“Aiden is right, Claire. He’s crazy about you. He’s probably still busy primping in anticipation.” Lily has slid her arms around the other side of me.
“Can I help? It looks like ye have a wee bit of a mess.” We all jump when an old man with his dogs sticks his head around the side of the van.
Clearing his throat after a rather unmanly squeal, Colin says, “We certainly hope so. Can you tell us how to get to the Ross croft? We're about to be late for a wedding.” The man looks at each of us before beaming at me.
“Ye must be the one here tae marry our Alasdair. I was on my way there myself, running late as usual.” He holds out his hand. “I’m his uncle Iain.” He looks at his watch. “We’d better hurry. Just leave this van here, we’ll come back for it later. Ye can pile in the other one and my truck. Come on lassie, let’s get ye tae a wedding. I’m just happy I was running late.” Rushing around, everyone crams into a running vehicle.
Lily grabs both my bag and the dress before piling in next to me. “Who the hell is Alasdair?” she asks as we bump down the road. Uncle Iain starts out, keeping a close eye on the van behind us. Looking at my watch, I realize it’s now four forty-five.
16
Alex
“She’s naw coming,” I say, sitting down on the porch steps with a thump.
“She’ll be here, buddy. Give her a little more time.” I know Tim is trying to give me hope, but I know better. In the end, I wasn’t what she wanted. She’s going to hold out for something better. I can’t really blame her, I’ve brought her nothing but sorrow.
“It’s been damn near an hour. She’s bloody well naw fucking coming,” I yell at no one in particular. I lay back on the stoop, careful to keep my legs together in my kilt.
“I dinnae believe that,” Finlay says. “She loves ye. Something’s happened. She’s late is all.” I remain silent, slinging my arm over my eyes. It’s bad enough to be left at the altar, so to speak, I really don’t want them to see me cry on top of it. “I bet she had car trouble or something. She’ll be here.”
“Finlay! Shut the fuck up! She’s naw coming,” I yell.
“Speak to her like that again and I’ll kick your ass all over these cliffs,” Tim growls at me. Sitting up, I look over at a tearful Fin.
“I’m sorry. This is my fault. I shouldnae have yelled at ye.” Fin throws her arms around me in a hug.
“Dinnae hug him, Fin. He’s being a dick,” Rory puts in.
“Rory!” My sister turns red as my mam walks over to her.
“Sorry, Mam. But he is being a dick.”
“Rory,” Mam says again, returning to the house. My sister hides behind George before flipping me off behind Mam’s back. Robbie flops down in his kilt next to me. He pats me once on the knee.
I look at my siblings in their finest tartans. They’ve all come to be with me for better or worse. I love each of them because no matter how famous I get they keep me grounded. We sit around in silence, lost in our own thoughts.
“Dis anyone else hear honking?” Jaime finally asks.
“How can ye hear anything over the kids?” George asks. “They’re everywhere!”
“I hear it too,” Robbie says, standing up. We all stare down the road as Uncle Iain’s truck slowly materializes out of the moor.
“It’s just Uncle Iain,” I say, looking away.
“Naw, there’s something else behind him,” George says, walking toward the road. I stand up, walking over to him. We both squint, trying to make out what it is. When they get close enough, we realize there’s a van following his old truck to the house.
“I’ll be damned,” George says before turning back to the house. “Mam! Ye and Da better come ootside. We have visitors.” The truck slides to a stop as someone gets out of the passenger side. I stand in disbelief as I watch a very disheveled Claire come running up to me.
“I’m so sorry I’m late, Alex. The first van broke down, then one of the babies threw up in the other one, then we got lost and the tire came off.” I stare at her as she waves her arms around. “We left in plenty of time. I really wanted to be here on time. Please don’t be mad…”
“Ye came,” I say, taking her face in my hands.
“Of course I came. It’s you and I, remember? I don’t want someone else. I want you. You said I deserve the very best. That’s you, Alex. I deserve you.” The most beautiful smile crosses her face as her friends start piling out of the van.
“I’ve wanted you from the moment you sat down across from me in the library.” My mouth crashes onto hers as people swarm around us. I don’t hear a word they are saying. I don’t feel the hands patting my back. I just feel Claire.
“Hey, stop dry humping my goalie again! She’s got someplace to be.” I can’t help but break our kiss with a grin at Lily’s voice.
