“Aye, but I do. When you were burned and staying with us, I wanted to tell you then how I felt, but every time I tried, I turned coward.” She placed the wrapped gift in her hands on the table before them. “Merry Christmas to you both, and congratulations on your marriage.” She smiled at Callie. “I hope you’ll be giving him all the love I should have.”
Then, she turned and headed for the door.
Sin watched her walking away, his feelings tangled and confused. His wife reached for the present and opened it.
“Sin?”
He looked from his stepmother to the MacAllister banner in his wife’s hands and his heart lurched.
Instead of four swords, it now held five. And in Callie’s hand was the small note card that was embellished with Aisleen’s crisp, clear script—For Sin MacAllister.
He looked to his brothers and Maggie, who watched him expectantly as their mother crossed the room.
“Aisleen,” he said before he could stop himself.
She stopped and turned back to face him.
Sin left the table and went to stand before her. “I learned a long time ago to forget my past. Granted there have been times when that was easier said than done, but I am not one to dwell on old hurts. You are welcome in my hall, my lady.”
Tears filled her eyes as she stared at him. “You’ll never know how much I wish I had shared your compassion. I am sure many are the times you’d wished I had said those words to you.”
Sin said nothing. He had no idea what to say.
Then she did the most unexpected thing of all. Aisleen reached out and hugged him.
Sin stood frozen by his shock.
She patted his back then released him. Looking up at him, she wrinkled her nose and did something no one ever had before...
She reached up and straightened his hair and clothes like a mother worried about her son’s appearance. “There,” she said, patting his arm. “I didn’t mean to muss you.”
Sin laughed as his brothers, wife and Maggie joined them. Servants brought drinks for the family and they adjourned back to the table where they dined in pleasant company and love.
Hours later, when everyone was fed and well-sated, the servants distributed the gifts.
Sin gratefully took the one from Callie. It wasn’t very large and when he opened it, he frowned.
“I must have Ada’s by mistake,” he said, noting the tiny white baby shoes.
He started to hand them to Maggie, but Callie stopped him. “Now I know what a generous man you are, Sin MacAllister, but don’t be giving those away when we’ll be needing them come summer.”
His jaw went slack as his mind made sense of her words. “You’re with child?”
Biting her lip, she nodded.
Sin shouted in joy as he pulled her into his lap, then quickly apologized for it. “I didn’t hurt you or the baby, did I?”
She laughed at him. “Nay, love. I’m sure if he’s anything like his father, he’s quite indestructible.”
Lochlan stood with a cup of wine in his hand. “To Callie and Sin. May this be the first of many little treasures to come.”
Sin drank to the toast, then handed his cup to his wife and watched as she drank from it. “You know, my lady, they say drinking wine from a man’s cup is a good way to find yourself carrying his child.”
She kissed him gently on the lips. “I’m afraid, we’re too late for that.”
“Oh, for God’s sake!” Simon placed his hand over Jamie’s eyes. “Would you two please adjourn upstairs? Every time I turn around, I find the two of you locked together and I just got my stomach settled.”
Sin laughed at that. “Och now, we can’t be having Simon’s stomach upset while there’s food to be had, now can we?”
