Chapter Nine---Aftermath and AfterglowChapter Nine---Aftermath and Afterglow "Lizzie, slow down! Lizzie! C'mon"
Lizzie didn't reply as she just quickened her pace and helped open the car door for Martha. Martha looked back at Graeme, quite reluctantly as Lizzie nudged her into the car. Graeme stood right behind Lizzie, making her uncomfortable as she turned to face him.
"Please understand I only did what was best for us, for you, for Martha…" Graeme begged as Lizzie huffed, "You've been listening to much mumbo-jumbo from Archie! Look, Graeme, if you have a personal vendetta against David, great, but leave Martha and me out of it. I need my space. I can't believe you'd stoop to such a level an' to keep me! I'm going now. Get out of my way"
Lizzie cast Graeme aside and hopped into Molly's car, as Graeme watched Lizzie burn rubber down the dusty track. Lizzie, who should have been flattered at the lengths that Graeme took today to keep her…wasn't.
Lizzie had enough heartache for one day as she tossed and turned on the pull out couch with a pillow clutched to her chest. Lizzie gasped tossed the pillow up into the air and then caught it before putting it behind her head while laying on her back staring at the ceiling. She couldn't face Graeme again after telling him to leave her at the race and she didn't want to see David either. Lizzie's life was a mess once again all because she allowed it to be this way. Molly had taken Martha in for the night to help give Lizzie some 'think space' and time. To figure out what she wanted best for her self and for Martha.
Molly talked to a very distraught Lizzie over the phone. Molly wasn't the only one worried about Lizzie and Martha's well beings, David had traveled into the village—mostly to go for a walk and to clear his head. Molly spotted him and she waved David down. Golly stood on the sidewalk while placing Martha's over night sack into the truck. He turned and glanced at David too, just as Martha came running towards the street… "Daddy? Daddy"
"David! You whoo!" Molly waved across the street and lowered her hand to rest on top of gardening hat. Molly stopped Martha from going into the street as she held her other hand around Martha. Martha waved too, "Daddy"
"Molly?" David crossed the street and smiled at them both. If anyone could count on someone to set things right, give solid advice, and be there, it was Molly MacDonald. "Martie-pet! My lovely girl"
Martha wrapped her arms around David after he had lowered himself to give her a hug. "You here to see Mummy and me"
"Martie, I came to see you both, yes"
"I'm going with Golly. We're going to make a fire, an' have great big s'mores while we wait for Grandma to get home. Bye Daddy! I'll miss you"
"I'll miss you too"
"Hello Golly," David gave a solid nod of his head.
"David." Golly shot David a distrusting and protective glance. However Golly didn't dislike David, he was just concerned about him being near Lizzie and Martha. Aside from Molly, Golly had known David since he was Martha's age and witnessed a lot of the mistakes of David's past…a major one involving Archie. "Martha, we best be going," Golly tipped his head downward to Martha who sweetly replied, "Okay…Bye Daddy and Grandma"
"Bye sweetheart." Molly grazed her lips to Martha giving her a hug too and then kissed Golly good bye as well. "Oh about that display at the estate, I'm terribly sorry," David began as he and Molly waved at Martha while the truck pulled away from the curb and Martha looked out of the truck window. She waved again. David waved back.
"Ah David, if you spent the rest of your days with regrets---then what would life be worth living? I know you mean well." "Golly doesn't—being a ridged old dog." David pointed out since he was perceptive and picked up on Golly's territorial body language while he stood beside them. "Golly will. I have faith. He's just always been rough around the edges, you know this. Come now." Molly winked as she guided David towards the shop door. David entered the shop. He had on numerous occasions 'strolled' by the shop while Lizzie was working or on her breaks across the way while she at a table sipping her tea—and he'd interrupt her by asking for info on Martha. This was the first time he walked into the shop to 'scout' it out.
Molly added with charming grin, "This way, David"
Molly led David in the back room of the shop. There were a few piles of invoices, some books to the side and a desk, with a computer. Molly sighed, "Graeme's been helping with the book keeping when he's not overly busy with the bank"
"Ah," David's left brow arched and then dropped, "So why am I here"
"Because of this," Molly beamed as she lifted a sheet over a Victorian styled doll house---red shingled roof, opened one side to display a variety of rooms, a parlor, front close, few bedrooms, nothing like the Glenbogle House, servant wing, tiny kitchen and then a sitting room. There was also a drawing room as well. Molly presented it to David, "It belonged to Hector's mother, and then it was Lizzie's"
"Molly it's incredible. The detail is priceless. I wasn't one for dolls…I remember stealing dolls from Lizzie when she'd play with the house," David laughed as he acknowledged another childhood memory, this time with Lizzie and not so much Jamie or Archie, "Of course, Jamie and I would take the dolls and hide them on her in her room. She'd get so cross about it. Jamie and I would rag on Archie for playing with them. He didn't see the difference I suppose--he wouldn't"
Molly chuckled vibrantly, "I remember those days. Anyway, I was hoping you'd be interested in giving it to Martha for her birthday---it still needs some fixing up." Molly hinted as she placed a hand on the roof of the house and David chuckled, before noting Molly wanted it to happen---she wanted to accept David still after everything he had recently put Archie and Lizzie through. David nodded his head in agreement, as his slick smile formed, "Sounds splendid, Molly"
"Well, lovely to see you Molly, but I'm going to jaunt…" David turned towards the way out.
"David, do you love my daughter?" Molly stated bravely and also sincerely. David twisted himself around to see Molly blushed, "I'm sorry, dear, no need to answer, it's just that, you arrived back here and have sent Lizzie's life in some sort of a tail spin"
David, with a grin slickly planted across his face, added with a nervous chuckle, "Molly, I came back here to set some stuff straight---I had been in Japan for so long...I love Martha and I wanted to spend time with her"
"Of course, like a father should with his daughter. If you did dear come back to rekindle old love with Lizzie, then may I suggest…" Molly and her matchmaking brushed past David and strolled into the main shop area, as her fingers plucked a Glenbogle Rose from a vase sitting on the cash counter, "You give her this when you see her"
David accepted the rose and added, "Lovely suggestion, Molly, if I do say so myself"
David had other plans for Lizzie's evening. David entered the close, skipped up the twelve steps to Lizzie and Martha's flat, and then paused at the door...his hand was just about to knock when he thought about what he's say to her. David twisted the rose in his fingers and then knocked on the door.
Lizzie switched on the light on the end table before inching her body upwards, propping her back with the pillow. Lizzie then sat up straight with her legs Indian styled, her blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, and her body in a pair of jim-jams on the sofa bed. She breathed in and exhaled out, grabbing her writing supplies from the end table too. Lizzie had a pen in her hand, and her blue bound journal in front of her---her father loved to keep journals—Lizzie loved to keep journals too---she started a journal and kept up with it after she heard about Hector passing on. She still hadn't had time to take some of the excess furniture at the house and move it into the flat until her furniture came out of storage in London. The flat had two or three wood crates, one as a temporary seat and two supported record player---big cherry made model with what resembled a trombone-like end speaker streaming from the top, Hector's vintage record player, as Lizzie was against TV, just like her father. 'There were better things to do with one's time, than to sit and gawk at a telly all day'...as Hector would tell a young nine year old Lizzie before scooting her from the sitting room to outside on a summer day. With that note, Lizzie never grew accustomed to watching much TV. Lizzie became engrossed in her journal, writing about her days emotions and thoughts, until there was a knock at the door. Lizzie closed up her life novel, capped her pen, and stared at the door confused and then with regret---she didn't want to talk to Graeme...but what if was Martha since she didn't do well on nights away from her? Lizzie crept towards the door. There wasn't a peephole so Lizzie couldn't look through the door to see who it was.
"Hello, private party or can I join you?" David smiled when the door opened wide.
"David, what are you doing here?" Lizzie noticed the rose as David tapped her nose with it and gave it to her. He then scooted past her entering the flat. "Still needs something in here Lizzie..." David studied the flat walls, which were bare and also the assortment of 'furniture'. "My living set will be here Friday. What are you here for anyway? To gloat? Did you steal this from my mother's garden?" Lizzie sniffed the rose and shut the flat door. "Actually, I saw Molly." David studied Lizzie closely, waiting for a reaction from her.
"Oh really? Why?" Lizzie blinked and questioned David. Lizzie realized what she was wearing and David watched her scurry from the lounge about to treat down the hall to the bathroom to get her robe.
"If you're going to change, Liz, don't bother. I like those jim-jams," David called out as Lizzie returned bundled from head to toe in her robe. "I'm not changing anything," Lizzie added innocently, even though changing her clothes had crossed her mind.
"Good," David's lop-sided wiry smile formed when Lizzie returned to the room.
"What did you and mother chat about?" Lizzie asked once again as David stood before her in the lounge. "Nice record player, shall I turn it on?" David asked curiously.
"It was fathers. Mother left it for me to listen too and his swing band music aside from the oldie stuff---he's even got prewar music that's just classy." Lizzie glanced and David added, "I came to apologize"
"Fine, look, David, I don't want to talk about the race or anything that happened before or after it"
David turned on the antique record player, turned on the knob as the vinyl went around and around, before setting the sound needle at the beginning, a slow song with rows of sweet musical notes came flowing out from the trombone speaker and it filled the room.
David stood up from the player, took of his jacket, and tossed it to the sofa bed as Lizzie gave him a look of wondering what he was up to... "Dance with me"
"David, this isn't..." Lizzie pulled the terry cloth robe closed at her neck with her right hand. However David insisted she place her hand in his. "Place your hand in mine, Liz, take it..." David smiled, embraced Lizzie and then added, "Except one minor thing..." David's left hand untied the robe band.
"David, you're not Peter Pan..." Lizzie back away from him and blushed. "Maybe I am and you're Wendy, instead of flying away, I want to dance...you and me and not you, I and a robe that makes you look like you're off to meet Eskimos!" David joked as Lizzie rolled her eyes, "please? Like a victory dance of winning the race today"
Lizzie gave in, "One dance and you go home." At last my love has come along

My lonely days are over

And life is like a song

David embraced Lizzie once again, his right hand at the small of her back as their feet began to move and Lizzie's right hand remained in David's left hand. Lizzie's left hand scooped the back of David's neck as they swayed to the relaxing music together. At last the skies above are blue

And my heart was wrapped up in clover

The night I looked at you

Lizzie didn't look David in the face, as she found herself looking over his shoulder, "Look at me..." he encouraged.
"No," Lizzie refused to lock eyes with David.
"Why not?" David whispered eagerly into her ear.
"I didn't suggest this dance, you did," Lizzie continued to look away. "Liz, stop being stubborn, set your eyes to mine..." David whispered as he stared at her, waiting for Lizzie to glance up at him. I found a dream that I can speak to

A dream that I could call my own

I found a thrill to press my cheek to

A thrill that I have never known

Lizzie halfheartedly sighed, as she looked up at David and he grinned, "Much better"
"For who, you?" Lizzie challenged him, trying to act like she wasn't enthused with her dancing partner—which part of her was and wasn't---the part that was, actually missed dancing with him, and to any song, on a humid summer night in the middle of her old flat in London; the time when David was with Lizzie when Martha was three. "Liz," David warned, even though he was enjoying every minute of her being this way, slightly pig-headed, disinterested in dancing, and yet, all the alluring and charming. Lizzie's eyes began to cloud and a tear or two streamed down her cheeks like rain drops.
"David? I'm not sure about this." Lizzie's eyes connected to David's, "I'm sorry, I got memories of dancing like this with you living in London. Father and I even used to dance to this song when I was small"
"No need for water works Lizzie, no need to be vulnerable, or glumly especially with me here." David wiped away her fleeing tears, tooting his own horn, and then decided to cheer her up by cracking a joke about Hector, "Hector Naismith MacDonald danced? Was there no unjust going on with the world at the time"
"Yes, really, he did dance when I was in stocking feet at the tender age of six with my feet on top of his—it was at a time when I was his princess." Lizzie began to lighten up as she laughed and didn't stop dancing with David, they kept going.
You smiled, you smile and then the spell was cast

And here we are in heaven

And you are mine at last At Last- Ella Fitzgerald (1940's)
David and Lizzie's heads tipped in closer together and Lizzie wanted to put a stop to what was about to happen, however, she didn't. David and Lizzie had stopped dancing and the song was over and the record continued to go around and around as the needle dipped over the vinyl again and again--indicating it was done. Nothing disturbed David and Lizzie as their lips were entangled together like planets drawn to one orbit, and then David did was what natural, really...he flipped Lizzie to the sofa bed and as they tumbled together on the shaky, unsteady, and slightly moving bed frame, kissing madly, not thinking about anything but being with each other...until.
CRACK! SMACK! BOING went the bed springs…CRASHHHHHHH…COLLAPSE!
The sofa bed crumbled beneath them suddenly as they both rolled sideways off of the sofa bed and onto the floor in a huge thudded heap. David and Lizzie laughed while they were lying on the floor as David glanced up at the slanted bed and asked, "Well, lightweight"
"Lightweight? You're the one who tipped me to the bed, heavyweight!" Lizzie's eyes met David's once again, "You're still on top of me you know," Lizzie wiggled beneath David as she ceased to wiggle, and her lips swooned to his.
"Right, might help if I move?" David joked, while nipping her lips with his for one last peck, as Lizzie laughed, "The soft bed's old, David. If it hadn't been us, it still would have broken...probably tonight with just me on it"
"Right, right," David smiled dimply and rolled off of Lizzie as he landed with his back to the floor. He yelped after feeling something hard and wiry. David snagged out her journal from behind him self. "Sorry, I'll take that..." said Lizzie, once free of David, as she held out her hand for the journal after sitting up from the floor. David gave it to her and then Lizzie gave him a hand up. They both studied the shape of the sofa bed...the foot ends of the bed frame which held up the mattress were bent out and down to the floor---making the bed look like it was on an uneven hill.
David grasped the mattress, the blankets that came with it, pulled it out from the sofa bed frame completely and placed it on the floor. He also handed Lizzie her pen too, "I assume this"
"Thank-you," Lizzie replied, "Maybe you better go"
"Liz..." David tried to change her mind. Lizzie asked him a baited question, "You don't have to go if you can tell me why you went to see my mother"
"Because of you really"
"No, David..." Lizzie disagreed, assuming he was just doing the usual and trying to flatter her.
"Lizzie, I went to see Molly because of you---you were livid at the race and I just wanted to know where you and I stand"
"We're standing fine David," Lizzie remarked with dry humor as they were standing up in her flat.
"That's not what I meant---standing fine, right now...Lizzie," David trained his eyes on hers. "You're being truthful, you know, Mummy always felt sorry for you," Lizzie sighed amazed, which made David chuckle.
"Of course I am. You know when I'm lying to you anyway and as for Molly, it's my charm that she's always seemed keen on, pity works wonders don't you know? Molly's always been like a second mother to me." David said with another slanted beam as Lizzie nodded with a giggle, knowing he was right, "Yes, she's always thought of you as some sort of son, I' s'pose." Lizzie's eyes wandered to the mattress now on the floor, David's did too and they both glanced at the deranged sofa bed and laughed again. Lizzie and David were snuggled together and spooning for quite some time. They had both fallen asleep, still fully clothed and just enjoying the warmth. David tried to wiggle his arm free from under Lizzie, at first, he nudged her gently, raised her head with his free hand. However, Lizzie rolled herself into him, making it more impossible for him to get away, "Liz, you awake"
"I'm asleep and having a wonderful dream that a handsome man's spending lots of time with me right now and it's…gasp! You"
David chuckled once again before becoming serious, "Liz, I got to go." David picked up on Lizzie's flattery of having him there—still she was technically off limits.
"What time is it"
"1am. I probably shouldn't camp out here"
"Why's that"
David exhaled and inhaled Lizzie's scent, the old David would have just taken it as a sign and stayed and didn't care if Lizzie was still engaged to be married, as the rock on her finger flashed it. The new emerging David, well, he didn't want to go for it. David didn't want to continue to compete for Lizzie's affections with Graeme, even though Molly gave him her support—as David's eyes dashed to the rose beside Lizzie's head. He didn't want to try to win her—like all of the times he had competed with Jamie and Archie playing games on the estate, wanting to be the winner and the best at everything. Lizzie wasn't a game to him.
"You're still with him"
Lizzie popped one eye open to David and then rolled onto her back as they lie on the mattress, Lizzie changed the subject. "How did Killwillie come to hire you on? He didn't exactly think very highly of you—if I remember right--you were a 'willful' child or so Killwillie would say to mother"
"What? Oh right that," David laughed, "Um, well…I bedded his niece"
Lizzie playfully hit David square on the shoulder, "No"
"Um, yes," David said devilishly.
"You didn't!" Lizzie could now tell from the flicker of content in David's eyes that he was in fact teasing her.
"I've known Hermione since I left you actually years ago. We went on a dinner date. It was the night before I left for Japan. I had accepted an offer as a merchant banker with a finance firm out of Glasgow—since being an entrepreneur didn't work out quite right, you know me going solo. Sorry about not sending the money when Martha was younger---Yen to Pounds…nice conversion though---I felt you needed something"
"I didn't ask you about money, David, just about how Killwillie has grown to like you"
"He's grown fond of me because of my investments, Lizzie. It's business. I saved him 200-thousand pounds the first week I was here"
"Ah—so you proved yourself as worthy"
"Actually Hermione set me up, she had talked extensively to her mother, Dorothy. Her mother said she had a job on her brother's estate in the Highlands where I was headed and destined to search for work---I met Hermione as soon as I got into London. I didn't put two and two together that it was Killwillie Castle until I arrived here. Dorothea has a way with words when dealing with 'Sharon'." David laughed again while Lizzie actually giggled too.
David's laughter faded, "What are we doing Lizzie"
Lizzie tilted her head as David propped up his head with his arm while lying on his side. "You're jolting me aren't you"
"I can't stay here. Wouldn't be right, Lizzie," David said, 'taking' the high road.
"I think you should, I mean, I'd really like you to stay." Lizzie smiled faintly and latched her lips to his lightly.
Chapter Ten---Won't take no for an answer Two hours passed, a pony-tailed Lizzie had made two cups of tea as she had her body wrapped right up into an old green jumper and pair of jogging pants. Lizzie grabbed her journal and her pen before wandering towards the door with tea in her hand and then leaving the flat. David was out on the sofa bed mattress, still fully clothed, and wrapped up in a few blankets. He started to come too, placed on hand on where her body was on the mattress too, feeling around the pillow and realizing Lizzie wasn't beside him. David took a moment to adjust to his sight, "Liz"
Lizzie loved nights, especially nights with the full moon above and few stars dotting out across the sky. Mr. Mack, the original owner of the building, had a great idea turning part of the roof into a patio. Lizzie sat down on a wicker chair, opened up her journal, uncapped her pen, and on a crate beside Lizzie was Golly's camping lantern that he had left behind for Lizzie to enjoy. Lizzie kept writing, scribbling, scrolling and pondering everything that just happened between David and her. Her mind went back to Graeme though, the engagement band he had given her not quite two months ago was on her left finger. "Do you always take off like this?" David hiked up a couple steps and walked out onto the rooftop patio to find Lizzie. He had a cup of tea with him as well. Lizzie laughed and sent David a mischievous look, "Only when people show up unannounced and sweep me off my feet"
"Oh..." David began and Lizzie nodded to the other wicker seat on the roof for David to sit down and he did. "Made you some tea," Lizzie winked as David sat down on a crate which came from Lizzie's lounge.
"I noticed that, thank-you for leaving the stove off and not trying to burn the place down. Thank goodness I gave up drinking months ago and you didn't twist in whiskey with my cup---no nightcap jubilee. " David tipped the cup up and then took a sip from it.
"You're welcome—I seem to remember you leaving the range on the some years ago whilst napping with our little one at the time," Lizzie replied, "Martha's with"
"Molly, I know, I saw Martha when I when I came into town. Golly took her back to his cabin while Molly invited me into the shop. Martha seemed actually pleased to see me, I think. Every word that came out of her mouth was "Dad this and Dad that and will you see Mummy too?" David did a Martha impression and fluttered his eyelashes before Lizzie picked up a balled piece of paper and threw it at him. "Ah, yea, you saw Mummy all right," Lizzie laughed again and David tossed her a hurt look, "You didn't enjoy Daddy seeing you"
"What do you think, poppet?" Lizzie gave a marvel retort while raising her brow as David still had the balled up piece of paper in his hand. David set his cup down and moved closer to Lizzie and the lantern before carefully unfolding each edge and un-crumpling it—smoothing out the paper to make it flat.
"David, there's nothing on that for you to read..." Lizzie remarked.
"Just wait a minute," David replied, as he continued folding the paper up and then presented Lizzie, down on one knee before her as she sat on the seat... "M'lady"
Lizzie tilted her head to the side, as David handed her what looked like... "What is it"
"A frog, ribbit, ribbit…" David grinned, making the paper frog hop, as Lizzie looked at the 'flattened and crinkled' origami frog and took it from David's hands.
"It actually looks a wee bit like..." Lizzie studied the frog, leaning downward into David as he tipped his head upward to her.
"Road kill?" David sighed, "I know, I'm still mastering the frog give me time, princess. The least you could do is kiss it"
"Um...no," Lizzie wrinkled her nose with her reply as David's face dropped into a pout, "However, I can think of something better"
Lizzie placed her hands, one still holding the frog, on David's face and reeled him in. Their lips met again and when David broke free, he asked, "Now about this journal...and me not reading it"
"David, the journals"
"I remember them Lizzie, all right? I remember you journaling years ago, okay?" David respected her. Lizzie's face went blank, "What"
"Graeme didn't understand the point of journaling." "Well, I do oddly enough," David said while tapping his finger to Lizzie's nose, "Take a chance and trust me." "It had a lot to do with father, my writing...and trusting you, David---is a tricky thing"
"I know." David took the pen from Lizzie's hands, "Are you all right"
"It's hard to say, one minute I'm on top of the world, the next I'm down in the dumps," Lizzie added with little emotion, "I still haven't been to father's grave site. I just can't bring my self to go there--Archie keeps asking me if I want to see father's grave and I just tell him another time." David glanced up at the sky, "How are you now at this exact moment?" David could tell Lizzie was on the up swing with him. In the back of his mind, he wondered about her life 18 months ago and everything that she had gone through... "Fine, I think. I didn't come back here until last autumn, and even then I wondered a tiny bit why I left in the first place. I hadn't been back since I gave birth to Martha here. Mother would come down to London to visit, but after father passing I just decided to stay here"
David listened intently, and replied, "I always wonder why I left here when I return for a visit"
"You're here only for a visit? Just a temporary jump start before you're off to something better then?" Lizzie assumed and mused as David glanced over to her. Lizzie's mood turned again...more dismal, at the idea of David taking off again, especially when Martha constantly talks about him. "Liz, you've still got your spark"
"But"
"By the looks of that ring, we're kidding ourselves. If you wanted to make us permanent all you have to do is ask, suggest, prove it and show me"
"No need really," Lizzie twisted and glided off the ring her finger. Lizzie stared at it for just a moment, closed up her journal and capped her pen. Lizzie dropped the ring into David's now empty tea cup before whisking away. David arched a brow at Lizzie's direction. Rested his chin on his hands, dropped his head, just as his wiry trademark 'I won' grin danced across his face again-even though he said he wouldn't compete for her affections---he sort of did anyway. David snatched up the two tea cups and made way for Lizzie's flat.
"Did you mean what you said, Liz?" David called into the lounge as the lights were dimmed and David made out Lizzie's silhouette in the kitchenette. Lizzie received the tea cups from David as she placed them on the counter near the sink. "Depends, I mean a lot of things, question is, do I mean a lot to you?" Lizzie zipped past David with a tiny satisfied smile. David zoomed right after her with a grin, and tackled her to the thin mattress on the floor.
The sunlight came shining through the window down upon Lizzie and David's faces. Lizzie wrinkled her nose, ran her hand down her face, and tumbled to her side making her face just inches from David's, who had tumbled to his side too.
"Hi"
"Hello Davy," Lizzie sounded out David's nickname, snuggled her nose to his and then rolled away. David spooned himself up to her and whispered into her ear, "We're like two peas in a pod you and me"
"A warm and toasty pod?" Lizzie chuckled and David remarked wistfully, "Full of spiritual love"
"I remember when you danced with me the whole time at the Midsummer Ball...remember our first kiss, Captain Davy"
David gave a laugh at his notorious nickname since the time he was 17, and Jamie at 18, took Killwillie's boat for a spin. They lost control of the boat, abandoned ship and it crashed into the rock jetty. "Yes, I do, we're both dealing with grief and the loss of Jamie I s'pose. All of those years of growing up together and the whole time I was 'swapping spit' with you, I could hear Jamie in my head, 'Ewwwwww you two at it?' and his sinister laugh, my ol' partner in crime," David sighed sadly.
Lizzie noted his tone with her response, "I miss him. Archie still blames himself for his death you know"
"I didn't"
"I think father was too hard on him"
"Maybe, he did have big shoes to fill"
"Actually David the shoes were already worn out and tossed at him. Father and Mummy dropped the estate at his feet without him receiving warning"
"Why did they do that? Tax dodge—death duties"
"Yes," Lizzie answered, as she pulled up the sheet and blanket over her shoulders. "You know, I never asked what Archie did with Jamie's room. Did he turn it into something other than a museum"
"Aye, a nursery for the twins and Duncan's daughter, Minnie," Lizzie smiled as David grinned dimply again with a reply, "How fitting"
"It is…its sweet, sheepy, and romantic, David and Lexie loved it done up when they were expecting the twins"
However, Molly and Martha were coming up the flat steps. Martha was 'Mummy' sick after her third s'more last night. Molly kept reassuring her she'd see Lizzie quite soon. And sure enough, in the early morning hour, Molly and Martha set off for the flat. "Grandmum? Will Mummy miss me?" Martha skipped up a few steps, Molly held Martha's hand while Mr. Bear hung from her other hand and her backpack was over Molly's shoulder. "Of course she missed you, you're her wee poppet…" Molly stepped up to the threshold of Lizzie's flat door and was about to knock when she over heard some laughter. Molly's lips curved into a smile---Lizzie wasn't alone. Martha said, "Grandmum, what's Mummy doing"
"Laughing and I haven't heard her laugh this way in a long time"
"She never laughs without me. What's so funny, Grandmum?" Martha insisted Molly open the door and investigate the scene. "Maybe we better ring Mummy in a wee while"
"We're home…I want to see Mummy!" Martha trumpeted as she let go of Molly's hand and before Molly's protests of barging in, stepped right into the flat to see David and Lizzie curled together in bed, tank-topped Lizzie on her stomach, looked up at Martha, with the sheet and blanket wrapped around her. "Martha!" Molly added, even though she was curious as to who Lizzie was with…and delighted to see David and tried to shield her eyes. "Oh no Martha, um, wait a minute!" Lizzie freed herself from David. Martha stared and her mouth dropped out, "Mummy? Daddy"
"Hi sweetheart…" David tried to smile, while covering him self and Lizzie as best as he could. Molly added, "Martha, lets journey to the hall, just for a sec"
Martha obeyed Molly as she followed her out of the flat. Lizzie blew out a breath and David smiled wiry while rubbing the back of his head. Lizzie and David exchanged glances as she spoke up, "We better explain this, you and me. I'm not talking to Martha alone"
"I don't blame you. I'll—yea," David nodded and got up and finished dressing.
Seconds turning to minutes later…
Lizzie waltzed out into the hall to find Molly and Martha sitting on the top step as they both rose to greet Lizzie. Martha looked around Lizzie, who stood in the doorframe, to make sure her father was still indeed there. "Come in, Mum, Martha you too"
"I'll go and leave you both to it," Molly didn't want to pry. Lizzie watched Molly zip down the steps to the door that lead to the main shop before she could reply. Martha walked inside as Lizzie placed her hands on her shoulder. "Mummy," Martha said quietly, "Did you and Daddy have a sleepover without me"
David contained his laughter as Lizzie shot him a look of, 'You're not exactly helping'
"Kind of," Lizzie added as David brought Martha over to a crate and sat her down. "Martie-pet, look honey, Mummy and I are just working on being better mates," David said as Lizzie rolled her eyes. "Like Matilda and I?" Martha suggested as David gave Lizzie a look and inquired to Martha, "Who is"
"Me best mate at school, Daddy! She has a Mummy and Daddy too. They are best mates too and live with each other. Matilda says one day we'll have best mates"
"Oh?" Lizzie's mouth went into a smile and she tried to contain her laughter too.
"What else did Matilda say to you?" Lizzie wondered as she took a journey into the 'deep' thoughts of her six year old daughter and braced herself for an earful---not knowing it would become a conversation about Birds and Bees. "She says her Mummy planted a flower and her Daddy helped water it and that's how her Mummy has a baby now. They love each other so their garden will grow." Martha said innocently, as she tipped her head with wonderment, and a question: why were Mummy and Daddy laughing?
David laughed willfully and Lizzie joined him, David remarked still smiling, "I don't want to know what public school is teaching children these days"
Martha replied, "Mummy, you and Daddy make a garden too? Plant flowers like you did to make me"
"Martha, I bet Matilda's parents friendship isn't as muddy as Daddy's and mine," Lizzie tried to explain it in away that Martha would understand. "Mummy, you like Daddy"
"I like him very much yes," Lizzie added with a warm vibrant chuckle. David's heart skipped a few beats at Lizzie's answer.
"Daddy you like Mummy"
"Yes, sweetheart, I do," David sounded out while his eyes connected with Lizzie's again. Lizzie's heart skipped beats at hearing David say it.
"Then you make a garden"
"Martha, we'll talk about gardens later, okay---when you're much older?" Lizzie uncomfortably pointed out, but Martha was persistent in having her way.
"Grandmum plants gardens! She'd help you both out with it!" "Grandmum's done a lot already to help out Mummy and Daddy, poppet"
David ran his hand over Martha's head of hair, glanced at the time on his wrist watch and answered immediately, "I have to go Martha"
"Where are you going, Daddy"
"Work," David grinned and kissed her forehead, and then approached Lizzie who wandered out with him into the hall, "We handled that well"
"Weathered a storm brought on by a six year old, next time give me an umbrella," Lizzie joked as David caught her off guard with a good bye smooch after reeling her in for an embrace, "I'll ring you later"
"Okay," Lizzie waved David away. Lizzie scooted inside as she made way to the kitchen to make Martha some breakfast since she grumbled being hungry for more s'mores and Lizzie suggesting a camper breakfast of eggs. She looked into David's tea cup with her engagement ring from Graeme after washing her cup with warm water from the sink. Lizzie stared at the ring, the filigreed sides and heart shaped diamond set in platinum, and whispered suddenly, "What have I done"
Graeme's bank didn't open until 8:30am. Lizzie bought Martha to school as planned, and she prepared a speech, voicing it to herself, all the way back from the school to the shop: Graeme, really sorry, about the other day, except…no. Graeme the other day, is just one road block with us and it can be moved…no. Lizzie parked Molly's car outside of the shop, "Time to face the lion," Lizzie cited to herself. Lizzie had completely calmed down from yesterday. Her problem now were the love-life path she wanted to take, hop on a white steed and ride off into the sunset with Graeme, or go the old flame route a comfy float along the loch in the Dauntless dingy, her father's old row boat with David.
Lizzie made way out of the car, closed the door, set the lock and strolled across the street. She entered the bank, smiled at the receptionist sitting at a tiny desk while chatting on the phone. Lizzie traveled past her before stopping at a small glassed in office and Graeme at his desk with his head looking over papers. Lizzie silently crept in, sporting a salmon-pink suit, as she had her handbag in her hands, dangling in front of her waist side. It took Graeme a moment to notice he wasn't alone, "Linda, I don't have that agreement ready…so"
"I'm not Linda," Lizzie answered sweetly as Graeme recognized her voice. "Lizzie?" Graeme replied, taken back at her being there. Graeme blinked to make sure it really was her standing there. Lizzie came to her own senses.
"I am so sorry for how I treated you. I was quite wrong." Lizzie began to beg for her forgiveness from Graeme.
"There's not reason to be, I was just as wrong, I love you, Lizzie. I'm sorry I made it difficult for you in dealing with David, as he's Martha's father and all, especially when we're soon married"
Graeme stood up from his desk and made way to give her a squeeze. Lizzie couldn't do it. She couldn't break it off from Graeme, as her lips met his and she mouthed in response, "I love you too"
That night…
David brought a bottle of Lizzie's favorite brandy, and two glasses to celebrate future endeavors for their as Martha had put it, 'garden'. David hadn't drunk a drop of alcohol since he set foot back in Glenbogle and he hadn't imagined being with anyone else other than Lizzie. As David made way into the side entrance to the stair well which lead to Lizzie's flat, he heard voices coming from the shop. The door was slightly ajar so David tip-toed in. Lizzie's laughter musically flowed into his ears and registered in his brain that she wasn't alone. David snuck further into the shop's main room as he hid behind the cash counter, when the voices came through loud and clear, jokes, laughter, talking about a stag-do and a wedding. And then out of the office came Lizzie with Graeme. Their actions were all about being a couple and not breaking up like Lizzie had gestured to David the night before. Lizzie and Graeme ventured back into the office with their lips sealed together and David searching for away out the door. David made it to the street after witnessing Lizzie and Graeme's displays of affection. He dropped the brandy at the door step and the glasses as well---leaving Lizzie a message in his own way that he had been there to see her.