Chapter 12
They arrived back at the house by one o'clock as does the crew to finish up work on the outbuilding. Kincade and Bond speak with the workers as Judi, Ryan and M helped bring a light lunch to the table from Maggie.
"Maggie this looks lovely." M says to the woman.
"I am very glad ma'am, that there is life in this old house again...it was filled with naught but tragedy for so very long. That Mr. Bond is so handsome...as are your two...Miss Judi is as lovely as you."
"Thank you Maggie and it is a grand old house."
"Go on and eat you must be hungry after being out in the hills with the young ones. I hope you don't mind me saying but I think that Kincade has taken a liking to ya...I see his eyes follow you when you are in the same room."
M is at a loss at what to say to the woman...she is shocked that she observed that. The best play is to ignore it and hopefully James will not notice...if he does...what is she going to do about it?
"Oh...yes I am hungry...I will just take in the tea shall I."
"Yes...go right ahead and please enjoy."
M carries the tea to the dining room table as Kincade holds out a chair for M beside him.
"Thank you Mr. Kincade."
Bond watches as Kincade's hands linger close to M on her chair after he helps her sit. Being the gentleman he is he assists Judi as she sits beside him.
They sit and enjoy lunch and Kincade shares some stories from James early life.
"Jamie loved to run around scaring everyone when he was very young...as he aged you couldn't keep the lad in the house."
Judi laughs and asks, "where are the photos...we will need to see some photos?"
Kincade laughs. "I have some at my home...I stored them there but there should be some in the attic here if you want them."
James looks down at his plate suddenly uncomfortable with the prospect of facing these images from his past. M picks up on it right away but Judi keeps pestering.
Judi places her hand on James' arm. "Oh we have to see them James!"
M shoots a look across the table at her daughter.
"Judi! Don't be rude dear. Perhaps James would rather not spend time in the dusty attic after having this house cleaned so nicely for our arrival."
Judi stops after taking a cue from her mother. "Sorry James...of course, you're right mother."
Kincade is confused by the interaction but the boy is quiet...it is his past after all.
"I will return the box from my cottage. Now since lunch is done...I promised to show you the lands lass. Do you need some time to get ready?"
"Yes, Just a few minutes Mr. Kincade."
M stands and walks upstairs.
"And what are you youngsters going to do this afternoon until the MacKenzie's arrive?"
Ryan looks at Judi and Bond. "I haven't the foggiest idea."
"I was going to look in and help with the shed construction if you would like to join Ryan. But it is your vacation so if you would rather read or watch movies...it is up to you."
"I for one was up early and to bed late so I may read and take a short nap." Judi says.
"I will help you James." Ryan says as the three of them gather the dishes and begin bringing them into the kitchen.
M comes down the stairs to see Kincade looking at her. He pulls out a tartan scarf and hands it to her.
"Even in summer...it can get cold and windy here so I thought you could use this lass."
"Thank you Mr. Kincade." M accepts the scarf and wraps it around her neck.
Ryan and Judi had come into the hall just as Kincade offered the scarf. The two of them looked at each other in the way siblings sometimes can and communicated without need for words.
Their eyebrows rise in question and understanding as they nodded at each other.
M and Kincade turned to see them and M says. "We will be back by teatime...to meet the MacKenzies. Where is James?"
Judi answers, "he is chatting with Maggie and helping clean up...we offered to help but were kicked out of the kitchen."
They laugh and Ryan and Judi watch their mother walk out with Kincade.
Ryan turns to look at Judi. "Do you think we should warn Bond?"
"Do you think mother even realizes?
"Why would Kincade? Wait...oh my god!"
"What Ryan?"
"Not once since we have been here has Bond introduced mum as his girlfriend."
"So? It is not like he needs to shout it from the hills and you know how she wants it all kept quiet."
"Yes but don't you see Judi. Kincade...Maggie they all think you are Bond's girlfriend...so mum is the merry unattached widow."
"Shit! Ryan...Kincade is all sweet on mum now...poor man doesn't even suspect. Mum sure can attract them in droves. I wonder if she has always had this problem?"
"I have no idea but it could just be because she is now a widow...and he is a widower. You saw the way the poor man looked at her when we arrived."
"Yes but he thought she was some woman that came here years ago...that couldn't be mum...could it?"
"Ryan...didn't she say she came to Scotland with a friend for a wedding?"
"Yes she did...that minx. Jude...we need to tell James."
"No we don't. If they want to keep this quiet then we will not draw attention to any of it. Let them figure it out and deal with it."
"Is this some kind of revenge for all the secrets throughout our lives? I almost feel bad for them Jude."
"I wonder if any of the members of Q branch are cute?"
"Judi!"
"Well I can look now that I know I am getting a divorce."
"Have you spoken to Sam?"
"No but I texted him."
"What did you say?"
"I said; hi, how has your weekend been so far, and I want a divorce...Could you contact your friend and ask him to be my attorney should I need one."
"You are evil...he will be getting that message after spending a weekend in detention...I always knew not to piss you off...you're so like mum that way."
Bond rejoins them, "like mum in what way?"
"All of them Bond...beware...Jude is evil, manipulative and…"
"Cute, adorable and lovely."
"Ah the joys of siblings that I never had."
"Yes but we are technically your possible future step children not siblings...we are still younger than you."
"Not by that much Judi. I have a task for you if you like. I need to order the furniture for the bunk house. Do you think you could pick out beds, tables and whatever else we will need and order it for me?"
"That sounds fun. I will have to come out an look at the building first."
"Well let's get to it. I think we will need the extra room for when Q branch arrives."
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"So M...tell me of your husband?"
"Nigel was a professor...a writer and a lovely man."
"When did you get married?"
"1971 why?"
"I was just trying to figure out if your lass could possibly be James Bonds?"
M is shocked...her mouth is open in confusion. "What on earth do you mean Mr. Kincade?"
"You are the woman that he brought up here for Callum MacKenzie's wedding and I have proof. There is a picture at my house of the wedding and the Bond family including you...Miss Jenkins. It took me a while to remember the name but it was Olivia Jenkins wasn't it?"
"I had hoped you didn't have such a good memory Mr. Kincade and no...I did not sleep with James Bond. Nigel and I were on a time out and James asked me as a friend to come here for the wedding."
"James worked and died for MI6 didn't he?"
"Yes...yes he did."
"Does the lad know?"
"No and I would prefer it if he never finds out Mr. Kincade."
"Why? It is so long ago...or do you not want your bairns to know about that time of your life?"
"I don't think James knows that his uncle was even in the service, and the official secrets act makes it such that I could never volunteer that information to him."
"Aye...I suppose and it does explain why the boy is so very concerned for your safety...you being his boss and all. What about your children do they know...about MI6?"
"Just a little. I told them a bit after their father died and James entered the picture."
"Here is the exit from the priest hole I was mentioning to you lass...let's go up to the kirk and take a look around."
"You will be quiet about what you have learned...won't you Mr. Kincade?"
"Oh aye...as long as you accompany me to lunch in town someday this week."
"Is this a sort of blackmail Mr. Kincade?"
"Aye, you could consider it that, but I prefer to call it a friendly date."
M looks at him and smiles not knowing quite how to interpret that statement.
"My title is M...you must call me that in public. I know you have my real name now but you must not use it."
"Aye, M...I understand and I will not tell a soul. I do like dolly better."
"Oh not that again...and entire week of that was enough for a lifetime. I am far too old for such a nickname now."
"I don't see age when I look at you lass, because it has barely touched you."
"You are far too flirtations Mr. Kincade...you always were."
The two of them laugh as they reach the kirk to explore and talk of how things have changed over the years and how somethings haven't.
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"Come see the old family kirk with me dolly."
"Are you just trying to get me alone again James?"
"Well my family will not stop monopolizing your time dolly...between the sisters and the boy...I have barely had a chance to see you let alone spend more time getting to know you."
"Not in a biblical sense Mr. Bond. What do you want to know?
"Tell me about your boyfriend….Nigel...is it?"
"Yes. Nigel is an academic...going for his PHD in English."
"A boring bookworm...tell me it's not true? You really do hate excitement, don't you dolly." Bond says with a laugh.
Olivia hits his arm and exclaims, "not funny. He is charming and intelligent...taller than you with beautiful curly hair."
"Christ I can picture him…thin, tall, bespectacled, with a bowtie, waistcoat and a smoking jacket. Does he smoke a pipe?"
"No...I despise smoking."
"Oh...I apologize for smoking around you then dolly...I will try to keep the habit outside from now on."
"So now you have determined what my boyfriend looks like and pigeonholed him into a typical academic professor. Do you still think I am a boring woman more content with maps and mission plans? It is far less exciting than all the running...shooting and womanizing that you get up to all the time. Do you, James Bond plan on objecting to my relationship for some reason?"
"I object to it because it comes between you and I, and I do not think he is the right man for you. I think that you hide the side of you that wants what I can give you."
"What you can give me? Wait...what do you mean Mr. Bond? You are not proposing that I should marry you out of the blue are you?"
"No...not that but I am suggesting that you experience some of the world before you tie yourself to a man that has likely been training his entire youth to be an old man. Yes I can picture the man...all absorbed in his writings and books rather than the beautiful temptress that he is married too."
"By the world, I assume you mean that I will absorb my worldliness from you because you have seen and...screwed your way through half of it?"
"Dolly...so vulgar a statement from a future wife of a boring academic."
"Well what do you really want of me then Mr. Bond?"
James frowns at her...trying to find some words that fit what he is feeling but she begins again with her snarky attitude that entices him to no end.
When he doesn't immediately answer, Olivia gives her analysis of what would happen should they cross the line. One line that James Bond continues to try and jump with her.
"You talk a good talk but you just want me willing and naked and then take me back to London drop me off and say goodbye. We will then share uncomfortable glances occasionally at work, like you and the rest of the female staff. I will have become another statistic and I will keep the indulgences of our tryst from Nigel and accept his proposal and live a pedestrian life on the outside, while working my way up the ladder in MI6."
Olivia looks at him as they walk along and she continues her assessment of her future. The reach the kirk and walk inside to look around.
"For the next 20 plus years I will climb as far as a woman can within our organization. Perhaps the story of our tryst will survive and other 00 agents will approach me asking for a drink or a quick shag in the supply room because they heard I was so accommodating before. As I age...after Nigel and I have children the offers will wither away as happens with middle aged women and new younger models flaunting their wares around the office become far more engaging than I. Unless of course I do become M...then even my advancing years and sagging body will hold some interest for those who are attracted to power."
Bond is at a loss at what to do with this frustrating woman. She is smart...too smart and at her young age she seems at least 30 not the 25 she is. Under normal circumstances he would silence her biting tirade with a kiss and that would lead to them rolling around on the dusty kirk floor.
Dolly is not going to play with him...he really wants her too...it is becoming almost painful how he feels around her.
"Dolly...I said I would allow you to make the first move even if I am dying to kiss you right now. I don't think I can give you the life he can, no. I would love to be in the position to give you the life you deserve and more. I find that it is more than I could ever hope for...to live that type of life with you."
Bond runs a hand through his hair as they walk towards the alter in the small family kirk.
"This rollercoaster that I am on will not end well and the job has become more than just a job for me. It is my life and you are making the choice...the one I made 5 years ago very difficult to justify. I don't know...it could be just being here with family...seeing Andrew and his family...it is twisting me. Making me long for things that I thought I buried...with Tracy. Dolly...if I wasn't such a jaded old agent...I would swear that I was falling in love with you."
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M and Kincade return the the house a little after 4 and are sharing a laugh as they enter to see that all the guests have arrived.
M excuse herself to get cleaned up and thanks Kincade handing him back his tartan scarf. He is off to take Maggie home again while the new Bond family meets with the MacKenzie's.
Once M returns she moves forward and extends her hand to Callum and he then introduces his lovely daughters. It does not escape her attention that her two children look entirely too amused and that Kenna MacKenzie is looking at James with adoration in her eyes...she barely meets M's eyes when they shake hands.
Callum MacKenzie took in the woman and Kincade's familiarity with her before she excuses herself to get cleaned up. He makes the most of his introduction and kisses her hand holding it while he expresses his delight at meeting her finally.
Callum joins M on the sofa as Judi makes the most of bringing the tea around with the help of Ryan. Ryan strikes up an instant rapport with Fiona both of them having the law in common.
Kenna sits beside Bond on the sofa making Judi take a chair across from them. Judi surveys the scene trying desperately not to laugh at the comedy of the situation. She catches her brother's eye and winks nodding it the direction of James on the sofa with their mother on one side and a very flirtatious Kenna on the other.
Callum monopolizes M with questions of London and her life. M gives general answers as charmingly as she can while trying to hear what the flirty redhead with a very low cut and clingy top is saying to James.
Callum asks her to lunch. He and his sister would like to meet up with M and Kincade one day in town to have a nice lunch.
The girls make plans with Judi and Ryan to go horseback riding and have a picnic to get to know each other better. Fiona is nice and very charming in conversation with M's children.
"James you must come with us on the horses...it will be such fun!" Kenna exclaims excitedly.
"I am sorry but I think that I will be unavailable for a couple of days. I've been called into work in Glasgow...an emergency has come up and I must rush off but it is nice that you can entertain my family while I am gone."
Callum winks at Bond. "They will be safe and entertained with us James." As he says it he clasps M's hand in his and holds in between their thighs.
M is shocked as she looks down at her hand in his. She can hear a momentary growl out of Bond but he is diverted immediately by Kenna.
Judi is trying not to burst from laughter at watching the look on Bond's face when Callum takes her mother's hand.
Ryan is deep in conversation with Fiona with business talk. He glances at his sister momentarily and then to the objects of her amusements.
All Ryan can think is bloody hell...this is going to be a long week.
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"I love with me? Don't be absurd!"
"I am not dolly...I am becoming more and more happy with inviting you here, regardless of the guard you used against me in bed last night. I think I got you back because the lad had his hands twisted in your locks the entire night."
"Yes he did. I think I will shave it all off eventually."
"I love your long hair...it is the style of the day after all. My mother always had short curled hair in the 50's. I much prefer the long natural look."
"You cannot be in love with me."
"Why not?"
"Don't be ridiculous!"
"How is me beginning to feel the stirrings of long forgotten emotions wrong? We are together...we are getting to know each other better and you are my date to a social event at the end of the week."
"I am in love with Nigel and he...well we are meant to be together. You admitted that you are too old and jaded to be really in love."
"And what if he does not come back? What if he choses Amy...or Alice, whatever the name of that woman was."
Olivia looks distressed and furrows appear on her brow. "That is not going to happen."
"What if it does? Will you give us a chance then dolly?"
"What?"
"When is he returning to claim you...the date?"
"August 15th but I…"
"I know...true love. If he does not show on that date...the next day I will be there with flowers to ask you out. If I am out of country I will call you."
"James...really. This is insane and you won't be there even if Nigel and I don't stay together. You will have forgotten me two days after returning or when on a beach somewhere with a long legged beauty."
James and Olivia began to walk back to the house after their tour of the kirk. He puts his arm around her and bends to meet her lips again.
Olivia pulls away. "James...you said you would stop that."
"What can I say dolly...this old jaded agent simply cannot resist you."
To be continued…