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We walk out of the hospital and back to the car in a fog of joy. The sky looks even bluer than before we walked inside the hospital, the trees even greener, the birds singing even more cheerfully.
“A girl,” Finlay says in a choked voice.
I squeeze his arm tighter and cling to him as we walk. “We’re going to have a daughter.”
“A daughter!” Finlay exclaims as if this new word is another unforeseen source of joy.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to concentrate for the rest of the day,” I say with a chuckle. “The rest of the week!”
Finlay laughs again, a merry sound that seems to ring out in the air. “Me either. You’ve got to, though. You’ll find it even harder to concentrate when she’s here.”
“That’s true,” I say. However, I still wonder whether it’s a little crazy, trying to do a university course simultaneously while having a baby.
I found a degree in conservation that takes place entirely online, but I still have to attend weekly online lectures and keep up with the homework and independent study.
And there is the case study I will have to work on – which, obviously is going to be on the Barnbraw estate.
Once I graduate, I want to help Finlay run the estate and ensure we keep it up to date with the latest ideas and policies, ensuring that our land is protected for many years to come.
Our daughter will be able to enjoy the splendor of the glen, the loch, and the majesty of the local wildlife, instead of mourning something that no longer exists.
“A daughter,” Finlay says again with awe in his voice, and by the time we reach the car, we are both laughing hysterically, an explosion of ecstasy that sweeps us both up so high it feels like we are never going to come down again.
EPILOGUE
FOUR YEARS LATER
Finlay
“Happy anniversary, Ally,” I say, holding up my glass of champagne.
“Happy anniversary, Fin,” she replies, clinking her glass against mine.
I lean back in my chair, sighing contentedly. “Do you think Gracie is running rings around Hamish yet?”
Alana grins. “I think she was running rings around Hamish before they even left.”
I laugh and shake my head. “It’s funny. I’ve never seen the old man be anything less than sensible and reliable, and yet he turns into an absolute mush as soon as she’s around.”
“He takes good care of her.” Alana smiles. “It must be nice for him since he never had any children of his own. But, he’s been with you for so long that maybe it feels like she’s his own grandchild.”
I nod. I have never really thought of it like that, but she is right. In many ways, Hamish stepped in as a father figure when my own father passed away – much like a beloved uncle, even though we’re not related by blood.
“What do you think?” I ask, changing the subject and gesturing at our plates. “As good as Tom?”
“You’re not going to tell him my answer, are you?” Alana asks.
“No,” I say, smiling. Tom, our part-time cook, made the decision to open his own restaurant instead of working for other people all the time, and we had to hire someone new.
Vince was alright for our functions, but a special celebration meal for my wife was another test entirely.
“It is better,” Alana whispers with a wicked grin. She leans back in her chair again, chuckling. “Do you remember that first meal we had? When poor Tom made us that special dessert, and you asked him to put it in the fridge for later? By the time we remembered it was there, it was ruined, and you had to pretend it was delicious when he asked even though we hadn’t even taken a bite.”
“I do remember,” I laugh. “Oh, god. I went too far ensuring it had been delicious that he made it every single time we had him cook for us after that.”
“Has Vince made dessert for us tonight?” Alana asks.
I nod, setting aside my napkin. “Should I go tell him we’re ready for it?”
