The Trouble with Scotland

by Patience Griffin

  “Why couldn’t you have made me pretty?” she whispered. She sighed heavily and threw off her covers as the next thought hit her. She knew God did things for a reason, but it just felt a little as though He was picking on her. It was bad enough that she’d never be able to win the heart of a man like Ross, but then to stick her with bum kidneys felt like overkill.

  She’d been down this path many times since her diagnosis; it never was productive. She closed her eyes and thought about the view of the ocean from her rock. How it made her feel as if anything was possible, and how tomorrow was a good time to put her feet back on the ground.

  Sadie slept hard. She woke to sunlight coming through the curtains, washing over her face. She glanced at her phone . . . ten o’clock! She couldn’t believe she’d stayed in bed so long. She grabbed her toiletry bag and headed for the bathroom.

  On the way, she saw Ross’s door was closed, too. Was he still asleep? She heard Dand downstairs, talking fast.

  Sadie went in the bathroom, cleaned up for the day, and donned her other new dress. She grabbed her pill bag and headed for the steps. Before leaving North Carolina, Oliver had made sure everything was sorted and in her bag. She was grateful now that he’d taken care of that detail. She’d been too distraught over Gigi to remember.

  Downstairs, she found Grace and Dand at the kitchen table, playing cards.

  Grace glanced up and smiled. “Good morn, Sadie. Sit. I’ll get yere breakfast.”

  Sadie put her hands up, making her pill bag rattle like a maraca. “No. I can take care of it myself.”

  Grace went to the stove. “I know ye can.” She grabbed a plate and filled it from a covered cast iron skillet. “Ye’re going to love this breakfast casserole. It’s my daughter-in-law Kit’s recipe.”

  Kit was one of the people trying to set Ross up. But Sadie didn’t say that to Grace.

  Dand popped up and pulled out a chair. “Will ye read to me today, Aunt Sadie?”

  “Give the lass a minute to get her bearings,” Grace said.

  Sadie smiled down at the boy as he beamed up at her. “I will do my best to make time.” She ruffled his hair. “Okay?”

  He guided her over to the chair, but she still didn’t sit. She couldn’t stand it anymore. She had to know. “Ross sleeping in this morning?”

  Grace laughed. “Heavens, no. He was up early. When I got out of bed, I found him visiting with Glynnis in her room.”

  Sadie glanced around.

  Grace was too observant. “He’s running an errand.”

  Sadie’s eyebrows rose as she waited for more information.

  “He didn’t say where he was going. Only that he’d be back.” Grace pulled down a mug. “Will tea work?”

  She hesitated. “Yes. Tea’s fine.” Sadie had the sneaking suspicion that someone had filled Grace in on her CKD. Ross didn’t seem the type to divulge her medical history to anyone. But it was clear that he and his mother were very close . . .

  Dand brought the sugar bowl over and plopped it on the table in front of Sadie’s chair, only spilling a little. “Nan doesn’t let me have more than a spoonful, but ye can have as much as ye like in yere tea.”

  Sadie shook her head. “No. I’ll take mine plain. I have to watch my sugar intake.”

  Grace paused halfway to the table with Sadie’s plate still in her hand. “Oh. There’s no sugar in the breakfast casserole, but I should’ve asked first if it would be all right.”

  Sadie sagged a little. “So Ross did tell you? That I have chronic kidney disease?”

  Grace stopped short. “No. But ye just did.” She gave her a kind smile. “Sit and tell me what that is.”

  Sadie dropped into her chair. She didn’t like talking about it, but her doctors said it was important to communicate with everyone she knew, to educate them. Kidney disease didn’t get the attention, or funding, that it deserved.

  “Chronic kidney disease or CKD means my kidneys are gradually losing their functionality.” She told her the rest, about how she would eventually need a kidney transplant, about what she was doing to take care of herself, but not how alone she felt. Or her worry over who was going to take care of her when she did need to have the surgery. She did share with her a little about Oliver and how he’d brought her to Scotland.

  Sadie was prepared to clam up as soon as she saw the pitying look, the one everyone gave her when they found out about her kidney disease. But Ross’s mother surprised her.

  “’Tis a shame, but we all have our burdens to bear,” she said matter-of-factly. “Glynnis has had MS for years. And things haven’t been easy for me since my husband died. But we persevere, as will you; I’m certain of that. Love and community get us through.”

  What happens, though, when you don’t have either?

  But Sadie felt a little better. Grace had put things into perspective.

  Sadie laid a hand on her arm. Ross’s dad was gone, and it never occurred to her what Grace might be going through, how she must miss him. “I’m so very sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine.”

  Grace smiled at her stoically. “There’s only one constant in this world: change. And there’s no shortage of sorrow. But we get through, one day at a time.”

  Tired of the conversation, Dand ran off to play in the backyard. Sadie hoped they would move on to much lighter subjects, but Grace was a prospector, tunneling in, searching for the mother lode.

  “So what is it that ye do, Sadie Middleton? Besides read to my grandson and act as traveling companion for my favorite middle son?” She laughed at her own joke.

  Sadie sighed, not wanting to even say the words. “I’m a dental hygienist.”

  “But?” Grace prompted.

  “It’s not my calling,” she admitted.

  “I see.” Grace was astute and understood so much with few words. “And the brother ye told me about?”

  “Oliver,” Sadie said.

  “Aye, Oliver. How does he feel about ye being a dental hygienist?”

  Sadie laughed derisively. “He loves the idea.” Since he and Gigi had been the ones to cook it up while sitting at the kitchen table. While Sadie sat by silently. She was only now understanding how important it was that she stand up to her family and be truthful. Gigi would still be alive if she had.

  Grace gazed at her patiently, as if she knew Sadie was working things out.

  She felt such a kinship to Ross’s mother, who was so warm and easy to talk to. She found herself telling her all about Oliver’s overprotectiveness, and how suffocating his hovering was. Grace nodded empathetically, as if she’d seen this kind of thing before.

  Finally, Grace leaned forward and said, “So tell me this, must ye be a dental hygienist to make a living? Or do you have the freedom to change professions?”

  Sadie had thought this through before; she could get a job at the university while she worked on her library science degree. Gigi and Oliver were her only obstacles. And now Gigi was gone.

  “I’m still working that out,” Sadie finally answered.

  “This has been a good chat.” Grace stood. “Come. Let’s corral Dand and take a walk. That’s enough grilling for now, don’t ye think?”

  Sadie smiled. She really, really liked Grace. Ross was lucky to have such a woman as this for his mother.

  Grace opened the back door. “Dand, let’s take a walk, luv.”

  The three of them put on light jackets and made their way down the street. Sadie and Grace stopped and admired the gardens while Dand collected rocks and jumped in mud puddles.

  When they returned to the house, Ross was there.

  Sadie wondered where Ross had been, but she didn’t ask.

  Apparently, he had no such compunction. “Where have ye been?” He looked at his watch. “We’ve a lot to do today.”

  Grace shot her son a stern warning with her green eye
s. “We were taking a walk and smelling the roses, getting to know each other. She’s lovely, Ross.”

  He nodded toward her as if she was no more than a statue. “Aye. But Deydie called me on my mobile and needs us to pick up some fabric for Father Andrew and Moira’s wedding reception. Something about tablecloths.” He made the task sound distasteful.

  “I see,” Grace said. “Then ye better not dawdle. Who is marrying them anyway?”

  “Doc MacGregor’s da. He’ll be coming up from Edinburgh to do it.”

  Grace turned to Sadie. “Ye best grab yere purse and get on with it. When Deydie calls, we all jump to attention . . . even here in Glasgow.”

  Sadie did as she was told and was in the truck before Ross or Grace had to tell her twice.

  But at the bookstore, Ross patiently let her browse. Sadie had drawn up a preliminary list, but she found that once she was surrounded by books, she lost all track of time. Ross gave her room and space to wander the aisles. Every once in a while, he would appear and switch out her full basket for an empty one. The third time he ambled up beside her and retrieved her full basket, he asked, “How are you doing, lass? Can we break for some food?”

  “Yes, we’re done here,” she said. She followed his glance down at her basket. “Oh, these romantic novels aren’t for Quilting Central; they’re for your edification.”

  “Verra funny, lass.”

  After the books were bought and stored in the large plastic containers in the back of the truck, they walked to a small café for lunch, then hurried on to the fabric shop. But when they arrived, the clerk was clearly agitated.

  “But I told the woman on the phone that we were out of that particular lace.”

  That sounded like Deydie.

  “Sadie, ye’ll just have to choose. Deydie said if they didn’t have it, then you should pick out something else.”

  “Why me?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Do I look like I know about such things? Now if we were talking about fishing line and bait, I’d be yere man. But I know Moira. She’ll be fine with anything ye choose.”

  “Do you have Moira’s number so I can check with her?”

  He frowned. “I wouldn’t give it to ye even if I did. I’m sure the town fussing over her is stressing her out enough as it is. Ye met her. She wouldn’t want the attention. I think that’s why Deydie left it up to you.”

  Sadie was still hesitant. “Let me call Deydie, then.”

  Ross laid a hand on her arm and—suddenly she was suffused with warmth. Oh, she knew she was reading more into his touch than was really there, but she relished it, like the first bite of a fresh-from-the-oven apple pie. With ice cream on top. She even closed her eyes and soaked in the feeling.

  “Are ye okay?” Ross asked. “Have we overtaxed ye?”

  Yes. He’d overtaxed her senses.

  She opened her eyes, embarrassed. “I’m good.”

  He was right. She was making too much of everything. These were little decisions.

  “Just think of what you would want for yere own wedding.”

  “I would hate a big wedding,” she admitted. “All the flowers and fuss.” She’d want nothing more than her vows and the man she loved standing beside her, claiming her for all time. Yeah, I’ve read too many romance novels.

  “If I were to get married, I’d probably elope.” Although suddenly an outdoor wedding sounded nice. An image came into her head—of her rock by the ocean, where she’d spent her first evening in Scotland with Ross by her side.

  But wishful thinking would get her nowhere. She was never going to marry.

  Putting her mind firmly to the task, she chose a simple white cotton fabric for the tablecloths and an old-fashioned lace for the overlays.

  As Ross loaded it all in the truck, she asked, “Are you looking forward to tonight?”

  He cocked his head to the side, clearly confused.

  “Did you forget? We’re going out again. This time we really are going to find you a woman.”

  He shook his head. “I want to head back to Gandiegow tonight.” He helped her into the truck and then started it up.

  “Are you afraid we’ll run into another set of twins and you’ll get into another fight?”

  He glanced over at her seriously. “Aye.”

  “Ross, your mother said it was the ‘dirty pub’.” She laughed. “Surely not all the pubs in Glasgow are like that.”

  He gave her a pointed look. “It’s not the pubs I’m worried about.”

  She held up her hand. “I solemnly promise to stay away from the likes of the twins.”

  “That’s not it either.” Ross took her hand and lowered it. “I think it’s best to get you back.”

  She had the feeling he wanted to be rid of her. Well, they’d spent a lot of time together since she’d arrived in Scotland, and he was probably sick of her company.

  She had to save face. “Yes. I think we better head back too, if I’m to get the library at least marginally set up before I go home to North Carolina.”

  * * *

  “Ye’re leaving tonight?” Grace asked, studying these two closely.

  Ross opened his mouth, but she had more to say.

  “That’s a long trip to make this late. I’ll worry.”

  Ross looked abashed at her guilt trip. “I—”

  “It’s me,” Sadie said. Grace had the lass’s number; she could tell she was going to save Ross once again. “I’m the one who wants to get back. After all the books I bought today, I’m afraid I won’t have time to make any headway on getting things set up before I fly home.”

  Grace changed tack, because she’d just had an idea. “I understand. Aye. Ye have to get back tonight. Just promise me that ye’ll be safe. And if ye get tired, Ross, that you’ll stop and rest.”

  Ross kissed her on the cheek. “I promise, Mum.”

  Grace sighed heavily. At least Sadie looked happy while reading to Dand before dinner. But something had happened with these two—Ross and Sadie—while they’d been out. She had a feeling it had to do with that crazy and misguided arranged marriage her husband had dreamt up long ago. She was worried about her son, not because he was heartbroken, but because he’d been burned by being tied down to everyone else’s dream for him. Grace’s hope of seeing her middle son happy was fading.

  After they ate, Ross took up his plate and said, “I’ll help with the dishes and then we need to get on the road.”

  Sadie had barely touched her food, but she stood, too.

  These two were quite the pair. Even though they were clearly at odds, they seemed to back each other up at every turn.

  Grace laid her napkin on the table. “Don’t worry about the dishes. Dand and I will take care of cleaning up.”

  “Aw, Nan, I—” Dand complained.

  Ross raised an eyebrow, silencing him.

  Immediately, Dand shifted gears. “I know, Uncle Ross. I’ll be good for Nan and Aunt Glynnis.”

  Ross nodded to the lad and then turned to the American lass. “Sadie, can you be ready in five minutes?”

  “Yes.”

  Ross instructed Dand what to clear next. Everyone left the dining room except for Grace.

  Living here in Glasgow, she’d had no say when Ramsay decided upon his wife. Of course, she adored Kit—Ramsay couldn’t have chosen better—and Grace loved her immensely. But it would’ve been nice to have been involved, even in some small way. It was hard being away from her bairns, though they were grown men now. Maybe she could do something to help Ross. She’d had her one true love, and she wanted that for him, too.

  Sadie reappeared with her quilted bag over her shoulder.

  Grace rose and pulled her in for a hug. “I’m so glad ye came to visit.” What she really wanted to say was that she liked her a lot, that Ross liked her, too, and that she would f
it well into the Armstrong family.

  Sadie hugged her back. “It was lovely to meet you, too. I had a wonderful time. Thank you for everything.”

  Dand came running into the room and slammed into them. “Ye were going to leave without saying good-bye?”

  “Ye’ll get to see her,” Grace said. “When I take ye back. Remember, we have to be there for Moira’s wedding.” She’d met the priest a couple of times and was happy Moira had found the perfect man for her.

  Dand dropped his arms. “But Sadie will be gone by then.”

  Ross walked into the room with his bag, a pillow, and a quilt.

  Grace turned to him. “Is that true?”

  “Aye.” Ross shifted the load in his arms and took Sadie’s bag from her. “When did ye say yere flight was?”

  “Saturday.”

  Grace thought she would have more time, that Sadie would still be in Gandiegow when she went to Moira’s wedding. This isn’t good. Not good at all.

  “Can’t ye stay longer?” Dand whined.

  Sadie shook her head no, but then brightened as she smiled down at him. “I almost forgot.” She pulled a book from her bag. “I got you something special when I was out today.”

  Dand took it, but he looked as if he’d rather have Sadie than the book. “Who’s going to read to me?”

  Grace put her arm about her grandson. “I will.”

  “We’re all going to survive, squirt. Promise.” Ross’s tone sounded resolute, which wasn’t really a comfort. “We’ve gotta go, Mum.”

  “I know.” Grace pulled him in for a hug. “I love ye, Ross.”

  “Me, too.” He kissed her cheek and let her go. “Is it okay that I borrowed a pillow and a quilt?”

  “Ye know it is.” He’d probably taken it for the lass in case she got cold and tired. Ross could be a thoughtful man, if thickheaded.