I smiled. “Me too, she’s got a great voice.” I had my feet on Magnus’s thighs again, his hand resting on my ankle.
I said, “Let’s add to the list of what we’re taking. We need more presents. And no offense, Zach, but not colonial gingerbread.”
He said, “I can’t blame you, that was not what I was expecting, at all.”
I put the notebook on my lap, so I wouldn’t have to take my feet off Magnus’s legs. “No pressure but it would be fun if it was extravagant.”
Quentin looked at his watch. “Not a lot of time.”
“We can’t be empty handed, is all I’m saying, and no pressure, but it’s gotta be great. We have plenty of time to shop. We want to entice Sean and Lizbeth, give the cousins a sense of what they’re looking forward to.”
Magnus tilted his head, considering. “I agree with ye on the no pressure, mo reul-iuil, not the ‘it has tae be great’. It daena hae tae be, we are about tae take them tae the twenty-fourth century, everything in their lives will become much better, we daena hae tae entice them. We just take the chests, twill be fine.”
I raised my brow. “Magnus, thecousins! We must bring treats for the cousins!” I turned the page with the list around and tapped it. “And look how sad this list is! We are going to disappoint the cousins!”
He laughed. “Och, the cousins, aye, it should be a promise that their new lives will be well. How about we daena talk about it and ye just tell me what is on yer list and what I need tae gather.”
Zach grinned, rubbing his hands together. “Okay, let’s do this right. Soda, cookies and candy. I’ve been hoarding some pop rock packets, you can take those. I have candy left over from Ben’s birthday party. I’ll bake cookies, good cookies.”
James said, “I’ll go to town and get sodas in glass bottles?—”
Emma said, “Pick up some fudge from Centre Street, I promised Lizbeth I would always bring it if I could.”
I made the list while they talked about root beer and sour lemon heads.
Hayley called in. “Don’t forget a tin of sugar for the Earl.”
Magnus said, “Aye, twill be the last of m’gifts tae him, I should make it verra fine so he is reminded what he will be missing out on. Add tea tae the list. I am also goin’ tae give him some gold.”
Fraoch said, “Gold!”
“Aye, the ones with m’face on it. I hae some extra tae give the auld man. He may not be there though, he daena return there much anymore.”
I listed: “So far I have candy and fudge and soda for the cousins; good tea, vanilla, and sugar for the household; fancy soap and lotion for the women of the house. I’ll get that tomorrow. James, if you could also grab some bottles of really nice whisky, maybe some wine — and Magnus is going to have gold coins to present to his uncle, if he is there, as an irritant.”
Magnus said, “If he inna there I will leave the sugar and keep the coins.”
Fraoch raised his glass. “Hear hear! But ye ought not give him any, he pockets yer gold while mutterin’ about how much trouble ye are.”
Magnus shrugged. “I hae tae pay m’respects, keep it peaceful for Sean and Lizbeth, but I will also enjoy it, watchin’ him pocket coins with my likeness on them.”
James said, “You look gleeful at the prospect.”
Fraoch said, “Aye, Og Maggy lives for it.”
“Tis satisfyin’ after being called a bastard by him all those years, watchin’ him disparage m’brother and sister. I relish showin’ off m’wealth and power tae him. And this time twill be even more satisfactory as twill be one of the last times I will need tae see him…” His face drew down as he spun his glass on the table.
I said, “It’s bittersweet, huh?”
“When we discussed movin’ Sean and Lizbeth, I couldna think of a downside, but now it has been decided…” He shookhis head. “I ken twill be for the best, but I am goin’ tae miss that castle.”
I said, “It seems like a part of you.”
“Aye, it holds most of m’youthful memories, that and Kilchurn.”
“It’s good we’re going then, to really see Balloch now, to say goodbye.”
He nodded.
