and I planned to skip out within a forty-five-minute time frame while the entrées are served. Aware of our plan, the clan would ensure the fluidity of our dinner until we return. The time starts the second Leith gets up to make a toast.
As Leith arises, Ewan McFarland, who’s seated next to Big Brody, stands. Resembling a college professor, he runs a hand down his gray tweed suit.
“Da,” Erika speaks up, though her voice is more passive than usual. “Wit are ye doing?”
“Leith, I’ll be needing just a moment, son.” He holds up a glass of wine.
I hitch a breath—the audacity of it all.
“When I learned of my daughter’s accident, for the first time in my life, I reflected on my lifelong relationship with Brody Boy here. Over the years, our comradery has come deid natural to me.”
Between the two, Ewan is all smiles, while Leith’s father wears an indecipherable mask. With the subtle sound of Mia and Jake watching a cartoon on YouTube to my right, it’s hard to crack Ewan’s cryptic speech. Is he reassessing his friendship?
“Upon arriving this evening, I learned of the event Leith had planned. Now, I’ve not seen such a show of good faith, Brody-Boy, in ages. Ye’ve raised a future-centric son in a volatile country.”
“Heh, Da! We love this volatile country,” Erika snort laughs.
Ewan continues without acknowledging his daughter. “Leith, yer intentions saved me from the speech that I’d regrettably prepared for Nan and Brody Boy.”
Big Brody snarls at him. “So, ya changed yer mind about us associating, have ye?”
“Brody Boy, I was a pure mess until I arrived. Now, I’ve had a moment of enlightenment when Erika discussed the fellowship occurring tonight. Which I am to assume is on her behalf? As my daughter was the only person hurt during the incident.”
“I’m fine, Da!” Erika exclaims. “Big Brody nor Nan would ever let—”
“I am not finished,” he cuts in, rubbing thoughtfully at his jaw.
“Wit’s more to say? Ye’ll believe a frilly party has saved our relationship?” Big Brody’s hand sweeps across the room. “A party. Let me say this. I was yer friend when ye were still sooking yer mam’s tit!”
“Brody,” Nan sighs. “We’re in the presence of the wee weans.”
“So? A chat should’ve been between auld pals to voice their concerns. Or if ye want, I’ll share another scenario, Ewan. If I had any inkling that my bairns’ lives were in jeopardy, or Erika, a gathering wouldn’t save the man in my crosshairs. But a party! Heh, Leith where are the feckin’ balloons?”
My gaze vaults between the two older gentlemen. When Ewan opens his mouth again, he’s not addressing his daughter or his oldest friend. I roll my eyes. This asshole.
Nan sits forward, softly cutting into his monologue. “Ewan, ye’ve a right to be livid regarding the events surrounding Erika being shot. As ye can see, Big Brody’s torn up about it himself. We’ve tried to address the matter with ye—”
Erika huffs. “All I need is a few weeks of physical therapy, Da. ‘Twas an exit wound, missed my liver and other vital organs. McFarland and MacKenzie clans are invincible.” She lifts her glass of lemon water. I start to lift my wine as a show of support.
Her attempt falls on deaf ears. Nan glares up at a still standing Ewan. A searing red flush burns across her cheeks as she scoffs. “To tell us that ye mean—”
“I considered it, yeah,” he replies, flatly.
“Och, ye meant to part ties? But now yer senses have returned!”
“Wheesht, Nan!” Big Brody commands firmly. “As for ye, Ewan, I dinna appreciate this, mate or nae! We’ve trusted each other all our lives. While this is not a discussion I’ll be having before my bairn and his wee bairn, let me tell ye, I’ll be having words with ye tomorrow. Shove that look up yer arse.”
Ewan snubs him with a scoff. “Not possible. My plane is refueling as we speak.”
While they continue to argue, Leith leans in. “They’re cutting into the window we had prepared, Chevelle. Let’s go.”
On the opposite side of me, I caress Mia’s cheek and press a kiss to her forehead. I’m clasping Leith’s awaiting hand when Ewan states that the McFarlands and MacKenzies require a real union.
A marriage.
“C’mon, hen,” Leith quietly escorts me to a door with an exit leading onto the beach. The second we step into the salted air, Ewan makes a bold declaration. Erika will marry a MacKenzie. Not just any MacKenzie.
“Oh my, did Ewan say Little Brody?” My