Holt nodded and left the kitchen where he and Ian had been sitting, watching the women, and offering commentary.
As soon as he left the room, Caitlin and Lara grabbed towels to wipe their hands and gathered up Ian with a look. They arrived in the front foyer just as Holt opened the door, then stiffened.
“I heard there’s a bachelor pub crawl tonight. I didn’t want to miss it.” Doc Coates and Alice Nash stood on the front porch. A limo driver set their luggage behind them, doffed his cap and left.
Holt grinned and pulled his father into a hug. “I can’t believe you’re here. You said you couldn’t get away from your practice. Or your bakery,” he added as he hugged Alice.
“We lied. We couldn’t miss this!” Alice reached for Holt’s hand. “I’m thrilled to be here.”
Holt’s father put an arm around Alice’s shoulders. “We both are.”
Caitlin watched their reunion with tears stinging her eyes, then caught Holt’s gaze. “Surprise!”
Holt stepped back to let the older couple enter the house, then gathered her up in his arms. “It’s the best surprise,” he whispered in Caitlin’s ear. “Thank you.”
The next day, Holt surprised her by coming downstairs wearing the full Scottish ceremonial outfit of kilt in a Black Watch plaid, short jacket and all the accessories. Ian was dressed similarly in one of the family tartans. Caitlin and Lara eyed their men, then glanced at each other and smiled. Ian had worked a miracle convincing Holt to wear a kilt, and the deep Black Watch colors of the rented outfit suited him. He might have chosen something different if there’d been time to have something made, but Caitlin approved. He wore it very well and looked even more handsome than she’d imagined he might in something that, if he wore it the traditional way, must make him uncomfortable. It wasn’t easy, but she pulled her imagination away from the image that thought evoked. Instead, she glanced down at herself. Her simple tea-length dress of cream silk with pearl buttons down the front would stand out beautifully in pictures against his deeper colors.
“You two make a gorgeous couple,” Lara exclaimed.
Caitlin could feel the warmth of a blush heating her face as Holt’s gaze raked over her, approval and desire in his eyes.
“Then let’s not waste it,” Holt said. “Let’s get married.”
Caitlin laughed and took the arm he proffered. “Aye. Let’s!”
The whole family went to the registrar for the official ceremony tying the knot. Caitlin waited on the side wall at the back of the room where she could see everyone. Amy carried a basket toward the front, handing flowers to people sitting along both sides of the center aisle, many their guests, and some waiting for other ceremonies. Normally effusive, she fulfilled her role as flower girl with more solemnity than Caitlin thought she would be able to manage. The flower recipients reacted with smiles and murmured thanks, clearly pleased with Amy’s gift. When she reached the front, she stood in line with her mother and Alice. Alex went next with the wedding rings on a deep rose-pink, silk pillow, looking proud, but also slightly embarrassed every time he noticed a lass near his age watching him. When he reached the front, he stood with his father and Holt, clutching the small pillow with its simple gold bands on top in both hands.
Caitlin met Holt’s smoldering gaze. How would she make it up the aisle at a sedate walk when all she wanted to do was run into his arms? But she had to wait.
Caitlin hadn’t told Holt she had asked Doc Coates to do the honors and give her away. It surprised her that he hadn’t realized his father was missing, since Alice stood beside Lara opposite Holt and Ian, but perhaps Holt thought he was on a quick trip to the men’s room. He was, though not for the usual reason. She loved Holt’s reaction when his father entered the room also dressed in a Black Watch plaid kilt Ian had arranged and took up his position beside her.
Holt’s jaw dropped, and his gaze kept shifting between her and his father. His color was high, and the glow in his eyes shone with love.
She took his father’s arm. He lifted her hand and kissed the back, then gave her a proud smile. They made their way slowly up the aisle to where Holt and Ian stood in front of the registrar.
A glimmer of tears also sheened Jim Coates’ eyes when he kissed her cheek and gave her hand into his son’s keeping. Holt gave his father a one-armed hug, then pulled Caitlin to his side. Still holding her hand, he leaned his mouth next to her ear and whispered, “Perfection.”
The civil ceremony was short, as Caitlin expected, since she’d watched the same registrar marry Ian and Lara nearly a year ago. But the ceremony was new to Holt. She kept her gaze on him rather than the registrar. Holt’s locked on her, as well, as he repeated the required legal declarations, then listened to hers. Alex gave the rings to his father, and Ian provided hers to Holt and Holt’s to her for the exchange.
As Holt slipped the gold ring on her finger, he murmured, “Ye are mine, and I am yours.” He vowed, softly but with fervor, “Forever.”
“Forever,” she repeated the only vow that mattered, slid his ring on his hand. With the possible exception of Holt’s father, if anyone else heard their declaration, they would not understand the significance of that one word. But to Holt, and to her, with his family history, it meant everything.
Once the registrar declared them wed, Holt wasted no time pulling her against him for a searing kiss that raised a cheer from everyone watching, many of whom were waving the flowers Amy had provided. Caitlin kissed him back, blushed, and smiled at their audience as her new father-in-law, Lara, and Alice began taking pictures.
After signing the required marriage schedule and taking a few more pictures inside the ceremony room, they moved outside to a nearby park to take more photos among the trees and flowers, and to give their guests time to reach Cairn Dubh before them.
Finally, Caitlin called a halt, and they headed for the reception. Lara preceded her to the new wing and made her pause out of sight of the great hall’s double-door opening, but Caitlin sneaked peeks around the edge of the doors into the large chamber. It was a beautiful space, filled with sunshine on this early spring afternoon. Rainbows glinted on the white walls from the sun shining through the crystal chandeliers, and the gilt edging glowed on the moldings at the top of the walls and the painted copies of medieval illuminations of fanciful beasts and flowers that covered the ceiling.
The reception area boasted an open bar and a dance floor for theceilidhto follow the meal. Tables decorated with ribbons and flowers filled the rest of the expansive space. A harpist played, the music as bright and delightful as their surroundings. Servers stood ready to deliver the catered dinner from the secondary kitchen and butler’s pantry off of the great hall, and a photographer stood by to take candid shots of the rest of the evening.
Caitlin smiled as Amy took her seat at the head table. The flower girl had been a highlight of the ceremony. Alex joined her, relief to be done with his part in the wedding evident in his suddenly relaxed posture as he slumped into his seat, pulled the silk pillow from his sporran and tossed it to his sister. Lara frowned at Alex, and he straightened up in his seat, then she turned to Caitlin and shrugged.
Caitlin grinned as Holt and Ian joined them. It was time to get the party started. Lara and Ian made their entrance first, a signal that the bride and groom had truly arrived. Caitlin expected to follow close behind them, but Holt held her back, letting his father and Alice precede them. Once all four had reached the long head table, Holt held up her hand. “Ready?”
“Aye, for hours,” Caitlin told him and pulled him forward with a laugh. That drew attention to them, so they savored their walk up the center aisle as they paused to greet guests who reached out to them along the way.
During the reception, Holt met Caitlin’s friends and withstood friendly ribbing about not being able to find a suitable American girl.
