Page 65 of Confessions of a Highland Assassin

Ava thought her heart would burst with happiness when she saw the way Boyd hugged him back. There was a true kinship and understanding between the two most important men in her life.

It was all worth it.

“I’m so happy for ye, Ava,” Sophie said with tears in her eyes as she held onto Neil, acting as his support. She was wearing a light pink dress of silk with her strawberry blond hair hanging loose down her back. Her parents had warmed to Ava since it became known that she was marrying the laird. They sent her their blessings along with a promise that Sophie would continue to look after Neil.

“Thank ye so much for looking after him,” Ava thanked her. “Do ye have everything ye need at the cottage? Are there enough herbs? Do ye need any more food or money?” she fired her questions at them.

“Dinnae fash, Ava. Yer husband has seen tae everything,” Sophie said light-heartedly.

“It’s time ye let go and focus on yersel’,” Neil interjected. “I’ve been holding ye back for far tae long. This is yer time now, Ava. I have everything I need, and Sophie as well as Skye have been looking after me. I’ll be fine, Ava…” he smiled warmly at her. “Go and live yer life without me being a burden. I may be ill, but I’m a grown man now.”

Ava could feel the tears welling up in her eyes as she threw her arms around her brother and hugged him tightly. “Ye were never holding me back, Neil. I will always be here for ye. Never say yer a burden because it’s nae true. I love ye so much.”

He hugged her back before gently pushing her back toward Boyd. “That’s where ye belong now,” he winked at her.

“Come Neil, we’re holding up the rest of the guests that want to give the bride and groom their best wishes,” she smiled at the happy couple before leading Neil down the aisle.

They were about to leave the chapel when someone coughed from the back pew. Boyd and Ava looked up to see Callum Steward standing in the shadows—his stocky build well hidden behind a stone statue of an angel.

He looked around before gingerly approaching the couple. “Boyd,” he nodded a greeting at them both. “Lady Cameron.”

Ava felt a strange sensation flutter in her stomach at the mention of her new name. She was a brand-new person with a brand-new tittle, and a brand-new life to go along with it. It was hard to wrap her head around just how quickly her life had changed. There was not a storm cloud in sight on her wedding day. However, since all they had been through, Ava thought it was high time to let go of her fear of storms.

Callum’s cream cotton shirt was neatly tucked into his bright red kilt with his round belly hanging over the belt. It was obvious that he’d cleaned up for the occasion. “I hope my presence here is nae a bother tae the two of ye,” he apologized. “I was nae invited, but I thought the way we left things when we last spoke needed tae be addressed. I didnae welcome ye tae the family.”

“Ye are most welcome, Callum, as long as ye come in peace…” Boyd added carefully.

Callum had called a truce between the two clans and had visited Boyd at the castle to clear up the matters. He understood that Tavish was behind the disappearances and that Boyd had nothing to do with any of it. He’d had a hard time warming to the fact that Boyd was his nephew but he came around to the idea once Boyd had clarified that he had no plans to claim his title or position as an heir to Clan Steward.

“I wanted tae come an’ give ye both me best wishes,” he reached into his brown leather belt and retrieved a very old, crumpled letter. The paper was yellow from age and frayed around the edges. “After everything came tae light, I had a mind tae go through my brother’s things,” he paused awkwardly. “That is… yer father’s things. I found this letter between the pages of an old Shakespeare book. I thought it might bring ye some peace,” he handed the letter to Boyd. “It was more confirmation that I needed.”

Boyd accepted the letter and looked at his mother’s name scrawled in black ink across the front. Caitir Cameron.

“May it bring ye all the closure ye need, with my blessing,” Callum said before turning and walking out into sunlight.

Ava looked at Boyd as he turned the letter over in his hand. “Why dae ye nae open it now? The guests can wait a few more minutes,” she said gently and gave his arm a reassuring squeeze.

Boyd took a deep breath and opened the letter, the old parchment almost falling into pieces in his hands.

My dearest Caitir.

I’m overjoyed tae hear of the news. I’ve always wanted a son. And even though I cannae publicly call him mine, he will always be my son. I ken that putting this in writing goes against what we said must happen, but I’m just so overjoyed that ye and I created life together.

I hope he grows up tae be a fierce and strong warrior. But above that, I hope he has yer kind heart and capacity for forgiveness.

In all my life, I never thought I’d be as lucky tae fall in love with someone as kind and caring as ye, my lovely Caitir. Ye are the most generous, loyal, and forgiving woman on the face of God’s green earth. With ye as a mother, Boyd will be blessed and live a happy life.

I was overjoyed when ye said Tavish had allowed ye tae choose his name, and ye picked the one my own father had. Look after our Boyd.

Ye may never find this letter as I dinnae ken if I’ll risk sending it now, but ken that I will always love ye and our son.

Yers forever, Malcolm Steward.

Boyd folded the letter and slipped it into his belt along with the envelope.

“Och, my darling,” Ava breathed. “Yer parents loved ye so much, even though ye faced so many hardships, yer father acknowledged that ye were his.”

Ava saw how Boyd fought back the tears that were threatening to come as he kissed her on the head. “Today is the happiest day of my life, Ava. Let’s nae keep the guests waiting any longer. I just hope that my mother is smiling down on us now, and that she kens how much my father loved her.”