Quarterback's Secret Baby(132)

"Look, there it is. Cameron is going to be losing her marbles waiting for you to get there."

I watched Castle McLanald emerge out of the pale, rolling hills that stretched out around it. How did it feel so much like coming home after spending such a short time there - and then only a few days away? I spotted Cameron's blonde head as the helicopter landed - she was being held back by a struggling Mrs. Clyde.

"Miss Robinson!"

I didn't even have time to get out properly before she was throwing herself on me, kissing my cheek and giggling.

"Cameron, let Jennifer get out for God's sake." Darach affectionately chastised his daughter but she wouldn't let go so I just walked with her wrapped around me.

From the delicious smells emanating from the kitchen I could tell Mrs. Clyde had something wonderful for dinner. She hugged me tightly and then, just as I was about to go and have a quick shower, she gently pulled me back, looking slightly worried.

"Och, Jenny, if it's not too much trouble Mr. Clyde would like to have a word with you."

I looked up and saw Mr. Clyde standing in the kitchen doorway. He cleared his throat and rubbed his hands together nervously. I felt bad for him and part of me wanted to spare him the apology, but at the same time I knew I deserved one.

"Jennifer," he started, coughing again before continuing. "Jennifer my deepest apologies to you, dear. I wasn't thinking straight. I should have waited for the Laird's word before doing anything. I've offered to resign my position here at Castle McLanald if you feel you would be more comfortable without me here."

I hadn't been expecting Mr. Clyde to offer up his job - his lifelong job - working for Darach, but I could see that he was deeply ashamed.

"My wife had nothing to do with this, I hope you understand, Jennifer. I sent her out to get groceries in town that morning so she wouldn't be here to stop me. I should have let her try."

Darach had already told me Mrs. Clyde was blameless but I understood that she probably needed to hear her husband tell me herself. I wasn't even angry with Mr. Clyde - I had been angry at Darach, when I thought it was his doing, but I understood that Mr. Clyde had a duty to his Laird and to Castle McLanald and not one to me, although he'd always been kind. I knew he must have thought he was doing the right thing. I even knew it was probably very hard for him.

"Mr. Clyde," I started nervously, "I accept your apology. I understand why you did what you did - I understand you were misled. It was very painful for me having to leave here under those circumstances. But I want you to know that I forgive you and I don't want you to leave your job."

Mrs. Clyde had her arms around me before I could finish.

"Thank you, child," she whispered in my ear, "thank you, you have a good heart."

"Aye, she does have a good heart!" Darach walked in, then, and I realized he'd been waiting just out of sight with Cameron in his arms, so Mr. Clyde could get his apology out uninterrupted. When I looked at him I actually think I caught a slight glassiness in his eyes - and in Mr. Clyde's. But the McLanalds - and their employees - were not ones for public displays of heightened emotion. Darach clapped Mr. Clyde on the back and grinned at him.

"What's your wife got cooked up for us tonight then?"

We ate dinner together, all five of us sitting around the long table in the kitchen, not in the more formal dining room. Mrs. Clyde had prepared a whole salmon en croute, caught in one of the rivers on the McLanald estate. No one said anything - no one needed to say anything, because we all felt it - but there was a certain mood in the kitchen, a feeling of family. Of a patchwork family made up of people from different lands and different classes and different bloodlines, but a real, whole family. Cameron looked up from her salmon at one point and said:

"I am bursting with happiness!"

Darach leaned down and kissed the top of her head, looking at me and then at the Clydes before answering his daughter: "So am I, little one."





Chapter 16


Darach didn't leave Castle McLanald for the rest of the summer, deciding it was in Cameron's best interests to have him around - as well as mine. She also didn't end up going to therapy. Nothing heals like love does - I already knew it was true in my head but that summer with Darach and Cameron and Mr. and Mrs. Clyde gave me a very tangible - and familiar, due to my grandmother - understanding of what it means to care and be cared for. We spent most of our days outdoors, just watching Cameron as she explored the land she would one day inherit and lying in the heather enjoying each other's company.

My relationship with Darach deepened as well. We found ourselves at the top of the Treacle-Eater's Tower one evening just as the sun was starting to set, bathing the landscape in golden light. Cameron was picking wildflowers around the base of the tower and shouting the names of each species up to us as she picked them - she was developing into a small botanist, always carrying her 'Native Plants of Scotland' reference book around under her arm and checking new discoveries with a serious look on her face. It was a week before I was due to return to New York for my final year of college.