“Yes,” her mam answers. “I’d feel much better if you had someone who’s there for you.”
“You don’t even know Malcolm.” Makenna looks at me and shrugs, as if to saynae offence.
“I know enough to know he’s a good man.”
Makenna looks like she’s trying to formulate her next argument, but her mam speaks again.
“Could you see and do enough of what you were planning to if you stayed in Inverness?”
“I … yes, I suppose so.”
“Please stay with him.”
Makenna turns to look at me, giving her mother a view ofmy ceiling. “I’m so sorry about this.”
“There’s nae need for you to be sorry.” I put my hand on Makenna’s where it rests on her leg. “I said you were welcome here as long as you need, and I meant it.”
“You’re too nice. You didn’t sign up for all this when you sat down at my table in the pub.”
I shrug. “Maybe not, but I’m glad to know you, Makenna, and I’m glad you’re here.”
“See.” Ms. Fore’s voice startles me. “It’ll be great.”
17
Makenna
“Doyouownakilt?”
“I do. Do you?”
I smile across the table at Malcolm. We’re sitting in a café near his house, waiting for our food. Right as we’d ended the call with my mom, my stomach decided to embarrass me again, rumbling so loudly that Malcolm immediately stood, offered me his hand, and said we were walking to lunch.
I very much enjoy being able to walk places. I don’t love driving. I mean, it’s fine if you’ve got the right music going, but in general, walking is much more pleasant, for short distances, anyway. I don’t want to have to walk a 5k to eat.
Also, the weather is perfect, so this is all easy for me to say. I might be living for the car if this were winter.
“I had a plaid skirt in middle school, but that’s the closest I’ve gotten to owning a kilt.”
Malcolm grinned. “I’m sure you looked incredibly Scottish when you wore it.”
“I do have some Scottish heritage, so maybe I did.” I shrug and smile. “Do you ever wear your kilt?”
“Not often, but aye, I do. I wear it to weddings. Any formal event really. I’ll wear it to the fundraising gala the hospital is having next weekend.”
“Oh? When is it? Maybe I’ll get to see you wear it before I leave.”
“Is a man in a kilt some kind of fantasy for you?” Malcolm almost looks like he regrets saying it.
“Well, it’s not something I’m against.” I smile and nod my thanks to the server who sets our food in front of us.
“The gala isn’t this Saturday, but the next.”
“I’ll leave to go home the next day. So I can see you, if you’re really okay with me staying.”
“I am. We’ll have fun. I’ll have to work some of course, but you were planning to solo adventure anyway, so maybe it will be the best of both worlds?”
“I think so. Thank you.”
