Bond Family
Charmian Bond 1926-1999
James Bond 1935-71
Andrew Bond 1934-1979
Monique Delacroix- Bond 1941-1979
James Andrew Bond 1968-
Kincade 1936- Family friend and caretaker of Skyfall. Married to Anne 1940-2000
MacKenzie family
Callum MacKenzie Sr. 1910-1980
Catrina MacKenzie 1936- Son - Alistair MacKenzie 1960 -Grandson-Callum 1986-
Callum MacKenzie 1938- (Married 1970 Jane) widowed 2 daughters-
Fiona MacKenzie 1971- unmarried
Kenna MacKenzie 1973- divorced no children.
Tracy MacKenzie 1938-1965 twin of Callum
Chapter 8
James wakes early feeling cold without another body next to him. It is funny how one becomes so use to the presence of another. Being away from her...is difficult...hell... what is he going to do when she send him off for a month on a mission?
Retirement is becoming a more attractive option all the time. He gets up dresses and heads out on a run in the early dawn light. Bond looks for any changes in the landscape...there are none, it is as if time does not matter here.
The internal agonizing question he is running through his mind is will he be able to marry the woman that means so much to him? Will she say yes?
M would be far better off with Marshall...he is safe and secure and the man loves her how could he not. M is incredible and would be safe with him.
Bond cannot let her go...she is too important but he knows that if he retires to relative safety...M will likely die of old age before him. So how does he watch the women he loves age and die.
What did she say...she may have 20 years left...is that enough of a lifetime for Bond? And what does he do about M not feeling comfortable about having people see them together?
Bond hopes Kincade managed to get the jewelry for him...he forgot to ask him late last night.
Bond returns and showers getting dressed and checking his phone. Tanner and Eve send a good luck text. Bond smiles as he walks downstairs to find Kincade.
"There you are old man. I forgot to ask if you found the jewels I asked for?"
"You will have to ask the lawyer...safety deposit box in town...they have the key. You want me to go with you?"
"Yes...that may be helpful and I want to pick up some things in town for the house...I need to get fresh flowers for the guest rooms and mine. Do you know of someone you can call to prepare a meal for tonight? I would like it ready for when my guests arrive."
"I will make some calls while we drive to the land of the MacKenzie's. There are some repair people coming back out to tackle the outbuildings and finish some trim in some of the rooms but they assured me that they would be done today."
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Kincade speaks into his mobile as James drives the Aston over the countryside to the land of the MacKenzie's.
"Good lass I will meet you in town at 3...yes we should have all the supplies anything question or extras you need me to pick up we will do in town after business is completed."
Bond pulls up to the MacKenzie manor and they get out of the Aston. They walk up to the door and knock.
"Are you ready lad?"
"You make it sound like this could be dangerous."
"Aye...it may be. You never know how these MacKenzie's are going to act. I haven't seen Callum in a few years but he called once you were declared dead. He wanted to let me know I was mentioned in the will."
"He has a copy of my will? That was with lawyers in London."
"That would never stop him lad."
"I see...well this should be interesting."
The door opens to reveal a beautiful red haired woman...late 30's. Her face was heart shaped with hazel eyes that flashed green because of the emerald blouse she wore. She was tall and thin with a graceful neck with a lovely strand of pearls.
"My, my look what the southern winds blew in. James Bond...all grown up."
"You must be Kenna...or Fiona...my you too have grown up since I last saw you."
"I am Fiona follow me to the office. My father has been waiting for you."
Another woman walks down the corridor with the same reddish hair but hers is long to her older sister's short. There features are similar and both women look fit but Fiona is tall and lean to Kenna's short curvier frame. They are easy to smile and very charming compared to the little girls he barely remembered from childhood.
Kincade and Bond are escorted into the den. Callum MacKenzie stands to greet them.
"Mr. Bond...Mr. Kincade. It has been a while old friend."
They clasp hands and smile at each other but Bond senses that Kincade is cautious about the entire thing. Callum is not as tall as Bond and has silver hair but with enough dark brown to tell what it was in his youth. Callum has carved cheekbones and a narrow nose. Not unattractive but very severe in appearance.
He is well dressed and trim in figure with grey eyes. Bond has trouble imagining him being much fun at a party but that is now and back in the day...he could have been very different. The girls must resemble their mother in colouring. Fiona has her father's tall lean frame but the eyes and beauty of the girls are a testament to their mother.
"So this is Andrew's lad? I suppose Kincade told you that we were always together in our youth...getting into trouble."
"That will be all for now girls. Fiona you can bring me the paperwork for Mr. Bond to sign and Kenna...I thought you were working on your aunt's room."
"Well we just wanted to see if James had grown up nice." Kenna says with a smirk.
"And do I meet expectations Kenna?"
"Oh...yes and more."
The two daughters leave the room to allow them some privacy.
James and Kincade are sitting in front of the man's desk.
"Yes, Kincade did mention the close relationship and I think I remember you and the girls coming to Skyfall on occasion."
"My god James...you have the look of your beautiful mother but your attitude...is all Andrew and your uncle James...isn't that right Kincade?"
"Aye, he is that."
"So you died and then the government calls me last week...and now here you are. What is it that you do Mr. Bond?"
"I work for the government...but I was on vacation and there was an accident. I woke up three weeks later with no memory and it took 3 months to recover and get home from Turkey."
"Well I see that your employers were quick to reopen your accounts and lucky for you that prevented them from taking the property for tax. Your will is here...do you wish to change it because that is what I am here for if you do."
"Yes I would. I would like to start on one for everything to go to my future wife and then to her heirs. I have not yet asked her but regardless...they are my heirs. As for the property the government has agreed to lease the home for their own uses and will fit it for use later."
"That is good because it has been hemorrhaging money for years without any viable income source but the money from your father and grandfather and uncle James. To be honest the funds are in arrears and I have been padding the payments myself. Here is the account balance...and the spreadsheet of cost covered in the last 6 month by my family."
"I see. Has Kincade still been paid?"
"Yes...I have made sure of that as I promised your father years ago."
Kincade leans forward with a scowl. "Why didn't you tell me you were paying me from your own accounts Callum? You want another thing to hold over me?"
"I assure you Kincade….business has nothing to do with our past and nothing to do with Katrina."
"I heard that Katrina is moving home?"
"Yes and the girls and I are very excited...in fact we are having a big party celebrating her return and young Callum's graduation from university. Next Saturday night. I hereby invite you and your guests and of course you Kincade."
"Are you sure...I mean your father told me to stay away from your sister years ago...you finished playing the old man's games finally."
"Well, you could say that since his death...I felt that the past...needs to stay there."
"What about Katrina?"
"What my sister chooses to do...is her own affair, and from speaking with her I happen to know that she wanted me to specifically send you an invitation Kincade. I will tell her that you are going to come with the new Bond family."
"I look forward to seeing her again. I will go wait out in the car while you two finish off your paperwork."
Kincade gets up and leaves the office to allow James to complete his business.
Once Kincade leaves the office Bond turns to ask a question that has been plaguing him.
"So Mr. MacKenzie...what happened between Kincade and your sister and my father?"
"That is between them Mr. Bond, but my father refused his request to marry her...he wanted your father to do it but then...well she was expecting and your father and his brother were gone overseas. Father was going to wait until they returned to make Andrew live up to his responsibilities and marry her. That was what he and your grandfather had arranged when they were children. Katrina refused and fled...we never heard from her until after the baby was born...she brought him back to us to christen him a MacKenzie and then fled south again."
"That sounds like the beginning of a feud."
"It almost was but then there was Tracy...she wanted James. All would be healed between the families...but then in 65, the tragedy. The old man closed off speaking to the Bond's in grief...for five years and until my wedding I convinced my father that the ill feelings had to end...I was optimistic to have heirs for my father...he was not happy in the least that we only had girls."
"I can imagine...so my father came to the wedding and you two continued to be friends."
"Time changes things...he mellowed and Katrina sent the pup up to us every summer to make him a proper MacKenzie and father loved the boy...I still think he is your older brother and heir to the estate but you are the heir in a legal paper binding way and our estate is vast enough. Most of the argument between the houses were do to strong feelings...love. As boys and then men the Bond's were always here...Katrina and Tracy were meant for the Bond boys...too bad...you know...you could have been my nephew."
"I suppose after all that the relationship had changed?"
"Yes...you father married and had you...they came to the wedding and so did James he brought a lovely woman with him...a friend only but with James that was unlikely."
James smirked at the implication. "Was you father willing to forgive him finally?"
"Which one? Andrew for slighting Katrina or James for taking Tracy to her death? Not initially but the charming little doll James brought with him and your aunt Charmian...changed his mind."
Bond smiles in understanding...he didn't know much about uncle James but he knew he loved beautiful women and they loved him.
Aunt Charmian had raised him after his parents died. While a strict woman he could see that she might have had some depth of charm like her two younger brothers. His mother told him that the Bond men were irresistible to women.
"I heard that uncle James was a charmer. Aunt Charmian...well, no one could put anything past her and I never could growing up either."
"From what I remember of Charmian she could be an imposing woman. Beautiful but imposing. As for the Bond men, well, I could fill in some of the history. Kincade and I could tell you tales of broken hearted beauties that fell before those two brother's feet and that has continued in you I see...I have never seen Kenna run to the door as fast as when she heard you were coming. But alas you are getting married. I look forward to meeting your future wife."
"I hope everyone can get along well enough after all this time."
"Yes, I will draft a new will and you can add the appropriate names as it suits you, have Fiona drop them off and that will be that."
Fiona knocks and comes in with a folder for her father. "Fiona is a lawyer also and will be taking over for me when I finally retire."
"Yes Mr. Bond...here is my card also. Feel free to call with any questions."
Fiona is polite and meets his eyes without any of the smiles and excitement of her younger sister. It seem like Bond's particular looks are not as exciting for the eldest daughter.
"I will...oh did you ever learn how to shoot Fiona...I remember that you nor your sister could shoot."
"Yes I did...Kenna not as well. It was not her cup of tea. So you remember that...one thing about us...that is strange."
"I was 10...shooting was the best most exciting thing I could imagine doing and I thought it was strange that these two red headed Scottish lasses knew nothing of it...my aunt could shoot."
Fiona and Callum laugh.
Callum leaned back in his chair. "I remember your aunt had shooting ribbons...she was an excellent horsewoman also. My father was always charmed by her and wanted my sisters to emulate her...Tracy did...that must be how she finally caught James' eye once she had grown up...as children he wanted nothing to do with girls. That certainly changed in our teen years."
"I am thankful for this peak into my families past. After all the tragedy...no one wanted to talk about them. My aunt would only tell me some of her younger brother's more adventurous childhood stories from when she still lived here...she left when they were just coming on their teens."
"Yes...you grandfather wanted to marry her off and she would have none of it and enrolled in university and left."
"She barely returned for fear he would have a line of suitors waiting for her when she returned. Charmian never married did she?"
"No...said she could not find an Englishman that struck her fancy enough to bother with."
The three of them laugh as Callum sorts through the files.
"Please sign here and here. This is a key to the safe deposit box at the bank...your mother and grandmother's jewels are in there."
"I am going to collect them now. Thank you for helping look after the place and Kincade, I will transfer the money to repay you."
"I'm afraid that being Saturday the bank in town will not be open to assist you and you will have to wait until Monday to collect the jewels James."
"I had not thought of that...to use to the big city. I know I fled this place as a child but it has never been that far from me."
"Tis the same for all that are born here lad...even with great tragedy we always need to come back. My sister is a living example...she has come full circle and will come home for the rest of her days."
Bond frowns. "She isn't ill is she?"
"No...just longing for her past."
Callum opens the door and follows Bond down to the entrance. Both his daughters are hovering around the entrance way...James can smell freshly applied perfume and Kenna is wearing heals now and lipstick.
"James would you like to stay for tea?"
"No thank you Kenna...I need to go to town but I will see you at the party."
"Kenna has a housewarming gift for you if you don't mind if we visit you tomorrow...around 4?"
"That would be lovely Fiona, my guests are arriving today and we would be delighted if you could come to tea. Please join us Callum...if you have anything more that needs to be signed."
"I have to be here to sign for the delivery of Katrina's things but I will come if they arrive early enough."
"Til tomorrow then ladies, Callum."
Bond walks out into the sunshine as the girls follow him out to the car. Callum follows.
"I see you have James' car...a beauty."
"It came from my father but you would know better than I if it was James' car."
Kincade looks at Callum. "Andrew used it after James passed."
"Yes well it was Andrew's car he used to leave the wedding…"
Kincade frown. "Yes it was."
"I often wish I could go back...and stop them leaving...I have been missing my other half for so long."
"She was a bonny lass, Tracy and James loved her more than the world."
"Yes...it took him 5 years to return."
"Yes and it was for your wedding Callum. The Bond's were always your friends...since childhood."
"Well Kincade...it is time to reopen that bridge and begin forging a new relationship with the younger generation."
Bond smiles and climbs into the car.
"Well that went well. I thought after our discussion last night that they may hate me."
"That Callum is a tricky one...it was no coincidence that those girls were there to meet you...Callum wants you to marry one."
"What! I told him that…"
"Callum won't care. He will toss those girls at you regardless...hoping to drive a wedge between you and your intended. If you had been a girl...he would have married you himself...not wanting to marry her to his nephew Alistair because he still believes as his father did, that your father is his father also."
"Why haven't those girls married already?"
"Kenna did...but divorced and doesn't have children yet. The older one...has never been with any men around these parts...perhaps in university but still…"
"Oh...yes I see. You think she is…"
"Yes...I don't think she would be interested in you despite you having your mother's good looks. Kenna is a pretty lass though...one could do far worse."
Bond frowns at Kincade's insinuation that he would even consider another woman.
"No for me...Kincade. There is nothing getting between me and my love ever again."
Kincade frowns wondering what has happened to the sweet carefree boy he once knew. This James Bond has become as severe and jaded as his late uncle. Military service and god knows what else.
The loss of his parents hit him hard and young...just like the death of Tracy seemed to define his uncle's womanizing self destructive ways in 1965 until his death.
Regardless by the look of the lad and his grip on the steering wheel when he said it...Kincade wonders what or who tried to come between him and his lass.
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The car pulls up to the old house...it hasn't changed much in 40 years...only she had. Judi climbs out of the front as some exits the house. The man smiles and comes up to Judi looking her up and down.
"My lass you are a beautiful one...I am Kincade the gameskeeper. I will help with the bags."
Ryan climbs out to help but pauses to open the door for M. M cannot believe that she is about to meet Kincade for the second time...she hopes his memory or vision is not as good as hers.
Kincade has grown a beard and he is thicker in the waist but then again so is she. M might as well get this over with...she climbs out of the car and smiles.
Kincade takes one look at her and stops in his tracks...looking her up and down with a slight smile.
"Well lass...I see where you get your good looks. This must be your mother."
"Yes...Mr. Kincade. I am M."
M extends her hand and he grasps it in his and looks into her eyes. Kincade looks somewhat confused.
"We've met before...your name?"
"It is M and I…"
"Dolly...I remember...did you...these are your bairns?"
"M is the name and yes this is my daughter Judi and my son Ryan."
Ryan and Judi pull out the bags looking at the entranced way the gameskeeper is looking at their mother...like she is a ghost from his past."
"Jesus Ryan...what is it about her? If we could bottle it we would be rich."
"Remember Scott."
"Yes and Peter...your mates from school."
"They had a major crush on her...I socked them both in the eyes and they never came over again."
"What did they say?"
"It wasn't that...the sleepover involved the two of them listening at the door of my room waiting to hear mum leave her's. I caught them...they were trying to catch mum between her room and the bath in a towel or in her nightie."
"Seriously...I never had that much attention...I guess blondes do have more fun."
The two of them dissolve into laughter as they bring the bags towards the house. Kincade finds a way to stop staring at M and moves to take the bags from Judi.
"Lass I am very glad to finally meet you and James will be back from taking the cook home momentarily."
They walk into the house and Kincade tells them to make themselves comfortable as he takes the bags with Ryan upstairs.
"I will let you all sort the rooms later and leave them here."
"Alright Kincade."
"Your mother...she is a widow I take it?"
"Yes she is. Our father died almost two years ago." Ryan says sounding a bit confused Bond must not have told the man much about them.
Ryan is about to tell him that she and Bond work together but...
Kincade turns to walk back downstairs as he says. "I see...Good...well, I hope you like great whiskeys son...there is a selection."
M and Judi are in the sitting room having a drink with James as they come back down.
"Kincade you have finally meet the new family."
"Yes lad and you have made a beautiful choice...these lovely ladies really class up the old place. I will get dinner on the table and then be off until tomorrow."
"Stay for dinner Kincade." Bond asks.
"I have something I have to do tonight lad but I will return in the morning. Did you remember to seal the shed door when you were out their earlier lad...if you don't...there is a pack of stray wild dogs that have been up to no good."
"Oh...I will go do that now."
Ryan puts his drink down. "I will help you."
Ryan follows James outside. "You didn't tell Kincade anything about us did you?"
"No...why?"
"I think the man is confused but then he doesn't know what you and mum do for a living does he?"
"No, it is bad enough that you two know."
"About that...we need to talk about some things later...mum told us about Silva."
A shiver goes up James' spine at the name and he scowls. "It can wait...we need to eat and I would like the first meal back in this place to be at least civil conversation."
"Fine...but we know now James...and it is not something I am likely to ever forget."
"Nor I Ryan...and especially not your poor mother."
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The two leave and Judi turns to M. "Mum I just need to freshen up...where is the closest place Mr. Kincade?"
"Upstairs second door on the right."
Judi leaves and M looks to Kincade. "I guess I will help pull out dinner."
"Yes...that would be lovely….Dolly."
"Dolly?"
"Yes...I think you know...but it has been a long time."
"I'm sorry but my name is not Dolly."
"To bad that, she is someone I once met...she was a beautiful blonde that came with a friend of mine"
Kincade takes a long look at her as they stand in the kitchen. To M it feels like he is waiting for her to crack and admit that she is that same woman from 40 years ago.
"Would you do me the honour of a walk around the old land tomorrow? Before dinner tomorrow?"
"Certainly...that would be nice if we went." M would rather not but she cannot seem rude to the man. He is only trying to be friends with James' special friend. Actually M wonders exactly how much he said about her to Kincade?
It is not as if he can mention what they do at work so how did he say they met and fell in love? M is of the opinion that it is better if she keeps her mouth shut as much as possible around Kincade...she doesn't want the past to blow up in her face and shatter her relationship with the current James Bond.
"I think the young ones might be preoccupied...the lawyer and his daughters are coming tomorrow at 4 for tea...we can say hello and then leave the others to themselves for a while."
M frowns for a second as she grabs the plates and items and Kincade gathers the food. "Yes well I suppose I could slip away for a while."
"Good...let's get you lot fed...you must be famished."
The others meet in the dining room and all help set the table and get ready. Kincade take his hat and makes for the door.
"I will see you tomorrow...have an excellent meal. Lad...don't forget the MacKenzies are coming for tea at four."
"Right...thanks for everything old man."
Kincade closes the door and shakes his head. Dolly...she acted like she had never been here before...maybe tomorrow's walk will clear her memory. She's a beautiful little doll still, and this time James Bond is gone and they are both widowed.
Her daughter is beautiful the image of her mother and James must love the girl to bring her mother and brother up here for a visit.
Kincade is trying to remember the name she was introduced to her by...it was not Em or Emma...Andrew gave her the nickname because of her size and that is all they called her for the time she was here.
Thank the stars above that James and Judi brought her with them because he really likes the look of that woman. Kincade would like to spend some time with her...perhaps bring her to the party as his date.
One thing suddenly occurred to him...how old is the lass Judi? No she couldn't be...the woman would never allow her to marry James if she could be his cousin...not in this day and age.
To be continued…