Page 69 of A Highland Family Affair

My darling daughter. If you are reading this then I have already gone, and for that I’m heartbroken. Because if you are holding this box it means it’s your wedding day and that I can’t be with you. I want you to know how very proud of you both your father and I are and always were. The fact that you are without either of us on such an important day really does pain me. But I know Uncle Innes and Mirren will be there for you so I must take comfort in that. This is such a difficult letter to write because I know you will be upset and there is nothing more that I want than to be able to hold you. I’m hoping you were able to find my wedding dress and that perhaps you have adapted it for today with your wonderful artistic talents. Although you have far better taste than I so you may have thought better of that! I just know you will look stunning whatever you have designed or acquired. You always do.

I hope you like the tiara; I wore it on my own wedding day, and it has been in the bank vault until now with instructions left with Innes on how to proceed. I hope it complements your dress and doesn’t ruin it!

I hope your husband-to-be knows how fortunate he is to be marrying you. And I know he will make you happy because you wouldn’t be marrying him if you had any doubt in your heart about that, so I wish you both a wonderful, long and happy marriage, like your father and I experienced. All I want is your happiness, darling Olivia. My other wish is that Kerr has changed his ways and that you and he have managed to find the relationship you always should have had. I’m just sorry I was unable to convince him he needed help.

I will close now as Marley is keen to go for a walk in the grounds. I hope he is behaving himself for you. He is such a wonderful companion.

I love you with all my heart.

Mum

Tears streamed down Olivia’s face as she clutched the letter. She placed the tiara on her head and smiled. She really did resemble her mother and that was such a wonderful thing.

There was another knock on the door. ‘Can we come in?’ Bella asked.

Olivia shook herself and inhaled a calming breath. ‘Absolutely!’ The door opened and in walked her two bridesmaids. Olivia gasped. ‘Oh, wow, look at you both! You’re stunning.’

Bella’s dress was a one-shoulder affair that was fitted at the waist and skimmed her curves, landing in a pool at her feet, and Skye’s was also floor-length but a strapless design, gathered at the bust. They were exactly what Olivia had hoped to see. She hugged her friends and handed them their bouquets, which were a mini version of hers and tied with the same MacLeod tartan ribbon.

‘You look incredible too,’ Bella said, placing a hand over her heart. ‘Brodie is so lucky.’

‘He is and you really do!’ Skye said but immediately tilted her head. ‘Hey, are you okay? You’re crying.’ She hugged her again.

Olivia’s throat tightened and she couldn’t respond. She held up the letter and pointed to the tiara, simply uttering the words, ‘From Mum.’

‘Oh, honey,’ Bella said, and her two friends pulled her into another embrace. ‘Come on, let’s retouch that make-up and have a glass of this.’ She reached under Olivia’s bed and pulled out a champagne bottle and three glasses.

Olivia laughed. ‘When did you hide those?’

Bella tapped her nose before handing out the glasses and popping the cork. She poured out the champagne and reached into her dress. ‘I love a dress with pockets!’ she said as she retrieved her phone. Olivia applied powder to her flushed cheeks and a little concealer under her eyes. Bella then snapped a selfie of the three of them and glanced at Olivia’s bedside clock. ‘Are you ready? It’s almost time.’

Olivia nodded eagerly. ‘One hundred per cent ready.’

There was a gentle tapping at the door and Olivia called out, ‘If that’s you, Kerr, you can come in.’

He opened the door and stepped inside. Olivia was shocked to find he was wearing a MacLeod tartan kilt with the traditional jacket and waistcoat in navy and a crisp white shirt. The men’s clothing had been dealt with by Brodie and she was impressed.

‘We’ll wait for you downstairs,’ Skye said before she and Bella left the room.

‘Kerr, you look amazing. So smart and handsome,’ she said, placing her hand on his chest.

He gave a 360-degree twirl with his arms outstretched at this sides. ‘I scrub up well, eh?’

‘You really do.’

He smiled down at her. ‘And you look absolutely stunning. Brodie MacLeod is a very lucky man.’ His eyes were becoming misty. ‘Thank you again, Olivia, for asking me to give you away. And thank you for giving me a second chance. I’m hoping that one day you can forgive me.’ His voice broke and cleared his throat. ‘Sorry, I’m a bit of an emotional wreck lately for some reason, although it sounds like it’s quite common to be emotional when you’re in AA so I’m going to blame that.’

She put down her bouquet on her dressing table and placed a hand on either side of his face. ‘Kerr, I forgive you. In fact, I think I forgave you a long time ago.’

He placed his hands over hers. ‘Really?’ He closed his eyes briefly. ‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’

She stepped back. ‘Now… will I pass as a bride?’

He chuckled. ‘I think the dress is a bit of a giveaway. And yes, you look so beautiful, Liv. Mum and Dad will be looking down with the proudest smiles today.’ His voice wavered. ‘And I want you to know I’m proud of you too. Not just for today but for everything you’ve achieved with the castle. Thanks to you, Mum and Dad and the MacBain clan will be remembered for years and years to come. I’m so sorry I ever doubted you.’

‘Thank you. I’m really glad we’ve sorted out our issues because having you here today means the world to me.’ There was a pause where they both fought with the emotions connected to the healing of their relationship, and therefore, their family. ‘Now let’s go and get me married.’

Olivia approached the chapel by the loch with her brother and two best friends. There was an arch of flowers around the chapel door and bees were already hard at work visiting each colourful bloom in turn. This day and this wedding location were a long-held dream come true. Those hobnail-boot-clad butterflies had already started tap-dancing around her insides and she squeezed Kerr’s arm. ‘Can we stop for a moment?’