“Which you’ve never used.” Aleida gave her a motherly look.
“You can still call me Cilla.” She smiled at her cousin. “And all is well now. I’m safe and I’m free, and now I have my cousin back.”
“And your aunt.” An even more motherly look. “You’ll ring her straightaway.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Hugh draped his arm around Aleida’s shoulder. “Do you have plans this evening? You simply must have dinner with us. We shall celebrate this glorious reunion of the lovely van der Zee cousins.”
If only Lachlan could be there too. If only she could introduce the man she loved to the cousin she loved. She couldn’t. She could never. But she could enjoy the gift she’d received.
Cilla’s eyes filled. “We shall celebrate indeed.”
47
Creag na Mara
Saturday, June 27, 1942
Leaning on his cane, Lachlan stepped through the door to Creag na Mara and set down his kit bag.
Effie scampered around his feet and pawed at him.
“Careful, lass.” Lachlan stumbled but laughed, and he scratched the collie behind her ears. “Aye, I’m happy to see you too.”
Mother descended upon him and enveloped him in a hug. “We’ve missed you.”
“Aye,” Father said. “They didnae allow us to travel to the Orkneys to visit you in the hospital. Or to bring you home for Arthur’s wedding. How are you?” Father shook Lachlan’s hand and eyed his leg.
Lachlan tapped the cane on the flagstone floor. “I’ll probably need this for life, but I’m walking. I’m alive.”
Mother pressed her hands to his cheeks, and her brown eyes shimmered. “And you’re a hero.”
Lachlan rolled his eyes.
“Och, Rhona. You’ll swell the lad’s head.”
“Wheesht, Malcolm.” Mother patted Lachlan’s cheeks and released him. “I intend to spoil him for the next week. Then away he goes to the Admiralty.”
Father grunted. “At least he willnae be out at sea or off in Africa.”
“Aye, and I’ll come home whenever I can.” With a job shuffling papers, he’d welcome every bit of leave.
“Good. It’ll be lonely, especially after Neil leaves.” Mother pressed her hand to her mouth. “Och! Neil wanted to tell you himself.”
“Aye, Mother, I did.” Neil tramped down the stairs wearing a big smile and a gray suit.
True joy welled inside, and Lachlan hobbled to his brother and shook his hand heartily. “It’s good to see you. But where are you going?”
“Shall we get you settled in your room?” Neil gestured to Lachlan’s bag. “Do you need help?”
Refusal danced across Lachlan’s tongue, but he bit it off. Stairs challenged him, and he needed to accept his limitations. “Aye. Thank you.”
Gripping the cane in one hand and the banister in the other, Lachlan placed his left leg on one step and dragged his unbending right leg up to join it. “So, where are you going, Neil?”
“I dinnae know yet. I’ve enlisted in the Army, and I’m waiting to be called up.”
Lachlan stopped halfway up the flight. “Och? You have?”
