Beginning
By: Carrie-Anne
Prologue--- Flashing back, Molly meets Mr. Barr down the river Nile... To go to New Zealand, Duncan, or not to go that is the question?J
(A/N: We were never given Mr. Barr's name (from Series 3, episode 7) so I created one—his name is Donald-but not to be confused with the Donald of Series 6! I have modified a bit of Alex/Pamela/Lexie story to fit my story. I know how Series 5 ends and I know Alex leaves and I know Series 2 and 3 with Pamela and Eric, but basically my muse for this FF changed stuff on purpose...J This first bit is between Series 3 end and Series 4 beginning when Molly was on her world trip to help get over Hector's demise and it ties with a bit of AAA's prologue that I didn't post until now. Enjoy! Thanks!) J
Molly was on her 'world class tour' but she wondered how life was back in Glenbogle as she stood over looking the views of sand, waves, ancient and modern buildings of Egyptian villages and cities which lined the river's shores. She had just boarded a white roved tourist boat in Luxor as she decided to take her seat, a man sat beside her. At first Molly didn't think of him much, glasses, reading a book, as she started to wonder why someone would be reading at a time like this when there was lovely scenery to see...
"Reading I see?"
The man didn't look up from his book, "Yes I am,"
"Oh well, beautiful day, nice and warm, not like the weather back at my home front. Say you sound like---?" Molly stopped talking and the man looked up from his book and acknowledged her.
"Do I know you?"
"I was about to ask if you've met?"
"Molly MacDonald."
"Mr. Barr." Molly instantly commented as Mr. Barr lowered his book and actually gave her a grin. Molly remembered him. Sitting in the flower garden on Jamie's bench talking about his wife Mona and how she had left him and that he had proposed her in that very same spot years and years before. The real reason of why Mr. Barr, the inspector from Health and Safety Directorate wanted to shut down the house years upon years ago.
"Small world,"
"Small boat," Molly replied as she smiled back.
"What brings you down the River Nile?"
"Just holiday..."
"By yourself?" Mr. Barr asked as he decided to give up on reading his book and chat with Molly once again.
"I'm here to relax, and I suppose that's why you're here too?" Molly added with a wink.
"Yes, I'm on business here for my vineyard in New Zealand and my associates kept suggesting I take a touristy boat down the river and check out the dromedaries."
"I rode on one the other day and they are simply exquisite animals! Nothing like a horse mind you, but very big..."
"Interesting, how's the house in Glenbogle making out? Still have that head ranger? How's your son?"
"Archie," Molly had forgot that Mr. Barr knew Archie as the head ranger and Duncan as her 'laird' son. She was relieved when he posed both questions at once, "Very well, marrying now to a lovely girl."
"Congratulations, hearing the sounds of wee grandkids feet?"
"No, 'mini-bars' as of yet," Molly gave a small laugh as Mr. Barr actually smiled, remembering the greeting Molly first gave him when they met and how she asked him if he had any children and it they were called, 'mini-bars.'. "You run a vineyard?"
"Yes, I do, decided to get on with my life after our chat, and found solace in find new line of work, selling my home and---?"
"Moving abroad? Sounds luxurious,"
"Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. I travel most months selling my wine and actually many restaurants are picking it up, same with grocery stores everywhere and other markets...."
"If you travel on so much, may I ask as to whom holds down the fort, Mr. Barr?" Molly inquired as Mr. Barr added on, "Donald, just call me Donald and my niece Emily moved with me..."
"Niece?"
"Emily, lived with my sister after being orphaned years ago, anyway, she's out of university and I suggested the vineyard and needing her help."
"I see, well, I'm sure hiring good help is hard to come by," Molly stated, as she knew Archie always had trouble hiring staff for the house.
"Yes it is,"
Duncan journeyed back from Lili's grave after talking to Golly about his decision to leave Glenbogle for New Zealand and leaving Minnie in Lexie's care. With Lili's beloved baseball cap in his hands, Duncan made way to the house Molly was out in the garden as he walked over to her. Molly was scooping up her prized petunias, roses, and orchids and transplanting what she could in pots and back into and out of the ground. She wanted to be sure everything in her garden was prepared for a winter ahead.
"Molly," Duncan gave a nod of his head as he crammed the cap into his jacket pocket as Molly peered up at him with a smile.
"Yes, Duncan? Could you move that for me?" Molly pointed to the rock that she had placed in the flower beds to keep a tarp down. Duncan did as he was instructed and moved the rock as Molly continued to dig...
"I've come to my decision. I want to go to New Zealand..." Molly stopped digging as she heard Duncan's final confession and exclaimed,
"Oh how delightful! Let's go email Donald now, how about it?"
"What about your flowers?" Duncan noticed Molly drop her spade and stood herself up, brushing off the dirt from her pants with her hands.
"They can wait, come now, Duncan. I've been wondering when you'd come tell me you were off!" Molly added excitedly as Duncan nodded and followed her into the house as they made way into the library and walked over to the laptop that Archie had been working on. Duncan stood there looking over Molly's shoulder, with Molly sitting, smiling up at him and then focusing her eyes and her glasses as they sat on the tip of her nose while she was in deep concentration on what to write. Molly opened her email inbox and began to write her follow-up email to Donald Barr...
Just as Molly was about to finish up her email, Archie returned to the study.
"Donald, Duncan has decided to take you up on your offer as a manager with your vineyard for the next six months. I hope all is well. Will call for contacts and details...Molly"
Molly typed away on the keyboard and Archie blew out a breath, "This is about New Zealand isn't it?"
"Oh, um," Molly was up to her tricks as her son gave her a stern look about helping out around the house and with some of the estate affairs...
"I know about you working out a job offer for Duncan to go to a vineyard in New Zealand, however, refresh my memory of who this friend Donald is?" Archie wasn't angry. He just wanted to get to the bottom of the matter quickly, swiftly and promptly about Duncan going away for a short period of time.
"Donald Barr."
"Who's that?" Archie gave his mother another look, "Lexie told me mother what you were planning, I get it, but I'm not sure it's right to let Duncan go anywhere at this time...to give him a six month vacation from working here to go work somewhere else? Perhaps if it was a job swap, and your friend was sending someone here to help us out..."
"Archie, he's the one who was here for inspecting the house with the health and safety directorate years ago and he now runs a vineyard in New Zealand called South Bogle. Oh Archie, Donald means well...I met with him again on my worldly excursion after your father died. I meant to talk to you about it, really I did, only I've been so delighted about it—it slipped my mind. Archie, Duncan needs this, he needs a chance to move, live, and go on with his life." Molly and Archie conversed while Duncan stood there, getting really nervous...
"Yes, mother, you're off the hook. I understand that scheme of things...but..."
"But what?" Molly's fingers glided the mouse arrow on the laptop screen towards a button of 'SEND' for her email. Archie could tell Molly was still on her path to help Duncan...
"Look, I'd really like to get a word in, if I may?" Duncan's shaky voice announced as he started to get nervous about his job at either location—the house and that vineyard. Duncan, sensing red flags going up and rockets going off around him, with 'sucker' possibly doodled a cross his forehead, didn't want to think he was being fired...
"What is it, Duncan?"
"Mebbe, lettin' me go is a good thing, on me own, but I'd really only like to go as long as it's okay wit you, boss..."
"Duncan, I understand about going, I've been there. I went to London myself to get away and find a new pace of life...Mother I've told you all you need to do is ask me before taking matters into your own hands and doing things for the estate..."
"Then you simply agree, Archie that Duncan can go..." Molly started to speak up again as Archie gave his mother an exasperated look...
"Lexie has agreed to take on the care of Minnie," Archie began, as he cast his eyes on his mother and glanced at his head ranger again. "Mother, did you think about the fact that Mr. Barr, knows Duncan as me and vice versa?"
"Yes, however, he won't think of Duncan as you, Archie, it's been over five years...He barely remembered me on the boat while we were sailing down the Nile!" Molly exclaimed as Archie stood there...
"I had my word with Paul about taking on head ranger duties between office duties. He didn't seem to mind, yet, he doesn't know Duncan is going to travel abroad for six months...I didn't exactly get to clear that part up with Paul as I feared he'd say no and I can help with some of the land duties on my lighter days."
"That's the hot ticket! That's my son! You were planning to help Duncan out all along!"
"Yes, mother, now send that email before I change my mind. I see you doing it..."
Molly gave Archie a gratified look and clicked, "SEND" on the email...Duncan gave both Molly and Archie looks of relief at the dilemma of him not going or going to New Zealand as it was solved.
Chapter One---On the Home Front
The day after Hogmanay...
"Morning Ally, you okay? No bump on the noggin?" Alex MacTavish announced as he noted his daughter walking into the kitchen as he sat at the table reading a paper and her mother Pamela sitting there with Jayne on her lap and Wayne in a high chair feeding them breakfast.
"Oh my...no,"
"Now Lexie, darling..." Pamela spoke up as Lexie eyed both her parents. She thought it was a nightmare come true...she didn't think they were there together that they had waltzed into the house at midnight as first footers...she didn't think it was real, but it was.
"Why are ya here?"
"Your husband said it was okay to stay. He knew we were coming last night, or I was," Pamela spoke up again.
"Archie spoke none of this to me!"
"Perhaps he wanted you to rest after you fainted last night, you know, we came a long way to see you and you just pass out on us like the drop of a hat?" Pamela lectured as Lexie wanted to roll her eyes and outspokenly tell her parents where to go...home.
"Perhaps it was meant to be a surprise," Alex trumpeted as Fiery Lexie turned on the balls of her feet yelling out, "Archie!"
"Ya invited 'em 'ere? Without givin' me word of it? They can't stay," Lexie ordered as she pushed the door open and stood in front of Archie's big desk in the library. Archie busied himself with papers, invoices and his legal yellow note pad as he listened to every word that came from his pregnant wife's mouth, like he had imagined it would have come out to him. Archie set down his pen as he knew Lexie wanted to give him an earful about her parents being there.
"Lex, I did it because of the holiday spirit, and for you."
"Holiday spirit? I'll show you where to stuff holiday spirit! Normally, I'd shove their clothes out the window but I can't understand why my mum and him---! He left me, us, over twenty years ago! I could go on and on about how unwelcome he is. They show up here unannounced on Hogmanay eve, I nearly..."
"Lex, maybe you should talk to your mother and father more about it."
"That's yer ansa to 'em bein' 'ere! They came 'ere last night! Why didn't you wake me up this morning so I could toss 'em out? "
"Lex, you fainted, I felt the best way to take care of you was to let you come to, and put you to bed so it could be sorted out in the morning."
"I fainted at the sight of my parents together, Archie! After my mother constantly ran her mouth about how terrible of a man my father is! The new baby, you know I'm not speaking of it wit 'em 'ere. They aren't welcome or a good influence on the twins! Ya let me motha tend to da twins??"
"Lexie, they are their grandparents," Archie spoke up, starting to feel guilty for telling everyone about the baby and for everyone to be careful with her while Lexie had passed out in front of 50 closest family and friends at the Hogmanay party last night.
"No! My father isn't allowed anywhere near Jayne or Wayne!"
Archie helplessly sighed as he watched Lexie storm out of the room and assumed she was heading towards the kitchen again...Archie got up from the desk and quickly scooted out to catch her. "Lexie..."
"Archie, acceptable surprises are fine jewelry, new pots and pans, not new housekeepers, mind you or my reconciled parents!" Lexie snapped as she reminded Archie of the time he brought Irene into the household as a 'present' for Lexie years ago. Archie remembered as he decided to say something in his defense again about Lexie's parents being there.
"OK, so I knew about your mother coming around Hogmanay. I didn't expect your father too...I allowed them to stay here because you need to sort stuff out! This is getting ridiculous, Lex! I mean it!" Archie insisted as Lexie stopped and turned her body to face her husband.
"You're---not helping me that's what's ridiculous! You're a lousy peacemaker, Archie MacDonald, hence we're done, kaput! On havin' a go!" Lexie turned away from Archie and entered the kitchen.
"Or just lousy at surprises...Lexie!" Archie started to side with his wife, and shook his head. Lexie burst into the kitchen with Archie right behind her.
"Don't call me Ally, don't think ye're welcome 'ere and do not go anywhere near my flesh and blood or ya both be sorry!" Lexie shouted, eyeing Jayne and Wayne like a mother bear would of her cubs. Lexie cast her eyes down at her father and turned her head to her mother.
"Your father is here with me because---?" Lexie interrupted her mother this time, instead of the other way around. Pamela always had a habit of not allowing her daughter to get a word in edgewise, this time, Lexie wit fully cut her off at the roll of the tongue.
"Ye're goin' to hear me out, or I'll show ya the door too! I never asked for ya to be 'ere! What happened to Eric? I thought ya were cozened up with him and not my---?"
Lexie stood there wide eyed as Archie added, while wrapping an arm around her back, carted his wife to a chair before suggesting, "Lex, you need to sit. You don't look well, please, sit?" Lexie sat down in defeat, still refusing to listen to her parents excuses for being there or Archie's concerns.
"Aye, right baby, you'll upset it with yer childish jibber-jabbering antics an' nonsense. Hold yer tongue, you should be shamed for snippy snapping at your own mother after what I've done for you!"
"An' what do you think you've done for me? You've never done anything for me!" Lexie instantly remarked, glaring at her mother.
"That family car outside, your Christmas present, I chipped in with your mother in law to buy it. You know I offered to help you out with the estate once or twice...really Alexandra, you must calm down."
Lexie's eyes widened as her mother went on, and this time lowered her voice, "Alexandra, Eric and I split right up this summer, and we're divorced now. I thought you got my letter, but I presume not. Your father and I met up again. It's not important where or how, we're together again and I'm sorry I disillusioned you with the kind of person he is...but...he's a good man...and wants to be a grandfather for all three of yer babies..."
Lexie was suddenly quiet, plotting her next reply, as her emotions bubbled in side of her like a pot of stew on a stovetop, and her eyes went straight to Archie's. Archie knew she's be cross with him about talking about the new baby already...with her parents.
"Ah yes, they know and I didn't speak of it earlier, sorry. I mean, Lex, had to say something, give some reason why you fainted, aside from not eating because you were sick all day and why people should treat you delicately when we scooped you up and off the parlor floor."
"You..." Lexie's eyes narrowed at Archie...
"Lexie," Archie felt instantaneously awful, knowing he upset her after cluing her parents in about the next child.
"Alexandra, you should also know better than to go off like a rocket in front of my grandbabies! Where are your manners, left in a cave like a barbarian? Come along, son-in-law direct me an' my snuggly, wuggly, and smoochy sweethearts to the play lounge..." Pamela nodded contently after saying her peace on her daughter's 'unruly' behavior as Jayne was handed to Archie by Pamela, whom stood up from her seat and helped pick up Wayne from the high chair. Lexie glared at her father when she noted that they were alone.
"I. Want. You. To. Go."
"Ally, I've made some big mistakes in the past, but they are just that, past."
"You left us over twenty years ago! Mum might be able to forgive you but don't expect me to drop everything for you too!"
"I was in trouble with the Russian Mafia. I had sour business dealings, and as I was let go luckily and---?"
"Russian Mafia?" Lexie let out a laugh as she didn't believe any of it. "I don't go for big stories, tall tales or falsehoods and that for sure is a crock if I've ever heard it!"
"It's every bit of truth, Ally."
"Lexie, its Lexie. I stopped going by Ally the day you left!"
"I brought you a present..."
"I don't want a present from you! I don't want to be lavished with gifts from you or Mum so you can 'buy' me off. I want the solid as pine truth of why you really left me!"
Alex pulled out a box with a red bow on top with air holes on the sides, "Your mother told me...that when I left you thought I had gone for one of these..."
Lexie sat there as her eyes widened, realizing, there was a wee critter inside that she had always dreamed of in that box since she was young, "Too late for presents so send it back!"
Alex stood up from the table, "I don't think so, Ally, you're under a lot of stress."
"An' who's to blame for that?" Lexie retorted with a heavy sigh, out of fuses to blow with either of her parents.
"Think harder on it and get back to me," before Alex walked out of the room.
Lexie sat still and stared at the red bow on top of the box. She didn't dare open it and she wanted to follow her father and shout at him some more about how uninvited he was and how wrong he was for showing up at the estate in the first place, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Lexie thought of the growing baby inside of her, her emotions were everywhere, and what good was it for her to express her feelings when she normally moved on?
Lexie began to consult herself, "Moving on...after being abandoned twenty years ago, moving on after having to leave home because Mum was always out and never there for me...Archie wants me to sort this mess out like it's my responsibility? I didn't start this...as much as I want to finish it!" Lexie let out a real sigh as her hands took the red bowed gift off of the table and set it in her lap. Lexie wasn't sure she wanted to pry the top off as Archie returned to the room. A few tears welled up in Lexie's eyes, "I will not cry, I will not cry, I will."
"Lex, I'm sorry for telling them. I was worried about you---the child. You know, I understand why you want them to go. It's been a long time, lots of dysfunction, but I just wanted the past to be behind us for a change. The new baby, our young growing family, I assumed you'd want to start new. I know you hate my surprises, but I love giving you them...Lex?"
Lexie wiped her face with her hands as Archie came up behind her. Lexie turned her body with the gift in her lap as her husband knelt before her as his eyes connected with hers. Archie placed his hands on her warm hands which rest on top of the box. Archie started again, "I'm really sorry. I goofed up..."
"Forget it, Arch. It's the hormones. I'm on edge, Arch. We've been through this before, only double the trouble...I'm just as sorry for having a go...just..."
"What have you got there, Mrs. MacDonald?" Archie gestured to the gift, knowing they had quickly buried the hatchet and were trying to push on.
"A present from my father," Lexie's tears welled up again.
"Must be a special present?" Archie hinted, as Lexie gave a nod of her head as she used her free hand to wipe her tear-stained face.
"Well open it."
"I don't know if I can, Arch. I've always wanted one, furry, curious and miniature critter. My father took off on me and I assumed he was getting me one from a pet shop and then he just never came back..." Lexie's voice faltered and Archie smiled at her.
"Til now, Lex, that was over twenty years ago, you know, the past needs to stay behind us or we'll never move forward."
"Moving forward," Lexie gave a laugh, normally she was the one who gave the pep talk about living in the past to Archie and not the other way around.
"You're usually always for moving on, that's what I love about you."
"Oh Arch. I love you."
"I love you, Lex and it's not because you can run a house, plan a party or help me with 'estate managment'. We do almost everything together, except my terrible surprises. I should know by now, to run stuff by you before going on a whim, afraid it's my downfall you'll have to live with...we'll open the present together, count of three?" Archie smiled at Lexie again.
"I s'pose,"
"1..."
"2..."
"3..."
Archie took one, and Lexie took the other end of the red bow in their hands as they opened up the gift to display, a soft as cotton, very energetic, and friendly... "Hamster?"
Archie laughed as Lexie's mouth finally went into a small smile.
"Aye, a hamster," Lexie smiled as Archie picked up the new friend. "I always wanted a hamster."
Archie laughed, "And what shall we call it?"
Lexie's face then showed her pensive thoughts, wrinkle of her nose, slanting of her furrowed brow, and puzzle pouted lips, "Erhm, not sure..."
"Well, we can't leave it nameless for long, can we? If you've wanted it for so long, you'd have picked out a name..." Archie teased Lexie as she tossed him a quizzical look.
"Mind you, I was five when I wanted one..."
"Well then, we'll have to come up with a name," Archie smiled again. Archie held the critter up, plucking it from the box while it ran from Archie's hand to hand. Lexie pat it with her free fingers as one hand was still in a cast. They then both returned the new member of their family to its temporary boxed home.
"It can't live in this box, Arch. It needs a real shelter, food, water and---?"
"Maybe I should journey to the pet shop?" Archie hinted again.
"Get it an exercise wheel?"
"Okay,"
"Tubes so it can scamper about everywhere in its home?"
"Okay,"
"Wood shavings an' its teddy bear?" Lexie went on and on about what the hamsters needs were and Archie laughed, "Maybe you better come with me to the pet shop."
Chapter Two---New Year in NZ...Duncan Returns... J
A week after Hogmanay, Duncan strolled up to the post office box to get his mail as he picked up a package a smile on his face formed since the return address had: Glenbogle, Scotland on it. Duncan raced off with his tee-shirt and famous kilt swaying with his run as soon as he was close to his living quarters at the vineyard. He ripped into the package and pulled out...an envelope of photographs and a videotape. On the outside cover of the tape was, in BIG BRIGHT RED letters: "Merry Christmas and Happy Hogmanay, Dear Dunc. We miss you! xxx The Fam."
Duncan with another huge goofy grin dropped the envelope of photos, tossed the package onto the bed and made off with the tape in his hands. Duncan happy that Donald, his boss, had made a point to buy a TV and VCR for South Bogle's wine tasting room to show the tourists a video or two of how wine was made on the land. Duncan went straightway into the room over to the TV and put the tape in.
"Duncan?" Emily Barr inquired as she stood in the doorway and focused her stare onto Duncan as he turned on the TV and pressed play on the VCR.
"I-sorry, just wanted to see---home," Duncan's gaze went from his co-worker and to the TV screen and he for sure saw home, the big stone castle, the magnificent loch, and familiar smiling faces...Archie and Lexie, the twins, Minnie...Paul and someone named Susan, Jess, Golly and Molly, Minnie...Minnie...
"I see, pretty home," Emily commented. Duncan and Emily rarely set eyes on her Uncle Donald much, but when they did, he was always working on the marketing for the vineyard. Duncan helped 'manage' the tourist wine tasting tours and worked nights in the tavern type part of the main vineyard whilst Mr. Barr was off on business. Emily was in between tours and managing books as there were other workers that were employed by her uncle but it was only Emily that Duncan had seemed to get along with in the office and at the wine tavern, "Who's that?"
Duncan gave a slight nod of his head and added, "Me offspring," and stared at the screen as a little wobbling on legs infant, thick blondish brown hair which went in every direction imagined on the top of her head, sparkling blue eyes and a dimple which was in her right cheek, just like her father's.
"She's tiny."
"She's Minnie," Duncan named her to Emily. Emily pulled up a chair and sat down next to Duncan as the vineyard was closed for the day due to inventory and they both had the day off.
"Minnie?" Emily smiled, but Duncan set his stare on the TV again.
"See that's Lexie, Archie, they have two children, Jayne and Wayne, twins," Duncan pointed out the faces which were decorating the Christmas tree in the front foyer of the house. The scene of Lexie and Archie dressed up like a tree, got a good chuckle out of Emily, but Duncan's face with hidden inklings, thoughts of what it would be like to be home. Emily didn't focus on him, just the TV screen of family that Duncan has.
"I see."
"That's Archie's sister Lizzie and her daughter Martha. Martha's Archie's niece." Duncan continued to point out faces, "That's Paul, don't mind him. I think Susan, as Lexie has dropped lines about her is with him and they have a son named Nigel, I believe."
"You haven't met them?"
"Nah," Duncan pointed out, "Molly, she's the one who yer Uncle Donald knows..."
"That's Molly?" Emily's face brightened, remembering her Uncle talking in highest regards about Molly MacDonald as she laughed, "Who is she kissing?"
"Golly, me best friend forever and always...his daughter Jess"
"I getcha, wow, Molly's gorgeous, considering she keeps referring to Uncle's people on the vineyard as 'Mini-bars.' Not quite sure why she calls us that...Uncle keeps saying it's an insider joke," Emily suggested as Duncan gave her a sideways glance.
The tape then displayed the recent serenade which had Duncan and Emily laughing together as Emily noted Archie's look on his face from the group of 4am Christmas morning musicians...
"He doesn't look so happy."
"He's just tired I reckon. I usta be The Abbot of Unreason and wake up everyone with loud racket every early Christmas morn. Boss then would have a laugh as he'd join me with waking up the whole house. Good to know Lizzie, or-er, someone's upkeepin' da tradition," Duncan laughed, as he continued to watch the tape, and Emily posed a question, "That's Lexie, right? She's got the sling on? What happened to her?"
"Fell on the kitchen floor as she told me over the phone the other night an' she's pregnant."
Emily smiled at Duncan but Duncan's face fell as he found himself focused on Minnie and her steps. Minnie had started walking as Lexie had told him over the phone the other night, on the tape he knew Jess's voice, as she was the camera woman at the moment...
"That's Minnie? She's walking?" Emily asked curiously as Duncan was off in space...his mind shifted to the person Minnie was taking her first steps too, not Duncan, not his late wife Lili, or Lexie, but past Archie and to...Duncan's face dropped again as he heard Minnie's petite and clear as day word and her wee arms latch onto Paul, "Dada!"
Duncan immediately went to rewind the tape back to Minnie and her first steps...Paul standing there and Minnie giggling out, "Dada," to him. Duncan sat there heartbroken with now tears starting to sting his eyes, his homesickness rearing its head, as he tried to pull himself together as best as he could with Emily sitting there beside him.
"Duncan?" Emily questioned as she arched a brow at him with concern.
"Ach, not good. Me grown man, me mess it all up," Duncan muttered to himself and then turned his attention to Emily.
"What?" Emily sat there bewildered as Duncan popped out of his seat, shut off the TV and stopped the tape.
"I'd be going about now," Duncan left the tape in the VCR and zoomed off leaving Emily sitting there quite baffled as to what exactly got into the 'longing for home' kilted one.
About two hours later, Emily had decided to walk over to Duncan's living quarters with the tape from home. For the past three months, she didn't question his answer as to what brought him to New Zealand in the first place. He had told her that he came to find himself and that her Uncle had offered him the job. Now her mind shifted to why he really was there...
"Duncan!" Emily knocked on his door as loud music blared from his headphones into his ears from his tote able CD player, "Duncan!?!"
Emily took it upon her self to open the door, just as Duncan, who was stuffing kilts, shirts, combat boots anything and everything into his rucksack and also stow away luggage. Emily witnessed the mad-dash packing scene. Duncan turned to look at the door, then Emily, jumped about three feet startled before pulling the headphones out of his ears and guiltily looked at her, "Ach, sorry, Emily..."
"Here, don't forget to pack this," Emily grinned, handed him the tape and then replied, "Okay, what gives? One minute, you're happy as dancing flamingo and the next it's like an A-Bomb went off on doomsday, what's wrong?"
"Well...er, I---?" Duncan stumbled on every word while Emily stared at him.
"You're leaving, aren't you?" Emily said as she plopped herself down onto his bed. Duncan scooted off the rucksack and luggage to make room for him to sit too.
"I got problems, Emily. They never really go away, they just stay there and linger until I get back to fix them." Duncan answered in one big breath.
"I don't understand," Emily gave a nod of her head.
Duncan started to explain, "I need to be where my daughter is. I'm a grown man, who made an---oops," as Duncan's brows arched with the word 'oops'.
"Mistake?"
"It's not a mistake working here with you or finding myself in New Zealand or anywhere else in the world, but meself is and should be with Minnie. It's a mistake for me to leave her like I did. Golly's right. He said I'd regret it and I do. I believe I do."
"I see."
Emily remained silent for a few moments. Emily never had a best mate or a close companion and in some case, Duncan had be come not just her coworker but her friend.
"What's---?"
"Duncan, did something really terrible happen to make you voyage across the world?"
"Yea, ya can call it like that."
Emily glanced down at her feet as Duncan hung his head, "Lili, my wife. She died about three months ago. I assumed your Uncle had mentioned it. Hence I never really brought it up. I assumed Molly and---?"
"My Uncle didn't give any reasons of why you're here. Personal stuff he keeps to himself. I figured you answered me enough when you said you just wanted a change of pace." Emily waited for a moment before Duncan started again.
"I'm not very good at keeping a family together or having a well enough relationship. Look at me, I'm here and Minnie's far away."
"I wouldn't know what a relationship is as I've never had one," Emily stood up quickly and shuffled both of her feet on the floor before glancing at Duncan, "I'm 27 and never been in love, Duncan."
"Sorry, Lili was the closest I've had to a well working one. I'm sorry for talking about her...I---?" Duncan sat on his bed and glanced at Emily.
"No need to be. I'm pretty sure over the months you have heard the bits of information about my life. I know you and I aren't all that close, yet you're the only one I seem to talk to or look forward to it when I'm in the office or working at the wine tavern or dealing with inventory in the wine cellars or..." Emily went on and on.
Duncan spoke up quickly, "I fancy you, Emily an' I wish we had more time to hang out together."
"Very brave of you Duncan to say so...I feel a huge 'BUT' coming on..." Emily shrugged and then turned to face Duncan and answered for him, "You need to go home to Minnie. I know Uncle would understand totally."
Lights go out and I can't be savedTides that I tried to swim againstYou've put me down upon my kneesOh I beg, I beg and plead (singing)Come out of things unsaid, shoot an apple of my head (and a)Trouble that can't be named, tigers waiting to be tamed (singing) You areYou are"I need to go back to Scotland and sort myself out and then I could come back," Duncan suggested.
"Why?"
"Why not?" Duncan replied, "You do write letters, right?"
"Duncan, you're---?"
Confusion never stops, closing walls and ticking clocks (gonna)Come back and take you home, I could not stop, that you now know (singing)Come out upon my seas, curse missed opportunities (am I)A part of the cure, or am I part of the disease (singing)"Emily, I'm going back to get Minnie. That's what I'll do. I'll go home, get Minnie, fly her here and I can still work for the vineyard." Duncan tried to 'sort' everything out in his ill mind and announced it like his heart was on his sleeve. Duncan assumed that Emily was declaring her 'love' for him, which...she wasn't sure she was!
"Duncan,"
"Ach come on, it could work well, you and me. I'm normally not so forward an' we've been somewhad mates fer months. Unless I've read ya all wrong, I have a bad habit of it, I'm afraid."
You are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are...
And nothing else comparesOh no nothing else comparesAnd nothing else compares"Duncan, you're a great person. But, when I said I never had a relationship, I didn't think you'd take it like I want one. Your wife died, and you have issues to sort. What good is it to get involved with someone when you're not totally together to begin with? You need a healthy head first," Emily put up a wall for the first time in three months since Duncan arrived she closed her own self down. Duncan tossed her an apologetic look as he realized he did read poor Emily wrong or thought he did.
"Wait you don't fancy me that way?" Duncan glanced at Emily.
"I don't know."
"Oh." Duncan's heart sank again. Emily walked over to him and sat herself down again, placing her hand in his.
You areHome, home, where I wanted to go Home, home, where I wanted to go"Don't worry about how I like you. I'll do fine without your company on the vineyard's busy working days. We're friends Duncan, you and me, go be with your daughter and we will write until you return." Emily then gave him a toothy grin and hugged him, "I can call Uncle in Thailand tomorrow and make sure he knows you have to go home for an emergency an' in the meantime, you canna pack and I'll give you a lift to the airport."
"You'd do that?"
"Yeah, I would," Emily's own heart sank at the thought of Duncan leaving to go home and her helping him do so.
Home, home, where I wanted to go Home, home, where I wanted togo Clocks- Coldplay J