Ozlander

by Samantha Liddell

  I did have an image in my head of what the gardens would look like though, of course they would be just like Drummond Gardens, where Claire and Jamie bumped into Black Jack Randell in Paris. Oh, I wonder if we will bump into Clive, our very own Black Jack Randell, I thought as my mind wandered off into Outlander world. I could just imagine the gardens here would have lots of formal terraces, parterres, statues, urns and fountains along with neatly trimmed low box hedges with all different coloured roses growing proudly. Stone steps that lead you to another level of the garden to a gravel path surrounded by a border of magnificent Herbaceous and Fuchsia bushes. Trees all designed in a geometric fashion to please the eye.

  Anyway my imagination was getting the better of me. I would have to wait until after breakfast before I could explore the gardens in reality and see if my predictions on this garden here were correct and if it would measure up to Drummond Castle gardens.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Let the Breakfast Adventures Begin

  Scott and I reached the restaurant at 8am on the dot. Ready for a nice cooked breakfast. We decided to eat breakfast first before coming clean to Jill. That way if we got kicked out of our very first ‘Outlander’ Convention at least we were doing so on a full stomach and a free breakfast. Now we just had to work out who Jill was. This proved to be a relatively easy task thanks to convention protocols of wearing name tags. Although we did have to check out half the other guests or should I say obsessed fans chests to read their name tags before reaching Jill.

  Jill was a hard-looking woman, with hard features, she would have been better placed at a heavy metal concert not the host of an ‘Outlander’ convention. She wore a black Outlander t-shirt with of course the one and only Jamie Fraser on it. Black jeans and black lace-up ankle boots and long dangly green dragonfly earrings. She had a cross over the body handbag on, which caught my eye, I rather like it. The only thing on her I actually liked, that and of course the Jamie Fraser Shirt. Her long dark hair was down and oily, It could have done with a wash, it reminded me of my old mate the surfer guy that I was stuck next to on the Bruce highway the day I had decided to go to Scotland he too could have done with a wash with my imaginary shampoo I was promoting in my car.

  Jill’s face looked dry and wrinkly, she looked older than she really was, I thought maybe it was the effect of too many Whiskey drinking nights out and smoking 12 packets of cigarettes a day. Ok, now I'm being mean and a tad judgemental, and assuming things without any real hard facts. I needed to stop doing that I thought to myself.

  I was holding Scott's hand as we approached Jill. Scott leads the way like any gentleman should, especially a Scottish gentleman anyway. “Aye you must be Jill,” Scott said.

  Jill looked at him and smiled the warmest smile, “Aye that’s correct.” Jill mocked back in a soft sweet voice. See just goes to show, never judge a book by its cover. Now, of course, we had no idea what our names were meant to be, plus we were planning on coming clean but first, we needed breakfast.

  “Well it's very nice to meet you, we might just go grab some food.” We headed off to the buffet. Leaving Jill confused as to why we didn't introduce ourselves.

  “We didn't really think that one through, did we, Scott?” I said.

  “No, not at all.” He replied.

  “Anyway, let's just get some food into our bellies then we will explain the whole situation to Jill.”

  “Aye let's do that.” I replied in the same mocking tone as Jill had used. Scott did use the word Aye, I lot he was Scottish after all, and I didn't mind it one little bit. In fact, it added to Scott’s charm just that little bit more.

  “Are you making my fun of me Letticia also with my Aye’s?” Scott asked,

  “I most certainly am.”

  “Aye well once a Scot always a Scot, better get used to it.”

  “Oh I’m used to it alright, and I wouldn't want it any other way.” I replied.

  “Aye, well, I smell Bacon and eggs that need to be in my belly.” Scott said.

  I continued to Mock, “Aye I smell coffee, what do they say again, oh that’s right, coffee always and forever.” I replied with a smirk.

  “Letticia, always and forever, don’t you mean?” Scott replied.

  “Oh, very smooth Scott very Smooth.” I said.

  “Once a Scot always a Scott Letticia, I can't help but be Smooth.”

  We filled up our plates to the brim. We were in need of food and we had a hot cup of coffee in our other hand also which we were in need of even more. We found a table towards the back of the restaurant. As we placed out plates down onto the table with our cup of coffee and pulled our seats out to sit down, my mouth started to water. I was very much looking forward to tucking in to a hot meal, but our bottoms had not even touched the seats when we heard someone calling out “Daniel, Sally!” we didn't look as of course they were not our names and we were both too fixated on our meals, until the voice continued but this time she called out Jamie and Claire, now these were not our names either but for some reason we both reacted and turned around to see Jill, waving at us laughing.

  She yelled out “VIP’s do not sit at the back, come eat with us.”

  Scott gave a little groan under his breath. “We have been summoned,” Scott said, I had to control my increased saliva flow that my mouth was producing in its state of hunger and follow Scott to the VIP table. There were two seats left at the VIP table, Scott and I were obviously the last two VIP’s to arrive for breakfast. I looked around at the other VIP’s sitting amongst us and didn’t have a clue who any of them were and what classed them as VIP’s. To me a VIP at an Outlander convention would be the likes of the ‘Outlander’ cast, Diana herself, and of course the caterers from the film set, which was indeed Scott and I. So really we were the only True VIP’s here.

  Not even Daniel and Sally who I guess were the true Jamie and Claire impersonators would be classed as a VIP in my mind. Oh dear, what is going on with me? I am becoming very judgemental I thought to myself. Scott tucked into his breakfast at full speed, he was a Scot on a mission. A mission to full his belly before we got kicked out for impersonating impersonators.

  Jill spoke first. “It’s lovely to finally meet you two. We are all very much looking forward to watching your show.”

  Reality just hit me at the point of mid coffee swallowing. I had to control the coffee that was halfway down my throat to ensure it continues going in that directions as I felt the sensation to cough it back up, as I choked with nerves when I heard the word show. I couldn't control the cough it was coming there was no going back. I shut my mouth tight in the hope the cough wouldn't break open my lips seal and spray coffee around onto all the VIP’s. My eyes started to pop with pressure, it was too late I grabbed the nearest napkin and covered my mouth with it to catch the coffee spray. I was making such a scene in front of all these VIP strangers, they were all staring at me in concern, unlike Scott who gave me a quick pat on the back and said “Aye, She’ll be right.” Obviously, Scott was used to my embarrassing scenes now unlike these people we had only just met.

  After I had regathered my composure and the coffee episode was over and all the VIPS had remained dry. Both our meals had been eaten and our bellies were full it was time to tell Jill the truth. I whispered into Scott's ear, “we could always just make a run for it.” I suggested. But Scott being Scott and the true gentleman he was, had to do the right thing. Although it didn’t stop him taking a free room in the Manor house hotel last night did it, I thought.

  Scott started to speak, he cleared his throat with a little cough. “Jill do you mind if Letticia and I have a word with you in private, we have something rather important and urgent to tell you.”

  Jill looked worried, her hard face frowned with concern. But her words came out softly. “Yes, of cause by all means. Let's go out into the foyer.” she said. We followed her like two little naughty school children again. This feeling was becoming rather familiar I thought.

  The Foyer
of the restaurant was surrounded with red sandstone walls and equally impressive marble floors that looked newly polished. Over in the corner stood a log fire, which thankfully was not lit this morning as there was no real need for it in this Cairns heat, plus with the outfits both Scott and I have found ourselves in along with the fire roaring we would have been roasting like a good old Scottish Sunday Roast after church. You know one of those roasts where all your family and friends come over after church on a cold wintery Scottish day and a big roast is put in the middle of the table along with roast vegetables and gravy and everyone just helps themselves as they talk and laugh amongst each other.

  I know these sorts of roasts do indeed exist thanks to the lovely Mrs. Wilson back in Scotland. Oh, she could cook one amazing roast that's for sure. Now I wasn't too sure how long I had been in roast land for and not focused in reality, but as I started to time travel back to the present, I noticed I had missed half the confession and a solution was now being made which involved me taking the lead. As I caught up with Jill and Scott’s conversation, I came to the conclusion that I should have really been present for this whole conversation and maybe, just maybe I would not find myself in this situation I was in now which involved, at least no impersonating acts but rather Scott and I up on stage talking about our Scotland adventure. By the looks of it Jill found this whole dilemma rather amusing. Looks like we would not be getting kicked out after all. But now we had to work out what we would say.

  “Do we plan or do we just go with it and talk?” I asked Scott.

  Scott said what I wanted him to say. “Aye let’s just go with it Sassenach. Everything is up in that hard head of yours it will all come back to you once you are up on stage, plus we are up there together, we can do anything when we are together.” He most certainly was not wrong about that I thought.

  ‘Right let's call it our Scottlander adventure. You could get a bit of free marketing for your catering company at the same time” I said jokingly.

  “Aye now ya talking Letticia, You are starting to get the business mind happening.”

  “Scott there is a time for business and a time for pleasure. You had your business fun back in Bibroohra and we are now in pleasure mode,” I told Scott. As we now somehow found ourselves at an Outlander convention in Cairns at an aesthetically pleasing Manor House Hotel at that. This was all pleasure, but I would allow Scott to add a little business for good measure when he talks about Scottlander catering up on stage but that was that no more after that.

  As Jill hugged us both and wished us luck on our performance that was scheduled for after lunch, she headed back off to her table of VIP people, Scott and I were left in the foyer standing next to a large knight statues which I had not noticed before.

  “Hey Scott,” I said pointing to the Knight. “What do you call a candle in Armor?”

  Scott laughed a sort of ‘Oh dear god laugh.’ “I don't know Letticia, what do you call a candle in Armor?”

  “A knight Light.” I said.

  Scott laughed and said “Oh Dougal would be very proud of you Letticia, He has taught you well.” Dougal was the second in charge cook back at Scottlanders Kitchen and a right good old joke teller at that. I did miss all the kitchen crew but hopefully we would be seeing them soon when they come over to cook on set at Bibroohra.

  “Hey Letticia, why were the Middle Ages called the dark ages?”

  I didn't realise this was actually a joke, I thought Scott was just asking me a question. I had moved on from my joke and had been thinking about the Scottlander Crew back in Scotland. Staying focused is not my strong point. “Oh, I don't know” I answered confused at the question.

  “Because there were too many Knights.” Scott gave out a big belly laugh.

  I was confused at first thinking he meant too many nights. “Too many nights? I don't get it,” I replied.

  Scott looked insulted then pointed to the Knight standing in the corner who had witnessed the whole thing. Scott repeated it slowly this time, “Because there were too many Knights!”

  “Oh, it’s a joke. Ok I get it now you meant knight not night,” I laughed, “Yeah good one Scott.”

  Scott looked even more insulted, but I had moved on to the next thing now and that was the smell of fresh coffee being put out. I heard Scott say jokingly under his breath, “Good thing we are not doing a stand-up comedy act then isn't it. I didn't react I had coffee on the brain. I also was wondering where the real Daniel and Sally were, the real impersonators had not shown up to blow our cover, although our cover was already blown through sheer honesty so now if or when they show up no drama will need to unfold. That's a first, I thought to myself.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Let the Garden Adventures Begin

  After our second cup of coffee. Scott and I finally decided to go explore the gardens of this magnificent 1700’s Manor house hotel before the convention was set to officially start at 10am with a Welcome ceremony.

  We walked towards the gardens hand and hand. I enjoyed holding Scots hand, there was something magical about it that I had never felt in the past while holding other ex-partners hands. I didn't have that many ex-partners believe me, but enough to be able to form a contrasting opinion. When my hand had interlocked with my ex past partners it always felt cold, and sterile, as if it was just something to do while walking beside your partner with both our hands swinging past each other, so hey why not hold each other’s cold rough hands because is that not what you are meant to do?

  But with Scott, it was somewhat different. Our hands were like magnets towards each other. Whenever there was an opportunity to hold hands our hands just automatically found one another. Sometimes without us even knowing we would find ourselves hand in hand, there was a powerful force of nature between the two of us that neither of us could understand or control. We needed each other, we belonged to each other, we loved each other, Scott and I were truly born for each other, and it did in fact take a few chapters which felt more like books of my life to find him. But I did and it wasn't until I left my comfort zone that Scott appeared in my life’s book.

  We just got each other from the very start. I often wondered where I would be if I didn't take that flight Scott was on that day that my girls and I flew to Scotland. We had almost missed the flight that day, but the stars aligned and everything came together positively well and because of that day I now find myself in Cairns with Scott about to go up on stage at an ‘Outlander’ convention and retell my whole Scotland story but before that happens I needed to go out into the garden and into nature to re-centre myself and my thoughts.

  I had always been a confident person. Could talk to anyone face to face, but give me a microphone, put me on a stage with a crowd, well then that was just a whole different ball game which I didn't enjoy or like. Come to think of it, I have never actually had the opportunity to be on stage with a microphone and a crowd of people, but I just know that’s not me and I would not like it. This situation was forcing me out of my comfort zone.

  I start to feel myself sweat, my breathing started to become fast and deep until luckily my focus shifted as I caught sight of some standing stones which were obviously put here for the weekend of the convention, but my mind forgot about public speaking and my temperature and my breathing started to come back to normal. I turned to Scott and said “should we give it a go? Let’s try to time travel through the stones back to 1743.”

  Scott laughed but agreed at the same time. This is just the reason I loved him. He's up for any of my crazy ideas. We walked over to the stones, Well Scott walked over to the stone that were placed in the garden to resemble the Standing stones I, on the other hand, ran over like an over-excited child. I didn't even wait for Scott before placing my hands upon the stones, what if it actually worked and I did indeed time travel into the past? Poor Scott would have been left here in the present having seen his one true love disappear right in front of his eyes without even a goodbye.

  I really don’t think when I’m
over-excited, but luckily, I was still in the present with Scott as for some reason the standing stones did not want to take me through them. I was a bit disappointed but at the same time thankful not to have lost Scott. Once Scott caught up to me and was now at the stones himself after witnessing my attempt to time travel Scott said, “How odd, the stones rejected you Letticia, that's because you are mine and I am yours nothing can separate us.” And with that Scott placed a kiss upon my cheek. With no time travel in the near future, Scott and I settled for a photo of each of us on either side of one of the stones, portraying Jamie and Claire. We stood there with our hands upon the stones pretending to try and to get back to one another.

  We got a lovely old lady who was walking past at that moment to take a photo of us. She obviously was an Outlander fan and was here for the convention also as she insisted I take a photo of her now trying to get through the stones to my Scott. This attracted a crowd of other female fans lining up to get their photos standing up against the stones using my Scott as their Jamie and I had been demoted to photographer, sidelined as each lady got there few seconds of ‘Outlander’ Pleasure.

  Come to think about it we really should have started charging after all we had no money since our wallets were stolen but instead we continued from the goodness of our hearts, plus I feel Scott was really enjoying all the attention he was receiving from all the ladies. As I stood there clicking away taking photos I actually got to stop and capture Scott’s true beauty through a lens, not just his outer beauty which was in fact hard not to see every day that my eyes were on him, but his inner beauty. He was Kind, Thoughtful and Happy. He loved to see other people happy, He really was one of the most unselfish people I knew, and he had time for anybody no matter who you were.