KILTED DESIRE 3 - New Blood

by McKINLEY, A. B.

  “Stop Dad, my coach says I’m doing well. I really like it and I’m good at it.”

  “So what background does yer coach have?” asked Scott inquisitively.

  “He’s Dan’s cousin. He’s a few years older than us but he’s a former Division 1 College wrestler, he was at Arizona State.”

  “So yer’ve been learning aboot take-doons and submission holds!”

  “Yes mainly.”

  “What aboot punches and kicks? If yer getting in tae real MMA fights then it’s nae just wrestlers yer going tae be coming up against. Anyway, I’m glad yer enjoying it. Just be careful aboot trying tae run afore yer can walk.”

  “I will Scott, thanks. And I hope you get better soon. I’d like it if you could come and have a look around the gym.”

  “Thanks, I’d like tae. When I’m better I’ll come doon and watch yer train. I might even give yer a few tips,” Scott said smiling at him.

  “So when are Katy and Josh coming Mom?” Tiffany asked.

  “They’re driving down sometime tomorrow morning, they’ll be here before we eat. You know Katy likes her Christmas dinner.”

  The evening continued with lots of conversation, food and drink. Although Scott wasn’t drinking alcohol or eating much, he still had a good time. He was tired though and was the first one to head for bed at around 10:00 p.m. Tiffany joined him soon after but he was already asleep. The others stayed up until the early hours of the morning.

  Scott was the first to rise on Christmas morning, closely followed by Tiffany. They just sat snuggled together watching TV until later in the morning when the others started to appear. Linda didn’t look to be too bad but Kyle and Jim were slightly worse for wear from the previous night’s alcohol consumption. A few cups of coffee later and they were both starting to feel human again. Katy had called from her cell phone; she and Josh were on the way and would be there soon. Gift exchanging would have to wait until they were all there. Scott was excited to give Tiffany his gift, he’d been tempted to give it to her earlier in the morning when they were alone but decided to wait until everyone was together. At around noon Tiffany went to the kitchen with her Mom to make a start on preparing the food. Scott offered to help but he had no chance. There was no way that Linda or her daughter were going to let him do anything other than relax. Scott liked to keep busy but he knew when to admit defeat, which didn’t happen very often. This time however, it was best to let it go. So, he stayed in the living room with Kyle and Jim watching TV, whilst trying to find out more about Kyle’s gym venture. Scott was intrigued as to how good Kyle was and was looking forward to watching him train. Although he got the feeling that Jim and Linda were again not too happy about their son’s choices.

  Just over an hour later, Katy and Josh arrived. Tiffany and Linda had finished most of the work in the kitchen and the food was in the oven. So, after everyone had said ‘hello’ they all relaxed in the living room and soon the gift giving began. Tiffany had taken care of all the gifts on behalf of Scott and herself, she liked shopping and was good at it. That suited Scott, he wasn’t a fan of Christmas shopping, not that he had much energy this year anyway. He had however got a small gift for Tiffany. Scott had always been worried about having to buy Tiffany a gift. He loved her and wanted to make her happy but it was kind of difficult to think of something to get her that she didn’t already have. However, he was confident he’d found something that she’d like and that it would be unique. For the next half an hour lots of gifts were exchanged and there were big piles of wrapping paper in the middle of the floor. Scott was saving his gift for Tiffany until last, he was just about to reach into his pocket for it when Tiffany turned to him and took his hand.

  “This is for you Scott,” she said handing him an envelope.

  “Thanks Tiff,” he replied as he took it and opened it up. As he started to read the cute card, something fell out on to his lap.

  “It’s something you said you always wanted to do,” Tiffany said smiling, as Scott started to realize just what he was holding.

  “Wow, this is amazing, thank yer,” he said staring at the cruise tickets in his hand.

  “You’re welcome, I know you said you’ve always wanted to go there and I thought it would make a great Christmas present and be a celebration of you getting better too. Plus it will give you something to look forward to.”

  “Och I dinnae know what tae say.”

  “Is someone going to tell me what the tickets are?” Kyle said impatiently.

  “I know, I know. Your Dad and I helped her find them,” Linda teased.

  “They’re cruise tickets tae Alaska Kyle. It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted tae go.”

  “Not just Alaska, it goes down to Mexico too. They call it the ‘Fire and Ice’ cruise. It’s a new luxury cruise line and a brand new ship. It’s supposed to be the longest and heaviest ship in the world. The majority of cabins on there are large luxury balcony cabins so it only has 2000, which is a pretty small number for a ship that size. In fact I don’t think the ship even gets launched until next month,” Jim stated.

  “Yes Scott, we don’t go until June but we board in San Francisco, then head up to Alaska for a few days before cruising down the coast to Mexico. Then it’s back up north returning to San Francisco. It’s a 10 night cruise,” said an excited Tiffany.

  “I’m still in shock, thanks again,” Scott replied as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

  “That sounds pretty cool, I think we saw something about that on the news a couple of months ago. Do you remember, Katy?” Josh said.

  “I think I remember seeing something, is it a Chinese ship, Dad?” Katy asked.

  “Yes, it’s a joint Chinese / US venture. Yellow Star Lines is the name of the company and the ship is called the ‘Pacific Dragon’. It looks pretty impressive from the pictures we’ve seen. Hopefully we’ll start to hear more about it next month when it starts doing some voyages. Maybe we’ll see a few reviews too before they go on it.” Jim replied, seeming very knowledgeable about the ship.

  Scott really had always wanted to go to Alaska. It was an amazing gift and he was very much looking forward to the cruise. He knew he had to concentrate on getting better first though. He took a deep breath, pausing for a moment, before reaching into his pocket to retrieve his gift for Tiffany. It was going to seem like a pretty small gift now after what she’d just given him, but it was all he had. So he had to give it to her and hope for the best. He reached out to her and handed over the neatly wrapped small package.

  “Awwww thanks Scott, when did you have time to go shopping?”

  “I had tae order it online, luckily I got tae the mailbox first on the day that it arrived,” he answered smiling at her.

  She quickly tore the paper away, which revealed a small navy blue velvet jewelry box. She paused and looked at Scott, smiling.

  “Open it then bonny lass, I hope yer like it.”

  “Oh it’s beautiful Scott,” she said as she took the silver brooch out of the box.

  “I’m glad yer like it, do yer know what it is?”

  “Something Scottish I presume!”

  “Aye yer reet, it’s an antique Luckenbooth brooch. It’s a Scottish symbol of love and devotion. It’s a crown over the top of two intertwined hearts. I thought yer’d think it was pretty cool. And, I was confident that yer did nae already have one.”

  “I love it, thanks Scott,” she said as she leaned over and kissed him. Then she got up and showed off her new unusual piece of jewelry to her Mom, before pinning it onto her shirt.

  Later that day after their meal everyone took a stroll down to the beach. It was the first time Scott had ever been on a beach on Christmas Day. They spent an hour or so down there before heading back up to the house as the daylight started to fade. The rest of the evening was filled with more eating, drinking, games and chat before once again Scott started to feel tired. He didn’t like to admit that the chemotherapy was affecting him but it was unusual for him to get t
ired so easily. It was frustrating for him and he still had another two weeks of treatments to do. He knew the tiredness and general lethargy was going to continue for a while, but it was a small price to pay for getting better. Reluctantly at about 10:00 p.m. again, he had to admit defeat and head for bed. Once again everyone else stayed up. After going up with Scott to say goodnight properly, Tiffany came back down to be with the others. She didn’t get to see her sister that often anymore so liked to make the most of it when she had the chance.

  The next day went by quickly, Katy and Josh left that morning and returned home. The remaining family members enjoyed a relaxing day before Scott and Tiffany left early the following morning. They went directly to the hospital for Scott’s next treatment. They planned to go back up to Montecito in a few days for the New Year’s celebrations. Scott’s treatment went well but the tiredness was starting to really get to him, he fell asleep on the way home from the hospital, it was only mid-afternoon. Tiffany woke him when they arrived back at their house. They joked about it but she knew that it was getting him down. She was right. Scott was a proud active man. He was used to being strong and being able to physically do things that most other people couldn’t. The next few weeks were going to be tough.

  Chapter 5

  It was now New Year’s Eve. Another week of treatments was over and Scott was still putting on a brave face, despite feeling weaker than he had for a few years. He’d had more good news at his last hospital appointment when the results of his latest scan revealed the cancer was virtually gone. He had just one more week to go, and although the frustration of feeling so weak and tired did bother him, he knew deep down that it could have been much, much worse. It was early afternoon, Scott and Tiffany were sitting at home relaxing. They were supposed to be heading back up to her parents’ house later in the day to welcome in the New Year but Tiffany could tell that Scott didn’t really have the energy to make the trip.

  “We can stay here tonight, Scott. I think I’d prefer to have a quiet night in anyway.”

  “Och I was just going tae say that I dinnae think I’ll be up tae going oot today. Yer can still go up and see yer parents though. Dinnae worry aboot me, I’ll probably be asleep anyway. Yer should go and have fun.”

  “It’s fine Scott, we can go up to see them anytime. I’d rather stay here and be with you. Plus it will be our first New Year’s together, who am I supposed to kiss at midnight?”

  Scott laughed and held her hand.

  “I’d love tae kiss yer at midnight, but I have a feeling I’ll be asleep a long time afore then. I may have tae take a nap earlier and have yer wake me up at midnight.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” she replied as she snuggled up closer to him.

  Later that day at about 6:30 p.m. Scott was checking emails on his laptop. He was trying to keep busy to stay awake. Tiffany was sitting next to him watching TV. After checking his work email he checked his private account. He noticed he’d received an email the previous day from an Angela Walker. He was pretty sure that Angela was the name of Chris’s Mother so he clicked on it. It was indeed from his friend’s Mom and was a brief message including a phone number, asking if Scott could call her urgently. Scott was intrigued, and a little worried. He’d emailed back and forth with Chris a few times since they last saw each other and had spoken to him on the phone just before he left Ohio at the end of October. Scott didn’t have the same phone number anymore though and realized that he probably should have emailed Chris with his new number. With everything that happened with his cancer scare though, Scott just hadn’t thought about it. He searched quickly back through his emails and noticed the last email he’d sent to Chris was in the first week of November, there wasn’t any reply from his friend to that message. Scott clicked back on to the email from Angela Walker and grabbed his phone.

  “What’s wrong Scott?” Tiffany asked.

  “I’m nae sure, I received a message fae Chris’s Mom yesterday, asking me tae call her urgently. I’m really nae sure what’s going on. I have nae heard fae him since early November and I have nae spoken tae her since we were teenagers! So I’m a little confused at the moment. I’d better call her,” he said looking at his phone.

  “Scott they’re eight hours ahead of us remember, it will be nearly three in the morning over there.”

  “Och I forgot aboot that, do yer think I should wait until later tonight?”

  “I guess it depends how urgent the message is, can I see it?”

  “Aye, of course,” Scott replied showing her the screen.

  “Hmmm she doesn’t say much, does she? I’m not sure what to tell you Scott.”

  “I think yer reet, maybe I should wait until later tonight. I’ll call her just after midnight. Then it will be after eight in the morning over there. That’s a better time tae call.”

  “Okay Scott, how are you feeling? Are you still going to take a nap?”

  “I dinnae really want tae, but I dinnae have much choice. I’m struggling tae stay awake now. I’ll probably get my head doon fer a few hoors soon. Will yer please wake me up aboot half an hoor afore midnight though?”

  “Of course, I want my New Year’s kiss.”

  It was about a quarter to midnight when Tiffany went into the bedroom to wake Scott. He was sleeping soundly, but being gently kissed several times by a beautiful brunette was enough to make him stir. After a few minutes he was awake enough to get out of bed. His mind cleared as they walked hand in hand down the stairs and he suddenly remembered the message from Chris’s Mom. They returned to the living room and sat on the couch. There were only a few minutes to go until the New Year. The TV show they were watching was showing clips of the celebrations in New York and the rest of the US where the New Year had already arrived. The clock ticked closer and closer to midnight. Scott held Tiffany close to him as the final few seconds ticked away. That was it; the New Year had arrived in the Pacific Time Zone. Scott held her tightly and kissed her passionately, his lips pressed firmly against hers and his hands caressing her body. He knew he didn’t have the energy to do much, but a good New Year’s kiss he could manage.

  “I love you Scott, it’s going to be a great year. I just know it.”

  “I love yer too Tiff. When we get upstairs, I’m going tae show yer just how much,” he said smiling.

  “Hmmm that sounds good, but you’ve been falling asleep pretty quickly lately and I know you’re very weak. So if you’re not up to it then don’t worry. I’m happy to wait until you’re better.”

  “Aye I know I’ve nae been very much fun lately, but it will get better. I promise.”

  “You can’t help being sick Scott, and I know things will get back to how they were. Now, you need to get your phone call made so we can go to bed.”

  “Aye, I do.”

  Scott opened his laptop and retrieved the message, then dialed the number on his cellphone. There was a slight delay but then it started to ring.

  “Hello,” said a woman’s voice in a thick Glaswegian accent.

  “Mrs. Walker?”

  “Aye, who’s this?”

  “This is Scott Maclaren. I’m Chris’s friend, yer sent me an email yesterday.”

  “Och thanks fer calling Scott. Has he been in touch with yer recently?”

  “Nae problem, nae I have nae heard fae him fer a couple of months now. What’s wrong?”

  “The daftie has disappeared. He went oot three nights ago and has nae been seen since. I’ve tried everyone I know aroond here. Sharon has been asking aroond too. We’ve called the police and they’re searching fer his car but nae luck as yet.”

  “Wow, nae I have nae heard anything at all. I’m nae sure what tae suggest. I knew he was living with yer fer a while after he split up with Sharon. Do yer have any idea where he was going when he left?”

  “Nae idea, he did nae say much tae us aboot where he went. He’s stayed oot fer a night afore but he’s nae ever been gone fer this long. Yer the only friend he ever talked aboot and I found a piec
e of paper in his room with yer phone number and email address on it. I tried the phone number first but it did nae work.”

  “Aye I’ve just moved to a new place so I got a new phone number. So what have the police said? What are they actually doing?”

  “There’s nae much they can do Scott, we had nae idea where he was going so we dinnae know where tae start looking. His phone is turned off, we’ve tried it several times. There’s been nae activity on any of his bank cards or credit cards. They’ve checked all that.”

  “I’m sure he’ll turn up, I wish I could help yer more but I’ll leave yer with my phone number. If yer hear anything please let me know and if I can think of anything then I’ll call yer.”

  “Okay, thanks fer calling Scott.”

  Scott gave her his new cell number and said farewell. He was concerned about his friend. It was not like Chris to do something like this, he was always very responsible.

  “I couldn’t really understand you Scott, when you talk with someone from Scotland your accent gets stronger. But I’m guessing that it’s not good news,” Tiffany said as she stroked his arm.

  “Aye, Chris has gone missing. He has nae been seen fer three days now. The police are looking but they have nae got any leads. I’m nae sure what tae think.”

  “Oh no, that’s not good. I hope he turns up soon.”

  “Damn, I should be there helping to try and find him,” Scott said angrily.

  “There’s not much you can do at the moment Scott, just try and calm down. The police will find him.”

  “If he does nae turn up soon, I’m going tae have tae go over there and help.”

  “Scott you don’t have the energy to make a flight like that at the moment. Plus you have to finish your treatments.”

  He knew she was right, but he felt like he had to do something. There was no good time for something like this to happen but as far as Scott was concerned, this couldn’t have come at a worse time. Tiffany eventually managed to persuade him to go back to bed. He was exhausted so despite the new worries it didn’t take him long to drift off to sleep.