“I’m not sure Da wants to leave his bees,” Malcolm says.
“He could still have hives here and add some at his new place,” Ailsa suggests.
“Neither of you would want to live here?” I ask.
“I don’t think so,” Ailsa answers. “My husband and I are already settled and love our home, and Isla prefers something more modern.”
“How about we let Makenna actually come into the house?” Isla suggests. She leads us into the living room then calls out to their parents. “Malcolm and Makenna are here!”
A moment later, a man who looks like an older, and surprisingly taller, version of Malcolm steps into the room, followed by the woman I already know to be his mother. Malcolm makes introductions, and his father gives me averyfirm handshake, followed by averyfirm hug from his mom. Malcolm leans in and kisses his mother’s cheek. He’s so sweet. He really loves his family.
“How are you feeling, dear? Recovering well?” Mrs. Robertson takes a seat and motions for the rest of us to, as well.
“Very well. I’m feeling more like normal, thankfully.”
“Coming on holiday and having to have emergency surgery. How awful,” Isla says.
Malcolm, who is sitting pressed up against me on the couch, puts an arm around my shoulders. “It was a pitiful situation but look at her now.”
Pleasedon’tlook at me now.
Light chuckles fill the room as everyone looks my way. I have no idea what’s happening with my face. Malcolm and I are connected all the way from my calf to my opposite shoulder.Why is he sitting so close, and why did he put his arm around me? I mean, I love it, but … he’s acting like we’re together. Maybe he’s just affectionate and doesn’t think anything about it. I did just watch him kiss his mom and sisters. And maybe after this morning, he feelssuperat ease with me.
I definitely feel at ease with him. But I also feel other things with him. Things I’m sure he doesn’t feel about me. But I’ll soak in his nearness while I can. Apart from the fact that I might be letting him ruin other men for me, I’m no dummy.
“I don’t know,” I say. “I’m having to stay with my doctor to be doing so well, I’m not sure what that says about me.”
Why do I make weird jokes when I’m feeling overly anxious?
Thankfully everyone laughs.
“Oh, if you’re doing well staying with Malcolm, it’s not because he’s a doctor,” Ailsa says with a grin.
Malcolm leans in as if he’s speaking just to me, but it’s for the entire room. “Ignore Ailsa. She was born with some sort of disconnect between her brain and her mouth.”
I chuckle.
“Why are you always so rude, Malcolm?”
“He’s not, and you’re talking too much,” Isla says to Ailsa.
I turn toward Mr. Robertson. “Malcolm told me about your bees.”
Mr. Robertson smiles, clearly excited to talk about his hobby. “It all started when we found bees in the kitchen wall. Ilearned all I could about them, relocated the hive into a box and before I knew it, I had me twenty boxes.”
“Oh wow. Do you harvest the honey?”
“We do. I actually sell it in local markets. We turned Malcolm’s old room into a bottling room.”
“Why it had to bemyold room, I’ll never know,” Malcolm said in jest.
“I’m sorry we disturbed your old Caley Thistle poster, football trophy, and box of trash,” his dad said with a small, crooked grin. Clearly, they’d had this conversation before.
Malcolm moved his arm. I thought he was simply bringing it back to his side, but as his hand passed behind my head, he seemed to feel my hair. He jerked his hand back to himself, and sat stock still, as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just done.
I can’t quite believe it either.
28
