“Might be the most bonnie women we’ve ever had at the Beag, don’t you think?” she says, being mischievous.
“Callum doesn’t think so,” I tell her, not commenting on what I think.
“That bairn hasn’t known what’s good for him his whole life,” she scolds.
She’s not wrong, but Callum hates it when she gets into his business.
“I’m not sure the Omegas renting your room would be too thrilled about you trying to play matchmaker either.”
“Ya ken their mother booked that room eight months ago? She sent me a rather endearing email too,” she says, not pulling out a phone or a computer, but digging through a drawer where she’s printed it out. “Lorna was always a sweet one, moved to America for a man.”
She hands me the letter that I probably shouldn’t read.
Effie,
Thank you so much for accommodating my daughters for the month at such a generous rate. I’m not sure how much more time I have with them, but I hope Scotland can give them some peace when I’m gone.
My daughters were my greatest treasure in this world and I fear I have failed them greatly. I’m leaving them alone in the world, not knowing that they’ll be cared for and the thought of this haunts me.
Please treat them as if they were your own daughters, giving them gentle guidance when needed. The Highlands are a magical place full of love and joy, and I want this to be my last gift to them.
Thank you for your kindness,
Lorna.
P.S. Please make sure Maisie doesn’t spend the whole trip working, and that Birdie doesn’t lose any of her travel documents.
I glance down at the paper and sigh as I hand it back to Effie.
“You read this letter and thought it meant that she wanted you to set her daughters up with the most eligible bachelors in town?” I question.
“Her biggest fear is her daughters not being cared for,” she says, pointing at that exact line in the letter. “I consider myself a very progressive woman, but not even I can deny an Omega needs a pack. The poor dears are twenty-six and unbonded. I can’t imagine what that does to the body. They’ve only got each other, but what if they had more?”
I shake my head. “Effie, they’re leaving for the states in a month. Any man you set them up with will just be left broken-hearted when they leave.”
“Is that you or Callum talking?” she snaps back.
“You know what the pack has been through.”
“Aye, I do, and didn’t I tell you she wasn’t the one?” she says, raising a gray eyebrow.
“And you think Maisie is the one?”
“Whit’s fur ye’ll no go past ye,” she says.Whatever is destined to happen will happen.
The kettle screams, and she pours the hot water into the teacup.
“Let me go take this up to her. Have a good night,” she says, patting my cheek as she heads up the stairs.
I leave Heather Beag, my hands in my pockets as I walk down the same streets I grew up on. I traveled around Europe when I was younger, but no place compares to this, I wouldn’t leave for anything.
Yet, there’s something about Maisie, something I can’t put my finger on as I walk down the street.
A few locals give me a wave as I approach my restaurant, taking in my patrons from the large bay window. There’s a sense of belonging, of home and pure warmth, as I look at what I made here.
But I know my life is missing a huge piece. I thought maybe we’d found it with Fiona, but our feelings were always stronger than hers. What if it’s the same with Maisie? What if I’m just longing for an Omega so desperately that I’m making a connection where there’s not?
But what if this is fate?
