“Keep a close eye on her,” Alec warns as I rub Crumpet’s fat belly, giving her one last kiss. “Cameron, take Summer to the car. Fraser and I need to lock up.”
Ed nods and leads Crumpet off, and Cameron helps me up, leading me towards the truck. He’s silent and walking stiffly, one hand jammed into the pocket of his jeans.
I lay my head on his arm. “Are you okay? Does your leg hurt?”
He shakes his head, opening the back door for me. His hand is still stuck in his pocket. It’s not really unusual for Cameron to be silent, so I brush it off and slide into the car, settling down for the four-hour drive.
We started the tradition of going on holiday to Skye during my first year at Lochview. I was struggling to balance farm life with startingToo Much?. After I had a meltdown in a pile of fabric samples, Cameron insisted we take a holiday. Now we go to the Isle of Skye a couple of times a year. We bought a cabin by the shore, and it’s become our own little hideaway.
Whenever we go, we unplug completely. No phones. No work. The next three weeks are going to be filled with swimming and eating and lots of sex, and I couldn’t be more excited.
The back door opens, and Fraser slides into the seat next to me, holding a massive plastic bag. “I brought snacks,” he says cheerfully, slamming the door shut. “Extra, since you’re eating for two.” He rummages around inside. “Now, gorgeous. I know it’s only about four cells right now, but look deep inside and tell me… Does the baby prefer chicken and mushroom or steak and ale pie?”
“Has everyone just decided that I’m pregnant?” I ask. “Do I even need to take this test?”
“Oh, aye, pee on the stick and make it official,” he says breezily, pulling out a bottle of Irn-Bru. “Can pregnant women have this?” He checks the back. “Babby might come out orange.”
“Why are you all so sure? Are you using your shepherd Spidey senses too?”
“My what, lass?” Fraser asks as Cameron and Alec both buckle in.
“Alec was all,I can sense when ewes are in lamb.”
Fraser passes me both pies. “Oh, no. Your tits are bigger.” He pats my chest fondly. “Eat up, pretty girl. Got a long drive ahead.”
The drive up to the Isle of Skye always feels like a relief. I curl up in the back with Fraser, watching the foggy green hills blur as silver rain spatters the windows. Alec has the radio playing as he drives, and Cameron is hunched silently in the passenger seat.
“I reckon she’ll be a girl,” Fraser declares, playing with my fingers. Alec hums in agreement.
I have to laugh. “Seriously, guys. If I pee on this stick, and it comes back negative, I’ll feel like a real letdown.”
Fraser sits bolt upright. “No.” He sounds crestfallen. “I’m sorry, honey. If it stresses you out, we’ll stop talking about it.”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t stress me out.” Even if I’m not pregnant, we’ll find a way to make a family.
“We always have options,” Alec agrees.
I snort. “Do they let people in four-ways adopt?”
“Aye,” Fraser says. “You’ll probably have to marry one of us, so the government doesn’t think we’re a bunch of perverts.” He pauses for a moment. “Bagsy.”
I notice Cameron stiffen in the passenger seat.
“You can’t bagsy my hand in marriage,” I inform Fraser.
“No?” He rips open a bag of Hula Hoops and slips one onto my finger. “What if I get you areallysparkly pink ring?”
“Shut. Up,” Cameron growls.
I shake my head, eating the Hula Hoop. “I’m not marrying one of you if I can’t marry all of you.” It’s a shame that we’ll never get to be properly married. It would be nice to be able to call the men my husbands.
“Fair enough. We should think of baby names,” Fraser says. “I like Scarlett. Hell of a name for a redhead.”
“A redhead? Why would she be…” I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re assuming she’ll be yours.”
He puts his hands up. “Look, obviously all of the kids will belong to us all. I’m just saying, I bet that baby comes out with hair like a damn sunset.”
“And why is that?” Alec asks calmly, switching lanes.
