When I was sixteen, Lila Turner’s grandmother caught me watching them chat and gave me a big hug. “Honey,” she said, “grandchildren are priceless. They know they will always be my favorite.”
“Which grandchild is your favorite?” I asked, laughing.
Her smile was so sweet. “Whichever one I’m hugging.”
I want that for my - possibly someday - kids. I won’t leave them alone in the world if something happens to me.
This leads me to thinking about Morren Island and the Aristocrats. They hadsomuch money, yet they were greedy enough to create something so horrifying that a single strike could kill thousands of people.
When is it ever enough for people like that?
I hear the door shut downstairs and Kai’s voice carrying up the stairs. “Luna love? Where are ya?”
“This is going to be so much fun!” I gloated, walking hand in hand with my husband. We stop in front of an Asda Supercentre.
“And why are we here, lass?” He looks relaxed, a little amused as I pull him through the doors.
“Well, I understand that Asda is like the Scottish version of Walmart, you can find some insanely good deals here for clothing.”
He looks appalled. “I’m not buying your new wardrobe here.”
“You’re not buying mine,” I correct him sweetly. “You’re buying theirs.” I point to a group of fifty beaming parents and their children. “I’d like you to meet Ada Burns. She’s the director of Hope House. The shelter serves hundreds of families every year who are struggling with homelessness.”
“And usually, domestic violence as well,” Ada finishes my spiel, offering her hand to Kai with a smile. She is a sweet-looking woman in her late forties, but I can tell she’s got a spine of steel. When I reached out to her this morning about the shopping trip, it was clear she knew who Kai is -whathe is - and yet, she’s still toe to toe with my giant spouse and giving him the “Do not say no to these people!” pitch.
Side-eyeing Kai, I wonder if he’s angry about this little ambush. Heissmiling, just the half-smile with one corner of his mouth fully involved, but he looks amused rather than irritated.
Kissing my hand gallantly and making some of the little girls giggle, Kai asks, “What are we doing for these lovely families?”
Stepping closer, I whisper, “Would you spend fifteen thousand pounds to buy them clothes and diapers? You can outfit them all for the same price as the dress.”
“As you wish,” he murmurs into my ear, kissing my earlobe and biting it just a little at the end, “but I’m still buying ya clothes when and whereIwant to.”
“The Princess Bride,” I sigh. “I love that movie.”
“What am I missing here, lass?”
“The Princess Bride.You know, the movie? The romance between Princess Buttercup and Wesley. When she wanted something from him, he would smile enigmatically and say, ‘As you wish.’ It’s one of my favorite movies. Oh! We should watch it so you understand.”
Kai does not look completely invested in the plan, but he nods. “As you wish.”
A little shiver races up my spine.
This close, I can see the fine lines around his eyes when he smiles. He smells good, like cedar and smoke, so I burrow into his chest a bit. “Thank you for doing this! I didn’t think I could ever wear that dress again without crippling guilt. Now I’ll see these kid’s faces, and it will be okay.”
His thumb is stroking over my cheekbone as he examines me curiously. “Ya do know that MacTavish International has a robust charity division?”
“We’ve been deep in wedded bliss for only the last like… 45 minutes, so no, I didn’t. But that makes me very happy to hear.”
“Father Barclay would have loved ya,” Kai chuckles.
“Who’s Father Barclay?”
“He’s been gone for ten years or so, but he was the priest who ran our family’s parish. He hated Da and his brothers because their weddings were… unusual. Every time he had to marry off another MacTavish, he charged them through the nose for it. I think my Da’s fee went to build the huge children’s center on the parish grounds.”
“I like this Father Barclay already,” I nod approvingly. “I adore Catholics. They like collars and kneeling and wearing lots of black. Throw in that sacramental wine and you’ve got yourself a party!”
What did I say?
