“I want to own my own business. It’s because of this, that my father first accused me of betraying him. He didn’t think that I was capable of having a business on my own, and he didn’t like that I snuck behind his back. The only reason was because I needed a place of my own. I needed to prove myself. I was sick of being under his thumb and doing everything that my family told me to. I had to show them that I was capable of doing things on my own.”
“Of course, love. I know you are. And I’m so bloody proud of you. So you want to own your shop, that’s easily sorted. You can even stay in Inverness centre, now that I know your family won’t hurt you. We’re not going to compromise on a guard, though.” I give her a stern look.
“Aye,” she says, readily agreeing. “I wouldn’t want to own a shop myself without a guard outside. I bloody well need it.”
I’ll make sure that she stays safe, even if I have to take a post myself outside her shop. We’ll make it happen. She’s bloody talented, and I want to see her fulfill her dreams.
“What else?”
“I want children,” she says. “Or at least a child.”
I nod. “Me as well.”
“I just… well, I want a chance to love a child. I want to raise him or her with as much love as I possibly can.” She holds her chin up and meets my gaze. “In short, Mac, what I want is an opportunity to… break the chain. You know?”
I hold her hand and kiss her fingertips. “Ah, lassie. Of course, love. I do know.” I feel my own voice grow a little thoughtful. I’ve known for a while there’s no love lost between my parents. I’d like a chance to break the chain, too.
“It starts with us, Bryn.”
“Does it?” she asks, smiling.
“Aye, lass. We’re the ones that will break the chain. We’re the ones that start a new beginning.”
“Aye,” she says with a smile. “I’d like that.”
We pack our bags and head home. On the plane ride back, she pulls up a text on her phone.
“What the bloody hell is this, Mac? Oh my God!”
I look sharply at her phone, but only see texts.
“What is it?”
“Jesus, Mac, Fran caught her new husband with another woman on their wedding night.”
“Are you fuckin’ kidding me?”
She glares at the screen. “No.” She sighs. “She’s staying in Islan’s room. They had moved in together, you see, and she has no place to go.”
“What a fuckin’ wanker.”
Her eyes go even wider. “Seems Tate got involved.”
“Did he, now? Can’t say I’m surprised. He’s one of those overprotective types.”
She gives me a look I can’t decipher.
“What?”
“Oh, we don’t know anyone else like that, now, do we?”
I snort. “Well, you know. Not like him.”
Her brows shoot up to the sky. “Not like him? So if someone tried to hurt me…”
“That’s different.”
“How is it different?”
“Well… because you’re you,” I tell her. “I’d beat the crap out of anyone who disrespected you and kill anyone who threatened you.”
“Now, Mac,’ she says, flushing with pleasure, clearly pleased. “Not everything can be solved with fists, you know that.”
“Aye, lass, but I’d fuckin’ try, wouldn’t I?”
She laughs, reaches over, and grabs my face between her hands. She kisses my forehead fiercely. “And that’s only one of the very many things I love about you, Mac Cowen.”
I kiss her back. “Are we keeping track now?”
She giggles. “Nah.”
“Good, love,” I say, giving her another kiss. “Because I lost track long ago.”
She rests her head on my shoulder as we fly home. She reads her book, and I sling my arm around her shoulders. When we get home, we’ll have a right good wedding. Proper, for the sake of family. We’ll keep it simple and brief, so she doesn’t have to see her family for long.
“You should get some sleep,” I tell her, when her head bobs and she nearly passes out on my shoulder.
“Just one more chapter,” she says through her yawn.
“Alright, lass. One more chapter.”
I watch her read, snuggled up next to me, and marvel at the story we’re writing. I’m taking her home. We’ll write the next chapter, together.
Epilogue
Bryn
“No way,” Paisley says, whispering. “He did what?”
It’s three months after Fran’s wedding, and the girls and I are having a bit of a sleepover. Mac and I just announced we’re expecting, right before he headed back to Paris.
I’m nauseous and tired, so we decided it’s best if I stay home.
I didn’t want to wait to start our new life together, and the entire family rejoiced at our happy news.
“Oh, Bryn,” Flora said, giving me a tight embrace. “I can’t wait to see another wee bairn around the place.”
“And you two will make the most beautiful babies!” Fran said. The rest all laughed, and Mac leaned in and whispered in my ear, “And we had a good time trying, didn’t we then?”