— Hey! Keira protests. The McGregor stubborn streak has its advantages. Without it, your wedding never would’ve happened.
Jane bursts out laughing.
— Fair point. In that case, I wish your child just enough stubbornness to succeed in life.
Isobel approaches, holding a small object wrapped in velvet.
— Keira, my dear, she says softly, there’s something I’ve wanted to give you for a long time. Now that you’re starting your own family, it feels like the right moment.
She unwraps the cloth, revealing a small engraved silver box, clearly old.
— What is it?
— It belonged to my mother.
Keira takes it carefully, as though it were an irreplaceable treasure—which it probably is.
— It’s been passed down through generations, waiting for the right moment. Your grandmother entrusted it to me before she passed.
Keira opens the box gently. Inside, nestled in blue velvet, lies a pair of sapphire and silver earrings, exquisitely crafted.
— They’re beautiful, she breathes. Thank you.
— One day, your daughter will inherit them too, Isobel says.
Suddenly, I picture a little girl with Keira’s eyes—and it hits me harder than I expect.
A familiar sound makes us all turn. Hamish and Rosita are heading toward us again, their twins bouncing along behindthem. They’ve escaped their enclosure once more—but this time, it seems peaceful enough.
— Good evening, my friends, I greet them.
Hamish steps forward and presses his nose gently against Keira’s stomach, as if sensing something important.
— You know what? I say suddenly. I think they deserve a special reward for their exemplary behavior today.
— What do you have in mind? Maggie asks.
— How about we officially grant them full freedom across the estate? No more enclosures, no more restrictions. They’ve proven they know how to behave when it matters.
Keira smiles at the idea.
— I think that’s a wonderful idea.
— Then it’s settled. From now on, Hamish, Rosita, and their children are the official—and free—residents of our united lands.
As if they understand, the four sheep bleat in unison.
Walking back toward the castle, hand in hand with Keira, I can’t help but reflect on how far we’ve come. Before she walked into my office, I was a solitary businessman, obsessed with success and convinced love was an unnecessary complication.
Now, I’m about to marry the woman of my life. We’re expecting our first child. And we’ve fulfilled our ancestors’ dream by building something meaningful together.
— What are you thinking about? Keira asks.
— I was thinking about our first contract—the one you proposed in my office. Do you remember your arguments?
— “A mutually beneficial arrangement with no emotional complications,” she recites with a smile. I was very convincing back then.
— You were. But you were wrong about one thing.
