Chapter One
The Present Day
Amongst the majestic cairngorms, babbling waters of River Bogle, and not far off from the rippling waves of Loch Bogle, the sun shone down upon the stone castle. A modern day Snow White or Lexie knelt with her knees to the front close floor, scrubbing away. She was dressed in flowered apron tied to her waist, her radical blue and purple top and a pair of jeans. And her brunette bangs lay short and horizontal across her forehead and her deep brown locks wrapped into two neat braids, each on the side of her head, falling just past her shoulders with violet flowers on the ends. Scrip, scrape, scrip, scrape went her floor brush washing away dirt and grime. She dip in her brush with white handle and brown bristles into the soap bucket before sloshing soap and water down to a part of the old tile that she hadn't cleaned yet. Eventually after hours of washing, Lexie beamed brightly at how the floor sparkled and shined finally. She dropped her brush in the bucket just as…the laird and then his father, both men dressed in head to toe fishing patrol waders and wellies, with hats with lures on them, tackle bags hanging off their sides with fly fishing rods in their hands wandered in…
"I do say dear boy, fishing is an art form and allowing strangers on the property just isn't a way out!"
"Father, I like fishing, I like stalking…I'm just saying, we should allow the public on the estate to do it once in a great while. And Archie was right about the B n' B, so far it's helped out tremendously and I like the idea of opening the estate to the public."
"Now look here! Don't speak of that boy's brain waves in my domain---I don't know where we went wrong with him! Lexie!" Hector voiced a few complaints on how Jamie newly ran the estate aside from grumbling about Archie and how he never came home because of his 'cafeteria'. He wasn't Hector Naismith MacDonald for nothing, if he didn't give his prized son a few pointers on how to continue feudal capitalism aside from caring about the two most important things---lineage—carrying on the MacDonald line, and spending time with his kin. Hector decided that Jamie always had his head screwed on straight and it was his other children who he had lost to 'Margaret Thatcher' thinking--Hector despised the woman and her ideas of economy. Hector was quite agitated at Lizzie and Archie for running away to London and pursuing their 'pipe' dreams—instead of making something of themselves in Glenbogle or at least Scottish territory.
"You heard the bank! We have to continue generating income into the house or we'll lose it! Besides, Archie's been slipping his profits on the side from his booming restaurant—nothing major but its helping us out—really he shouldn't be doing it because the estate should be able to stand on its own two feet! So you should show more sympathy with him since he's saving the homestead's grace---FATHER! Stop blaming Lizzie or Archie for everything that goes wrong here! Archie, especially, would come home more but he's busy—you know this, why do you act like you've disowned him every time---? " Jamie snapped as Hector stated back, "Nonsense, Jamie, I will not allow anyone to seize my castle, you understand? Archie and that sister of yours---you'd think they'd want to visit us here! You know that Justine girl and her wide hips! I always knew she'd bring home the bacon by giving me a grandchild---grandson I hope! However---why she met up with Archie and not you? I'll never know—you're the one who should be carrying on the MacDonald line!"
Jamie rolled his eyes, as his temper got the better of him and he watched Hector make way for the stairs, "Father, father…FATHER! Come back! Maybe they don't all come home because you always like this when they do! You're being a back end of a horse! Reactionary and pigheaded! I happen to like seeing Archie happy with Justine! They're made for each other!" Jamie's mind tuned in, 'I'm already going to carry on the MacDonald gene pool when you find out I'm betrothing myself to Lexie!'
Hector glared at Jamie appalled at his description of himself and avoiding Jamie's reasons for supporting Archie with Justine, "I always knew having a redhead for a son was a bad idea! After all I have done for you? And that's what you say to me? I did not make my bairns abandon barracks! They simply went AWOL!"
"Father…sorry…hang on, please don't walk away from me! I'm trying to make a point…FATHER!"
Hector tramped over the newly washed floor, slipping just a bit, grumbling about Lexie and her 'cleaning' aside from Jamie not listening to him before bumbling up the main stairs to the second floor, "I'm going where I am wanted! Lexie I demand my dinner promptly in my chamber! And while you're at it tell the blubbering fool over there that I might be an old age cantankerous git, but I am not---DEAF so stop shouting!"
Lexie sighed as she noticed the mud that Hector added to her clean floor and gave Jamie a prompt pout and picked up her bucket and brush again. Lexie began to scrub again until Hector was out of mind and sight. She then stopped with her hands on her thighs before looking up at Jamie.
"I'm sorry, Lex. I'm surprised I didn't go running off like the rest of my siblings years ago! I could have been that doctor I always wanted to be! Used my degree from Oxford than stay here listening to him rag on and on about Lizzie and Archie and what they have done so terrible---living their lives is wrong? Lex, really is it!" Jamie spouted out the last few sentences or so hoping Hector heard it all and added in a quieter tone, "Father's just being a wee bit…"
"Difficult? Dun't worry pet, he'll be over it by sun down." Lexie completed Jamie's sentence perfectly and tried to assure him. Jamie glanced at her as his smile faded when he stared at her left hand, "You're not wearing it?"
"What do you expect me to do? We agreed we're keeping it all hush-hush," Lexie laughed as her voice rose and fell with the words, 'hush-hush'. "Dun't you want to kiss me?"
Lexie noticed Jamie's harried looks towards the up stairs before carefully walking up to him. Jamie's hand reached out to one of Lexie's braids as he toyed with the ends of her hair carefully and then rested on her cheek as her hand set onto his. He then relaxed into her--letting his temper be put out by her touch, he joked, "Lexie Long-stockings…of course I do…"
Lexie gave a giggle at Jamie's new nickname for her, as he latched another hand onto her other braid and reeled her in like a trout that he had caught moments before, "You have…"
"I know…the odor, but I need motivation…" Jamie skimmed Lexie's face as she scanned his with her pearly blue eyes and their lips met sweetly. Jamie's hands cupped Lexie's face. Lexie could feel the warmth from his breath and they were enjoying their 'togetherness' up until…Molly dithered in with her art easel, paint supplies and the dogs at her feet. Molly didn't even notice Jamie or Lexie standing still and loving each other. In fact Molly wasn't even looking where she was going as she stared at her new work of art. And then instantly Molly tripped over Lexie's cleaning bucket and paint flew out of her hands onto her new artwork and Lexie's newly scrubbed floor.
"Oh DRAT!" Molly yelped out as she studied her ruined painting after picking herself up and off the floor with Lexie's keen help.
"Mother!"
"Molly! You all right?"
Jamie and Lexie scrambled towards Molly, who cast her eyes down at her painting of the garden and muttered, "My painting it's washed out…it's…"
"Its okay Molly, the floor needed a new look anyway to go with Hector's mud," Lexie punned as Jamie caddied the paint supplies back into Molly's satchel and then proceeded to help pick up the soapy bucket and brush.
"I wasn't watching where I was going…it's all right, Lexie, I can clean this up, give me a mop and ol' bucket."
"An' hav' Hector ruffle his feathers about it, no such thing…"
"You're to be family dear. I've always thought family should be helping each other out," Molly winked and Lexie glanced at Jamie, surprised and quite taken back by Molly's gesture…
"What?" Jamie peered back over to Lexie as he wanted to tug at her braids again and get her to tell him what was wrong at that exact moment.
"I thought we were keeping it under raps?" Lexie zeroed her eyes in on Jamie and briefly noted the engagement.
Molly then looked at Lexie and Jamie gravely, "You mean I wasn't supposed to know? I see you two and how you are day in and day out, I assumed Jamie would tell me and he did…so that ring…"
"Not a problem, Molly." Lexie put two and two together that her engagement ring which mysteriously popped up one night at her feet in the hall must have come from Molly.
"Ah about that ring, Lex---?"
"That was your ring, Molly? I can't keep it...I'll go get it then..." Lexie asked quickly and decided to immediately search out the ring.
Molly nodded with a huge smile, and replied, "No, it's meant for you, Lexie and I won't take it back. Besides I like the idea of you as kin." Molly reeled in her soon daughter in law with her arms and embraced Lexie quite motherly, "I always thought you'd make a lovely wife for my son. Don't worry you two, the secret's safe with me and Hector won't be that heartbroken you know…there is a romantic bone in his body---?"
"Somewhere," Jamie laughed again.
"I better finish up here and get cracking on dinner," Lexie added when she noted the time chiming off from Hector's beloved Grandfather clock across from the phone table.
"I'll worry about this floor…" Jamie suggested and Molly smiled at Lexie and Jamie's fondness for each other. Molly sighed again and when Lexie was off and about, "Your father would be very proud of you if you told him…"
"Mother, we're waiting. Lexie's not big on surprises and I'm still trying to run this place," Jamie trumpeted and concluded, "Look, as soon as I hear from Archie and when he'll finally come up, we'll decide on how to approach Father, Lexie and I."
"I know, but Archie's always busy running that restaurant…and with the…you know we could always have a fancy family dinner without him or Lizzie and then you could spread the word?"
"Right, Lexie does burn a mean fatty calf," Jamie laughed and then whispered to his mother realizing how crass it came out and how it would crush Lexie's feelings, "Don't tell her I said that."
Molly chuckled, "Safe secret, darling Jamie, safe secret."
In the amidst of the busy hustle and bustle of London, in a tiny restaurant, Flying Fish, Archie walked into the kitchen to check on his special anniversary dinner. The 'cooking brigade', well, tonight Archie's one man cooking show, since his other chefs had it off, continued to motor along. Archie's head chef Lenny arranged two plates and served portions of delish, dazzling and hearty salmon in a seasoned sauce, steamed vegetable, and some kind of wild rice portion to each one. Archie marveled at the kitchen. It had been months upon months since Flying Fish had opened and he wouldn't have done it without his beloved fiancée…
Archie nodded at Lenny, "How's it going?"
"It's going, boss, its going! You will have a very quiet and lovely meal."
"Good, good…as it better be or my grouse is cooked!" Archie added antsy, as Lenny just nodded and went along with it. Archie wandered over to the large, oversized metal refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of his finest sparkling cider and snagged a couple glasses to go with it. Lenny remarked, "No need to fret about the small stuff, Arch, I can handle it."
"It's just that…"
"I know…"
"We're a couple months away Lenny…"
"I know, I know," Lenny beamed and then shooed his boss from the kitchen. Archie sailed out with his tray of bottled cider, goblets, and an appetizer of Archie's homemade bread sticks and hand-whipped butter. Everything was perfect and the only person missing was Justine as Archie lit up a couple candles on the small table before dimming the lights once again.
The door to the restaurant opened and Justine stepped in from the rain as she closed up her umbrella and waddled her way to Archie. "You're wet! Come in, Sweetheart." Archie took Justine's umbrella and set it down at the door stoop and then took her coat and hung it off the rack at the side of the bar.
"That's what rain does to you," Justine and Archie kissed each other again and exchanged caring glances as Archie gave Justine's well-rounded tummy a quick rub, "I'll get you both dried off."
Justine laughed, as she broke free from another kiss and peered around her partner's shoulder, "What's that?"
"Happy Soon Mummy dome!" Archie then helped sit Justine down by gentlemanly pulling out the chair for her at the table. In the background the only noise was the humming of Archie's beloved aquarium and a very jazzy tune coming from a radio that Archie had placed on the bar.
"Ah, well, happy day, daddy Archie and this looks lovely!" Justine smiled as she rubbed her well-rounded front side with the hand that showed her engagement ring. Archie then presented to her a cider-up wine glass.
"Just as lovely as you do…" Archie smiled and then Justine added, "Some business meeting…"
"I had to surprise you somehow."
"It's worth every bit of the surprise…" Justine remarked as her earthy-toned eyes twinkled and the couple began to 'dig' into dinner together as Lenny peeked in from the kitchen and then shut the door.
Chapter Two
Jamie had a lot going on in his mind as he lay in bed that night with his fiancée Lexie curled to his side. He dreamed about their wedding and having all of the family there. Even his brother although Archie refused to set foot on the estate, and Jamie blamed Hector for most of it. Jamie's mind ran over the disagreement he had with his father that afternoon. Jamie then thought about the reasons of why Archie stayed away…and then there was Lizzie, his dear sister whom he hardly saw because she lived in London, aside from his best friend David who lived there too. Jamie wondered about them being in the wedding too.
"James?" Lexie whispered softly into his ear which made him tuck his chin just above her head. As they lie on the double brass four poster bed in the center of the room, with bedside tables revealing photographs of Jamie with Archie at age 18 and 14 with their arms wrapped around each other at after local football match. That was an important day for Jamie since he had assisted Archie to score the winning goal against Glencampbell and won back the prize for Hector, a pair of weld antlers on a plaque, all under Hector's discreet coaching for the Glenbogle team. There was also a photo of Jamie with his mother taken when he was 18 and black and white photograph of Lexie sitting down by the loch. Jamie had taken it without her knowledge as he loved to take pictures.
"Yes, Alexandra?"
"You sleeping?"
"Um, lemme check, no," Jamie tried to close his eyes and then opened them again.
"Ya realize I've to escape before…"
"I know, hard waking up without you near me."
"Maybe we can break it to Hector sooner than later."
"You think?"
"Jam, I worry about what your father's going to say for the most part, I mean, I'm the house keeper and you're the laird."
"If I wasn't the laird would you still be marrying me?"
"Of course, I'd still be marrying you-hey?"
"That's good to know, so when do we tell my father, Lex, since he'd be delighted?"
"I don't know. However Jam, marryin' the housekeeper would be considered as out of bounds—wouldn't it? I doubt Hector would be delighted…because he'd come up with some excuse of why it's a sin!"
"You're not the housekeeper for long."
"Oh is that so?" Lexie teased as Jamie cradled her face with his hand again and replied, "Aye that's so!"
Jamie leaned in to kiss her as Lexie darted her face away and then giggled as the covers went up over their heads. Jamie and Lexie twisted their bodies together under the sheets, rolling on top of each other as their eyes danced and their hearts fluttered. Lexie began tickling Jamie with her lavishing finger tips and Jamie's roughened earthy hands tickled her right back as they rolled again and again until---thump! They then landed on the floor in a heap after falling off the bed…
"And things go bump in the night," Lexie joked as Jamie laughed before sweeping his lips to hers.
Lexie couldn't stop tee-heeing and Jamie chuckled too, until they heard foot steps coming and Jamie tried to silence Lexie. The door opened and Molly knocked, before saying, "Jamie, telephone, it's urgent—it's Archie, come quickly, please. Lexie come too…"
Molly's mouth moved slowly, forming the words 'telephone', 'urgent' and 'Archie' again, as she knew what her son and his secret fiancée were up to at this hour. Molly and her detective instincts always knew Lexie would sneak from her purple-idolized bedroom down the corridor and into Jamie's new room with a picture window that surveyed the loch and basically his land.
Jamie and Lexie popped their heads over the bed and Jamie whispered to Lexie, "Mother's gone." Jamie dressed quickly as Lexie did the same before hand in hand running out of the room. They stopped their hand-holding when they heard Hector snipping at his wife, "What on earth stirs a man from his bed at this hour? It's 3am in the morning!"
"Hector, it's important," Molly said unusually distressed which made Hector then despair.
"Molly it's early and what are you doing out of bed anyway?"
"I couldn't sleep and now I know why---I had this gut-wrenching feeling something's dreadfully wrong and my thoughts have been confirmed. Come now, Hector at once."
"Who's that!" Hector shouted out in the dark as he tried to make out Jamie's and Lexie's faces as they came zipping out from Jamie's room and stood in the hallway. Lexie and Jamie took on cue to act 'natural' as if they hadn't been 'together' just moments before in his room.
"Just Lexie and I, Father…" Jamie's voice added a nervous tone.
"I see, well, your mother says to come at once, you too Lexie—with the morning tea and toast! I want my eggs cooked this time and don't forget my marmite soldiers!" Hector spouted off an order to Lexie and Jamie urged her kindly to go. Lexie nodded her head to Hector, "Aye, yer majesty, I'll put the kettle on."
Hector, Molly and Jamie made way down the steps, as Molly made sure to hand Jamie the phone receiver.
"Hello?" Jamie answered, "What's wrong? What is it? Slow down Lizzie…"
"Lizzie?" Molly questioned while exchanging a tizzied glance with Hector, "I thought it was Archie."
"Molly, please…what's wrong with Archie?" Hector challenged while shooting Jamie an unruly look and suddenly showing he cared for his youngest son.
Jamie placed his hand over the receiver's voice piece and added, "Archie's too distraught to chat, Father, Mother, please just be quiet—I can just barely hear Lizzie since she's on her mobile." Jamie then continued to calm down his frazzled sister, "Is Arch all right?"
Lexie stood in the kitchen as her mind fretted more and more about Jamie and their engagement: 'Hector should know this soon. It can't be that difficult to just announce to him that we're to be wed…' Lexie's eyes peeled over her diamond engagement ring on her left ring finger that was once Molly's.
Jamie stood at the phone, taking in the shock and the fear from Lizzie at the other end. While Molly with more distress listened intently to Jamie's reply. "Justine? The baby—are you sure? Yes, be there in a flash...just tell Archie we're here for him, all right Liz." Jamie then hung up the phone with a stunned look on his face and turned to Molly and Hector.
"What is it? Spit it out!" Hector became nervous and worried about Archie too---even though roughly 24 hours ago he had complained to Jamie about horrible it was that Archie never came home to see them. Hector wouldn't admit to anyone, except maybe Molly that he did truly miss Lizzie and Archie.
"There's been some kind of an accident, Father. We must leave for London," Jamie stated firmly as Molly nodded her head and agreed.
"Of course, Jamie, of course."
"Lexie's coming with Mother and me," Jamie announced straightforwardly as Hector raised a brow.
"What in heavens?" Hector asked boisterously, "Why?"
"Oh Hector, there's no time for this."
"Meaning smooth running of the household has been disrupted---who will cook my meals while---?" Hector sputtered about as Jamie added, "Duncan can help you or even Golly."
"The last time Golly cooked when Lexie went AWOL…"
"I know, I know, made an omelet that tasted like a polystyrene tile!" Jamie rolled his eyes becoming flustered with Hector's whining.
"I'll have you know…"
"I'll ring Katrina to help if worse comes to worse!" Molly hinted as she headed up the stairs as Jamie shook his head and laughed at the thought of Katrina trying to cook his father something edible in Lexie's flowered apron---school teacher turned fill-in chef, "Aye she'll do."
"No need, this calls for desperate measures! I'll simply request to bunk in with Kilwillie! However, why on earth do you plan on taking---?"
"Father, Lexie and I---"
"Are to be married, Hector," Lexie answered as she then backed up Jamie and Hector's head began to spin and then steam blew out of his ears.
"WHAT! Have you lost your mind?"
"Father, we'll discuss this when we return. I care about Lexie and she will be my wife," Jamie stated again, while holding out his hand for Lexie to accept it. Lexie tailed behind Jamie up the stairs leaving Hector standing in the middle of the silent close---completely utterly speechless and thinking his beloved eldest son had lost his dear marbles. Hector then slowly rebutted, "Oh dear god, not the housekeeper!"
Twelve hours later…
Lexie and Jamie had switched drivers half way as Molly viewed the passing scenery---Big Ben, Tower Bridge, busy intersections and red double decked buses driving around the city before the land rover pulled into the hospital car park. Molly had a lot weighting heavy on her mind since she heard the terrible news that Lizzie's phone call had brought to the house. Jamie replied, "OK, we're here."
Jamie looked to his left and Lexie snoozed sweetly with her head tilted to the window and her body slouched down in the seat. Jamie tweaked Lexie's nose with his fingers, as she stirred by trying to swipe his fingers away with her hands and her eyes slowly cracked open, "Here already?"
"Yes." Jamie smiled as Lexie added with a chuckle, "One wink and I missed it all?"
"No, you'll see more of it, I'm sure."
"I've never been here before, Jam, why didn't ya wake me sooner? There's so much to see…" Lexie said slightly disappointed while facing Jamie, looking for an explanation.
"No worries, Lex but we better hurry so we can see Archie."
"I've never met---?"
"Archie knows about you—he just doesn't know about us. Dun't worry, he'll love you!" Jamie reassured Lexie as Molly returned to reality when Jamie asked, "Right Mother?"
"What did you say dear?" Molly's face relaxed, and then the woe returned.
"Nothing Molly," Lexie replied evenly as she climbed out of the front seat after opening the door.
There were nurses at the desk on the intensive unit floor however before Jamie, Lexie and Molly could ask questions, Lizzie emerged from a waiting room.
"Jam!" Lizzie said as she wrapped her arms around him. Lizzie then cooed lovingly, "Mummy," as she kissed Molly and then said surprised while smiling," Lexie?"
"Lizzie…" Molly replied relieved to see her and kept showing concern about Archie, Justine and the unborn MacDonald.
"Where—how—are they?" Molly begged and began to break down as she spotted Archie coming out of the men's room. Archie's tie was loose, his top button undone, his hair all in different directions and he had bags under his chocolate eyes. Archie hadn't slept at as he fussed more and more about Justine and her health.
"Archie, you're all right?"
"I am. Justine isn't. She went into an emergency surgery hours after the accident and hasn't woken up, Mother. I-I don't know quite what to do. Her family's been in and out," Archie latched his arms around his mother with tears stinging his eyes.
Molly simply soothed, "There, there, my good boy," Archie and Molly wandered away as Lexie, Jamie and Lizzie approached Justine's room. No one went in right away, until Jamie made the first steps. A machine pumping in and out air into Justine's lungs, the heart monitor giving off sounds to a 'sleeping', but alive Justine as she lie on the bed. To all of them, she looked peaceful and angelic—like nothing was wrong but everything was.
Lexie stood by Lizzie's side as they viewed Jamie standing before Justine and taking her hand to show her that he was there. Meanwhile Archie sat down beside Molly in the waiting room.
"I walked her out of the restaurant after our anniversary meal. I led her to a taxi. She wanted to stay and stroll home with me, but I wouldn't have it—I mean she's 32 weeks along, Mother. I could close up on my own, be home in twenty minutes and be by her side---I…" Archie's voice faltered in deep frustration, "I blame myself for this, if anything happens to her and the baby…the…"
"Archie, oh Archie," Molly and Archie went into another embrace, "It's not your fault."
"Mother, I mean…I can't believe any of this…it'll all a huge blur—one minute, I've got the world in my hands, good home, successful business, getting married and baby on the way and then..." as Archie felt the dread of losing everything he held so dear to him, "In a flash it's gone…poof."
"It's not your fault. Things happen, keep positive, darling, keep positive---all isn't lost Archie, and Justine's a tough biscuit, she'll pull on through."
"Mother, Justine's a vegetable! What if she doesn't? I'm left alone to raise a child? Mother, I can't fathom doing it without her." Archie then cuddled and buried him self into Molly. All for her comfort and security, and her motherly way of trying to set his world straight when it seemed like everything was turned upside down.