Page 45 of A Highland Family Affair

Uncle Innes stood and held up his hands to halt the chatter. With a wry smile, he said, ‘You’re all pretty useless at this game, I have to say.’ A rumble of groans travelled the group. A few napkins were thrown at him, in good humour. ‘Come on now, don’t be sore losers. I’ve known what it is for a while.’

‘Oh, aye, so why didnae you say anything?’ Mirren asked, her brow creased with disbelief.

Innes chuckled. ‘It was fun watching you all fumble.’ More groans ensued.

‘Hey, now, that’s fighting talk,’ Dougie said laughing. ‘Come on then, Barry Norman, what is it?’

‘I think you’ll find it’s Fast and Furious,’ he said plainly.

Will raised his hands in the air. ‘Yes! At last! I was actually almost genuinely furious after that!’ There was a magnanimous round of applause.

Olivia was impressed. ‘Uncle Innes, how do you know that?’

‘Oh, you know, I’m pretty down with the kids these days,’ he said with a grin. ‘I love a good Vin Diesel movie.’

‘Sorry, Innes, but no one actually says that, you know,’ Will told him and everyone laughed.

At the end of the evening, Dougie and Mirren headed off to their cottage within the grounds and Innes took Adaira’s hand. ‘Come on, my love. Your carriage awaits,’ he told her.

‘Thank you for inviting me, dears. It’s been splendid,’ Adaira said with a kiss to Olivia’s cheeks and a shake of Brodie’s hand.

‘You’re very welcome,’ Olivia replied. ‘Merry Christmas.’

‘Merry Christmas, darlings.’

‘And thank you from us too,’ Charlotte said as she hugged Olivia. ‘You’ve all made us feel so welcome and it’s been wonderful. Merry Christmas.’

Will shook the hands of the hosts too. ‘Yeah, what Mum said. Cheers.’

Kerr hugged Charlotte. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow evening then?’

Charlotte nodded. ‘That would be lovely. I’ll cook. Merry Christmas, Kerr.’

Kerr’s face lit up. ‘Can’t wait. Merry Christmas, Charlotte. And to you, Will. Don’t eat too much chocolate, eh?’

Will laughed. ‘Erm, that’s a promise I’m not going to keep.’

On Christmas morning, the family gathered once more by the drawing room tree in their pyjamas. Mirren had made bacon sandwiches and Kerr had opened a couple of bottles of Buck’s Fizz for everyone else while he stuck to orange juice. Snow was falling heavily outside, and Mariah Carey was singing about what she wanted for Christmas. The fire was crackling away, and the three dogs were snoozing together in a kind of rugby scrum that Olivia found highly amusing. The fragrance of fresh pine wafted through the warm air from the tree that Kerr had picked out personally this year from the stock at the nursery. It had been lovely to share the decorating with him too, as they had as children, only this time there was no arguing over what went where and who had added the most baubles.

Once breakfast was done, they handed out thoughtfully procured gifts. Olivia couldn’t stop smiling. It was the type of Christmas she remembered from childhood and the type of Christmas she never expected to experience again, perhaps until she was a mum.

Brodie was sitting by the tree and had taken charge of handing out the gifts. He picked up a box and read the label then passed it to Kerr, who seemed surprised to have been included.

He hesitated and raised his eyebrows. ‘For me?’

‘Go on, Kerr, open it. There are a few more for you but this is a special one from me,’ Olivia told him.

He ripped off the paper eagerly to reveal a cardboard box. He glanced up at Olivia and for a split second he reminded her of his childhood self, fresh-faced and happy, then continued with his task. Once the box was open, he reached inside to retrieve a hand-painted mug. He read aloud, ‘Kerr, number one brother.’

‘I commissioned it from the potter who supplies the pieces for the gift shop, so it’s unique to you,’ Olivia said.

He stared at the mug, silent, fixated almost, and Olivia worried he was a little disappointed.

He raised his face; his eyes were glassy, and he cleared his throat. ‘Wow… I wasn’t expecting this. It’s… it’s absolutely brilliant, Liv. Thank you so much.’

Olivia breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Thank goodness! I was worried for a second that you didn’t like it.’

He shook his head. ‘No, that’s not it at all. I’m just… I’m a wee bit overwhelmed.’ He shook his head and Olivia stood and walked over to sit beside him. She took his hand and he squeezed hers. ‘Thanks again, sis. It really does mean the world to me.’ He hugged her hard as if he was making up for lost time, or for all the hugs he had missed out on giving her as they drifted apart.