Chapter Four…Fibbing at teatime…
The tea had been brewed and the cakes were out, to Lexie's liking. She stood in the sitting room, trying to envision a business meeting, but kept getting all teary eyed since it was family matter of the heart. Archie stood at the doorway watching her. Lexie looked up at him startled…
"Ya tryin' to scare me now, Archie MacDonald?" She replied, as he walked towards her and smiled, while pulling her close into an embrace.
"No, just trying to let you know how proud I am of you, Lex. This move means a lot to me as it's our new beginning." Archie added with excitement.
"Aye." She stated feeling guilty for lying to him this morning. She didn't want to leave Glenbogle, by means of a train and airplane, over an ocean. She wanted them to move out away from the house and Lairdship and Ladyship duties, by car, so they could still visit. But before the couple could further reflect, Lili entered the sitting room with Maeve in tow.
"Hi. I'm sorry…I..." Lili explained feeling awful about bringing her daughter along since she knew the tea was a "business meeting" and not a social gathering.
"Never-mind, I gave word to Megan, she'll tend to Minnie." Lexie answered, while showing Lili and Maeve the way. Lexie nodded to Archie, and replied, "C'mere." She gave him a light peck on the lips. He didn't have much time to react because she responded to Lili, "This way, Lil." As her cousin followed her out to the garden where the twins were playing and Megan approached them with a huge smile.
"This must be Minnie Maeve. She's adorable!" Megan crooned, while Lili placed her daughter in Megan's hands.
"Thank-you." Lili smiled.
Meanwhile in the main foyer, Killwillie arrived with his briefcase. Archie greeted him.
"Thanks for coming." Archie said while closing the door as Killwillie followed him into the sitting room. Moments later, Lili, Lexie and Paul joined them.
"My pleasure. I have the paperwork you will need in order to work in Boston, until your permits arrive." Killwillie stated with utmost professionalism. He then sat down in an old fashioned high back chair. He handed a folder over to Archie, who stood in front of him. He accepted the paperwork as Lexie and Lili sat down on the sofa. Paul stood in a far corner of the room observing the transaction very closely, before then sitting down in an armchair.
"Ah yes, good. When am I expected at the restaurant?" Archie asked, while leafing through the papers.
Lexie was nervous, and her cousin could tell. Lili then glanced over to her while Lexie glanced back. They waited for Killwillie's answer to Archie's question.
"Monday." Killwillie responded.
"Monday? Ya can't be serious." Lexie spoke up, as today was, of course, FRIDAY.
"Yes, Lexie, Monday. Unless, you need…" Archie, who was staring at his wife with puzzled eyes, as he knew her gig was up, and then cut off Killwillie.
"Monday is perfect."
Lexie looked at her husband appalled and tried to hide it. But too late, Archie registered she still had a problem with moving to Boston and he intently stared at her.
"Well, good then." Killwillie nodded. "I assume you'll be there that afternoon to help the current manager out."
"Yes, I'm sure as we have the tickets arranged." Archie replied, not taking his eyes off his wife, who had fallen silent with despair. Normally Lexie was very outspoken and forthright, but she didn't want to tell Archie what she was thinking after she had agreed to the move. Archie knew instantly something was wrong, and he'd question her about it after the tea.
"Yes, sounds good." Killwillie answered.
About twenty minutes went by and Killwillie, after drinking a full cup of tea and eating a cake had decided to leave the couple to discuss their current situation. Archie and Paul walked him to the door, just as an odd looking gentleman in a suit and tie approached the front entrance.
"Yes, may I help you?" Archie asked, looking at the gent with puzzlement.
"I'm Rolph McDonnegal and looking for a woman named Liliana MacKinney." He stated sharply, as it was urgent.
"Yes?" Lili looked at him oddly, but approached the door from the sitting room as she had followed Lexie out into the foyer. Lexie walked in the direction of the garden to check on the children, as she called out to her cousin, before walking on, "I'll go get Minnie for you, Lil." Lili nodded, while not taking her eyes off the man.
"I believe I better come in." The man announced, while pushing past the Laird. He then presented her with a few papers that had UK Immigration stamped on it! She looked at him with confusion.
"What's this about?"
"I'm afraid, you're in this country illegally according to our records and so those papers give you 24 hours to pack your things or you will be out under arrest and escorted out of the country, unless you can come up with proof of why you're still here. Do you understand what I have just said to you?"
"This is a mistake. My work permit and approval letter are fine, right?" As she turned to face Paul, who got nervous, remembering how he FORGOT to prepare and turn in her renewal paperwork a week ago to the Home Office that dealt with UK work permits.
"Yes?" Archie asked his brother, just as puzzled as Lili was…he watched Paul shift uncomfortably, realizing, he knew Paul had done something completely wrong!
"Um, actually, I have the paperwork but I never got it filed this week, but I'm tending to it. Why is that a problem?"
"Who is her employer?" The man asked directly.
"I am." Archie replied.
"Then without the proper paperwork, you have committed a defense to section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996…meaning you have an illegal worker working for you. The Queen frowns upon that." The man stated again. "I will send you some papers as you will have to appear in court."
"But I have a child here and by rights the child is a legal Commonwealth Citizen." Lili corrected him.
"Are you married to the birth father?" The man asked.
"No, I'm not." She suddenly got scared and she realized she was in hot water all because of Paul and his inability to keep paperwork straight!
"Then your child isn't a legit Commonwealth Citizen and you and your child will have to leave the country with in the 24 hours."
Just then after the man started stating the facts of having Lili and Maeve removed from the UK, Paul spoke up. "I'm sorry. Going to court isn't necessary. Ye've made a mistake, as my fiancée and I are getting married this weekend. She and her daughter will not be leaving the country. "
Lili's jaw dropped, as she looked baffled at Paul.
"Right, Sugar?" He asked, hoping she'd play along. Lili was stunned, but forced herself to smile and nod.
"Who are you?" The man asked, confused as he looked through his paperwork and then to Paul.
"I'm Duncan MacKay, and you're requesting her mother Liliana MacKinney and my daughter Maeve MacKay to leave." Paul stated highly in a lie… but the man didn't even notice.
Archie stood still and remained quiet. Lexie was coming from the hall with Maeve hanging off her hip when the man replied, "I see, well, on Monday. I want a certificate of marriage and birth certificate for the child, plus I want a meeting with you both. Failures to do so mean her and her daughter leave the UK. Good day." As the man walked out of the main foyer and Archie shut the door.
Lili stood still as she was completely speechless. Her body started to shake as her anger boiled up inside her. She glared to Paul, ready to clobber him!
"Who was that?" Lexie asked immediately. She then witnessed, like Archie, Lili explode!
"You! YOU!" She shook her head angrily! Paul had out done himself this time.
"Now Lil, before you…" She slapped him across the face, cutting his words off.
"Um. Interrupting here…what just happened?" Lexie asked again, confused as she watched her cousin smack her brother in law. Paul was rubbing his throbbing jaw with his hand.
"Tell her." Lili growled at him. She pointed at her cousin. Lexie instantly knew that Paul had provoked her cousin, more than he normally does.
Archie looked at his brother and suggested, "Paul. We're in trouble because of you. How am I supposed to hand the Lairdship over for the next six months when irresponsibility is your middle name?"
"Look, I had to keep her and Minnie in the country somehow." Paul defended himself.
Lexie then spoke up quite concerned once again, "Whad ya do NOW?" while then trying to gently hand Maeve over to her mother.
"Kinda told the Immigration officer a tiny lie," Paul replied, trying to explain it easy to Lexie, but nothing could be explained to his sister in law as "easy."
"Paul frigged up my paperwork and now Min and I have 24 hours before we leave the country." She exclaimed, while taking Maeve out of her cousin's arms and walking out the door. She didn't mumble a good bye.
"Sorry." Paul looked at Lexie, but knew she was going to still fume anyway and he was waiting for the woman's reaction!
"Sorry isn't good enough where me cousin's concern. How could ya do somethin' like that?" Lexie chanted as her outspoken self came alive.
"Suddenly we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto." Archie added dryly, and then thought for a moment. "Hmmmm…the Immigrant Officer wants to meet with you after the wedding right?"
Paul nodded to his brother.
"Well, we're seriously in a lot of trouble, aren't we?" He added, still trying to think of away out of the mess, but then he decided, "That's your new duty Paul as Laird. Welcome abroad." He walked into the study with his paperwork that Killwillie had given him. Lexie followed her husband into the room.
Lexie was outraged at how Archie just handed over the throne to his brother just like a man casting a line to catch a fish! But her husband was angrier at how he caught his wife in a lie at tea. The two bodies at war stood in the study, both equally ready to about-face.
"Be reasonable! I can not believe ya won't help me cousin out, Arch!" Lexie snapped, after she closed the study door.
"It's Paul's mistake, his problem to deal with. I've interfered time and time again for him…this time he can do it on his own." He snapped back. "Why didn't you say something about your doubts on the move? I thought we covered it all this morning!"
"What about?" She asked coolly as her blue eyes iced over.
"You know what about, Lex. Don't be joking with me!" He answered with frustration. "I have already purchased those tickets, taken care of the twins' passports aside from ours, and now you're changin' your mind after you told me we could go!"
"Sorry, Arch, I understand how"
"Important? Look, Lex, you knacker me! Those tickets are non-refundable!" Archie argued while raising both brows, glaring at her.
Lexie cringed and then spoke evenly, pleading, "Alright, we'll still go. After the six months is up promise me, Arch, we'll move back to Glenbogle."
"Promise, Lex, I promise." Archie walked over to his wife and pulled her in close. He then added, "About Lili and Minnie, I'll give Paul 24 hours to come up with a solution, but if he doesn't have one, then I'll intervene."
Lexie swooped in for a kiss to his lips and grinned, "Oh thank you, you still mean the world to me."
"Sure?" He asked while pulling away from the kiss.
"I am sure, Mr. MacDonald." She grinned at him with her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Good, because right now you're keeping me sane, Lex," He grinned as he leaned in to kiss her sweetly.
Golly was getting out his truck and walking towards a yellow sided building settled on the busy main street in town. He had roses in one hand and a smile on his face as he opened the door to Molly's shop. Molly was talking to a patron about her painting as she rang up the sale.
"You have a splendid day," She grinned wide as her customer nodded "good day" and walked past Golly. Molly's face lit right up. He then lowered his head to kiss her cheek as handed her the flowers from behind the register. "Why hello."
"Hello, my dear." Golly smiled once more and stood there looking at her up and down with amazement.
"How has your day been?" She asked quietly, but then her daughter and granddaughter came walking into the shop.
"Mum?" Lizzie shouted excited.
"Grandmum! Grandmum!" Martha exclaimed, while running towards Molly. Molly walked out from the register and bent down to hug the six year old before turning to her long lost daughter Elizabeth.
"I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow." Molly added while Golly approached them. He then cleared his throat and smiled at Lizzie. Golly remembered Lizzie's trouble some boyfriend Gerald and how he almost killed Hector by suggesting to him to go swimming in the loch! However, Gerald was out of their life for good and Lizzie and Martha were really now on their own.
"Where's Gerald, darling?" Molly asked confused as she was expecting him to arrive as well.
"Um, Gerald and I split. That's why I came home well, also to see everyone." Lizzie explained while pulling her self away from her mother's embrace. Molly wasn't stunned, as she was actually relieved. She knew her daughter could do better than him!
"This place is amazing, mum!" Lizzie's eyes wandered around the main floor of the shop. She smiled at all of the paintings and antiques, before returning her warm expression back to her mother.
"Yes, dear it is. Andrew helped me get my career a float and ever since my artwork is known world wide!" Molly chanted, without a care that Golly, her fiancé was indeed standing there. Golly wasn't uncomfortable, as he understood what Andrew had done for her.
"Golly." Lizzie replied, while giving him a warm hug. "I see congratulations are in order. When are you going to marry my dear mum?"
"Very soon, Liz, very soon." Golly nodded as Molly gushed. He then put an arm around Molly.
"Grandmum! We saw a train! We also saw a nice man who smiled at mummy!" Martha chimed, as Lizzie then grew embarrassed.
"Oh really, dear?" Molly asked interested in what she had to say.
"Yes, he was nice after I ran into him with our suitcases." Lizzie laughed and then inquired about her older brother and his beautiful wife. "How's Arch? How's Lexie?"
"Wonderful. They are preparing for a move to Boston this weekend." Molly responded feeling sorrow as she didn't want her son and his new family to leave, but she understood everything her son had done to get Glenbogle up and running again.
"Oh," Lizzie said as her heart sank. She wanted to spend time with him and Lexie aside from getting to know Jayne and Wayne.
"Don't worry, we'll be meeting them for dinner tonight." Molly nodded. "Come now child, let's get you settled as I want to hear the news of your journey also Martha's too!"
Golly stood there quietly. Molly pulled him to the side before she would lead her daughter and Granddaughter up the stairs to her flat. "Don't go anywhere, sweetheart. I'll be back in a jiffy."
"I won't my dear." Golly reassured her. As Molly helped gather Martha's suitcase and placed her hand in hers as the women headed up the stairs to Molly's flat. Golly started to feel a tingling sensation in his chest. He just assumed it was his heart, as it was happy to be finally heard. However something was wrong…he just couldn't place a finger at how tired he was…
Chapter Five…Before the Dinner and then after…
By the time Lili had reached the shore of the loch, her dear mind was in a tail spin. She knew nothing, no one, and nobody was going to get her out of the mess that Paul had so created. She then settled herself down on a rock and watched the calm water before hearing behind her, "Martha! Martha!" as the little girl wandered down to the shore and then stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Lili peek around at her. "Hello." Martha replied, while looking at Lili.
"Hi." Lili smiled as she for sure thought the young girl was lost! "Where are your mommy and daddy?"
"Martha! I told you you'll get your new dress all dirty if you go down to the shore…oh hello…" Lizzie stopped short as she noticed her daughter wasn't alone.
"Hi." Lili replied, while sitting on the rock.
"But Mummy, she's in a dress too and she's at the shore." Martha disagreed and pointed at Lili and how she was dressed.
"Yes, I see that sweetheart, but she's a grown up." Lizzie reassured her daughter. As she then turned her body to see an old friend carrying a young child her way, she then put two and two together. "You're Lili, Lex's cousin, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am." Lili replied, before she noticed her boyfriend and daughter strolling over to her. It was autumn in Glenbogle and pretty soon it would be getting much more cooler outside. The loch was still calm and only small waves hit the rocks of the shore.
"Lil, there you are. Lex told me to fetch ya. Hi ya Lizzie! Martha, wow you've grown!" Duncan added, while handing Maeve over to her mother and then giving Martha a big bear hug. Lizzie then turned her attention to Duncan and then to Maeve.
"Oh my. Arch never mentioned you having a child already." Lizzie added as Archie and Paul came walking down to the shore.
"This is Minnie!" Duncan boasted proudly.
"Minnie?" Lizzie asked, confused at first…
"Maeve Brynn actually…Minnie just stuck." Lili laughed…Lizzie chuckled too…
"Och no…Maeve was me grandmother's name…Minnie, well she's me Minnie Mouse…also my grandmother's nickname…but she's not bitter as the name means…" Duncan laughed while nodding his head, like he was singing the Disney song!
"Brynn?" Lizzie asked now curious about where Brynn came from.
"It was my mother's name." Lili didn't want to get into the specifics of her mother at a time like this. She actually rarely spoke of her…just a fond memory of Lili's past.
Lexie was too busy trying to fix dinner as she cursed Archie for not finding a replacement cook-especially one of their last dinners at Glenbogle! He took it as his cue to leave the kitchen as she tossed a tomato at him as missed his head by inches, as the vegetable "splattered" on the kitchen door. On his way out of the house, he stopped in the driveway, noticing his mother and Golly. Martha had taken off for the shore and Lizzie was running after her, all of which happened before Archie realized his 'missing in action' family had arrived.
"That's cause, dear sis, you've been away far too long." Archie replied as Lizzie ran straight towards him, both with equal smiles and they hugged like missing siblings.
"Oh Archie! I've missed you so much!" She exclaimed.
"Yes, well, I've missed you as well…" He replied, while releasing his sister from their hug.
"What's this about Boston?" Lizzie instantly asked, putting Archie on the spot. Archie didn't hold back an answer, as he knew his mother must have informed her of their leaving for Boston on Sunday.
"Ah, well…I have a new job, new family and new start, I s'pose. Too bad I'm out the door while you're coming in, Aye?"
"Yes, dear brother!" Lizzie exclaimed, while her eyes shifted to Paul. She remembered the story her mother told her over tea in the afternoon and she knew who Paul was too. "You must be Paul."
Paul answered sharply, "Yes I am. You're my sister Lizzie."
Lizzie smiled, as she didn't have a problem with another sibling, as she actually warmed up to it. She just assumed her mother and Archie were upset about the whole situation enough for her as well. She wanted to get along with him and gave him the most opposite reaction. "Aye, very much so."
"Lex has dinner ready to be served so we must hurry." Archie stated, trying to get the gathering at the shore into the house.
Archie, Lizzie and Martha started walking towards the dwelling even with Martha's protests about how she wanted to stay at the shore.
"I'll be in soon." Lili added, as she wasn't all that hungry. Her appetite has disappeared when her worry had set in after dealing with Immigration. She still hadn't found away to explain to Duncan that he could be dealing with her and Maeve being shipped back to the states.
"Don't be silly." Duncan said, while Lili handed Maeve back to him. "We'll wait wit ya."
"Um, Dunc," Paul answered, knowing full well how much her mood was his fault. "I can I have a word alone… with her?" Duncan then walked over to him with Maeve, hanging off his hip.
"No, she should come in," He stated while his eyes narrowed, but Maeve let out a happy noise at Paul giving her a humorous face. Duncan's features softened, his head dropped in defeat. "Humph, looks like me offspring disagrees!"
"Dunc, just take Minnie inIt's getting too cold out here for her anyway. I'll be fine." Lili tried to assure him that being alone with Paul was a 'at his own risk' venture and it didn't mean she was going to talk to him, even if he begged and pleaded for a word with her.
"OK, but if ye're gone too long, I'll be sending the national crime squad fer the both of ya." Duncan explained, turning his eyes at his partner and then to an old rival for her affections with a tip of his head. Duncan and Maeve started walking towards the house.
"Lil," Paul spoke up, while sitting on a rock next to her. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah, I would be if I were you." She retorted, while turning her gaze out at the water.
"Look, you can still marry Duncan, right? Just realize that when we meet with Immigration, they won't know the difference between him and I, especially if there's a different officer."
"Paul, there's a HUGE difference between the both of you! Lying to Immigration is just the second worse thing to do!"
"What's the first?" He asked, wondering what was going on in her mind.
"Lying to Dunc, let alone myself! After everything with my divorce I was in fear of having to be with someone who would lie to me again. Instead, I'm in the middle of a huge lie to the man I love! Seriously, I didn't want to hurt him at all! I do see us married, but I just have a hard time talking about it, since we had time…but now we don't."
"Wait, you're still thinking about leaving with Minnie anyway?" Paul's brows rose.
"I will. Unless this mess with Immigration is sorted out..."
"OK, then so marry me as if I'm Duncan. We'll get your work papers put together in the next few months and then we'll get divorced. That way Minnie has her citizenship, you have your reason to stay and Duncan, well...you just don't tell him what we have done."
"What about the meeting with the Immigration officer? He thinks you're him! I'm sure the officer would want to meet with us every so many months or years!"
"Right well, I'll go with you with the documents." Paul nodded. "I know someone who can suggest legal counsel that can marry us since he helped me with the military discharge from the Army over a year ago."
"Oh geez. Why does this sound…"
"Doable? Because it's a scheme that'll work..."
Before Lili could protest the idea of marrying Paul and him pretending to be Duncan, A familiar voice called out to her, as it was Duncan again. She stood up…
Paul told her before she walked off, "I'll call my mate tonight. We'll see about the arrangements in the morning."
Lili just walked towards her partner, as she was afraid of what Paul had suggested.
That night after dinner, Paul was on the phone to a friend. "C'mon Charles…I need help. Look, if I don't find someone who will marry me and my girlfriend…" He lied, knowing it was the only way to get the problem solved with Lili staying. Little did he know Molly was spying on him! She had herself hidden under a desk as she listened to Paul talk over the phone! She was reading another mystery novel and currently the PI was trying to crack a case wide open by listening in on people's phone calls. She laughed in her mind how much fun it was to spy on Paul. He was such an easy target!
"Great!" He wrote down a number for vicar, apparently he was good at marrying people within 24 hours! Paul then dialed out to ring the minister at home, which picked up the phone and asked him questions…
"Her name is Liliana MacKinney and I'm Duncan MacKay." Paul announced over the phone. Molly was shocked! What on earth was Paul doing? She had no idea about the Immigration officer who had come to the door that day. "Great, see you at 2pm tomorrow. We'll sign the paper work and exchange vows then." But then Molly sneezed and Paul heard her!
"Molly! What are you doing?" Paul asked as he put down the phone and peeked under the desk at her. He then helped her up from her hiding place.
"No, I'm going to ask you…what are YOU doing?" She retorted knowing Paul was scheming something and it involved Lili and Duncan again! Just like the day Lili found out she was pregnant and Paul took her to the clinic!
"Erhm…ah," Paul stuttered, trying to think of an excuse…then told her the truth. "Molly, I screwed up."
"What dear?" She asked, as she decided to listen instead of scolding him.
"Lili and Minnie are going to be shipped off to America on Monday. Since Immigration Officer showed up today. I forgot to keep her work papers current. So as a way to buy her time, I told the officer I was Duncan and that Lil and I, or Duncan and her were getting married this weekend."
"Oh, you didn't." Molly said ghastly.
"Yes, I did."
"Does Duncan know?" Molly asked.
Paul nodded his head "no."
"You're staging this wedding tomorrow?" Molly asked, still in disbelief. "Dear boy, you're going to have to tell him! You cannot go through with this!"
"Molly, I will." Paul lied again as he wasn't going to tell Duncan anything. He'd leave it for Lili to do.
Molly was still unconvinced so when she arrived at Golly's cabin to stay with him for the night. She made a point to fill her fiancé in!
"Lad is doing what?" Golly asked in just as much shock as Molly.
"Paul is staging to be Duncan as he's going to marry Lili to keep her and Minnie in the country for Duncan's dear sake! I guess he told the Immigration officer that he was Duncan!" Molly replied, getting all worried about the situation.
"It's alright." Golly embraced Molly while they sat on the couch in his lounge. "I'll talk to Laddy."
"You think so? That dear pair, they've been through enough!" Molly replied.
"We've been through enough too." Golly smiled, remembering what they had gone through to be together! Now it all made perfect sense! But he pondered his conversation with Duncan earlier in the day about him marrying Lili. He then thought about how ironic it really was!
Chapter Six…2pm on Saturday…
Paul had managed to corner Lili, a half of an hour before they were to leave, in the garden. Duncan was off with Maeve as he had taken her to town with him to check out a book at the library for them to "read."
"Lil, got to meet with the vicar in town at 2pm," He added.
Lili looked at him, as she had no sleep last night. Her body tossed and turned, as she could hear Duncan shooting up airplanes on the laptop until 2am. She knew she could talk to him about it. How Paul messed everything up and "his family" could be shipped back to the states within 48 hours…but she wasn't sure of how…
She nodded at Paul "okay."
"Hey, don't look so sad 'bout it. It's yer wedding day." Paul winked, but his "comforting" words didn't help matters at all. "Let's get a move on, shall we?"
Golly came walking up to them as he was looking for Duncan to give him a heads up about this "scheme" Paul had planned up. No one was home at the cottage and then he started to worry. His worry subsided when he saw Lili. "Good afternoon, Yankee."
"Hi Gol," Lili smiled, while trying to ignore Paul's eagerness about leaving.
"Aye Golly, Lili and I are just now off to the village." He replied to the old man. Golly still wasn't sure of how to intervene! But then he remembered Archie's plan B, if Golly's Plan A, didn't work…which it didn't. He had called Archie from the cottage to warn him that they were going to use Plan B.
"Very well, I need a ride into the village too so I can stop by Molly's shop." Golly nodded.
"Sure, come with us then." Lili offered before Paul could refuse! Before they knew it, all three of them were heading to the truck…Lexie and Archie came running out of the house. The twins were with Megan, as Lexie had asked her to watch them for just a couple hours while she "went in to the village to Molly's shop." Archie knew all about Paul's plan since Molly had informed him as to how his brother was going to "solve" Lili's problem! Lexie didn't like it…and Archie agreed, so it was time for him to take over being laird and solve the issue at hand!
"Wait for us!" Archie announced as he and Lexie went running towards the truck. Before Paul knew it, Archie slipped in the front seat, Lexie, Lili and Golly in the back and he was driving! Paul couldn't believe that they all wanted to go to "Molly's shop!" They drove to town, as Paul immediately spoke up that they were at Molly's. He wasn't going to park the truck. He noticed the town clock as the hand was on ten of two! By then Archie, Lexie and Golly got out and simply nodded Paul and Lili on. But as Molly, Lizzie and Martha came out of her shop the troop started to walk towards the vicar's house. Paul parked the truck, as he was unaware that the troop was following them. Lili and Paul walked up to the house and he knocked on the door.
Duncan was coming out of the bookshop with Maeve in the pack on his back. Golly shouted over to him, as Archie and Lexie came running up to him out of breath. Duncan was clueless as to what was happening and why all of his family was in the middle of the village that day!
"Come with us now!" Lexie stated sharply while pulling Duncan's arm in the direction of the vicar's house.
"What?" Duncan looked at them all-wondering what this was about. He stopped walking and raised his hands up to silence them all. As the group stopped in their tracks and he hollered, "How'd 'bout an explanation? I demand I know!"
"It's Lili and Paul, Dunc…" Lexie started…
"They're getting…" Molly added…
"Married!" Lizzie finished, while holding onto Martha's hand.
"WHAT?" Duncan looked at the women like they had five heads! He then started to think this was a very cruel joke to play!
"Aye, lad. We need to stop them!" Golly shouted and then it registered in Duncan's mind, his ladylove was doing something completely mind-boggling! He was about to ask why when Archie spoke up…
"There's NO time to explain, really." He nodded at Duncan. The troop took off running once again. Duncan was in shock as they reached the vicar's house and saw the truck parked outside. Duncan passed his daughter in the backpack to Lexie.
"Here. I'll go." He announced, baffled and miffed, while running up the front steps of the house. What was she doing marrying Paul? She's supposed to marry him!
Duncan barged into the main room of the house without knocking. "LILI!" He yelled…as the door to and office in the house was open. He then ran into the room, just as Paul was about to sign a paper stating Duncan and Lili were "legally" married, he shouted, "Stop da weddin'! STOP!"
Lili turned as she looked at him with major relief. Paul stopped and the minister, an old man named Gordon Hand looked at the couple oddly and then at the gentleman in his door way dressed in a kilt! "I beg your pardon. But I already married them."
"Did they sign the certificate?" Duncan asked instantly.
"Well, she did but he didn't." The old man looked at Duncan annoyed.
"Then they aren't married!" He hollered out.
"Who by golly are you?" The old man asked unnerved.
"I'm Duncan MacKay!" He spoke up. The old man looked utterly confused at Duncan and then Paul.
"If yer him then who's he?" He asked as Paul shifted in his feet uncomfortably, knowing the gig was now up.
"What?" Duncan asked dumbfounded. He looked at Lili lost and still unsure about why she was there.
"I'm Paul Bowman." Paul replied, telling the man the truth. Just then Archie, Lexie, Molly, and gang entered the office. The old gentleman was stunned before adding…
"Don't tell me, you don't want them married too?" He nodded at Paul and Lili.
The onlookers watched the next scene…the old man noticed Archie and got uncomfortable. He knew he was the Laird of Glenbogle!
Duncan fast footed up to Paul with his fists tight. He was going to punch his lights out, if he didn't answer him right away about why he was marrying his beloved girlfriend. "I'm gonna kill ya, give me good reasons not to…Why, Paul?" He asked, but held the hurt and confusion in and released the built up anger!
"Look, Dunc…" But Paul was then hit as Duncan threw a right hook, a good solid sucker punch, to his left eye as he knocked him down! Paul stood up, but he didn't swing back. Duncan stood there with his fists clenched and raised like a boxer about ready to throw another punch.
Lili spoke up fast, "OK, stop now!" She carted the on looking family out of the office first with her hands, and then she turned to Paul and stood in front of Duncan. "Are you alright?" She asked Paul.
"Yeah, just a black eye, I bet." He spoke quietly, rubbing his face again. The things I do for these two and now I'm repaid by being injured! His mind shouted out in a scolding.
"Just leave Duncan and I alone for a minute." Lili suggested firmly. Paul walked out of the room, as he didn't take his eyes off of Duncan, who still standing there with his fists still clenched.
She then looked at the vicar, and he nodded, "Oh, alright, I'll leave my own office." He then scurried out of the room! Lili turned to Duncan, as his cheeks were fire red as his kilt.
"OK, sit down," She suggested nodding to the chair but Duncan wouldn't budge. "Sit down NOW!" He then shook his head, dropped his chin, and sat down. Lili kneeled down in front of him.
"Why?" He asked in a whisper, while trying to mask his emotions.
"I didn't want to marry Paul, Dunc. I wanted to marry you."
"Why didn't ya say so instead of running off to the vicar with meathead?"
"Here, look at the paperwork." She stood up, picked up the application for a marriage certificate and placed it in his hands. She then knelt down again to face him.
Duncan then read his own name, date of birth, place of birth, and etc. He noticed everything about him was on that paper. He also read her information as well. "Why am I on this?"
Lili ignored the sound of the question as it came out like he was being daft, only he was asking for the truth. "Yesterday, an Immigration Officer arrived and he threatened to ship Minnie and I back to the states because Paul forgot to file my work papers."
"He didn't file? I asked him the other day and he said your paperwork was fine…"
"I have no idea, but it didn't get filed and so in order to buy time, Paul lied and told the officer that he was you and that we were getting married this weekend. The officer claimed that he wanted the certificates for the marriage and Maeve's birth on Monday. I only went through with it so that way Min would be a legit Commonwealth Citizen, and I'd be a Common Subject, whatever I'd be, so we could still be a family."
"Why marry Meathead?" He asked her while staring into her eyes, searching for the reason.
"Because Paul felt awful for screwing up. He decided we'd get the work permits renewed and then we'd get it annulled and you'd never know. I wanted to tell you last night. I couldn't sleep! Your pc games were keeping me up!" She laughed. Duncan forced a smile…then a light bulb went on…
"If this had worked, ya would've had to lie to Immigration that Paul was me, right?"
"Yes, but it won't happen now since"
"I barged in."
"Dunc, I am relieved you barged in. I want to say the vows with you, not Paul."
"I see." Duncan stopped and pondered for a moment. He then smiled, "So lets still get married then. We'll work out the Immigration crap later."
Lili paused, "Now? After this mess?"
"It wasn't yer fault. I want ya as my wife, Sugar. I've been tryin' to ask ya fer months, but ya keep turning the subject off."
"I know." She replied, as he picked up her hesitation. "I haven't been to keen on talking about it, have I?"
Duncan nodded his head "no."
"I was afraid of it, Dunc. I was afraid."
"Don't be. I'm just as frightened, like the night you gave birth to Minnie. I packed the wrong suitcase and" He started to ramble on but Lili finished his thought completely.
"Gave me kilts and tee-shirts to wear in the hospital, oh I remember." She laughed as she thought about her "hospital" bag. They were in Glasgow visiting Duncan's folks when she conveniently went to labor, early labor, by four weeks. "OK."
"OK?" He asked while his brows rose and his chin lifted and he looked at her sweetly.
"I'll go get the minister." She replied, standing up, but Duncan pulled her towards him and promptly drew her in for a kiss. She then smiled. "We get to do that again in just a moment." She laughed.
"Did ya pucker up to him?" Duncan asked, getting frazzled at the thought of her being with Paul in any form of contact.
"No. Heck no! I didn't. Paul will tell you. We told the vicar to skip that part. He made a joke that we were rushing like normal "Great Britain" newlyweds, wanting to be in their private bedroom right away. He just assumed we wanted to do it the "American" wedding way, and kiss after we spoke vows. Boy, he was sure wrong." She winked as she went to the door and opened it up as the lot, including the vicar fell into the room in a big pig pile! They were trying to listen in on what Duncan and Lili were saying!
"We see..." Molly smiled.
"Ye're gettin'…" Golly added.
"Married?" Lexie asked, hoping it was true, as Archie helped her off of the bottom of the pile. Lizzie and the girls were waiting patiently behind the group in the hall.
"Good, I sure hope the Queen appreciates this!" Archie added with a laugh.
Lili turned to look at Duncan who was walking up behind her. "Agreed." They both replied as faces lit up with relief and then happiness. The old man stood up and asked, "Please allow me to get my book again." As his put his glasses back on his nose and walked towards his desk… "There's no one else coming to break up this pairing is there?" He asked, as he was told why Paul was pretending to be Duncan in the first place. The old man understood totally, in a very odd way, after the Laird further explained the situation, requesting he still marry Lili and Duncan (as long as they agreed), regardless of the groom "mishaps".
"No, I believe we have that all covered now." Archie answered.
The old man opened his book and stated, "Please join your hands."
"Aye, um…can ya do da quick version?" Duncan asked, trying to push the "ceremony" along as he reached out for her hands warmly.
"Might be a good idea," Lili replied, as she looked at the old man and then smiled at Duncan. He kept shuffling his feet, showing her a sign he was a bit nervous.
"Will ya, just get on with it?" Lexie added outspokenly, being impatient.
"Lex, stop interfering!" Archie implied, scolding his wife.
"I am not!" She protested, looking at her husband with her blue eyes.
"Oh how I love weddings! This is just marvelous!" Molly exclaimed, while bringing her hands up to her face and giggling.
"Good thing we're having one soon." Golly nodded, while standing close to Molly as they glanced at each other. "To hell wit waitin' son…getter goin'!"
"Finally, you two," Paul chuckled and then groaned, and rubbed his face because of his black eye!
"Paul, let 'em get on with it!" Lizzie shouted to her brother as she was holding onto Martha. Golly was holding Maeve up so she could watch her mother and father finally wed.
The old man cleared his throat before starting again…"Okay, but I'll do the American version of the vows since they seem to like speeding things along." He smiled at Lili…she laughed, even though it was Duncan's suggestion.
"Repeat after me…Duncan. I Duncan, take you Lili, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness."
Duncan stuttered at first, before finally letting the words out, as his eyes looked deep into hers…
"I Duncan, take you Lili, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness or in health, to love and to cherish 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness."
"Do you Lili take this man as your wedded husband?" The man asked Lili and she grinned lovingly at her soon husband.
"Yes, I do." She nodded, holding Duncan's shaking hands. She glanced at him as if her eyes were telling him he'd be okay…as they were half way there…
"Now, you Lili, you repeat after me…I, Lili, take you Duncan, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness. "
"I, Lili, take you Duncan, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do us part. And hereto I pledge you my faithfulness. "
"Do you Duncan take this woman as your wedded wife?" The man asked Duncan, who was staring at Lili and wasn't even paying attention to the question until…
"Cat got your tongue?" Lexie whispered, trying to give Duncan and verbal push as Archie rolled his eyes before put an arm around his wife. She grinned, while nodding to her old friend who looked at her! "Go on!"
"Lex, stop interfering…" Archie whispered…she elbowed him in response.
"Aye, I do." Duncan stuttered again, with a toothy beam…his eyes turned to Lili's.
"By the power of the almighty one, you are now pronounced as husband and wife, so you may both kiss." The man smiled, while closing his book. The joyful couple leaned in to kiss each other quite tenderly. The room cheered on, hugging the pair happily.
"Now, time to sign here." The man directed Duncan as he held out a pen. Duncan's hand shook as he signed his own name on the dotted line.
"There. C'mere my Minnie!" He chuckled, while turning to Maeve and taking her from Golly's arms. He pulled in Lili close. She was relieved…but now worried once again: How was the Immigration meeting going to go?