“Nope.” Robyn shook her head stubbornly. “I always told my niece I could never take money for it. What no one knows about me is I’m kind of a secret romantic. Can’t take money, but I’ll take being part of a grand gesture I know will make my niece very happy. Not because she’s getting a photograph she’s admired for years. But because she’s getting a man who would have hounded me until the end of time to get it for her. After everything she’s been through, Eilidh deserves someone who would do just about anything to make her happy.”
Emotion constricted my throat as I looked back at the photograph. I’d approached Robyn almost immediately after our drive out to Kylesku. She’d refused. At first. I’d offered money. Offered tutoring for Vivien and Brechin. And then I’d left her a voicemail explaining why Eilidh loved it so much and how much I loved her and wanted her to have it. I’d promised to back off if the photograph just held too much sentimental attachment for Robyn to let it go. The next day, Robyn called me, telling me she was happy to gift it.
Now I knew why.
“You are all a very special family,” I said gruffly. “I hope you know that.”
“I guess … we’ve all been through a lot. It makes you appreciate what’s truly important. And reminds you every day to take care of it.” Robyn squeezed my shoulder. “I need to get back, but it looks good.”
“It does. Thank you.”
“Oh. The photo looks great. But I was talking about you. Being in love looks good on you.” She winked at me and strolled out the door, closing it softly behind her.
I was on absolute tenterhooks waiting for Eilidh to come home.
Wanting a direct line of sight so I could see her reaction without giving anything away, I sat at the island with my laptop. The little beep on my phone had me tensing on the stool. My head turned toward the door as it opened and Eilidh stepped inside, her gaze on me. “I think that went well.” She ran a hand over her hair, kicking her shoes off, and her attention snagged on the photograph for a second before she started walking toward me. “I mean it—” Eilidh abruptly halted and spun robotically back toward the photograph. Her jaw literally dropped.
“What the … how …” She gestured to it. “That’s … when … how …”
Chuckling, I hopped down and strolled across the room. I embraced Eilidh, huddling her against me. “Do you like it there?”
She gaped up at me. “How … explain?”
I shrugged with more casualness than I felt. “I offered to pay Robyn for it. She said no. So I explained how much I wanted to give it to you, and she presented it to us as a gift.”
“But how?” Eilidh’s fingers curled into my shirt. “I’ve been pleading for years for it.”
“Remember Robyn said she wouldn’t give it up for money?”
“Aye?”
“Well, she didn’t. She gave it up for love.”
Tears brightened Eilidh’s beautiful eyes. “She gave it up because you love me.”
My voice was hoarse as I replied, “So much, Eilidh Adair, I can’t even begin to explain how much.”
“I can’t believe you did this for me.”
“Do you love it?”
She nodded, wrapping her arms around me, her cheek pressed to my chest as she looked up at the landscape. “I love it so much. But I love you more. There will never be anyone for me but you.”
It had taken me too long to believe that was true, but finally I did. I pressed my cheek to the top of her head, cuddling her tightly. “Aye, nor for me, baby. Nor for me.”
Forty-One
EILIDH
My starting-over adventure had been going way too well these last few weeks.
I’d thought the gnawing pit in my stomach had something to do with how quickly my TV show was coming together, a complete industry anomaly.
It turned out, that feeling of dread, of waiting for the other shoe to drop, had nothing to do with how well my career change was going.
It also had nothing to do with me and Fyfe. We’d fallen remarkably easy into a serious relationship and embraced our family unit with Millie.
I was packing for a long weekend business trip with Theo. We were heading to London to meet with the London office of the streaming service who were showing all the signs that they were ready to greenlight this project. Fyfe was at Ardnoch Estate discussing new updates to the security system on the program that housed all their members’ personal and financial details.
