Page 73 of Highlands Summer Wedding

CHAPTER 31

My alarm went off at 6 a.m. I rolled over and looked at Max, who was just beginning to stir.

I took in his drowsy eyes and mussed hair. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” he said, stretching as he wrapped an arm around me.

He pulled me toward him and scattered kisses across my face and down my shoulder until I giggled. I returned the gesture until we were both laughing.

“Ready for a wedding?” he asked, still holding me close.

“I’m ready for Angus and Caitlin’s wedding, anyway.”

We showered, grabbed our clothes—jeans for now, bridesmaid dress and tux for later—and hopped in the car.

We drove the now-familiar twisty, turny roads from Skye to Drumnadrochit, with the sun finally out for once.

We made it there in time to enjoy the breakfast Drew and Lindsay had set up. Warm scones with clotted cream and raspberry jam or lemon curd, ham and cheese croissants, fruit salad, tomatoes, square sausages, black pudding, and tattie scones. They’d set it up buffet style so guests could come downstairs and get what they wanted whenever they were ready.

We sat at a table, and a waiter brought us a fresh pot of Earl Grey. I looked through my lists and munched on a scone while Max sipped his tea.

Melissa and Colin breezed through the doorway and Melissa made a beeline toward us.

“Abby! You left without saying goodbye to anyone.” Her eyes twinkled mischievously. “We missed you after dinner. We all went out for drinks.”

“So much to do today,” I said.

But Melissa wasn’t going to let me get out of it that easily. “You needed your beauty sleep, right? And Max, you, too?”

He chuckled and raised a glass to Melissa.

Colin appeared at her elbow. “Shall we?” he said, nodding toward the buffet.

Melissa let herself be steered away, but not before shooting me one last delighted look over her shoulder.

Across the room, Lindsay was busy bringing out more sausages and fruit. Drew carried pots of tea and more juice.

Once I’d downed my tea, I kissed Max on the cheek and went upstairs to find Caitlin.

She and my mother were in a room on the second floor. Mom was a flurry of nerves, her suitcase open and clothes all over the bed. Caitlin sat calmly on the other bed in jeans and a flannel shirt.

“Mom, you can wear whatever you want to help Caitlin get ready,” I said, watching her hold up yet another shirt.

She huffed and tossed it on the bed. “But all of Angus’s family is here, and I want to make a good impression.”

“You made a great impression last night at the rehearsal. They know you know how to dress up and look good. It’s okay if you have a jeans-and-flannel morning.” I moved a pile of clothes and sat down on the bed. “And that’s why you have a wedding planner. Anything you need, I’ll run downstairs and get it. You can stay up here with Caitlin. The mother of the bride needs to keep her from being seen, which has the added advantage of making it an easy day for you to wear jeans and a flannel.” I waved a hand between me and Caitlin. “Just like your two daughters!”

Mom sighed. “You’re right. I just get so revved up.”

“Angus’s family is so nice and so laid back. You’ll love them all.” Caitlin smiled.

“I already do. I think I just have the jitters.”

“Where’s Dad?” I asked, realizing I hadn’t seen him yet.

“He met Colin’s father at an event the other day. He organized an outing to go watch Mr. MacGregor and the sheep dogs. I think it was a pretty large group—maybe 20 people.”

Caitlin grabbed a shirt and started folding it. “Great idea! So nice of Sandy to do that.”