III

Three weeks later…

"Think fish are biting all the way to Devon? I can't imagine what a swanky seaside resort looks like or even going to one fer a weekend get a way, " Lexie piped as she held onto the fish net and finally decided to break the silence with Jamie. Lexie sat on a rock which was off to the shore of River Bogle. While Jamie sporting his fishing waders and wellies stood in the thick of rushing cool water that went up to his knees. Jamie had a sweater on and also a knitted hat on his head that Molly had made him Christmases ago as his hands swayed and swished his fishing rod in the air before casting his line.

"I s'pose, Arch and Justine will be back to London tomorrow---the hustle and bustle of their lives...I'm glad you joined me." 'And maybe one day I can take you there...if you'll have me,' Jamie's mind added too.

Lexie turned her head to look at Jamie as he smiled at her.

"Well, we haven't had much time together…" Lexie remarked agitated and then glanced away from him. As her daydream of being in Devon fizzled when she realized she'd probably never go there--or at least not alone.

"Since I became laird ya mean?"

Jamie realized Lexie wasn't too happy with him and could hear it in her tone. He recalled the look on her face the night of his coronation in the dinning room weeks ago. Jamie didn't ask her about it until now, "Are you upset with me or something?"

"No, I guess, I shouldn't be." Lexie shrugged lifelessly.

"But…"

"I was or am. I mean, you've been trapped in the office morning, noon and night an' I see Katrina floating in and out of there. You dun't know the half of it, Jam! I've gone as far to bring you dinner down at the office and she'd be there!"

"Katrina's just cooking the books Lex, nothing major, you know this. I asked her to lend a helping hand when I saw the finances and the state they were in. Lucky the bank hasn't tried to take over the place yet. I'm hoping to turn a few things around with the gaming parties and the house becoming, at Archie's suggestion, a B n' B. Anyway, let's get to the root of this shall we? I saw you the night of my coronation in the dinning room and you were down and out, why?"

"What you spying on me, Mr. MacDonald?"

"Answer the question, Lexie. You looked terrible, like I had shot your poodle."

"Gee thanks since when are my looks important? Okay, maybe I wanted to be there for you. Anyway, what does it matter?" Lexie tried to brush off the hurt.

"It mattered to me. Mother and I tried to talk Father into it and we would have tried harder if you had just come out and said something."

"I s'pose," Lexie mused, still harboring a small grudge, as she sighed and Jamie added, "No more chips on yer shoulders, Lex? Please tell me we're good now?"

Lexie sighed sensibly and let everything but what Jamie said about Katrina go into one ear and out the other. Lexie slowly felt like Katrina was infringing upon her territory and Jamie was it.

"Ah, Lex, come fish with me… and forget the rest, okay?" Jamie wadded over to her and stood in front of her at the big rock.

"No more Katrina talk?"

"No more. I wouldn't worry your self."

"Why shouldn't I?" Lexie pouted grumpily.

"Because I believe it would be worth while not too…"

"Worth while for whom?" Lexie eyed Jamie before he handed her the fish pole and then caught her completely off guard by carrying her from the rock to the shore and placing her onto her feet. Jamie reached in as Lexie dropped the rod and the net to the ground and then they both dipped their heads in to…kiss. Lexie immediately drew away stunned and Jamie stated right away, "I've known you for a long while, Lexie and it's worth every moment to me to make you happy, and to keep you content."

"What are ya askin' of me?"

"A question that's been mulling over and over in my mind…" Jamie spoke up without giving his thought away to Lexie.

"What is it then?"

Lexie and Jamie played the verbal game back and forth, until Lexie added abruptly, "Never mind better speak your heid later…or yer father will hear," after Lexie scanned the distance and saw Hector bounding towards them with his fishing gear on too. Jamie grumbled exasperatedly before his mouth went into another grin as Lexie finally beamed and waved to him.

Archie and Justine managed to get away from the restaurant for the long weekend by going to Torquay a seaside village in Devon---one of Justine's favorite places. Archie had everything ready for a quiet and quaint lunch on the beach which also set the mood for his very important question for Justine---would she consider marrying him? They had everything going for them in the right direction so the next proverbial step was to get married, or so Archie thought. Strawberries, champagne, and then a couple plates of Fish and Chips set beside a picnic basket on a checkered blanket and rocks sitting on the blanket corners so it wouldn't blow away in the wind. Archie and Justine sat there as he smiled at her, "Beats the city any day?"

"Yes, it does. I love coming here. Funny my parents always took my sister and I here as children and I always thought the ocean was big and bright blue and now that I'm older it's still blue---not as big," Justine commented with a chuckle which made Archie smile while looking out upon the open sea while they could hear the distant leaves of trees crinkling in the sea breeze. Archie watched Justine before peering out to the water too. Archie then said, "You're right, you know leaving the restaurant wasn't the best idea but we needed it I think, mentally. You know, Lenny can manage okay and Lizzie said she'd pop in and out."

"No, you were very right and I'm sorry for fighting with you about getting away—its nice being here and with you," Justine smiled again and Archie grinned back during a pregnant pause.

"Now what was so important that you had to tell me? No, you go first." Justine and Archie spoke at the same time as they held hands and leaning into each other.

"You go," Archie encouraged as they sat on the blanket and Justine let go of Archie's hand and began to nervously pick at her lunch with her fingers. Archie watched closely, "Something a matter?"

"Archie, I got the results of my blood work."

"From the hospital? Did they figure out why you fainted opening night?"

Justine nodded her head 'yes' as Archie asked, "Well?"

"How do you feel about fatherhood?"

Archie blew out a breath of relief and inquired anxiously, "Is that it?"

Justine nodded her head again and asked, "What was your question?"

"This," Archie added with a big flashy smile, and from behind his back he showed her a ring box "is for you…as long as you'll accept…"

Justine stared at the ring and then Archie, wondering if the moment was indeed real, "You-You bought me out here..."

Archie nodded his head proudly and smiled brightly as Justine's eyes became teary eyed and Archie plucked out the ring while placing it on her left ring finger.

Archie asked, "You're sure?"

Justine nodded her head, and dusted off a few fleeting tears on her cheeks just as she embraced and kissed Archie, "Yes, I'm truly sure."

Lexie stretched and yawned as she carried her shampoo in her hands and her hair was wrapped in a blue towel and her turquoise Chinese jim-jams on her body. Lexie stepped over each bucket as rain-droplets from the rickety high rise ceilings hit the bottoms…drip, drip, drip while roaming down the hall. Just as Lexie was about to make it for her room, a rain water bucket at her feet made an odd clink and when she adjusted her sight; she noticed something flashy on the hall carpet. Lexie then bent down to examine it, setting down her shampoo and hair brush and she picked up the diamond ring which was secured to fishing string. She then carefully latched her finger tips onto the fishing line and began to inch by inch follow it. Lexie realized where she was going and a brilliant smile formed on her face. As her cerulean eyes lit up when she met Jamie at the doorway of his room.

"This is what you meant by me fishing with you earlier? What am I some brook trout?" Lexie cooed as she held up the ring to Jamie's face and it glinted in the light.

"Decidedly so, you fell for it hook, line and sinker! You're a wonderful catch Alexandra MacTavish. And if you allow me to keep you, I promise won't toss you back. What do you think?"

"Wait, this is for me?" Lexie tipped her head as she felt a sudden rush of overwhelming emotions---denial, joy, and she was in genuine earth shattering shock! Jamie nodded and spoke, "Yes, now come in…so I can ask you that question."

"Jamie, hang on…I mean…" Jamie swooped in to kiss Lexie again before she could even consider an answer to a question that had been mulling over Jamie's mind for quite sometime.

"Lex, I've been miserable without you too and I hate seeing you unhappy because you're not with me. Be my wife…"

"This is kinda sudden don't you think? I mean, I'm the housekeeper, you're the laird, and your father will have me court marshaled and shot when he finds out!"

"This isn't about Father Lexie it's about you and me…"

"Oh Jamie…" Jamie then twirled Lexie into his bedroom and shut the door.