Trouble, Twins, and a Triangle …
BY: Carrie-Anne
Chapter Fourteen…Helpful hands and kind words…
As Friday rolled around, Molly was redecorating the whole cottage, since it felt so empty since Andrew had left for Boston. She spent hours trying to straighten everything out. She then noticed Andrew's computer packed in a few boxes. He had at last minute donated the pc for the use of the estate. He told her he could buy a new one without any trouble and that moving it overseas would just be difficult and since Lili had mentioned doing a few fundraisers for the Centre office's new pc. Molly instantly smiled at the thought of bringing the computer down to the office. Especially since she had passed her road examination and wanted to take her new car, which she had bought with a quarter of her earnings from her paintings, for a spin.
She carried the heavy boxes one by one and placed them up and over into the trunk. She couldn't shut the trunk hatch after she had successfully loaded everything in so she left it open, knowing she'd drive slow and with the heaviness of the boxes nothing would fall out. She grabbed her keys out of her slacks pocket and hopped in. She turned on the car and it purred away…
Lili was trying to figure out some calculations as Archie had decided to postpone the Annual picnic for a week. He figured once the new group of campers had come and gone next week. He'd then channel their energy on the finishing touches of the picnic. This saddened Lili since the picnic would then be her last weekend in Scotland. She tried to push the thought out her mind when there was a knock at the office door. She stood up from her desk and walked towards it. Molly welcomed her out of breath as she placed the heavy box down at Lili's feet. "What's this?" She asked, while raising a brow. Molly grinned wide while regaining her posture.
"Andrew's given the Centre a personal computer!" She beamed proudly.
"Well, how thoughtful," Lili smiled.
"Well, come on, dear girl! Let's see how this thing works!" Molly chanted, as she walked out of the office with Lili following her to her car. Both women carried the boxes in as Lili made space on the desk for the computer.
Meanwhile, the same jealous "follower" who saw Lili go into Duncan's croft about a week ago, watched the women very closely…it was Hermione and she was starting to scheme up a way to send the American packing…She listened in on how the picnic was postponed for next week and made way back to her bicycle (without being spotted) and rode away…
"OK, well, we set this cord here and plug this in…good thing you have the right kind of plug. I had a hard time finding a plug adapter for my laptop at that computer shop." Lili explained, commenting on how different the prongs were on the European plug compared to her American one.
About an hour later, Paul and Archie heard hoots and hollers coming from the office. They both became worried as they opened the door to find Molly yelling, "YES! YES! I can't believe how easy it is to sell a painting, online, is it?"
Lili laughed at her as she was teaching her newfound friend how to use the Internet and also about EBAY. "Yes, well done, and yes, you're getting the online lingo perfect."
"What's this about, Mum?" Archie asked, while looking at one woman to the other for an answer. He stared at the pc and turned to Paul, "Did you buy this? Haven't I told you about money and how tight the finances are…"
"Oh Archie! Andrew donated it before he moved! Guess what! I sold a painting on this wonderful site called---" Molly defended Paul…
"EBAY." Lili answered, helping the woman keep her details straight. Archie was displeased and replied…
"She spends money like a woman with nay hands!"
"Hush up, Archie. I'm not gambling with a broker again." Molly winked, trying to get her son to calm down. She remembered how they almost lost the estate to her awful losing streak and how a bookie, Murdo, had tried to come to the house to collect her debt! "I only sold one painting. Andrew had a scanner, which came with his donation, and so Lili took of one my photos that I had brought with me and scanned it on the site…very simple. The painting sold for a good chunk of cash!"
"Is this safe?" Paul asked, unsure about Molly and her paintings being sold to someone they don't know.
"For the most part, yes. She starts out small first, selling paintings for reasonable amounts and only sending the painting after receiving the confirmation of a valid payment, within four weeks." Lili explained while glancing at Paul and Archie.
"With the money from my profits of the paintings, I should be able to support myself in my own studio. I had Andrew help me create a place for my artwork before he left in the cottage. He gave me a list of contacts that were interested in buying my artwork from the show. Tell ya, I'm sizzling like a nip of bacon in a fry pan!" She exclaimed…
"Well, alright, but if anything happens, Lili, you're being held responsible!" Archie replied, shaking his head…before showing interest… "What does EBAY do aside from selling my mother's art?"
Archie wandered behind the desk, Lili grinned and stood up from her chair and offered, "Take ye seat and Mol will show you how it's done."
It was Monday afternoon and Paul and Archie were coming back from the loch…
Paul was trying to bring up the idea of being with Lili to his brother. He still had the bet going on with Duncan and his mind shifted to how she had acted so weird with him after she got her divorce "finalized."
"You're rather quiet suddenly." Archie asked, trying to probe…as his eyes glanced over to Paul and then back out at the water.
"I'm wondering about how you got Lexie to settle down with you." He asked outright which caught Archie off guard.
"It's all history. I am going to guess this discussion is about Lex's cousin?"
Paul nodded, as he remained deep in thought about his current love interest. Only Archie knew his brother's crush, wasn't interested in him. Just the way she acted, but then again he had trouble deciding which woman was right for him to marry---thank goodness it wasn't still him trying to find someone to settle down with!
"Maybe you should talk to her about it. I had a hard time convincing Lex, she was the right one for me especially when doubts set into her mind about my wanting us to marry."
"You worked it out." Paul replied. He had already informed Lili of his feelings and she had cozied herself to him in the truck after the art show, but ever since the day she got divorced she's been acting different.
"Yes, we did. Keep in mind MacDonald men are really bad at telling a woman how they feel and keeping it straight. Don't worry she's not going anywhere and I'm sure she'd talk to you about everything if you give her the chance. Settling myself down with Lex was the greatest thing ever. You'll figure it out." Archie advised…he had no idea about the bet between the head ranger and his brother…"My mother and Lex are still rooting for the two of you…" Archie was still a clueless MacDonald male since he had no idea what was actually really going on between Lili and his head ranger either! As the men looked out at the water and not another word was said…
A couple days later, on Wednesday eve, Golly and Molly were in her cottage, just before dinner. He had helped her install a light fixture in her studio so her painting would be easier to see!
"Oh Golly, what would I do without your help?" Molly smiled.
"Am pleased to be yer Mr. Fix-it." Golly smiled as he climbed down off the ladder and returned one of his tools to his toolbox nearby.
"I love it. I just wish…" Molly's voice trailed off…
"Dear lass, ye know, ye don't have to live here alone." Golly nodded, trying to get to the bottom of Molly's despair.
"Oh, I know." She answered, but her despair wasn't about living alone. It was wondering if she'd actually find love again after losing her dear husband Hector years ago. She had tried the "dating" scene and didn't care so much for it. Andrew wasn't a boyfriend to her…just a friend.
"'Bout Hector, is it?" Golly replied, as he suddenly knew what she was thinking about. He had thought of the same thing…what would it be like to be with someone you're absolutely nuts about, day in and day out?
"I see how the young people are and I suddenly wonder what it is like to be young and in love again…after watching that poor girl go through a divorce at such a young age…I wonder will she move on too?" Molly spoke of Lili briefly. She had no idea what Golly was about to say next!
"Aye...'bout that…I caught Dunc wit her one mornin', after she had just arrived here." Golly added trying to let Molly know that pushing the girl to be with Paul wasn't going to work. She had made up her mind about being with his relative, or in a way practical son!
"You did?" Molly said as a smile crept on her face. "I knew it!"
"What exactly?" Golly asked, unsure of how to take Molly being excited, since he thought she was so gun ho about setting the girl up with Paul!
"That she was going to see Duncan the night after the art show!" She shouted, remembering how she spied on her in the kitchen that night and observed her walking out the door!
"But ye wanted her wit Paul?" Golly asked totally confused.
"Oh no, that was Lexie's idea, never my own! I just wanted the girl to find someone to date who would open up her heart and show her…"
"The world." Golly chuckled, thinking of Duncan and Yankee. "Well, you picked a live one for her, Mol."
Chapter Fifteen…Lets Play Ball…
Two days later, the Laird had closed up the office as he had a team of caterers and some other workmen getting the Centre ready for the annual picnic. Figuring it was such a nice day out, he was determined to keep the eight camping boys (who had been "surviving the wild" of Glenbogle for almost a week now) busy and somewhat midge bitten free. Lili suggested to him a perfect way to keep the lads occupied…to learn how to play America's favorite pastime and hers too…BASEBALL…Neither Archie or Lili consulted Paul on the matter…when he approached the lawn of the house, he was upset because he had a hike planned for the campers and had waited a good twenty minutes at the head of the trail! When he realized no one was coming, he decided to investigate.
"Angus, you hit the ball and then run…" Lili explained while she had an outfield of three boys, an infield of three more boys at the bases, Lili as pitcher, and then Duncan playing catcher. Angus stood there with a cricket paddle bat.
"This is a lot like cricket, right?" The boy asked…then Paul came storming up the lawn…
"What is this all about? You know, I waited for these boys over at the trail!" He hollered at her.
"Oh Paul, they are having fun playing baseball." Lili explained trying to make a good case. His eyes narrowed in…
"You know, if Archie catches you having these lads on the front…"
"I already know about it Paul. I'm playing with them." Archie replied from behind his brother. He was next up at bat! "Come on, the workers are busy getting the Centre ready for the picnic and this is the lads last full day here! Let them enjoy themselves!"
"Where did you find these?" Paul asked, pointing to the gloves, bats and balls…
"In the cellar! Hector loved to play cricket and he had a couple old gloves...Lili had two gloves packed in her suit case! This is such an interesting sport that she is teaching the lads…baseball! " Molly replied as she sat in a lawn chair, as she was the "cheering" section for the baseball game! Golly was standing on second "base" as they were waiting for next up at bat to swing...
"Oh." Paul then quieted down.
"Step aside a let the game continue." Duncan suggested, as his eyes lifted to Paul and then over to Lili.
"Fine, as long as I get a go…" Paul shrugged and smiled to Lili before he backed away…and walked over to Molly. He sat down in a lawn chair next to her.
Angus swung the bat as it then connected with the ball…Lili then yelled, "Run Angus!"
The boy ran to the "first" base…Duncan had found three "bases" which were, of course, stolen from the kitchen. He managed to get them before Marina had a chance to say something…the first base was the sack of potatoes, and second, and third bases were bags of flour! He had cleverly hauled them over to their proper places under Lili's instructions…
"I believe you're up at bat." Lili nodded to Archie, as she adjusted her navy baseball cap with a capital "B" on it…it was the symbol of the Boston Red Sox…a professional baseball team! She used to go to the games with her father when she was a little kid. She had found the hat in her luggage as her father had tucked it away to remind her of home.
"Okay, but go easy on me." He joked…
Lili wound up her arm, checked the "bases", "We've got two outs, one man on third base and a man on first base…we're in the top of the ninth inning!" She laughed at her "game" commentary before pitching the ball to Archie. He swung the bat as it connected with a forceful "slap" as the ball was send up into the air as a "pop-fly" and it kept going…going…going…but then they heard a loud "CRASH" as the ball went through a closed upstairs window at the house!
"Er...not exactly what I had in mind…" Archie laughed…as he saw the damage made by his "up at bat."
Lili shouted, "Run! It's a home run! You round all the bases!" Archie ran as Golly came running into HOME, which was a sterling silver placemat from the dinner table, and then Angus, then Archie and eight boys cheered! Until they heard….
"What's this?!!! ARCHIBALD HORATIO HECTOR MACDONALD!!!!" Lexie screamed as she poked her head out of the broken window! Archie glanced up in fear for his dear life…his wife wasn't happy at how the ball had landed in the twins' nursery! "This here ball ended up in bed with yer son!"
"I guess he's missing out on the fun!" Molly jazzed, but her daughter in law wasn't laughing…she was scowling at the mess her husband had made!
"Sorry, Lex," Lili shouted back. "It's my fault! I pitched it to him!"
Lexie disappeared from the window and about five minutes later she had made way to the lawn…" Next time, be more careful pitching these to anyone with the last name MacDonald- myself included! " She decided to lighten up and laugh, as Archie let out a sigh of relief for now being off the "hook."
Later on during that Friday evening, the cousins were out walking as Lexie had managed to get Molly to baby-sit the twins-well it wasn't hard to ask…since the grandmother had insisted on it!
"Molly is watching the twins? I wonder how she's doing…" Lili laughed.
"She's a great lady. She's spent so much time fighting with first, Avril, then Marina, so I'd eat well during my pregnancy. That's why Archie got so cross with her the first day you were here. She wanted to be sure the twins and I were getting enough to eat and she was determined to make sure of it!" Lexie chuckled while speaking fondly of her mother in law. "This is the hillside, where Arch and I tied the knot." Lexie winked out of breath. Lili looked around as she smiled.
"This is great, Lex." As Lili's eyes gazed at the view around them.
"Yea it is…Arch kept saying to me he followed his heart to find me out here as I was running away because we feared marrying. Little did I know until minutes later that Duncan had put a tracking device in my backpack!"
"Oh," Lili giggled…as she could picture Duncan doing such a thing.
"You did talk to him, right?" Lexie asked, as her idea of a walk was also to get information out of her cousin about her ol' mate or bam pot…whichever name suits him most.
"Yes, Lex, I did. That was weeks ago!" Lili said, unsure of why her cousin brought up the old news…
"Well, I want details! It's not too late to ask for them, is it? You cannot keep a dear lass hanging like this! I know we haven't had time to chatter about and you're trip is nearly ova…"
"I thought Duncan talked to you." Lili added, thinking they were such close friends, he must have said something to her. Yet, they had decided to keep it quiet until she got the nerve to tell Paul about them. She had spent quite a few nights with him already and no one had seemed to notice her missing from her bed at night! Now her cousin was asking her about this relationship?
"No, his lips were sealed, or so he told me ova and ova again as I badgered him for info. I've been trying to get him to talk, but he changes the subject and every time I go to ask you, you're off working or you're with Paul…" Lexie explained…Well, in memory of Duncan's words, "If I tell you, I'd have to kill you." Of course…she kept asking him, "Ya seeing her?" He'd reply again…"Me lips are sealed." She banter back…" Ye are!" But he didn't admit to seeing her cousin, after her challenging him…he actually stuck to his promise with Lili not to say anything about them being together!
"Lex…" Lili started to say but Lexie cut her off…
"You spent the night with him! Dunc! I knew it! Molly was right!" Lexie nodded with a grin.
Lili looked at her embarrassed and then replied, "How did you know? How did Molly---?"
"Word travels fast, remember? Duncan had told Golly, who told Molly and then she told me!"
Lili then started to get upset with Duncan…her mood change showed, "How could he say something to Golly? Does Paul now know?"
Lexie oddly stared at her… "Why should Paul know? I'm not encouraging you both to be together anymore…I stopped once I assumed Duncan was wit ya."
"Because he has liked me this whole time I've been here. Every time I try to say something about seeing Duncan, he's off with Archie complaining about something or off with the campers. I tried to tell him after the baseball game that I was "taken" and he was too busy shouting at me. He claimed the campers were his responsibility and not mine…"
"Heh, you admit it!" Lexie grinned, then exclaimed..." No Lil, just forget Paul. If you're happy with Duncan, then be with him. There's no harm done and no foul play…you never liked my brother in law that way. We all know it!" As she was thrilled her cousin was with her old mate.
"But I'm going home in a week…" Lili added, realizing how attached she was to everyone at the Glenbogle Estate.
"Right, about that. Just enjoy your time here…I'm sure Arch will give you the week off to explore the area if you like…maybe give Dunc some time off too." Lexie rambled on and on…with a wink.
Lili wasn't thinking about exploring…she was thinking about how she was going to lay into Duncan for blabbing about them in the first place…since he broke the agreement that they had made that first night! Then something else came weighing in on her mind…she started to push it aside. She was more upset with Duncan, than her body!
Late that night, after the office was quietly closed up, Hermione cleverly picked the lock to the door and crept inside. She found the computer and other forms of documents on the desk…she then carefully turned on the pc and placed a CD in the CD burner, uploaded the Centre and Estate files, before hitting a delete key and deleting ALL of the information that had taken Lili hours upon hours to compile! She then did a quick maneuver by taking the documents and storing them in her bag with the CDs. She knew once she had stolen the information and made it look like the yank had done it…Laird would be for sure to send the retched lass back to America on the next sleeper for sure!
Chapter Sixteen…Caught in the act…
The same night Hermione broke into the Centre office…Lili wandered up to Duncan's door and knocked…her clothes were damp since it had started to rain. She noticed when it rained in Glenbogle…it POURED and that the midges were more nasty than usual as they swarmed around her head! He opened the door and let her in immediately.
"Lil? It's pouring out there! I didn't realize you were coming down or I would have showed up with an umbrella." Duncan gestured. She didn't look so happy and it wasn't about being wet from the rain!
"Why did you say something to Golly about us?" She shouted out…Duncan's face dropped as his mood turned very casual…
"It's not what ye think…"
"If this is a stunt to get back at me for not talking to Paul, I have been trying to tell him all week long about us! Every time he gets a minute, he's busy with that group of campers!" She replied…as he looked at her slightly confused…he would never plot revenge on her of all people.
"'Bout that…" He started…but she wouldn't let him finish! She was just like Lexie in this way-no word in edgewise and quick wit with her tongue!
"About what?!" She added outspokenly.
Definitely related to Lex, he thought…then the idea of laughing crossed his mind but her eyes were already narrowing in for an answer…He said:
"Look, Golly showed up here that morning after we "YOU KNOW" and I had to say something. I walked out of me room with yer bra attached to my boot! He saw it!"
"This is my fault?!" She argued…and part of it was…
"Wait, you haven't had words wit Meathead about us? I thought you already had?" He asked, wondering if she was telling the truth or if he was just jumping to conclusions. It had been close to two weeks since their agreement aside from the bet! Then the bet with Paul weighed in on his mind…he hadn't exactly been truthful with her either…he had been hiding something from her for two weeks too…
"Meathead?" She added, but didn't laugh. How could she stand there and say to him, that every time she did talk to Paul---he was too busy trying to make a move on her! She'd back away and he'd question her and then something would come up and he'd be off again! Her intentions were not to make anyone jealous or hurt someone…but she was heading in that direction--to upset everyone!
"Aye, Meathead!" Duncan nodded…
"OK, I'm done here…" She shook her head…she went to turn to leave and Duncan replied…
"Don't go. It's pouring out an' it makes no sense for ya to catch a chill and the midges will eat ya alive…"
She stopped and turned towards him again. "Why shouldn't I? I'm leaving here in a week and I can only imagine---" He walked towards her and then swept her off her feet. "UM, Mr. MacKay, put me down."
"No." He shook his head. "I asked you not to go."
"You asked me, yes, and I'm not staying here with you..."
"I'm not allowing ya to leave. Yer not doing a runner."
"Why not?" She added noticing they were heading towards his bedroom!
"Because we have a book to finish…" He answered…they had spend all of those nights reading " Monarch of the Glen" by Compton Mackenzie…wanting to know more about Ben Nevis and how he was trying to marry his son off with a daughter of a wealthy American, Myrtle Royde! Duncan dropped her on the bed. "Then comics to read and laugh at…um…"
She stared up at him, but didn't scowl at his protests of her trying to escape…"Right, every time we get to a good part, you decide to…" He jumped on the bed beside her and cut her off with a very swift brush of the lips.
"I cannot help it, Lil. I enjoy reading with ya so much…it's…" He looked at her…and then blurted helplessly out as his heart was worn on his sleeve…"I love you."
She wasn't sure of what to say at that moment…as her eyes wandered around the room. He had fallen in love with her within two weeks of her being there…was it enough to make her consider staying? She was afraid of what was going to come out of her mouth as a response…"Love, is a pretty big word, you know?"
Suddenly, Duncan realized he was getting a history lesson than the actual answer he was hoping for from her! He decided to talk to her more about it...
"Aye, when said to the right person, it's more than that." He said with a nod of his head.
"Look, I---" She was sweetly cut off again with more butterfly kisses.
"Love me?" He challenged her after breaking free from their lip touches. He was wrapped in her…arms, mind and soul… she had nowhere to run!
"I..." She added, but the words couldn't come out as much as she wanted them too!
About an hour or so later...
"Are we safe to say we're together?" Duncan asked, as it was their first official argument, and they had managed to push past it by sealing it with love. They were up to their necks in blankets again, warmly cuddled to each other. Lili kept pondering if she did love him…part of her did…the other half of her was plain confused…
"Hmmm?" She asked, "I think so…"
"Ach good! It's killin' me! Ye can move out of the house and in with me, now?" He added, jumping the gun…
"I think I should stay in the house, Dunc." She spoke evenly. "I plan on telling Paul tomorrow too."
"Aye, well, I s'pose you could stay up there…" His voice faltered. He didn't like that idea of her being far away and then he started to wonder more about her leaving Glenbogle.
During that moment, back at the house, Paul had decided to check in on Lili after the rain. She had mentioned to him that afternoon she had to talk to him about something…suddenly he felt awful for shouting at her when she was only trying to entertain the campers too.
He knew his brother was right, they'd work things out and maybe she's stop acting so different towards him. He'd go to kiss her or hug her and she'd back away or make some comment about how he was invading her space or she was sick and couldn't be touched! He neared down the hall from his bedroom.
He had been tossing and turning trying to figure out the best way to talk to her…Archie had suggested if he feels something for her, he should make it clear again…MacDonald men, however, still knew nothing about women and how they worked!
He made way to her room… "Lil?" He whispered into the darkness…but there was no return sound, no mumble, and no moan…he walked over to the bedside table and reality hit him. She wasn't there! Her bed was still made. He scratched his head, thinking maybe she's in the kitchen…I'll speak with her when she comes back up stairs…he switched off the light and walked back into his bedroom…
The next afternoon, Saturday, at tea time...
"Why Hermione! How delightful to see you!" Molly called as she and Killwillie followed her into the sitting room for afternoon tea.
"Thank-you, Mrs. MacDonald." Hermione smiled, even though, she had other reasons for being at the house than for tea.
"You're welcome." Molly smiled. "Come sit down."
"Actually, I have to use the ladies room." She replied causally.
"Dear girl, go then!" Killwillie boosted with a laugh as he watched his niece take off around the corner. He sat next to Molly drinking tea as the talked about village politics and the annual picnic this Sunday afternoon.
Hermione ran quickly up the stairs as she was going to head for the bathroom…but she was also in search of the guest room that Lili was staying in and found it. She quietly tiptoed into Lili's room and put the CD's and documents in Lili's possession. She had stored all of the stolen documents into a folder, before stowing them in the yank's suitcase. She then swiftly ran out of the room and down the hall, unaware of the eyes that watched her flee the scene of a "crime."
Same Saturday afternoon, Archie and Paul had called Lili into the office. She was outraged at Archie for his pessimistic judgment on the safety of using a computer in the office again. He noticed that Lili was the last one to log in on the computer system, when the documents and information went missing. "Look, I have no idea what you're talking about! I had all of the information stored on that pc system! Ask Paul! I don't know how everything disappeared! I don't! The back disks are missing! Same with the title documents from the board about having the wolves on the property!"
"She did…" Paul nodded, but Archie blew a fuse…
"Where were you last night Lili?" He questioned, as Paul had asked him where she was this morning since she still wasn't in her room…as she then froze, as she was thinking about her talk with Lexie last night and how she had ended up at Duncan's again…she had her "words" with him about talking to Golly. Of course, one thing led to another and she spent the night with him once again!
"It's a question that deserves an answer. I didn't find you in your room last night." Paul hounded. He still had an ongoing bet for her with Duncan, but he assumed that his rival wouldn't have stooped so low to steal her away during the night. He was wrong…
"I…I was…" She stammered…she had told Duncan last night she would tell Paul everything…but now and in front of Archie?
Duncan appeared at the door of the office, as he was filling in for Golly for feeding the wolves. He heard the yelling, aside from wanting to see her, so he decided to have a look…he thought maybe she had told Paul about them…then he worried about her finding out about the bet…"She was with me." Duncan defended her as she stood still. She didn't want to cause more of a problem, but the brothers glanced at him and then each other puzzled. The Laird wasn't shocked…he was still up in arms about the missing office documents and files to be talking about Duncan and Lili being a couple. Paul on the other hand…
"OK, outside now." He demanded, while grabbing Duncan by the scruff of the neck and pushing him out the door. Duncan was wrong…Lili hadn't said anything about them yet to Paul!
The two men stood outside of the office and Paul was ripped! He then started to speak, "We had a bet, no kissing her, no touching her and no---"
"Hold on! Those were me own rules and you said there wasn't any! I broke me own rules with her!" Duncan defended himself, but Lexie was approaching the men with a baby pram and the twins were in it. She could hear the argument from a mile away…
"Am I interrupting, gents?" She asked coolly…she sensed trouble brewing…
"No." Duncan shook his head. Paul remained quiet.
"I am apparently so…what's this 'bout a bet?" Lexie challenged, which then put the men on the spot.
"There's no…"
"Bet." A voice answered from the office door, and it was Lili. She was taken back in complete shock as she heard their argument…"You made a BET about me?" Her anger bubbled up and was directed at Duncan. The men looked very guilty. After agreeing with Duncan that they were together, knowing she had to say something to Paul that day…the whole bet through her through a loop! She was upset, as her eyes shifted to Duncan…"I don't believe you, after everything we've talked about---being together!" As her eyes shifted back to Paul," You? You went along with it? The bet, the relationship, what ever the hll it is---is OFF!" Lili ran off down a nature trail, trying to put them all behind her.
"Lil!" Duncan called after her, but then Golly appeared with Hermione and he was shoving her towards the lot as she tried to rip her arm free from his hold, "Hermione?"
"Go on, tell them what ye've done, lass or I will." Golly warned her, pushing the woman forward.
"Tell us what exactly?" Archie stood there staring at Killwillie's niece, wondering why she was lurking about the grounds.
"I found—?" Golly shoved her as she admitted, "I stole the CDs and documents…"
"An'---?" Golly shoved her again, as his eyes leveled with Archie's.
"I placed them in Lili's suitcase at the house this afternoon." She shrugged.
"Why?" Archie asked, totally confused about why she would do such a thing?
"Because I wanted ya to ship that damn yank back." Hermione retorted as jealousy boiled over from her tone.
"Fine then, we'll deal with you in a moment, since there's no harm done, as Lili didn't steal anything, however, you two must to go have a word with her." Archie commanded, barking out duties to Paul and Duncan.
"What's this about Lil stealing?" Lexie asked confused, looking for her husband to fill her in.
"It's a long story, Lex. Fill you in later. I'll go retrieve those office files from the house. We have a picnic to tend tomorrow! " Archie nodded, hopped up into the truck and drove off.
"I'll walk back to the house then and meet you there." She turned the carriage and strolled off down another path towards the estate.
Duncan didn't run as he just stared at Hermione, before turning to his relative and asking, "How did ya know?"
Golly replied, "I found the lass snooping about up in Lili's room this afternoon. I had finished fixing the nursery's broken window after playing that sport. I thought nothing at first, but then found her spying about on the argument Archie and Paul were having with her just now."
Duncan spoke low, "Oh."
Golly then smiled at Duncan, "Laddy, easy learned, suin forgotten…go 've words wit yer luver."
Duncan accepted his suggestion and set off on foot to find 'his woman'.
Paul was already miles ahead of Duncan. He assumed Lili would have run towards the house and he was right. She was packing and during her mid pack, her hands found the documents and CDs. Lili turned to face Paul and then Archie.
"Ah yes, those were planted," Archie added, knowing it was just a huge misunderstanding trying to blame her for trying to mess up the Centre and its big day tomorrow. He then took the documents and CDs out of her hands and walked past Paul. He knew his brother had a lot of explaining to do.
Lexie neared the main foyer, carrying the babies in, she was worried since things were happening and Archie wasn't explaining anything to her! He met her at the bottom of the stairs. "What is going on?" She demanded…
"Hermione. She planted all of the files in Lili's suitcase this afternoon, thinking we'd fire Lili." He told his wife everything…"Duncan and her…"
"Dunc and Lil…yeah I already know." Lexie grinned.
"How do---?"Archie asked before she cut him off...
"Women's intuition, Mister MacDonald." She nodded matter of factly...with a smile and bright gleam to her eyes.
"Oh really…does it also know what I am about to do to you?" He leaned in to kiss her. He very much liked her "woman's intuition."
"Yeah, I knew that too." She joked back...as they looked at the twins in the pram. Both Jayne and Wayne were off in the land of nod...
"You almost had me there…" He beamed…
"I'll always have you there." She grinned again...as he had pulled her close to embrace her...then to smooch her again.
Upstairs in the guest room, Lili just kept packing her belongings, as she was furious. She avoided Paul until he provoked her…
"I know ye're angry…"
"I am beyond angry, you... big..." As she searched her mind for a word to call him...and came up with... "Meathead!" She remembered what Duncan had called Paul last night while they were snuggled close. Lili then shook the funny memory out of her head, since she didn't want Duncan amusing her mind too!
"Lili, I am the one who gambled here. Duncan, the daft airhead that he is, went along with it." Paul answered as he watched her pack. She buzzed around the room once again, making him glance at her bodily movements. He then nodded about, thinking, no she's made her choice quite clear, sneakin' off in the middle of the night with Duncan… "C'mon, he's the one who created the rules…aside from breakin' them…I can't hold it against him. You should have told me you were together…when did this happen?"
"The night of the art show. I've been with him quite a few nights on and off since I've been here." She admitted, feeling honesty was the best policy at the moment for Paul. "Oh believe me, I was starting to become very good at sneaking about at midnight! Sorry, I didn't say anything to you sooner, I should have…but now that doesn't matter, does it!" She let out a sigh, before going back to packing.
"Lili, don't pack. Archie knows you didn't do it. He knows Hermione framed you so he'd fire you and send you home…"
"Hermione?" She deadpanned, "I don't even KNOW her, why do---"
"Because she's green with envy, Lil." Another voice called from behind Paul and of course, it was Duncan. He was bumbling like a proud idiot in love, after hearing her admit to being with him in front of Paul finally!
"That's right, the girlfriend, swell…" Lili kept packing…but she was now packing things like a box of tissues, a mug that she had used for water the night before last, a tin of shoe polish that she had borrowed from Lex the night of the art show for her now damaged heels. Her hands then went over the pair of butchered high-heeled shoes and then Duncan laughed out loud, confusing Paul altogether. The laird heir had no idea what Lili had gone through to be with Duncan that first night. The idea of her using Marina's butcher knife to fix her shoes popped up in his mind!
"What?!" She glared at him and he stopped laughing instantly. Duncan had gotten her attention. Paul then decided to leave the room, since he couldn't get her to stop packing up and his former "bet" rival did.
"Ye're packin' yer cycling shoes!" He laughed again, before moments, as he ducked when she threw a shoe at him. The butchered shoe hit the wall with a thud. "C'mon, Lil, she's not my girlfriend…you are!"
"You're point is? " She tossed the other shoe at him and he ducked again.
"Ock, stop tossin' 'em about…" He pleaded, while lowering his head and lifting his brows.
"Not until you apologize to me. I don't understand why you didn't just come out and tell me about this ridiculous bet Paul made with you?" She asked, starting to calm down…it was flattering in a very warped way to have the men fight over her, but she still wasn't thrilled with being a prize.
"Aye, well…Sorry. I didn't deliberately do it to hurt you. I want to be with you." He blurted immediately as he watched her sit down on the bed. He started to inch towards her…
"Great, thanks…I guess I should keep packing!" Not even hearing a word of what he had said about being together. Lili stood up again as her fingers tossed the folded clothing into her suitcase. She knew in another week she'd leave this insane place…which had been growing on her fondly since day one…
Duncan panicked…because here's a girl on the verge of leaving…and he'd be heartbroken to see her go…His mind chanted, If she goes, it's going to just crush me…this why I decided I was done with women!
Duncan remembered talking to Archie long ago about relationships…well with the right person…how you know when to settle down…"You'll know, you'll both know" about how Archie and Lex always knew what the other one wants, what they were doing...then a light bulb in his mind went on again… as his brain rang out loud…Must get her to stay…
"Don't pack…ya heard Paul, things are fine. You're s'pose to stay until…" He stopped short suddenly as he didn't like the idea of her actually leaving, as it crept back to the surface of his thoughts, just like last night when they were cuddled together…and he was unsure if she'd stay in Glenbogle because of him.
However fate played on and had a different agenda planned for Lili…she just neglected to share with him her new concern. As Lili was going to talk to Lexie about it but she brought up her seeing with Duncan and her mind shifted to being upset with him---her body was NEVER late, not two weeks late—thinking about her female cycle again and not a bike! Nothing had been confirmed so she just forced the issue out of her mind.
"I'm staying for one more week, Dunc. As long as I'm able to take a break from doing the workload here, I should be spending more time with Lex. " She admitted, but not her new problem to him…
Duncan relieved at how "easy" it was to talk her out of going—maybe he did know what she wants…what she was doing…he laughed as he remembered the debt he had to collect from Paul since he did win the gamble! "Well 'um, Paul owes me a debt. I believe he'll be keeping grounds while working on the Centre and Estate books for the week. "
"What?" She asked, but he didn't answer, as he twisted her body around and planted firm smooch on her. She could feel her legs melting underneath after he let her go.
Chapter Seventeen…Lili's secret…
The next day, beautiful Sunday, the Estate was in the middle of the celebration of the One Year Anniversary of the Outdoor Wild Life Centre. Archie was so pleased as he watched children running around the property and checking out the wildlife. There was grilling going on, lots of food, and balloons tied everywhere, as his idea about restoring wildlife to the area, teamed with Paul's idea to open the Centre up to young campers for the summer came into a life of its own. There was a podium set up near the front office as Archie tested the microphone before calling attention to him. His happy crowd viewed his speech as he talked about how wonderful and lucky the town was to find it in their heart to make the Glenbogle Wildlife Centre such a success.
"Ladies! Gents! Gather around, please..." He tapped the microphone with his index finger and the began to speak…"Quite an honor to stand here and tell all of you... how wonderful you have made this place by visiting the animals, hiking the nature trails, camping out, even though with some 'naturalists'"…His eyes shifted to Duncan's. He smiled, with his arms folded across his chest and the gathering laughed…since news always spread fast in the small town—especially news about the camp sites on Glenbogle, however, they were now "naturalist" free. "It means a lot to know the village cares so much about its people…especially the residents of my estate."
Lexie was sitting beside Lili as they both held a twin in their arms. Lexie kept making the Wayne wave to his father as he talked on and on and Lili had Jayne wave too. Archie winked at Lexie.
Golly and Molly were beside each other, as they passed out tickets to the guests in the Visitor's Centre booth. This wasn't a "formal" event, it was a fun one, and so they were all dressed in their normal casual attire.
"I believe I am keeping all of you from enjoying the food and good company. Thank you again for making the Wild Life Centre such a huge success…" Then Carlin the wolf howled, as if on cue and the gathering laughed again…"I believe Carlin agrees with us. Very well then!" Archie chuckled, while stepping down from the podium. He rejoined his new family…and the crowd joined in with the festivities…
After the speech, Lili decided to walk up to Paul. "What's this I hear about you taking over the grounds and books for Dunc and I?"
Paul grumbled, but smiled… "Aye, feather bi feather the goose is plucked." He laughed, as she looked at him just as puzzled. "I made that deal and I will live up to it. I promise as long as you live up to yours."
"What do you---" as her words came to a halt at the small test tube that came out of his pocket.
Golly had driven her into the village yesterday afternoon, after the whole incident of the missing office files and documents… she claimed she wanted to buy a couple postcards or at least some kind of a souvenir at a pharmacy…only the souvenir was possibly already in side of her---well, the gift she continued to worry about! She walked into the pharmacy, picked up a box of two tests paid for them and then cleverly put the box in her purse. She then carried out a bag with a mug with "Scotland" on it as she didn't want Golly to ask her what she had bought and have herself come back empty handed! He didn't even know the difference!
When they got back from town, she used the pregnancy indicators right away… Paul handed one of the two tests to her right then, while she tried to avoid the issue, but asked, "Have you been snooping?"
"Only snoop when I see something out in the open, such as in the loo waste bin." He commented, as she wasn't going to get away that easy. He wanted an answer…
"How do you know it's me?" She questioned, trying to play dumb.
He didn't buy her act..." C'mon now it's not Lex, since she just popped two out and it can't be the men since we don't carry the little ones and also…Molly isn't having anymore kids…it's must be you. Best wishes are in order…"
"I haven't said anything to anyone about that second test. I haven't even had it confirmed yet." Her tone was low…
"Second? You've taken two tests? Does Duncan know?" He waited for her response once again.
"Yes, two tests, one negative and then one positive. Don't say anything, Paul. As I'm leaving earlier than planned, if this is all a hoax, then there's no need to worry---"
"You have to say something, Lil, confirmed or not. You can't go back to America without him knowing if you are…I know if it were true and mine, I'd be wanting you to stay here…" He reasoned with her, but failed at it...
"It's not your problem is it," Lili stated flatly, while grabbing the test tube and shoving it in her pocket. As Lexie approached them…
"There you are…" She grinned, but she sensed some tension between her brother in law and cousin. She shrugged it off, thinking it was just another normal occurrence…they were like oil and water…they really didn't mix!
Lili warned Paul with her eyes to keep quiet, "Yes, I'm here." As she walked off with Lexie and the twins leaving Paul behind to stew out the situation that he put his nosy self in.
He knew her leaving next week was going to bungle things up if she didn't get her pregnancy confirmed and pronto. If he was going to help hinder her new boyfriend, who would be stuck to her like paste on a stick, from finding out, then he'd have to think of a clever way to get her to a clinic. He decided it was best not to talk her about going to the town clinic in fear of her refusing, so he devised a smart plan.
That night, Lili was all on edge, aggravated at how she had left the test where Paul could find it. Her cousin didn't ask what her and her brother in law at been talking about at the picnic...Duncan was completely unaware of her moods but noticed her hunger had picked up considerably. She managed to eat rabbit pie quickly at the table in the dinning room. He was a taken back because she detested rabbit the first time she tried it. He couldn't understand why she was forcing herself to eat it this time around. Little did they know, her body craved…iron.
"Uuhhh, ya like the meat now, aye?" Duncan commented and eyed her curiously as he sat by her side.
Lili stopped mid-chew and then swallowed, as she had forgotten how gamy the meat was…until he reminded her of it. She then started to feel ill, but tried to hide it… "Nope, just the pie. Marina did a wonderful job."
Molly laughed, "Yes she did."
Lexie grinned as she held Jayne and tried to eat her supper. Wayne was asleep in the other room in the playpen. "Hope ye're not nesting, are ya?" She spoke out, which then made Lili stop herself from drinking her water. Lexie was trying to create a topic of discussion by directing it at her cousin…but it wasn't dinner talk!
"Um," as her eyes looked over to Paul, before smiling at Lexie. She'd kill him if he had said anything, after telling her he wouldn't. She's not even sure about the baby, well aside from the conflicting pregnancy indicators, and here's her cousin hitting the possible nail on the head.
"She's joking, Lil." Duncan reassured her but Paul choked on his piece of meat that he was trying to swallow.
"Are you alright?" Archie asked, giving Paul a swat to his back, before handing him some water.
"Oh yea, fine." He added, regaining his composure before staring at Lili once again.
"Well, good lad, because yer to go off to town to collect few bird homes for the sanctuary in the mornin," Golly requested to Paul, his temporary, 'Assistant Head Ranger.' Archie, after hearing all about the little bet, had come to the conclusion that Golly would be temporary 'Head Ranger' for that week…and Paul would be the assistant…so he could handle the Centre workload as well.
"Perfect." Paul added, knowing exactly what he would be doing in the morning, after he tricked Lili into going with him. He'll call the clinic in the morning and make an appointment for her, since he still had a number for Lexie's midwife since the night she gave birth in his night table drawer, which was Archie's request. He wasn't going to let her stubbornness keep her from finding out if she was indeed bringing a new life into the world.
The next morning, Lili found herself hungry right away as she headed down to the kitchen, as she overheard Paul in the library on the phone. "Ah, yes, good…we'll see you in an hour."
"Lili, just the face I wanted to…" Paul said as he walked out of the library and into the kitchen.
"OK, where does Marina keep the rabbit pie?" She asked…he looked at her strangely. She was searching the freezer…she craved rabbit in the early morning. He knew too that she hated the gamy meat and watched her scarf down the pie in two whole bites. He also had the pleasure to witness her tossing the whole dinner up later that night while he then consoled her at the toilet. Lexie found them in the bathroom and had asked if she was alright. He simply replied it was the rabbit and it hit her stomach wrong! Lexie just shrugged...thinking her cousin would need a good night's rest as a cure.
"Rabbit pie for brekky? I suggest you stay away from it." Paul asked and commented, as he was positive that she was going to visit the clinic and soon. "Well, I am going into town, so I'd be happy to take you with me so we could pick up a quick bite." Paul was very good at wheeling and dealing…he knew how to get her into the truck, as he'll have to bribe her with food.
"Great, sounds good. Duncan is…"
"He's off joggin' in the morning and he runs for hours on end and then showers. You'll be back in time to see him at noon for lunch." Paul lied, as he had no idea where Airhead was, but he'd hope he was actually jogging around the acreage so he wouldn't foul up his plot.
"OK, I'm ready to go." Lili followed Paul out to the truck and climbed in. He then closed the door behind her and hopped up into the drivers' side.
When they arrived in town, Paul kept his cool. He was simply going to pick up the bird homes and then take her into the direction of the clinic. He decided he'd lie and just say he was picking something up for Lexie, information on how to prevent Post Partum Depression, that way he'd get her inside. They entered the clinic as Lili wandered to a reception desk. She was about to ask for it when Paul announced, "Lili MacKinney." She cringed at being set up.
"You, you're…" She got upset with him for tricking her into getting checked out by a nurse.
"I owe you a big mornin' meal, I know, Lil." He winked and nodded...
"You owe me more than that." She challenged him with a stubborn glare.
"Excuse me, are you Lili MacKinney? The nurse wants to see you." She announced between the bickering pair.
"Yes, I am." She replied, and with defeat, she followed the nurse into an exam room…while Paul waited for her in the sitting area.
She was nervous at the results of the pee test, but the nurse came back and confirmed she was having a baby. She explained the importance of vitamins an eating well, while handing her a packet of baby lingo. Lili was now officially scared and going home seemed like the best option—or just like her cousin would do in a time of love crisis…run away. "Are you planning on having the child here? Our healthcare system is very different from the US." The nurse explained, but Lili wasn't sure of how to answer.
"I'm only here for another week and then I'm going back to the states." She explained.
"Well, it sounds like that gent outside will be disappointed." The nurse knew who Paul Bowman was, as he was Hector MacDonald's son and her children were thrilled when they were exploring the Wild Life Centre yesterday afternoon! She also knew the Laird himself, Archie, since she confirmed the pregnancy for their twins about nine months ago.
"He's not the father." Lili added, while her mind wandered in circles and she felt faint.
"Aye, well, good luck to you then. Please ring us if you do in fact stay." The nurse winked and walked Lili out into the sitting area. Paul stood up right away. Lili wasn't sure of what to say. She just followed him to the desk and she was about to pay the woman at the check out. The woman explained the gent picked up the bill and not to worry about having to pay.
"Thank-you," Lili said to Paul in the truck as she held the folder.
"Aye, well…you shouldn't have had to go that route alone. I wasn't going to let ya." He gestured, as he would explain to Archie later about the bill for the nurse's visit when it showed up in the Wildlife Centre's post box! "So what was the result anyway? Mummy-dome or going back to America?"
"I'm doing both." She stated short and to the point, as her eyes guided out the window. He didn't like the sound of her answer and he knew the father wouldn't approve either…
Chapter Eighteen…Leaving so soon?
After Lili and Paul got back from the clinic and picking up bird homes…She had decided to ring her father. Suddenly she was feeling very homesick and wanted to be back in her own bedroom, with her father around. She wondered how he'd take the news of a grandchild…
"Lili!" Her father exclaimed, as he was elated to hear the sound of her voice.
"Hey Dad."
"How's my homeland? Are you eating enough? Are you enjoying your time with Lexie?"
"Yes, Dad." Lili replied, still hoping her situation wasn't real, but it was…
"What's wrong? Do you miss home?"
"Yes, I'm thinking about going to Glasgow tonight and then flying out in the morning." She decided she wanted to leave today and not wait until Friday. She didn't know what to tell her new found "kin" but she'd be sure to send them a note letting them know she's okay and thanking them for the hospitality.
"I see, well, great, just call me when you make it to Bangor. And I'll pick you up." He said with a hint of concern, as he could tell it wasn't his daughter he was talking to…"Lil, are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm great Dad, just ready to go home. I'll call you when I get there. Dad…"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I love you too sweetie." Lili then hung up the phone, but Molly was standing at the doorway, she wasn't trying to pry, but she heard everything Lili had said.
"Going home? Sounds splendid, doesn't it?" She asked, quietly…
"Oh, hi…yea. I was going to go pack and then try to catch the 13:30pm train to Glasgow."
"Oh well, just let me know when you go and I'll drive you." She offered with a huge smile, since she could drive now. At first she found it odd that Lili was going to leave today and not Friday, but she dismissed the idea. She was also bummed that she wouldn't be able to hold a going away celebration for her.
"Thanks." Lili nodded to Molly and walked out of the library, while climbing the stairs. She hadn't seen Duncan at all, as she just assumed they'd meet later---just as Paul had assured her. Then it dawned on her there would be no later…she had packed up last night in case she needed to escape after Paul had found the pregnancy test! Within 20 minutes she ran down the stairs with everything in tow.
"Are you ready dear?" Molly called out to her as they packed her car and the drove down the driveway to the sleeper. Lili knew she had everything with her as she double-checked the room over and over…aside from bringing one more thing home but it was still a small package…
Duncan finally had made it to the house, as he wanted to see her right away. He thought maybe a nice walk down to the loch would be nice, aside from carrying her back to his home for other kinds of enjoyment. His feet stopped in its tracks as he approached her room and opened the door. "Lil?"
He glanced at the emptiness. She wasn't there, her bed was made, and her clothes and suitcase weren't in the corner as he turned to face Paul at the doorway. "Where is she?"
"She left." Paul added, knowing he was going to bear some news that was going to make Duncan run to the sleeper to fetch her once again…all of this nonsense was starting to give him a headache.
"I know she left. When did she?" Duncan rolled his eyes...folded his arms across his chest...about to tap his foot as he impatiently waited for an answer...
"About 10 minutes ago, I watched Molly help her pack her car with her belongings."
"You didn't stop her?" He asked, confused.
"No, Dunc. I didn't." Paul answered, suddenly he knew he was going to be telling Duncan anyway…"Lil left early because this morning we went to the clinic in town, during my errand for Golly."
"Och, the clinic?" He asked, not sure of what he was going to get for an answer.
"Dunc," He replied as he shook his head in thought, why else would she go to a clinic, ye baffled Airhead? Then added aloud, "She's expecting..."
"Expecting what?" Duncan shrugged, until he put one and one together getting a sum of two...clinic expecting "baby..." He stated as his eyes grew wide..."Och."
Paul nodded, "Aye, yer not as daft as I thought."
Suddenly Duncan didn't think Paul was lying to him and the whole idea of her running away, hit him like a ton of bricks! He fled the room and ran down the stairs, nearly knocking over Lexie and her babies.
"Dunc!" Lexie yelled out, as if to warn him to slow down.
"Sorry. Must fetch Lil…" He yelled, while running to his truck, good thing he was a mad man behind the wheel! Lili had called him that the other day when he drove her back from the office. He then backed up the truck and slammed down on the gas, nearly causing an accident with Archie, as he was pulling up to the house in another truck. He watched Duncan speed away…
"What got into Duncan? He practically crashed into me!" Archie asked as he approached his wife in the foyer, while kissing her in warm greeting...she had set the twins down for nap up in their nursery. On the way back she stopped in the guest room to find her cousin...missing.
"He crashed into me too, but I dun no...Lil is gone...he said he was going to go get her..." Lexie added...thinking the whole situation was odd. Paul walked into the foyer from the kitchen...as the married couple exchanged more puzzled looks.
Paul laughed, as he knew what they were talking about... "Because she's having his baby."
Lexie's mouth dropped. "What? Nuh-uh...she couldn't be...she would have told me!"
Archie replied, "I suppose a celebration is in order..."
"Yeah, well, I was sworn not to say anything but I am anyway...celebration could happen...as long as she's not half way to Glasgow by now." Paul suggested as Lexie got the hint...
"Oh no, she didn't pull a runner, did she? Paul?"
"Well, it seems that way doesn't it?" Archie added...remembering very well his wife doing that "sort of thing" on occasion. He shrugged as it must run in her family.
"She just told me she was going home after we went to the clinic and got her checked out..."
"She went to..." Lexie questioned in disbelief.
"Not exactly...I had to trick her into going." Paul nodded with a big smile...like he had done something important.
"You didn't stop her?" Lexie asked bewildered.
"No. She didn't want to be stopped." Paul replied but Lexie's eyes narrowed in...he could see she was going to argue with him...instead of thanking him for taking care of her cousin.
Meanwhile...Lili watched out the window of Molly's car as they approached the station. Molly helped her with her stuff and walked her to the platform. "I'd like to stay with you before you board." She said.
Lili smiled, "I'd love it."
The sleeper was delayed from Glasgow for about 20 minutes, so Molly and Lili sat down on a bench. "Why are you leaving so soon, my dear child?" Molly could tell Lili was all out of sorts.
Lili tried to choke back some tears, as suddenly she was going to miss her. "I'm---going home---"
"Why? I mean you could stay here, and spend time with Lexie and the babies. I'm sure I could get your visa worked out for another few months since you've helped us out so much. What's wrong, darling?"
"I'm kinda in a rough spot." Lili replied, thinking about raising the child on her own as her despair grew more…
"It's Duncan?" She asked, trying to put an arm around her. "I know it's not Paul—we all know it's not him."
"Why do you hate Paul, anyway?" Lili asked bravely, peeking quietly at her through her tears.
"I don't hate Paul. I like him, just have issues with Hector, but they'll never be resolved since he passed on." Molly added sweetly. "I'm trying to like him. I just know if Arch were to go, that Paul would step in and take his place. Archie has a family now…running the estate should be his second priority…or not one at all."
"Molly, do you believe in fate?" Lili asked, trying to wipe her eyes with her hands.
"Of course dear." Molly nodded, as she concluded, "I feel fate brought you here to Glenbogle for a new beginning. I'm just sad to see you leave it for your past."
"My fate…" she paused because her new beginning included a child that she was going to take to her past and raise on her own. "Includes a baby…I'm already a couple weeks along."
"I know, dear." Molly winked, as she smiled. "It was that night of the Art Show, wasn't it? That's a blessed present…one that you can't ignore, you know." As she knew about her with Duncan…since Golly had told her…she also had a hunch about the pregnancy, after watching Lili's mood swings and her hunger aside from hearing her daughter in law chat on about how the Rabbit Pie made Lili sick last night. She also was just like Paul and fished out the positive test from the loo garbage, like a classic spy, Agent Molly MacDonald. Only she didn't confront Lili, but put the tests back in the trash for Paul to then find.
"You know?" Lili asked startled.
"I saw the test." Molly laughed.
"But Paul found it." Lili answered instinctively.
"Paul is nosy when he wants to be and so I decided to let him challenge you to get your pregnancy confirmed. I knew about the phone call in the library to the clinic. I was hiding behind the desk." Molly liked pretending to be a spy detective, as she had been reading a lot of Agatha Christie novels lately…she laughed at her explanation to Lili. "I have been reading quite a few spy mysteries. I was standing outside of the kitchen door the night you and Lexie were talking about Duncan…"
"You were there?"
"Of course, you asked about Duncan and not Paul. I knew and when you were in the kitchen, I saw you cut off your heel to your shoes and put them on. Golly told me all about you being with Duncan after the art show. I know how you feel about him…its like how I felt about Hector all of those years we were married. I was madly in love with him. I see it with the both of you…"
Lili smiled and laughed, at how Molly was watching her like a guardian angel, since she had come to Glenbogle. "I'm going to miss Lex..." She sighed...
"So why leave, dear?" Molly asked again...
The train swept though the tracks only to disappear into the distance as Duncan approached the platform and watched the sleeper head for Glasgow. He was too late and she was gone.
Lili looked up from the bench her and Molly were sitting on, as they decided she should stay longer and not leave things the way she going to. At the same time, she noticed a familiar rustic looking lad, with wildly untamed brown hair, wearing a black leather jacket, a rock band tee shirt, a kilt and to top off the get-up, some black combat boots. He didn't carry a sign of cardboard this time…only he hung his head down low. She stood up from the bench after Molly nudged her "Go on."
Lili approached Duncan, let out a slow breath and then spoke… "You must be him, Duncan."
"Yea, who wants to know?" As he rose his head up somberly and turned to see her standing there. His eyes widened, she was here…not on the train…his heart wasn't breaking…it was beating quite rapidly.
"Lil?" He whispered, while taking her into his warm embrace. "Ya didn't…"
"No, my guardian angel talked me out of it," as she nodded over at Molly who waved to them both with a huge smile on her face. "I guess I could stay longer…"
Duncan beamed, while inhaling and exhaling with deep breaths…"How 'bout 'til infinity?"
She laughed, "I think we might need to discuss that possibility."
"I know about da baby." He stated firmly as her eyes scanned his face…
"Paul." She said with a laugh. "I knew the word would be out sooner or later."
Duncan shook his head, "The words…stay with me then? We could make this work as a family…"
She then stopped short and broke free from him as words trailed out from her lips to his ears… "I love you."
His smile grew wide…"I'm in love with ya too."