EC15 Malcolm

Emily's Chronicles: Part 15: Malcolm Returns
By Trish and Tammy

Disclaimer: The following is a work of fanfiction. Emily of New Moon was created by L.M. Montgomery and is the property of her, her estate, and her heirs, not me. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit was made.

Malcolm Murray trod slowly along the red earth lane that led to Blair
Water. The old man had been weeks upon the sea returning to Prince Edward Island, and the walk back to New Moon seemed longer than he remembered to his aching and stiff legs. He had not sent word of the exact time of his
coming and so no one had met him at the dock. It was as he had wanted, he needed
this time to think. There were so many things he needed to say to Isabel,
a lifetime of things that had gone unsaid, so many things he should have
told her. As he made his way along the ocean side, the summer sun warming his
old bones, he practiced in his head the scene between himself as his daughter
as he wanted it to go. He knew, however, that when he saw her his words would
fail him. He hoped desperately that she would want to see him.

Finally the little old-fashioned farm house came into view around the
bend. Malcolm consiously slowed his pace even further. He was
apprehensive. How would Isabel take his sudden return. He knew that she would be nearly six months along. The last thing he wanted was to upset her. The truth
was that in his heart he would not blame her if she never wanted to speak to
him again. He had made such a shambles of his relationship with her. Now, that
she was expecting her own child, his grandchild, she should be concentrating
on happy peaceful things, not on painful memories. He wanted to make
peace with his daughter, but he had decided that if she did not want him there
then he would leave quietly. He would do that much for her.

As he neared the house Malcolm could see Perry walking from the barn
carrying an armful of firewood. It seemed that the lad had grown since the
last time he had seen him. He now had more the appearance of a young man,
and less that of a boy. Perry was whistling a tune and looking up at the
summer sky. He nearly tripped over a bump in the path and dropped his load.
Bending down to pick up the logs Perry caught sight of Malcolm coming up
the lane.

Malcolm could also see Eve's two beautiful Collie dogs, Princess and Laddie
with their family of pups lazying about in the warm morning sun. As Perry
hollered his greeting to the elder Murray, they all come alive and jumped
up to their feet to see who he was talking to.

"Well, I'll be a son of a gun." Perry smiled. It was evident that the
youth was happy to see the old man. He had always liked Mr. Murray, and
Malcolm had a fondness for the straight-talking lad. "Mr. Murray! How in
the world are you?" He didn't wait for the old man to answer but called to
Jimmy in the barn.

Jimmy came quickly out of the barn, he was very much on guard these
days. The smile on his face made Malcolm nearly burst out laughing. He should
have guessed he could count on these two to give him a fine welcome. He
covered the last few feet with a spring in his step, and reaching Jimmy and Perry
was greeted with outstretched hands.

"Are you two a sight for me tired ol' eyes." Malcolm grinned and
placed his travel case of the ground. He took their hands with both of his and
shook them vigoroulsy. With Princess and Laddie giving him the once-over by
sniffing his legs. Malcolm gave the dogs a welcoming pat on the head and
scratching them behind their ears a bit. He himself had never been without
a dog as a boy, he was glad to see them, this fine noble breed, around New Moon.
He gave a laugh when he looked over at the pups eyeing their parents unsurely. He thought it was good for children to be raised around dogs, and was glad to see that his grandchild would have these fine animals for companions. Then satisfied at the
friendliness of this new comer, the dogs milled about the three men, with
their eight pups watching from a safe curious distance.


"Malcolm, we didn't know just when you was coming. We woulda come got
you." Jimmy apologized.

"Ah Jimmy, me boy, the walk did these crooked ol' legs a world o' good."
Malcolm assured him, lying a little. He was happy to see his nephew and
young friend, but he had come for another purpose and turned his attention
toward that avenue. "How is my daughter...and my grandchild?" He asked nervously,
as he was patting and scratching both dogs behind their ears.

"They're doing fine." Jimmy informed him. "We found..."

"Well, look who finally decided to see about his daughter. It took you
long enough." A voice echoed from the kitchen porch, it was Elizabeth.
Malcolm's letter had been pleasant enough, and Isabel had seemed greatly
please with it, but Elizabeth still held a resentment for the way the old
Scot had treated his daughter.

Jimmy, Perry, and Malcolm stood in the yard as Elizabeth strode
sternly over the where them. It was obvious she had words for Malcolm. It was
almost as if she was storing her anger for him, and was ready to blow. She had
managed to avoid him while she was staying secretly with other Murray
relatives in Scotland. They had told her what a state he had been in over
the death of Megan Moore, and she knew that Isabel had visited him during that
time. She also knew that he had been so miserable and so hateful to her
that he had practically thrown her out of his house, and Isabel being
unknowingly pregnant at the time. She knew how terribly he had treated Isabel her
entire life. Elizabeth felt a large amount of contempt for her uncle at that
moment.

"Elizabeth Murray, back from the dead I see." Malcolm began with a
smile in an attempt to curb the anger he could see coming toward him.

"Don't you Elizabeth Murray me." She blurted at him. "Have you've
finally decided to show some caring toward your daughter for once in you life?"
She had grown close to Isabel over the past months and would tolerate nothing
upsetting her especially now that she was so happy, not even her father.
"Let me tell you one thing Malcolm Murray, if you've come to fight with Isabel,
or upset her you can turn around and march right back to Scotland, because
you will not set foot in this house."

The truth of Elizabeth's words cut through the old man like a knife.
She had every right to assume he was there for a dire purpose. His past
history with his daughter would only lead to that conclusion. Isabel had always
been so strong willed, and stubborn that he had often spared with her like an
equal, even as a child, and yes he had often been cruel. He wished he
could have the years back now, so he could treat his daughter the way she
deserved. Malcolm knew that he had made her think he hated her. That was exactly
why he had to see her now, to make things right if he could.

"No." Malcolm's voice stammered. "I have not come to upset her. If I
think for a moment that my presence is causing her any distress, I will go
away and never come back. You have my word on that. I need to see her, to
tell her things...I should have told her long ago." His pleading tone was
not lost on Elizabeth and the others.

Elizabeth felt her anger cooling. Her uncle seemed very old to her
suddenly, and very ashamed. "She's up in her room." She did not mention
that Isabel was not alone there.

"Thank you." Malcolm nodded, walking toward the house.

Malcolm stepped quietly into the front hall. Taking a few steps he noticed
Emily sitting at the table in the parlor, writing as usual. Her face lit
when she saw him.

"Uncle..." She began but was silenced by his finger placed up to his
smiling lips. She understood, and happily ran to him and threw her arms
around his waist and gave him a big hug.

"Look at ya Lass." He grinned. "You've grown a foot since I saw yee
last."

"Oh Uncle Malcolm, Cousin Isabel will be so happy to see you." Emily
smiled.

Malcolm paused looking into Emily's face. She was so young, how could
understand the problems between himself and his daughter. He smiled
humoring her. "I hope you're right, dear, I hope you're right."

"She's upstairs." Emily informed him. "But, Uncle Malcolm guess wh..."
She began.

"Thank you." Malcolm began to climb the steps not waiting for her to
finish. His attentions turning toward the room at the top of the
staircase. He walked slowly and hoped that the letter he had written to announce his
visit had been taken the way he had intended. He purposefully kept it
short and had only told her he was coming back to New Moon. The things he really
needed to say were not for a letter, he needed to tell her face to face.
He thought this would give Isabel time to prepare herself. He did not wish to
shock her in her delicate condition.

As he neared the bend in the stairs Isabel's bedroom door openned.
Malcolm stood there hoping she would be glad to see him. However, the
person who exited the room was not at all who had expected to see. In fact it was
the last person he expected see. It was Francis Carpenter. Although
Elizabeth had insisted that his sleeping quarters remain in the barn until he and Isabel were officially wed, the happy couple had spent every waking moment together since her return, talking and planning for the future.

Francis turned and saw Malcolm standing below. Both men's eyes
steeled to each other. They each had one thing in mind, Isabel's well being. Her
father, and her soon to be husband stood face to face both hating the
other for their perceived shortcomings regarding Isabel. Malcolm saw the man
who had broken his daughter's heart and left her alone and with child. Francis
saw the man who had emotionally abused the woman he loved all of her life,
and caused her years of torment. The letter the old man had sent for
Isabel did seem to be full of caring, but Francis knew that Isabel was still
anxious over the things her father mentioned they had to discuss. He was not
going to allow Malcolm to berate and upset his future wife, especially not now.

"It's about time you showed up." Malcolm said with venom in his tone.

"I could say the same thing about you." Francis blurted at him, anger
burning in his voice. He took a step forward to reach the first step.

It was at that moment that Laura and Eve reached the foot of the
stairs. The ladies had heard Malcolm's voice and rushed to greet him. They were
met by Jimmy, Elizabeth, and Perry coming in from the yard. They felt that
Isabel may need their help. They now saw a battle of wills taking place
in front of them.

Malcolm summoned all his strength and began to climb the final few
steps. Reaching the top he looked Francis straight in the eye and said
contempuoulsy. "I did not come here to talk to you. Out of my way. I will
speak with my daughter." The old man began to move forward.

Without taking his eyes off of Malcolm, Francis stood solidly on the
landing, unmoving. He reached out his hand and planted it tightly on the
banister. He was blocking the old man from going any further. "No, you
will not." He cooling informed Malcolm. "I will not let you upset her."

Malcolm could feel the rage rising up in his chest. He was not used to
being treated like this, and would not accept it. "Why you, no account,
drunken..." he broke off, any words he could think of to use in the
presence of the ladies standing below were not strong enough for this person
infront of him. "...and you don't think that pining away here for months, worrying
about you, watching herself grow bigger with your child did not upset
her?" Malcolm wanted to say something to hurt Francis the way he had hurt
Isabel. "You don't think having to watch you walk out the door with that other
woman didn't hurt her? It wasn't you that held her as she wept that night. It
wasn't you who watched her heart break."

Francis stared at Malcolm, his rage growing to match the old man's.
The truth was Malcolm had chosen just the right avenue of attack. The very
things he would hate himself for forever were what Isabel's father had chosen to
use against him. Malcolm was right on those counts. However, he had some
choice words for the elder Mr. Murray and had no intention of leaving them
unsaid.

"What about you?" Francis asked rhetorically. "You've done nothing but berate
and degrade her all of her life. You've never had a kind word for her. She's
done everything for you, to earn your love, and you show her not one ounce
of caring." He let loose on Malcolm all the anger he had at the way her
father had treated the woman he loved. " You treat her like dirt. You've called
the cruelest names, and thrown a dead child in her face at every opportunity.
How do you think that made her feel?" Isabel had told him everything. They had
no secrets between them, there was no need. He was trying to keep his voice
down so as not to disturb Isabel's rest, but he could feel himself shaking with
rage.

Malcolm felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him. Had Francis
Carpenter read his mind? All the things he needed to make ammends for
were being thrown like knives at him. The truth was this man, whom his
daughter loved, was right. He had been terrible to Isabel. Suddenly he felt very
old. He had to see Isabel, he had too many things to apologize for to leave.
All that mattered was his child. Summoning all the humility possible in a
Murray, Malcolm spoke, quietly pleading from the heart.

"Please. Don't deny an old man the one chance he may have to make
ammends to his little girl." Malcom begged.

No sooner had Malcolm spoken those words but the stand off was
interrupted by a small shaky voice standing above them.

"Father?" It was Isabel. She had just come from her bedroom, and
stood in the hall, her hands clenched to hide her trembling. Taking a few steps
she gently touched Francis on the arm. She knew he was protecting her,
but she felt that she needed to speak with her father. She gave her soon to
be husband a loving look that told him she understood, and would be alright.

"It's ok." She said to Francis.

He took her arm gently to steady her, and giving Malcolm one last
warning look stepped aside to let the old man pass.

Isabel took a few steps backward, in part to make way for her father,
in part still afraid of what Malcolm might say to her. He stood there
looking at his daughter, her figure swollen with his grandchild. She looked
beautiful, she was truly glowing. There was a look of pure joy in her
eyes that he had never seen before. He realized that she was truly happy.

"Oh, Lass, look at you." Malcolm said with loving awe. His voice
faltering with tears. He took her hands and held them in his.

"Oh, Father." Isabel whispered, tears beginning to fall down her
cheeks.

It was then that Malcolm took her in his arms and held her. Returning the
embrace, her tears flowed freely as she rested her head on her father's
shoulder. She looked at Francis standing behind them, and reached out her
hand in a quiet thank you for what he had just done for her. He took her
hand in his and held it tight.

After a moment Malcolm took his daughter gently by the shoulders. "I
have been such a fool, can you ever forgive me?" He asked.

"Forgive you for what?" Isabel asked confused.

"Everything." He whispered.

Isabel was speechless. She had never expected this from her father.
She had never thought he truly loved her, in fact for the longest time she was
sure he hated her. Now he stood in front of her begging her forgiveness.

"I have much that I need you to hear." He said, pleading her to
listen.

"Me too." Isabel said. "Let's go in here." She motioned toward her
bedroom, and reached for Francis's hand that he would accompany them.

Malcolm looked at the younger man with harsh eyes, not yet over the
tongue lashing he had received. "Privately." He said, not wanting to share
his reunion with Isabel.

"There's nothing you say to me that you can't say infront of... my
husband." She smiled at Francis.

"Oh, it's husband and wife already is it?" Malcolm questioned holding
up Isabel's left hand which was still without a ring.

"In everything but legality." Isabel smiled at Francis who was
laughing at the private joke. Malcolm realized that there were now parts of his
daughter's life that he was not privy to.

"Very well." Malcolm agreed. He had traveled too far to say these
important things to Isabel and he would not let anyone stand in his way.
"But, not a word from yee." He warned.

Isabel smiled at Francis who had wrapped his arm around her. She put
her hand against his face, and whispered in his ear. "He likes you." She
smiled noting the respectful look in her father's face.

"He sure has a funny way of showing it." He said unsure.

Francis helped Isabel to the rocking chair infront of the fireplace.
She sat down lightly and slowly, and he took his place beside her sitting on
the chair's arm, his arm still around her. She held his other hand in hers.
Her other hand rested on her abdomin. Malcolm took a seat on the trunk
directly across from the couple at the foot of the bed.

It was as Malcolm had feared. He had rehearsed this moment in his head
a thousand times, but now his words would not come. He had no idea where to
start. He just sat there staring at his daughter, he had nearly forgotten
how beautiful she was. She leaned against her future husband, who held
her gently. Malcolm realized how deelpy this man loved Isabel. However he got
the impression that Francis was ready to pounce at the first sign of any
antagonism on his part. Although Isabel looked apprehensive at his
arrival, her eyes were dancing.

"You look... so happy." He smiled at her, finally able to find his
voice. Her answer he dreaded. She had every right to lash out at him with a
barrage of unhappy memories that were his legacy to her.

Isabel only looked up at Francis for a moment, and then back at her
father. A contented smile lightened her face. "I am happy, Father." She
reassured him.

"You deserve to be so." Malcolm answered. He truly meant it. "After
everything I put you through." He confessed.

"Father..." Isabel began to protest, tears appearing in her eyes.

"No." Malcolm said quietly. "I've come to make sure you're alright."
He threw an accusing look in Francis's direction. "Also, to tell you the
things I should have told you long ago."

The old man took a deep breath, and steadied himself. When he spoke it
was slowly, and rambled a bit. "I never made you feel happy, or safe, or
loved. I will regret that forever. And that horrible name I called you. My
heart breaks for each time I did that to you." Malcolm was sure that each
time he had spoken against his daughter was written indelibally into his
book in heaven. He had never realized how small it must have made her feel.
He did not realize that tears were forming in eyes as well.

"I know that I too, was hard to live with." Isabel said, shouldering
some of the blame.

"Thanks to me." Malcolm spoke up. "Any ill temper you ever showed was
in response to mine." He said. "Instead of love, and acceptance, I gave you a
home filled with anger, hatred, and resentment." He remembered the
horrible scenes Isabel had witnessed between himself and her mother from the time
she was very young.

"I always knew that deep down, you loved me." Isabel tried assured her
father, even though she had not been really sure of that. Her voice
faltered. "But I always felt that you wished I was the one who had died, and not the
Wee Angel." She owed her father honesty to match his own. She did not want
there to be anymore hidden and hurt feelings. She felt Francis pull her
closer.

Isabel's words ripped through the old man's soul, and he struggled to keep from sobbing. "Oh, I did love you. I do. More than you could ever know. More than I ever showed." Malcolm look lovingly at Isabel. " I never, ever wished that. I should have told you that you were always my angel."

Malcolm did have a gut wrenching confession that tore at his heart
even as he spoke it. "But I did resent you. I resented you for who your mother
was. The marriage ahd turned sour almost from the start and you were so
much like her. I allowed my bitterness toward her to taint my view of you. For
that I will never forgive myself." He admitted.

"I forgive you." Isabel smiled lovingly at the old man. " You're here
now, when I need you. Saying these things to me when I need to hear them.
There were always things we couldn't say to each other. Perhaps now we can
make a fresh start. It could be like it should have been all along."

"I would like that." He agreed.

"Me, too. Especially now." Isabel ran her hand over the baby and
smiled.

Malcolm reached out and took his daughter's hand in his. "Things will
be different. I promise you that." The old man vowed. They sat for a moment
tears falling down both of their faces. Coming back to the present he
realized he had not yet inquired about the health of his soon to be
grandchild, he had been so overwhelmed with seeing his daughter.

"How is the wee one?" Malcolm asked.

"Wonderful." Isabel beamed. "Growing everyday." She smiled up at
Francis.

Then she realized that she had news she hadn't yet shared with her
Malcolm. "Father." She said without taking her eyes off her fiance. "We're
getting married."

Malcolm eyed the man seated near his daughter. He wanted to say that
was about time, that he could curse him for the anguish he had caused
Isabel. The old man stood up an took a step toward Francis Carpenter. For a time
Isabel began to become frightened. They stared at each other for a moment,
until Malcolm swelling up to an imposing presence finally spoke. "Any man
who stands up to me..." He could hear Isabel gasp, she was certain he was not
happy at the news. However, he continued, and corrected himself. " Any
man with the courage to stand up to Malcolm Murray, and in the protection of
my daughter... will be welcome in this family." He thrust out his hand to
shake that of his future son in law.

Francis stood and gratefully accepted Malcolm's hand. "I am honored."
He said. "I promise I will take good care of her." He vowed.

Malcolm pulled him a little closer and whispered. "Yee better." Lest
the younger man think he would not watch closely.

Malcolm remainded standing and began to search in his pocket for
something. "Well, I suppose yee don't have much in the way of funds."
Malcolm said to Francis. "The salary of school teacher is puny at best, but that
of a dru... an unemplyed school teacher is hardly enough to put a proper
wedding ring on this woman's finger.

Francis was about to plead his case, assuring Malcolm that he would do
his utmost to provide a fine life for his wife and child. He knew what
the old man was saying was true, but he also knew that he would see them want
for nothing. However, Malcolm did not give him the chance. He had found what
he had searched his pocket for, a shiny treasure he had brought all the way
from Scotland.

"This was her mother's." Malcolm announced handing a small shiny gold
ring to Francis. "It has been in our family for generations. It should
rightfully be on Isabel's finger now. She should have it."

Francis was overwhelmed and sat back at Isabel's side, handing the
little
ring to her to see. Isabel felt tears form once again in her eyes. She
remembered the band of gold sparkling on her mother's finger. She had been
entranced by it as a girl. It was so beautiful. She remembered her mother
as a beautiful woman in whose presence she had felt safe, secure, and loved.
Now, finally she would feel that way in her father's.

"Oh, Father." Isabel whispered. "Thank you." Was all she could manage
to say.

"Yes, sir. Thank you. I understand the importance of this heirloom."
Francis said deeply touched. Malcolm nodded his head, knowing that the
man meant his words.

Isabel fingered the circle of gold. "It's so beautiful." She said
handing it back to Francis for safe keeping.

"Yes, it is." Francis agreed. "But it pails in comparison to you my
darling." He kissed her temple, and she reached up to touch his face.

It was then that Malcolm realized the deep love between the two people
who sat before him. He was happy his daughter had found such a perfect
bond. He knew that this man would take care of her, and felt a peace knowing
that her life would be happy and content.

After a few seconds Malcolm broke the silence. "What I would like to
know is where can hungry man get some good Scottish food around here. I've been
on the sea too long, I think I've forgotten what real food tastes like."

The three people in the small upstairs bedroom laughed together as
Isabel made her way out of the chair to stand up, assisted by Francis. She hugged
her father truly for the first time in her life. " Come along, Father, I'm
sure Elizabeth will have something in the kitchen for you." She smiled.

Isabel walked to the door, her father on one arm, her fiance on the
other. Malcolm reached to open the door and as the it lurched inward
Emily fell into the room catching herself on the doorhandle before hitting the
floor. She had been listening at the keyhole.

"Emily Byrd Starr!" Isabel gasped, but it the smile that pulled her
mouth was evident too all.

Emily's face exploded into one of her infectious grins as she searched
her mind for a plausible excuse, but there was none. Everyone knew she
had been evesdropping. A few months ago she would have been in serious
trouble, and Cousin Isabel would have hit the ceiling to think of her private
converstations spied upon by a child. However, her apprehension was met
only by smiles and laughter from the adults in the room.

" 'Tis good to see somethings never change." Malcolm laughed, and took
Emily's hand as the group walked down the hall toward the back stairs.