Scottlander

by Samantha Liddell

  ‘Oh, what the hell!’ I took a bigger sip of wine, and before I knew it the confirm button had won. CONFIRMED: 3 tickets to Scotland, flying into Edinburgh, purchased for 1 weeks’ time. Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! What did I just do? No turning back now. My Jamie is somewhere out there and he will be found very soon, like it or not.

  The next week flew by with lots of goodbyes and gatherings, as well as sorting out visas and passports. Luckily, I was prepared and had already started this process months before, just in case. Paul and I had sat the girls down the night after the dinner at my parents and told them that we were off on an adventure, just the girls and Mummy. Daddy would stay at home, but he would talk to them every day. The girls were upset at first that Daddy wasn't coming along, but as soon as they heard they were going to be home schooled for the next six months and have no homework, they were all for it. I had organized some work with the girls’ teachers to help keep them up to date.

  I also had another plan in the works: yes, yet another plan. I had decided to hire my cousin, who lived in London, to be the girls’ nanny for the next six months. Her name was Sophie and she was my mum’s sister’s daughter. She was 22 years old, and trying to figure out what to do with her life after her one true love broke her heart a few weeks ago. Yes, I know, really, 22 years old and your heart is broken already. Get a grip girl, I felt like telling her. You have years on your side to meet your Jamie. Everyone needs a Jamie in their life. That was the advice that I had started to give out to people who needed to find their one true love - Jamie is the answer to all your problems. I did get some rather strange looks from people who had no idea who Jamie even was. Oh, well, they don’t know what they are missing out on, more Jamie’s for the rest of us.

  So, Sophie agreed on starting her newly appointed role as nanny to my children on the very first day we arrived. I had not seen Sophie since she was a child, maybe just 9 years old. I do hope she’s up for the task, and responsible enough to take on this role. Oh, well, as they say, ‘Time will tell.’ Still haven’t figured out who says that.

  Chapter Four

  The Journey Through The Rocks, Aka, The Flight Across One Huge Ocean!

  So, the departure at Brisbane airport went to plan. My parents were there holding hands in the oh so loving state that they were still in after fifty years of marriage, and Paul was there for one reason and one reason only, to say goodbye to his two children. We had hardly spoken a word to each other since we had the very hard conversation that needed to be had. He had however, helped with the children, and assured them how much fun they were going to have with their mum and cousin Sophie. They ended up believing him, and were over excited by the time we reached the airport.

  We were wearing shorts and singlets on this very hot thirty-sixdegree day in Australia, so I forgot to pack any warm clothes for myself into our carry-on baggage for our arrival through the rocks, I mean, in Scotland. Luckily the kids were prepared and had warm clothes to change into before departing the plane. First rookie mistake and we had not even left Australia yet.

  We didn’t realize how fast the time had gone by at the airport after checking in and grabbing coffees and juices, so before we knew it, our names were being called out over the speakers: Last call for Mrs. Letticia, Polly and Leah Little. Your flight has finished boarding, please make your presences known at gate twenty-three.

  “Oh crap, let’s go girls!” I called. There was no way in this world that I was going to miss this flight, the flight I had waited for, for the last few years. We gave each other hugs and kisses, and said our goodbyes. Paul hugged me, which was a surprise, and said in my

  ear,

  “Look after our girls. I will miss you all.” “Free pass for six months. Deal?” I said.

  “Deal,” he replied. “I know you Letticia, I will see you back here in six months.”

  Yet again somebody telling me how they know me and how I will be back in six months. Well, just for that, see you in seven months.

  As the three of us ran to our gate, it felt more like I was gliding; I felt all this weight disappearing from off my shoulders. It felt like layers of stress and frustration and sadness were being shredded off my body and dumped behind me as I glided off into the unknown. I felt like I had left piles of unwanted feelings and emotions in my wake. I could feel the sunlight beaming down on me as I ran towards this new direction, I could smell the smell of fresh air, a new beginning. At this very point I knew I was doing the right thing. Not just to find myself a Jamie, but to find myself – I had lost myself and I needed to find me again, not only for my sake, but for my children’s sake. This journey was more about me and my girls than finding a Jamie, if I was to be totally honest with myself.

  As the girls and I boarded the plane, we were greeted with a few hundred frustrated eyes. Eyes that belonged to annoyed people that resented the fact that we’d just added another twenty minutes on to their seventeen-hour non-stop journey. As we made our way down the aisle to row thirty-seven, I noticed that the plane was not too packed. ‘Great,’ I thought, ‘maybe we can get a few seats to ourselves and get some much-needed sleep during our journey to the other side.’

  We finally made it to row thirty-seven, where we were allocated seats four, five and six; lucky for us seat three was free, so we had the whole middle row to ourselves to spread out in.

  I looked over at the person sitting to the left of us, on his own in row thirty-seven, seat seven, with just an aisle separating him from the girls and I. I thought, ‘You poor man, you drew the short straw. Out of all the seats you could have got, you are seated next to a newlysingle mum and two children. Bring on the next seventeen or so hours!’

  I gave him a little, sympathetic smile, as if he knew what I was thinking. By the look he gave the three of us, I think we were on the same page.

  The girls took their seats and were amazed that they got their very own TV screen and dinner tray. As I said, it’s the small things in life for children, they don’t need big expensive toys to make them happy. Just give them a TV and dinner tray on the back of a seat and they are set. Proof that children do indeed live life in the moment.

  Before the plane had even taken off, a fight between my two children started to brew. Reality started to kick in. ‘What am I doing? This is crazy. I’m a single mum now bringing up two children on my own in a whole new country. Why the hell did nobody stop me? How could they just let me leave like that? Oh, that’s right, they knew I would be back in six months, if not before.’ That thought alone brought my confidence back, ‘I’ve got this. Me, Letticia Little, the woman that thrives in the face of a challenge.’ Just like the challenge that is presented in front of me at this very moment – to sort out a screaming match calmly between my two children.

  “Mummy, Mummy! Polly is using my headphone holes!” Leah yelled.

  “No, I’m not!’ Polly yelled back, ‘These are my holes. Your holes are on the arm of your chair!” I looked on the arm of Polly’s chair, but she had no headphone inputs. ‘Great,’ I thought, ‘just my luck, we get a dud chair missing the headphone input.’

  The girls and I took several moments fighting over the stupid headphones until the guy sitting over the aisle from us said, “Um, the headphone inputs are located on the left-hand-side of each chair. Her one is over on this side,” pointing to Polly’s input plug, then showing us where Leah’s one was located, and surprise, surprise, there it was, as plain as day, on the left-hand-side of her chair. Thank God, first argument solved, thanks to this random man.

  He reached over to help plug Leah’s headphone in, not seeing that I had done the same thing, resulting in his hand ending up on top of mine as we pushed the plug into the hole together. Gliding the plug to reach the end of the input, we both heard the click that meant it had arrived at its destination. It all happened so fast, I pulled my hand away as fast as he pulled his hand away. We both said sorry at the same time, feeling a bit embarrassed about what had happened between us two strangers. I tho
ught that he had better get used to this as he is stuck with us for the next seventeen hours. There is no window to put up to block the noise, or no Bruce Highway to drive along to lose us in minutes. He doesn’t get the same luxury that the young P-plater with his surf board tied to his roof had got. No, this stranger was stuck with us thirty-thousand feet up in the air, with a fair few hours ahead of him.

  “Thanks for your help,” I said, and put out my hand to shake his. “I’m Letticia.”

  As he took hold of my hand, I noticed what an amazing grip he had. He appeared to be of medium height and athletic. He had a welldefined frame that showed off the outline of muscle through his not tartan, but checked shirt. Obviously, he knew nothing about fashion, I must say, but nonetheless, this guy obviously worked out. He had blonde, almost golden hair, which was slicked back from his face with hair gel, lots of hair gel. He obviously took pride in his appearance.

  He looked at me with the most intense brown eyes, as if he was looking straight through me to my soul. He was, of course, not at all a Jamie, he resembled not one quality of the guy. He shook my hand and said, “Nice to meet you, I’m Scott.” I noticed the accent; a fullblown Scottish accent.

  “And a Scot aye?” I said.

  “Yes, how could you tell?” he replied with a twinkle in his eye.

  “Oh, just a lucky guess,” I said.

  I turned back to my children and helped them with their seat-belts in preparation for take-off. As we got up to speed along the runway, and the force of gravity pushed us back into our seats, a feeling rushed through me. ‘Oh my God, are we really doing this? There really is no turning back now.’ I had an image in my head of standing up and running down the aisle to the cock-pit, and demanding that the captain turn the plane back around as I have now changed my mind. This was very unlikely to happen; I have come too far to turn back now.

  Once the seat-belt signs went off, my Leah and Polly went straight to the toilet. I’d told them to go before we got on the plane, but they had refused, which had resulted in them suddenly getting full bladders as soon as the seat-belt sign went on and we hadn’t even left the ground yet. Let’s just say it was a long twenty-five minutes before the seat-belt sign went off again.

  We were seated not far from the toilets, so I let them go off together to release their bladders independently. While they were gone, I turned to Scott and said, “Thanks for your help before. I’m not really that dumb, I would have worked it out sooner or later.”

  “Oh aye,” he said, “no worries. Must be hard travelling on your own with two children in tow.”

  “Well,” I replied. “It’s only been thirty minutes, so far. I will let you know in seventeen or so hours.”

  He laughed and said, “Nah, you’ve got this. You look like a determined and strong Sassenach, if ever I saw one.”

  Okay, maybe he didn’t use the exact word Sassenach, but it was along those lines. I asked, “Would you let me buy you a drink for all your help?”

  He said, “Sure, I will have a whisky on the rocks.”

  “Ohhhh, how very Scottish of you.” He looked at me like I was a tad crazy.

  “You do know Letticia, that drinks are free on board the flight?”

  “Yes, I do. You didn’t think I would buy a stranger a drink on my budget? I have six months, well, maybe seven, in Scotland with two children. I can’t be going around wasting money buying strangers drinks now, can I?”

  “But you just said, ‘Can I buy you a drink Scott?’”

  “It’s the thought that counts Scott, it’s the thought that counts.” Wow, the first Scottish guy I encounter on this adventure, and already I have made a fool out of myself, or have I?

  He responded, “Aye, I see. I like the way you think Letticia.” On second thoughts, maybe I haven’t made a complete fool out of myself, although I have plenty of time to go, with another sixteen hours still, to say something stupid. The odds were against me; it was bound to happen. Not that I was worried, he wasn’t the Jamie I was looking for anyway, he was just a chapter of my life, a chapter can’t be a book. Although he was a very handsome Scottish man, a great start to my adventure, I must say. The first chapter of my journey had started, and a very intriguing, handsome man has just appeared in it; but finding my Jamie will be the book.

  Polly and Leah returned from the bathroom, and got straight into the on-board entertainment. With the headphone confusion behind us, they were now settling in for a long, few hours of screen time. Screen time was not something they got a lot of back home, but in this situation, they can have all the time they like, if it stops the boredom or arguing.

  I turned to Scott and said, “Well, I’d better buy you that drink I promised.”

  “Yes, I think you should, you owe it to me. First round is on you.” I pressed the drink button and the airline hostess arrived at my seat within seconds. She caught me by surprise. “What can I get you Madam?” she asked.

  “Could I please get a whisky on the rocks for this fine gentleman, a Pimm’s for me, and two apple juices for my girls please?”

  “Certainly,” and she went off to pour our drinks. As she walked away, and was out of hearing distance, I jokingly said, “Just put it on my tab, thanks.”

  Scott laughed, then said, “A Pimm’s aye? How very English of you.”

  “Well, I am heading that way, best I start playing the part.”

  “Heading that way?” Scott replied, in a sarcastic tone. “I thought you were going to Scotland?” “Yeah, well, near enough,” I answered.

  The airline hostess returned with our drinks on a tray. She handed the drinks to us and said, “Enjoy.”

  We sipped the drinks in silence for a minute or two. I started to relax after each sip, and was now starting to look forward to the adventure ahead. Sophie had texted me before we had boarded the plane in Australia, saying, ‘See you soon Cuz. Hope the plane doesn’t crash as I need this job.’

  ‘Oh, how very comforting and considerate of you,’ I had thought. I was starting to have second thoughts about hiring her as my nanny. That particular thought was stopped right there, as Scott interrupted by asking, “So, what’s your story? How did you end up on this plane with two children?”

  “Well, Scott, it’s a very long story, that involves a man called Paul, a man called Jamie, a program called Outlander, and a country called Scotland. That’s about the gist of it.”

  “Aye, Outlander, I’ve heard of that. Haven’t watched it though.” “You don’t know what you are missing then. Anyway, enough about me, what’s your story? How did you end up on this plane?” I asked.

  “Well, Letticia,” he said. “It involves a meeting in Australia, a contract that got accepted, and a big bonus for the catering company I own. I am now heading back home to Scotland to prepare for the contract, and organize the catering in time for season four to start filming.”

  “Seaaason four!” I said, trying to get the words out. “Season four of what?”

  “Oh, a series called 'Outlan…” He was unable to even finish the word before I let out a scream.

  "Okay, I take it you have heard of it?” A cheeky grin was planted on his face.

  "Ummmm. Yeah!" I replied.

  “There was a big contract fight over this project, with a company in Australia called ‘First Class Catering.’ They wanted it bad, they put up a good fight, but their quote was way over budget. We undercut them and came away winning.”

  Oh my God! Abbey was fighting for the on-set contract to cater for my most favourite TV series ever! If she had won, I would have been going over to Scotland to work on-set, and feeding my idol, Jamie.

  “Damn you Scott,” I said without thinking.

  “Sorry.” He said.

  “Well, you took that contract off me, well not me, personally, but the company I worked for, up until a week ago anyway.”

  He laughed, “No way!” he said. “Small world!”

  With that I drank the rest of my Pimm’s in one go to prevent myself from
saying something I regretted. A few minutes had passed before either of us spoke again. I pretended to be interested in the movie that my girls were watching, and were totally absorbed in. Scott was the first to speak, “So, you are in the catering business too?”

  “Yes, well I was, but I quit last week, and am now heading to

  Scotland for six months with no real plan, and unemployed.”

  “And you’re a huge Outlander fan?”

  “Yes, I guess you could say that.”

  “Well, the least I could do is offer you a job after undercutting your old company. I don’t normally make a habit of doing that to companies, but this was a big contract to get. Here, take my card, and once you are in Scotland, give me a call?”

  “You know what Scott? I might just do that.” And with that I turned the other way, closed my eyes, and fell into a blissful sleep. Well, as much of a blissful sleep as one can have sitting upright in an airplane seat.

  I woke after what felt like hours of sleep, to the feel of dry saliva stuck around my mouth. A bit of loose hair that had become detached from the clip holding back my hair was now stuck in the corner of my mouth, and my jaw was rather sore. This evidence was pointing to the fact that I had been sleeping, not very attractively, with my mouth wide open, and dribbling like a baby that is tasting solids for the first time in its life. I gave my mouth a bit of a wipe with the back of my hand, then wiped my hand on my pants, all the while wishing my very own personal director was present to call ‘Cut’ once again, and eliminate this scene from my life.

  My attention then quickly moved on to my girls, ‘Oh my God, I fell asleep! Are they ok?’ I thought to myself. I turned to them in panic,

  Leah was fast asleep spread out on all three seats, taking up Polly’s seat also, as it was now vacant.

  In a panic, I yelled “Polly!” and did a three-sixty looking for her. In hindsight, I did realise it’s not likely she could be lost, she couldn’t get very far on a plane. But it’s the other passengers, who might have had different ideas of their own, that worried me. As I was coming to the end of my three-sixty turn, I caught sight of her. She had moved over to the window seat next to Scott, and they were both engrossed in their screens. Scott looked over at me, my movements and apparent distress must have caught his eye, as he seemed to realise what had happened and removed the headphones from around his long, smooth neck.