Page 6 of Highland Stars
“Ivy. A bonnie name for a bonnie woman.” What am I doing? I know Fiona didny get to me this fast.
She smiles and shakes her head at me. “I could be married, you know.”
“You’re not wearing a ring. I checked.” Again … what am I doing? She’s obviously here on vacation. She’ll go home, and that will be that.
“I could be seriously dating someone.” She looks a bit like she could be sick. Though, her coloring is okay, and I don’t see any sweat.
“Are ye?” Not that I’m interested. I need to get back to my sister before this goes any further.
“No. But I’m also not in the place to. I need to go. It was apleasure meeting you, Malcolm.”
“The pleasure was mine, darlin’.”
Then she bursts into tears.
I watch as she runs out of the restaurant and consider going after her, until I see a woman at a table near the door jump up to follow her.
Some rather harsh and judgmental looks follow me as I make my way back to Fiona. The groan of my chair reverberates around the space as everyone silently stares.
“So maybe that wasn’t the place to start.” She takes a sip of her water.
“I wasn’t trying to start anything. I’m just friendly.”
“That’s true. Is that why you checked for a wedding ring?”
“Maybe because I had your voice in my head and look where it left me. Look where it left her!” I gesture out the window where the woman sits with her friend’s arm around her.
“She clearly has something going on; you can’t count that as trying and failing. Try again soon. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Alright, maybe I will.”
“Good. Also, you forgot my fork.”
I sigh.
“I’ll get it,” she says.
She leaves and makes it back without having crashed into anyone along the way.
“How’s Da doing?” she asks, flaking off a bite of fish. Ourfather broke his finger a month ago helping one of Ailsa’s heifers deliver a calf. Her husband is usually the one that sees to the birthing, if necessary, but he was out of town, and Ailsa called Da in a panic. Honestly, I’m surprised he even let me look at his finger. He’s not one for medical care. Thankfully, I’d been off work, so I took supplies and buddy-taped it, and he went back to work.
“Ach. You know Da. He didny slow down, but I think he’s fine now. I’m sure he’s not up to full strength, but he’d never let anyone know that.”
“True.” Fiona sips her drink. “You got anything excitin’ coming up?”
“I’ve got a gig tonight.”
“I can’t believe you’re still doing that.” My sisters all teased me mercilessly when I started playing in pubs. They said I was just doing it to get the lassies. While I denied it, they were a wee bit right at the time. Now, though, it’s turned into something I love, and often it’s the escape I need after rough times at the hospital.
“Everyone needs hobbies.”
She smiles, shaking her head. “It’s not fair you’re the only musically talented one in the family. What I wouldn’t give to just be able to sing.”
“Yacansing. Just do it when you’re around your enemies.”
5
Makenna
