Chapter Three... Love on the Run
The next day...
La da da da La da da da...
I'm tugging at my hair
I'm pulling at my clothes
I'm trying to keep my cool
I know it shows
I'm staring at my feet
My checks are turning red
I'm searching for the words inside my head
I'm feeling nervous
Trying to be so perfect
Cause I know you're worth it
You're worth it
Yeah
Claire was in the kitchen hanging out as Duncan sat at the table eating pot noodle as they were both conversing with Ewan about...his love life. At first Ewan didn't agree with them on how to romance Megan, but it was Duncan's suggestion that brought them to thinking on the same level.
"What time did you gander in?" Ewan asked as Claire laughed, "Getting kinda fatherly in your young age?"
"No, I was wondering that's all."
"The weather wasn't great for traveling so Duncan stayed up at Aunt Marjorie's with me and we came back this morn," Claire nodded her head as Duncan gave Ewan a dignified smile, "I slept in the back of the rover on my rave mattress."
Ewan joked, but also took a jab at Duncan, "I take it Aunt Marjorie didn't want to let your kind in? Since you smell funny and all?"
Duncan made a face at Ewan and rolled his eyes.
If I could
say what I want to say
I'd say I want to blow you away
Be with you every night
Am I squeezing you too tight?
If I could say what I want to see
I want to see you go down
On one knee
Marry me today
Yes, I'm wishing my life away
With these things I'll never say
"There's nothing wrong with him and Aunt Marjorie likes him all the same. He just told me he'd sleep in the rover," Claire stood up for Duncan who 'tuned in' and actually return smiled at her warmly.
"I see," Ewan continued to make his rabbit pie, after roasting the meat and then adding everything to the pie crust and dishturnips, carrots, potato and other ingredients.
"How's Megan?" Claire inquired as Ewan sighed out, "Still genuinely despises me..."
"Hate you? How could she? Someone as charming as yourself?" Claire razzed as she tossed a dish towel at Ewan who caught it in mid air.
"I'm afraid she's unsure of how she feels about me. Maybe hate is a bad word to use..."
"You're trying too hard," Duncan suggested as Ewan gave him a look, "What does that mean?"
"You romance her, tame her a bit, and make yourself mysterious," as Duncan stood up as if he were a 'super hero' there to save the day or Ewan from his love life crisis, "Give her lots of stuffed toys and flowers...girls dig that sort of thing...shower 'em wide with affection..."
"Um and how do you propose I do that?" Ewan's eyes leveled with Duncan's.
"It's easy you simply have someone deliver them to her from a secret admirer..." Claire announced as she winked at Duncan whose cheeks went red, before continuing to study her.
It don't
do me any good
It's just a waste of time
What use is it to you
What's on my mind?
If ain't coming out
We're not going anywhere
So why can't I just tell you that I care
(Cause) I'm feeling nervous
Trying to be so perfect
Cause I know you're worth it
You're worth it
Yeah
"Make sure you go through the gate to the backdoorit's a small white house with 'Murray's Locksmith' sign on the front lawn," Claire directed as Ewan had written the instructions down... "Man he's got bad penmanship..." Claire muttered as Duncan added, "My penmanship isn't any better you know..."
"Oh really, you have worse chicken scrawl ya think, do ya now, Mr. MacKay? I didn't think so me-self—hence you signed Megan's card!" Claire laughed, being sarcastic as she continued to read Ewan's directions to herself. They sat in the land rover as Minnie, in a car seat, and then tossed a toy up front at her father and Claire. She let out a 'look at me' giggle and 'Dada!' as Duncan kept his eyes on the road and tossed the stuffed animal bear back to Minnie from over his shoulder.
If I could
say what I want to say
I'd say I want to blow you away
Be with you every night
Am I squeezing you too tight?
If I could say what I want to see
I want to see you go down
On one knee
Marry me today
Yes, I'm wishing my life away
With these things I'll never say
"Yeah, but you have better writing you could have written on the card," Duncan focused his eyes on Claire again and then on the road.
"The card had to be in male handwriting!" Claire said smartly as Duncan grew very quiet, his cheeks went red all over again as he hung his head and sheepishly smiled at her comment. Duncan began to study Claire once again, before Claire shouted and pointed out, "There it is! Pull over!"
Duncan did as directed as the land rover came to a halt two blocks down from the small white house with the sign, 'Murray's Locksmith' hanging promptly from a sign post amongst the front lawn.
"Aye, operation flowers and toy drop is on..." Claire smiled as she winked, getting out of the passengers side, slinging her one arm backpack over her chest and Duncan then climbed out of the truck, before posing a question, "What do I do about Minnie?"
"Duncan, just take her with you..." Claire smiled as Duncan rolled his eyes and said...
"I can't do that, Claire. I'll wait in the truck."
"And how do I divert Megan? Just tell Megan you came to the village for a walk..." Claire suggested as she watched Duncan shrug his shoulders open the back of the land rover, about to unlatch the seatbelt from Minnie's body but a light bulb went on in his head, "Easier said than done...wait, I need the pram..."
"Duncan..." Claire took over with Minnie as Duncan walked to the back of the land rover and yanked the hatch back door open, "I need the pram as a prop, you know for distraction? Claire just gimme a minute to get it!"
What's
wrong with my tongue
These words keep slipping away
I stutter
I stumble
Like I've got nothing to say
Yes, I'm feeling nervous
Trying to be so perfect
Cause I know you're worth it
You're worth it
Yeah
La da da da La da da da...
Yes, I'm wishing my life away
With these things I'll never say
Duncan dragged out the pram and set it on the pavement. However to Duncan's dismay, the carriage had a mind of its own. As Duncan set the carriage up, it kept collapsing and crashing downward towards the ground. Duncan shouted aloud, "What goes up must come down, aye? No, up! Up, up I say! This is rubbish do as I say!"
Duncan continued to duel with baby stroller for at least a good five minutes, as his kilt got stuck in one of the wheel wells. Claire let out a laugh and then Minnie, "Come on Duncan, it's an inanimate object for cryin' out loud, show it whose boss...let's go!"
"Ha ha, right...I'll show it who's boss..." grumbled Duncan as he struggled to free his kilt from the evil clutches of the pram. Just as Duncan noticed one of the passerbyers walking by the truck, watching him intently, "Need help, Duncan?"
Duncan replied, "Nothing I can't handle, Mrs. Shepard, good day to you!" As the pram crashed again and Duncan waved on Mrs. Shepard, the shrugging old, wide eyed, lady with a pink hat and suit, right along. After Duncan blew out an exasperated breath, he twisted his body again finally winning the war with the carriage as it stood beside the truck, locked in place and ready for action. Claire rolled her eyes and laughed as Minnie giggled again.
If I could
say what I want to say
I'd say I want to blow you away
Be with you every night
Am I squeezing you too tight?
If I could say what I want to see
I want to see you go down
On one knee
Marry me today
Yes, I'm wishing my life away
With these things I'll never say
These things I'll never say
Avril Lavigne
"Quiet, we're supposed to be keeping a simply shallow profile, you call that low?" Claire shook her head mockingly with a chuckle and a triumphant Duncan grinned as he stood with one hand resting on the pram while it started to roll away. Duncan caught it in time and rolled it towards Claire, "See, told ya it would only take a minute..."
"That's fine, Duncan, but let's go!" Claire replied with a chuckle as she helped Duncan place a very overjoyed Minnie into the baby stroller.
"You really think Ewan should go through this?" Duncan peeped, as he pushed a happy Minnie with a cap on her head along in the pram, as Claire laughed, "Don't tell me you never played MI5 as a Bairnaccording to my sister she used to call it, 'Cloak and Dagger'—I think that's while she was living in Texas."
"Aye, no, aye, yes, all right, I'll get the binoculars..." Duncan sighed as he grabbed them from his sporran and then started to look through the eye holes before replying, "Coast is clear, let's go," as they strolled towards the small white housegetting to the front gate, when they both saw Megan walking out of the front door of her house...Duncan and Claire quickly jumped behind a tree as their heads, one by one glanced around the tree trunk in the direction of the house. Duncan blew out a breath as his eyes did a roll, "That was close...wait, I forgot Minnie!"
Duncan noticed he left Minnie right in the middle of the sidewalk, near the house gate, and sitting in the pram, as she giggled out, "Dada!"
"Not close enough, c'mon Duncan, grab Min, I have to make way to the back door..." Claire and Duncan inched towards the front gate again. However, Megan had walked back inside for just a split second...and then out again...Claire sighed, "You distract her, I'll drop off the package for her at the back gate."
Megan put her handbag over her shoulder as Duncan strolled up to her while Claire nodded and waved him on as she scaled over the back fence and disappeared from Duncan's sight.
"Duncan? Little Minnie?" Megan asked curiously, "What are you doing here?"
"Came to visit ya, Min an' I...an' er, well, I need, um, well, I need a...key. I need a key!"
"A key?" Megan inquired as Duncan gave a nod of his head and then spoke up in a low tone with a roll of his eyes, "I need a key to start the land rover and I think I might've lost it on your lawn."
Megan gave him a strange look as she turned her attention to a happy-go-lucky Minnie, "How did you lose the land rover key on my parent's front lawn? How's Minnie today?"
Minnie beamed as Megan tickled her under her chin and gestured to be picked up, but Megan declined as she tuned-in to Duncan.
Meanwhile, Claire inched her way to the back door, over the chain linked fence, set down the flowers and the toy down on the back door stoop as trouble then started to brew: Ewan never warned Claire about Megan's dogs! Claire glanced at the two German Shepards as she spoke and gulped, "Oh, hi...nice doggies...really nice doggies, I'm not fresh meat...or as fresh as you think..." as the watch dogs started to growl at her. Duncan and Minnie continued to preoccupy Megan as they were both talking about the land rover key at the front of the house. Minnie still sat in the pram, joyous as she could be, while Duncan walked onto Megan parents' lawn after skipping the gate.
"I lost it. I need to make a new one...Archie wants a spare key made..." Duncan's face went into a nervous dimpled smile. Megan continued to look at him strangely as she chatted to Minnie, "Dada can't get a new key with out finding the other one, can he?"
Minnie matter of factly and coincidently shook her head 'no.' Megan glanced at Duncan all confused and questioned again,
"Are you sure it's on my parents' lawn? What's that?" Megan heard the dogs from the back of the house stir... "Something's wrong with Marmaduke and Nancy, Duncan?"
"Actually, I think I spotted it! It's there!" Duncan shouted out as he had tossed the truck key over to another side of the lawn while Megan wasn't looking and then grabbed her by the arm, tackling her down to point out the key. Megan replied in an even more confused and disarrayed state, "Wwwwwhere? Whoa! Duncan!"
Claire, unscathed by the 'ferocious canines', jumped the fence swiftly as the German Shepards started to bark and growl once again as Claire escaped from the backyard without Megan seeing her. Megan within moments got up from off of the lawn, said with a grumble, "I better go check on them, Duncan...bye bye Minnie."
"See, aye, there it is, Megan! Me found it!" Duncan shouted with a huge beam and then a 'Huh? Where's she going?' thought in his head as he held up the 'new found' key and said, turning his attention to Minnie, who said instantaneously, "UH OH!"
Just as Duncan added, "No, wait, Megan!" and glanced at Minnie again, "We've made a whoopies daisy, haven't we, aye? Claire's gonna kill me..."
Minnie distinctly giggled out again, "Dada!" as Duncan, in hi-tailed escape mode, rolled Minnie quickly back to the land rover.
Megan made way to the back of the house and through the back fence gate. She noticed both dogs ripping a bouquet of flowers to bits and chewing on a present. Megan sighed as she shooed them both away and reclaimed the chewed up present and the flowers as the torn up card had, 'For Megan from your secret admirer' written on it. Megan turned back towards the front of the house with the flowers and present in her hand to talk to Duncan and Minnie, but they were gone, "hmmmm," Megan pondered to herself as she shrugged again.
Claire had made way back to the land rover before Duncan who immediately asked out of breath, "You okay?"
"Mind me to bop Ewan for not telling us about Megan's 'pets'! I'm fine really."
"How'd you get past them?" Duncan quipped very concerned as Claire inhaled and exhaled still, after her sprint.
"Just did my best 'Dog whisperer' impression before jumping the fence and having them go wild again. You kept Megan occupied?"
"Aye," Duncan managed to quickly store the carriage into the back of the truck as Claire placed Minnie in her car seat before they both drove away. When they returned Ewan was in the kitchen working away with chopped up vegetables, meats, while making some sort of divine sauce for it all. Claire traveled into the kitchen with Duncan and Minnie not far behind her.
"Well?" Ewan questioned as Claire eyed him, "The deed is done. Now you sit and wait."
"I have to wait? Why?"
"Ewan, give Megan time to adjust to having an 'admirer'."
"Oh all right. You did do it though?" Ewan asked again to be sure Claire wasn't pulling his leg and telling him the truth.
"Did what?" Duncan inquired thinking Ewan spoke of something else—something that could have happened between Claire and he, when Claire and Ewan weirdly glanced at him.
Ewan rolled his eyes and added, "The flowers, the present, the 'girly' shower of affection and that jazz?"
"Oh YES!" Duncan nodded and dropped his head as his cheeks grew all red, assuming Ewan said he had been doing something affection wise with Claire, and he spoke right up—in order to make it clear that he knew what Ewan asked about, "I made out the card."
Ewan smiled with approval, "Well at least she'll know it's a man."
Claire laughed and glanced at Duncan, "Now about Megan's German Shepards..."
"I had no idea she had dogs," Ewan instantly said, noticing Claire's 'you could have warned me about them' look.
"Well, she does. We're going to have to figure out how to get past them for the second phase of you being her secret admirer."
"Second phase?"
"Well, every lass wants a serenade in the evening?" Claire replied as Duncan and Ewan gave her funny looks.
"I don't sing..." Duncan added, getting worried...as Claire smiled and Ewan added, "Neither do I!"
"C'mon, where's the spirit!" Claire laughed as Ewan suggested, "What if Megan assumes I'm not her admirer and she thinks it's someone else? What good will it do me, if we serenade her?"
"Ewan, every time you've made a move on her she got disgusted...and why's that?"
"Well, she didn't succumb to my charm. She liked the motorbike ride home...didn't like it when I danced with her Hogmanay...despised my biscuit baking—which was your idea mind you! She thought I poisoned her or something...actually, word for word, 'Oh how sweet, Ewan, but I don't eat biscuits'?" Ewan imitated Megan as he went crossed eyed and spoke in a high-pitched 'girly-girl' voice and batted his eyelashes. Duncan chuckled as Claire glanced at Ewan smugly.
"She took those flowers and that gift...and that was my idea as well!" Claire noted and stuck out her tongue at Ewan once again. Minnie laughed at Claire as she hung to Duncan's right hip and watched the trio converse.
"Look, I've made many failed attempts to 'woo her' and I don't know how this 'secret admirer' bit is going to work."
"You're being pessimistic, Ewan," Claire answered, "Megan must like you a wee bit to at least acknowledge your existence! You do fancy her? Do you not?"
"Aye, you...you almost had me there," Ewan joked and pointed a wooden spoon at Claire, "Of course, I like her! I'm so into her it's driving me crazy!"
"Trust me. She's gonna like the 'secret admirer' bit...she'll realize how perfect and incredibly romantic you are too. Now's the time to show her you really love her!"
Duncan sighed, as he continued to stare longingly at Claire while she advised Ewan and his 'disastrous love life' of what to do. Ewan then caught Duncan staring at Claire. Duncan darted his eyes immediately away and Ewan laughed as Claire cast her eyes at the house chef, asking, "What?"
"Nothing," Ewan snickered as he continued to prepare dinner for the house. Duncan hung his head and let out a lovesick sigh, while just Claire shrugged her shoulders and surveyed Duncan. Ewan then asked getting a little worried, "How long do I wait before I tell her it's me—as her admirer?"
Chapter Four'Elementary, My Dear Watson...'
Megan arrived at the big house later that afternoon to speak with Lexie and Archie. She wasn't sure as to how they would both take her news, but she had to give them some notice of her leaving Glenbogle. Megan sat on a chair outside of the library waiting for Lexie to arrive at the door. Archie had told her to just sit down and relax and that he'd handle Lexie.
"Megan?" Lexie replied as she traveled from the kitchen to the library entranceway and Archie looked up at them both from the old desk.
"We're not supposed to see you until tomorrow?" Lexie said as Megan handed her a letter, "What's this?"
"I'm so sorry, but I have to give my notice, Lexie."
"Your notice?" Archie's brows rose at Lexie's reply, hoping she wasn't going to get upset and she didn't.
Megan then added nervously, "I meant to tell you sooner but in one week, I'm to be going to RSAMD in Glasgow, well, in the autumn but there's a summer theater group for amateurs that I'm in."
"I see," Lexie frowned but then forced a smile, Megan had been a godsend with the children and she would be missed greatly...Lexie wasn't sure how she'd find a replacement in one week's time.
"Well, congrats for getting into school and the theater group," Archie smiled warmly as Lexie cast her eyes in Archie's direction about to ask how he knew about Megan going to drama school.
"I knew about it, Lexie."
"You knew about this? And you didn't say something?" Lexie didn't get upset with Archie while Megan stood in front of her.
"I'm so sorry." Megan said again as Lexie sighed, "Nothing wrong with moving on with your life. You've been very helpful for me. You could always come back on summers you know..."
"Very good of you, but I can't make those guarantees since I might be traveling with the same theater company over this summer, next year."
"Oh." Lexie's voice dropped an octave as she smiled again, "Well, we'll have to let you go then, aye?"
"I'm so sorry,"
"Don't apologize, it's silly, just make sure you're here for the week and then we'll settle up your pay," Lexie lead Megan out of the library and held onto her letter. Megan feeling better about resigning, smiled, waved at the twins who were out in the garden with Claire and Duncan as she made way to her bicycle. Lexie returned to the library.
"What do you think you're doing?" Lexie's eyes narrowed in on Archie as she groaned.
"What do you mean?" Archie scanned Lexie's face, and could tell she was upset about Megan leaving...
"You knew she was quitting on me?"
"Lexie, Megan's young, you said so yourself, she needs to move right along...she said she was planning on drama school in the autumn so I told her just to clue me in when she gets in."
"Now we have to find someone else to tend to the twins since I have to supervise Ewan in the kitchen!"
"Lex, Ewan's been in the kitchen for months now, his training should be somewhat over...besides, you're pregnant, what better way to spend more of your time with just the twins before the baby arrives."
"Doesn't matter, Archie, what are we gonna do?"
"Lexie, we hired Megan on to tend to the twins while you cooked in the kitchen, Ewan's here now, there's really no need for another nanny."
"But I need another nanny!" Lexie grumbled, "Finding a nanny was in my department, not yours, I decide if I need one or not and I do! I am part of the management am I not?"
"Lex,"
"No Arch, I need someone else to help me tag team the twins...you're busy working the estate and all of the other appendage properties."
"I'll check into it, Lexie, in the meantime, rest and watch the twins as it's your only job now."
"I want to put an ad in the paper..."
"Very well, I'll come up with one..." said Archie, trying to shush up Lexie as he lead her out of the library by placing an arm around her shoulders, "I need to work on these books and I'll help you with the twins in about thirty minutes, okay?"
Lexie sighed, still not happy, "Half of an hour?"
"Yes, just relax, I will help you," Archie placed a kiss on Lexie's brow as he turned back into the library to finish what he was doing.
Claire sat up on the twin bed as she continued to scribble and toss paper onto the floor just as Susan entered the room. Susan came in to check on Claire and tell her about dinner.
"It's time for you to get ready for dinner," Susan suggested as she glanced over to Claire, who moaned again, ripped paper from her notepad and tossed it onto the floor, "You all right?"
"You know how two weekends ago you suggested I should write my heart donor's family a letter? I'm having no luck with what I want to say..."
"Oh." Susan picked up a piece of balled paper and studied Claire's writing, 'Dear family, I'm writing to you on the behalf of your love one's heart...'
"This doesn't sound too bad Claire..."
"Well, it is. I don't know what to tell them, Suz, you're better at words than I am!" Claire spoke up exhausted and rolled her eyes too.
"Just tell them, you're happy to be alive and your gratitude goes to them for..."
"The heart?" Claire sighed again.
"I can help you write it you know."
"I know, I just every time I sit down to write it, I feel really bad."
"You're not supposed to feel bad, Claire."
"How am I supposed to feel?"
"Claire, that family lost someone dear, and the heart of their love one kept you alive and going...you'll know what to say."
"You think so?"
"Just tell them you're successful because of them too...there's lots of ways to express grand feelings. For now, let's get ready for dinner and I'll help you with it afterwards."
"Actually, I'm kinda busy, Suz, after dinner...that's why I was trying to write it now, I just feel terrible that I'm trying to correspond and I don't know what to say to them." Claire remembered the serenade she had promised to join Duncan and Ewan at Megan's that night.
"Well, I guess we'll have to work on it tomorrow?" Susan gestured full of heart.
"Sounds okay," Claire frowned, scribbled over another piece of paper and tossed it onto the floor.
"Just get ready for dinner..." Susan snagged the pad of paper away from Claire and set it on the bedside table before patting her shoulder.
Duncan found himself going through all of his drawers, trying to find the best shirt to wear to dinner, as he was in the middle of getting dressed a knock came to the door. Duncan quickly tossed his shirt on just as the door opened...
"Lexie!" Duncan scrambled to fix his kilt and then sporran, trying to hide his 'unexposed' self to her swiftly, but Lexie was to upset to take notice. She entered the room and pushed past Duncan, in a harried state, and sat herself down on the lower bunk bed.
"You all right?"
"Megan's leaving, Archie told me he would help with the twins and he hasn't...he said 'half of an hour' and never showed! Twins still need dinner and I don't know what to do..." Lexie stared at Duncan hoping he'd help her out while tears formed in her eyes as her pregnancy hormones were taking over her body and mind once again.
"How do you mean?"
"Megan gave her notice today and now I'm without a nanny as of next week."
"Can't you put an ad in for a new one?"
"That's just it! Arch doesn't think I need a new nanny," Lexie frowned in despair, "its one thing to tend to the twins by myself over the weekend but seven days a week without Arch's help?"
"Listen to you, you've become spoiled," Duncan chuckled but Lexie didn't see the humor in Duncan's joke.
"I love tending to the twins, but I need some help around here with them—you think you can help when you're not busy?" Lexie called on Duncan to help her out as he was still one of her best friends in this world and knew she could count on him.
"Well, I have Minnie, you know..."
"Duncan, I looked after her for you all of those months, you could at least help me with feeding the twins, please, pretty please with sugar on top, just for tonight?"
Duncan smiled, "Just relax, I'll help out, it's not like Archie to not do as he says though?"
"Archie's been swapped with Ghillie's Rest ever since Paul won it," Lexie mumbled as she rolled her eyes, "And now he's so busy with this 'grand' opening of the place that he doesn't seem to be living up to what he says on the family end. He's still taking over the wildlife center books for Paul, while he deals with his and Susan's house plans... I need Archie and he's not there! What do I do?"
"I'll rescue you, meet me down in the kitchen, and we'll sort this all out." Duncan reassured Lexie, who grinned, "You're sure?"
"Of course,"
Lexie stood up from the bedside, "aye, we meet soon?"
"Lex, yes, now, lemme," Duncan glanced down his body, hoping Lexie would get the drift to leave the room so he could finish taking care of himself.
"Oh all right," Lexie sniffed as she wandered out of the room when Duncan shrugged his shoulders. They didn't know that Claire had been out in the hall listening to Lexie and Duncan chat about her needing help with the twins. Claire decided to disappear off to the kitchen minutes before Lexie had left the room.
"Have either of you seen the twins? I left them in the play room...but..."
Lexie, who was worried about losing her children, found Claire and Susan in the kitchen twenty minutes later with the twins sitting in high chairs as they were stuffing their faces with mashed sweet potatoes and bits of rabbit meat.
"Yes, they are here and being fed," Claire winked at Lexie who let out a sigh of major relief. Susan smiled at Claire and then Lexie, "We thought we'd help you out with feeding them, if it's okay?"
Lexie smiled while relief came over her once more, "Thank-you. How'd you know?"
"I over heard you and Duncan talking about it, I thought you needed the extra hands since Archie's been busy with the estate and properties," Claire confessed and Jayne let out a vivid giggle, "Mummy! YUM!"
"Yummy to your wee tum-tum?" Lexie laughed at her daughter, and then turned her attention to Claire, "Well, I did need the help since Archie's been frantic."
Susan smiled and rolled her eyes, "Well, Paul bit off more than he can chew too and I know it's aggravating to have no help when you need it most. You should have just asked me, Lexie."
"I thought you were overly preoccupied with work, so I didn't want to bother you."
"No bother, no bother at all," Susan chuckled to Wayne as she wiped his sweet potato face with a cloth bib.
Lexie then felt the need to sit down as she rubbed her slightly showing baby belly and as her tummy rumbled out famished, she sighed at how hungry she was too. Within moments, Duncan entered the room, smiled at Lexie, "Looks like you don't need me, eh?"
"I need you, to make the baby something to eat," Lexie rattled out as Ewan came into the kitchen, "But it's almost dinner time..."
"Bread and cheese or something..." Lexie retorted as Duncan did as he was told and Ewan checked on the dinner.
"Aye, will do."
Later that night, in the middle of a star lit sky, three figures dressed in black ski masks, all black clothing, except for one wearing a kilt, and torches. The trio moved towards 'Murray's Locksmith' sign at the front of the small white house.
"Now what do we do?" The first voice replied as the second said, "Be quiet for one...there's a light on in each upstairs room, which is hers?"
The first voice chimed out, "The one to the left,"
"There's three windows to the left?" The third voice mumbled, "Ouch! You're stepping on my foot!"
"Sorry, that was me..." said the second voice sympathetically.
The third voice gave out the instructions, "Now, we stroll up over the gate get over to the bushes and the trellis, and you climb upwards."
"Uh, no, I'm afraid of heights!" The first voice muttered as the third gave out a disgruntled sigh, "Must I do everything for you?"
"What do we do if the trellis breaks?"
"Don't worry it won't," The third voice suggested as the first and second started to disagree.
"I'm not climbing it" said the second voice and added, "Me not,"
"What you afraid of heights too?" The third voice accused the second.
"I'm wearing a kilt, Claire!" The second figure revealed the third voice as the third figure snickered, revealing the second voice, "It's not like I haven't seen men's knickers before Duncan..."
"Will you two be quiet? Someone's coming! Duck!" The first voice full of alarm snapped out to Duncan and Claire, as it was Ewan and he wasn't sure if this poetic serenade idea was going to work out. All three of them dashed over the fence, landing on each other, like the Three Stooges, as an elderly couple wandered by the house. Ewan's head popped up as he scanned over the side to make sure the couple walked far enough away.
"Well, what are you waiting for...climb it and we'll stay down here and you go tell her your poem," Claire rubbed her aching elbow after Duncan helped her up from the pile they made on the lawn. They then did a Mission Impossible dance to the side of the house where the trellis was hanging off the brick chimney.
Ewan scampered up the trellis after getting a foot boost from Claire and Duncan. The wooden ivy bracket started to shake as Ewan went up and up and up...as he reached the top, he looked down at Claire with both of his hands clutching the trellis, "Now, how am I supposed to alert her? I can't knock!"
"I know!" Duncan grinned as he bent down to the uneven ground, with his hands picked up a few pebbles and he threw them at what they all believed was Megan's bedroom window. Of course, Duncan over extended his arm and the pebbles went through the open window.
Just as the pebbles with a clang landed on the floor, to what was Megan's parents' bedroom. Megan's father Hector Murray stirred as he got up, remembering the window was open and hearing Marmaduke and Nancy starting to bark outside as he hollered out, "Quiet!" and then shut the window, narrowly missing Ewan's fingers! As Ewan noted the light from the room shut off and then he realized the trellis started to rattle again. Ewan, who was relieved not to be caught by Megan's father, decided to descend...
"That's not her room... and her dogs are going nuts now." Ewan said, still believing it wasn't a good idea to be trying to serenade Megan at this hour or any hour as his feet planted firmly on the ground.
Claire decided on another plan, "it's gotta be the window to the right of it...let's try the trellis again..."
"Claire, the thing is rickety, I'm lucky I didn't fall off and bust my head open!"
"Ewan, where is your sense of romance?" Claire scolded him and he shrugged, before snickering without glee once again...
"It left me when Megan's father almost shut my hand in his window!"
"Quickly, bushes, someone's waking up again!" Duncan alerted Claire and Ewan as they hid in the bushes once again. This time the right window opened, Megan needed some fresh air, as her light stayed on, and Claire noticed Megan and said, nudging Ewan, "Look, she's there. I told you she's to the right..."
"Fine, but the trellis doesn't reach over there, so now what do I do?"
"We human totem pole it." Claire nodded her head matter of factly as Duncan and Ewan exchanged long worrisome glances, as Claire laughed, "I'm on bottom,"
"No I'm on bottom." Duncan stated firmly reminding Claire of his kilt with his tone.
"Fine, let's just do it..." Claire replied with an eye roll and Ewan said, "Where am I?"
"You're on top of my shoulders..." Claire retorted as Ewan gave her a look, "You're kidding?"
"Ewan, just do as I say, someone's coming again..." as they made another mad dash into the bushes and Megan looked out her window, thinking she had heard someone...but decided it was probably from the street. Megan's eyes studied the gift and flowers that she had received earlier in the day. As she sighed as her fingers traced the card, she turned to the window to see Ewan. Megan jumped startled as she pulled her nightgown tight, "What on earth?"
"Oh hi," Ewan smiled as he hung over the side, Duncan on the bottom of the totem, Claire in the middle as Ewan had carefully and diligently climbed up Duncan and then Claire to make the top of the totem.
"Ewan what are you doing? You're gonna get yourself killed!" Megan helped grab him over the side of the window as he applied his body weight onto Claire's shoulder, then her head! Claire tried to stay quiet even though having Ewan stepping on her head hurt. Ewan hoisted himself up and over her...while Megan tugged him inside.
"Oh I dun no, just thought I'd pay you a wee night visit?" Ewan was safely on two feet standing in Megan's room. Ewan shut the window and smiled again as Claire and Duncan began to wobble, and then they both fell backward, tumbling into the bushes, Duncan almost yelling out, "AHHHHH!" but Claire placed her hand over Duncan's mouth to silence him.
Duncan immediately helped Claire up again, and whispered, "You all right?"
"I'm good, I am. Operation poetic serenade complete, now we wait for the outcome." Claire winked as she grabbed Duncan's hand and they took off for the land rover, leaving Ewan in Megan's room.
Ewan and Megan stood there staring at each other as he spoke right up, "I see you got my flowers and bear?"
Megan turned her head to the gifts and stated, with a nervous laugh, "You're my secret admirer?"
"Well, yes, it is me in the flesh, what's wrong?" Ewan smiled like he had done something wonderful for Megan and instead Megan glanced at him very guilty.
"Sorry, I can't accept them." Megan handed him back the flowers and the bear.
"Why not? They are for you?" Ewan answered as he hung his head, "For months, Megan, I have tried to tell you that I?"
"I knew you fancied me, but no matter how many gifts you give, biscuits you bake, being as sickening lovey dovey while dancing with me...it doesn't change the fact that I feel nothing for you, Ewan."
"Oh." Ewan's heart sank as he hung his head again.
"I'm so sorry, but I'm leaving Glenbogle in one week and even if I did like you back, I have a whole other life ahead of me in Glasgow."
"There's nothing there, Meggy, I lived therewhy do you think my parents moved me up here! Wait a minute, you're leaving? I drove you away?" Ewan became know-it-all about Glasgow and then began to panic when he saw that Megan was serious about moving away.
"No, Ewan, in a couple weeks for a traveling theater group and then I start RSAMD school in a matter of months...I'm born to be an actress. There is something in Glasgow for me."
"Oh." Ewan's head dropped again as he spoke right up, "Who'd help Mrs. Lexie with her twins?"
"I don't know, but it's not me after Friday," Megan's mouth went into a smile as she set him straight on her feelings about her and him, "No hard feelings, Ewan, you're just not my type. You never have and you really never will be."
Ewan took the huge hint, as his mind forgot about reciting Megan his silly love poem that Claire and Duncan helped him write that afternoon and with the flowers and bear in tow, Megan lead him down the stairs and out of the house.
"I'm so sorry, Ewan. You'll find someone better. I'll see you tomorrow."
Megan shut the door to her parents' house and also on Ewan's now broken heart. Ewan strolled off the front steps, tossed the flowers into the bushes and then carried the bear by one leg back to the land rover as he transcended into the back of the truck, Claire and Duncan, started to pester him for a response.
"Well?"
"How'd it go?"
"Oh it went all right!" Ewan remarked sarcastically and concluded huffy, "Megan's leaving Glenbogle and never wants to see me again! Just drive!" Claire and Duncan exchanged glances as they headed back to the house, while Ewan pouted in the backseat with the bear, clutched to his chest.
