Scarlett smiled dryly. “My mother had me in designer dresses and patent leather shoes the day after I was born. Practicality never came into it.”
“I’ve never met your mother, but I’m sure she wasn’t that bad,” Emmy assured her.
“I hae.” Laird’s exaggerated rancorous frown prompted another round of chuckles. “By my word, ye’re better off no’ ha’ing the pleasure.”
Both women looked to Scarlett, but she only shrugged and didn’t argue the point.
“Well, you’ll have to have at least one outfit for the baby,” Claire informed her. “And a car seat. They won’t let you leave the hospital without one.”
“I suppose I could take an hour or two away from the hospital to do a little more shopping.” Scarlett cast Laird a wicked grin. “I know how Laird so enjoyed our last trip.”
Poor Laird, Hugh grinned in sympathy. Hugh had made a trip back to Inverness for more clothes, but all he owned hadn’t been enough to clothe four men for weeks on end. Purchases had to be made. Rhys had enjoyed it, but then Hugh had been told he’d always been the fashionable sort. As was Hugh. Connor had given in gracefully, but Laird had suffered through it with ill grace.
Still, he could laugh at himself, comfortable with the teasing.
These weeks of passing time with little else to occupy them beyond each other’s company had been some of the best Hugh had experienced since his arrival in this era. Claire had admitted the same. There was no pretense among them when they were gathered like this. No pretending to be something they weren’t, watching every word or action.
The camaraderie among them continued to grow. Something Hugh hadn’t considered when he’d first approached them. He’d found true friendship in Laird, Rhys, and Connor. A spirit of brotherhood born of truly knowing one another without barriers. A truth Hugh knew he’d never be able to share with another in this time. Trust. And to some extent, familial loyalty.
He would miss them all when they left.
But their group was down one, Hugh noticed. “Where’s Rhys tonight?”
“He’s meeting Jack down at the bar and they’re going out to a nightclub. To dance.” Scarlett managed to keep a straight face, but most everyone else laughed aloud.
“They’re going to something called a gay bar,” Laird added. “I dinnae e’en ken there was such a place.”
“Can’t really see a man Rhys’s size performing a graceful Cat Daddy, can you?” Scarlett moved her body, undulating in a manner that had Laird looking at once appalled yet captivated. “Not really in his wheelhouse, is it? Maybe Jack will teach him a thing or two.”
Hermione jumped up and tried to imitate her mother’s moves so adorably they were all bent over in gales of laughter.
“They’re really hitting it off, aren’t they?” Claire asked, moving to sit beside Hugh.
“Aye.” Laird nodded and drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair. “But Rhys would be best to remain unattached. We’ll be going home soon.”
“Soon?”
Then Laird did smile fully. “Aye, they’ll be releasing our bairn from the hospital in a few days more. Then we can all finally leave this hellish place.”
Hugh noticed Connor’s smile slip a notch and wondered at his lack of enthusiasm. Perhaps Connor’s upset mirrored his own, for in a sense he did not want these happy moments to end. However, Connor’s humor was restored so quickly Hugh thought he must have imagined it.
“To yer good fortune.” Connor lifted his glass high and toasted them.
“Aye, my friend.” Laird waved a hand. “Let us all drink to my bonny bairn’s sound health.”
Another round of drinks were poured. Achenmeade Whisky for the men—Laird had been thrilled to see the whisky brand he’d launched centuries ago on the shelves. Wine for Emmy, and a teeny tiny dram for Scarlett since she was breastfeeding. Claire lifted her glass of club soda and another toast was given, then another. Until they were all talking over one another. Laughing and relaxed.
Even Laird, who was the most serious of them all, smiled contently as he drank his whisky.
Aye, Hugh had found friendship here.
“Have you decided what you’re going to name her yet?” Emmy moved to sit in Connor’s lap and looped an arm behind his neck as she snuggled against him. “You can’t keep calling her the baby or bairn.”
“In my defense, I wasn’t planning on even giving birth until next week at the earliest. We’ve had a few ideas but haven’t settled on anything yet.” Scarlett sat on the floor near Hermione.
“Why don’t you get Hugh to tell you what the baby’s name is?” Claire suggested.
Scarlett seemed puzzled. “What do you mean?”
