AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not going back,” I replied. My voice was firm, and I felt calm. All of this felt right.
“I should tell ye, I quit too.”
I leaned back and looked him in the eye.
“It’s true. Told Da in no uncertain terms it was time for a new leader and he respected me for it. Also told Lachlan and the board I would not be continuing at CEO. A contract is being drawn up for Robert to take over, as we speak.”
“How do you feel about quitting?”
“Good. Very good.” He squeezed me gently. “Lachlan’s keen to have me on the board when one of the members retires. In fact, I’m kinda Robert’s messenger, to offer you a job at Gallanach. We need a management accountant to improve our systems and mentor our staff. I’ve brokered a deal with Michelle and Andrew to have ye on secondment at the distillery, but you could come work for us as a consultant.”
“But I’m going to travel.” My heart sank. The idea of working at Gallanach again made me happy but I’d put off discovering the world for too long. “I’ve already booked a flight home to see my family.”
“Hen, that’s wonderful.” Stuart smiled. “They will be so happy to see ye, and you tae see them.” He frowned in thought. “Why does it have to be one or the other? Why not do both? Others do it all the time. Ye could access secure files via the cloud. Charge us by the hour.”
“And what would your brothers think about hiring me like this? You’re not even the boss.”
“My brothers were angry over what I’ve done and James even took a swing at me. They both told me in no uncertain terms to fix it with ye and get ye back. So I am.”
“And Old Mac just let you quit?” I was hedging. My mind whirled with ideas of how I might do, reporting via Spanish vineyards, French coastlines or Italian beaches.
“Oh, aye. Da had some opinions on the matter. But he also told me to make it good with ye. I told him I’ve always been a team player, never the captain. Rugby or whisky, I’ve never been a leader. Robert is better at that than I ever will be. First born traditions can just get thrown in the bin.” He swallowed hard and cupped my jaw again. “He saw how stubborn I was and congratulated me on finding a nice girl and to go to London and un-fuck what I’d done.”
A laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. “Your father said ‘un-fuck’?”
“Maybe I’m paraphrasing a wee bit.”
I smiled and Stuart rested his forehead on mine. “Fuck, it’s only been days but I’ve missed that smile of yours, hen.”
“I’ve missed you too. And, I liked your poem.”
“Ye did?” He nuzzled his nose against mine, still touching me.
“Yes, very much. Will ye read it again now?”
He nodded again, pulling out his phone as he cleared his throat. He pushed the fringe out of his eyes and the hand holding his phone shook, as he read the words out loud.
Stuart finished, wiping away tears, not looking me in the eye.
“I was very drunk. It’s not even that good,” he murmured. “I just kept thinking Burns was an idiot to let his love, Clarinda, go without a fight. He should have fought for her. If he loved her so much, why would he let her go to be with a man who neglected her like he did? So I stayed up all night writing it. I’ve never written poetry before, hen.”
“But Stuart!” I sniffed. “The distillery is your life, it’s your family’s and now you’ve given it all up -”
“No, hen.” He looked up then. “Have ye not figured it out yet?”
I shook my head, tears rolling down my cheeks. Stuart brushed them away with his thumb. He took one of my hands and placed it on his heart, and then his hand over mine.
My heart hammered against his palm.
“Right here. My home is in your heart. And yours in mine. If ye’ll forgive me and have me back.”
I kissed him and his hands slipped around my waist, holding me against him.
“Say it out loud again, hen.”
“Stuart, I forgive you.” I kissed him. “I love you.”
I kissed him again.
