Finn sits beside me quiet but present.
His hand finds mine beneath the table.
At one point, Maggie taps her spoon lightly against her glass.
“I have an announcement.”
The room falls silent instantly.
I glance at Connor and silently mouth: You’re next.
My cousin goes pale, and I barely stop myself from laughing.
“I simply wanted to say how proud I am of all of you,” Maggie announces. “Callum and Jane, happily married. Keira and Alistair, who overcame generations of clan rivalry. Lachlan and Emma, proving love doesn’t care about age differences. Nate and Lily, reminding us that some things don’t require strategic intervention.”
Then her gaze settles on Finn and me.
“And now Mary and Finn. Who turned my little scheme into something real and beautiful. I may have orchestrated the circumstances, but the two of you did the rest. And once again, I’m delighted to discover my instincts were absolutely correct.”
Callum raises his glass.
“To Maggie McGregor. A woman who never loses.”
Everyone toasts.
Meanwhile, I stare at my cousins whose complexions are now drifting toward pale green.
After dinner, Maggie motions for Finn and me to follow her.
She leads us into her library.
Then settles into her usual burgundy chair while Finn and I remain standing in front of her like schoolchildren summoned to the principal’s office.
“I wanted to apologize,” she says simply.
I blink certain I misheard her.
“For what exactly?” I ask carefully.
“I manipulated you from the very beginning. The plumbing disaster via Fergus, who’s remarkably talented at creating catastrophes. Finn being forced out of the inn thanks to Moira MacTavish, who enjoys helping me far too much. The castle supposedly being full despite having three empty bedrooms.”
Finn crosses his arms.
“You trapped us.”
“I guided you,” Maggie corrects.
“Same thing.”
“Not at all. A trap is malicious. I only ever wanted your happiness.”
I can’t stop myself from smiling.
“Why, Gran?”
Her expression softens.
“Because I watched both of you dying from loneliness on opposite sides of the village. You, Mary, too independent to let anyone close. And you, Finn, too buried beneath guilt to believe you deserved happiness.”
