"The file on Ms. Ericksen has been closed. They have found no evidence of any wrongdoing on her part."
"We have talked to Julie." Duncan's voice startled all in the room. They all turned to look at him.
Suzie had blanched. The triumph was gone. She glanced at Brad nervously.
Cynthia looked at Brad. Brad shrugged.
"Who is that?"
"You'll have to ask your clients about that." Duncan said no more.
"If you'll excuse me, I'll speak to them outside."
The three of them got up and went into the hall.
"Perfect timing," Douglas said as he beamed at Duncan.
"Who's Julie?"
"Our trump card." Duncan smiled at Abby. "You know her as Ruth." Douglas looked back down at his notes; Duncan stood and went to the windows. Abby took a sip of her cold coffee. She heard a car drive away.
Chapter 41
“I think we should skip it and go home, Brad. She's so pathetic in there, all wide-eyed and everything."
"Who's Julie?" Cynthia asked.
"She's a friend of Suzie's, right, honey?" Brad answered.
"Yeah, she's been in trouble before, so I guess they think it will reflect badly on me or something, but I don't care, ‘cause the minute I was in there, I thought we should just give it up anyways. She's so pathetic."
"Give it up?" Cynthia's voice was flat, reflecting that she was no longer fazed by anything.
Brad was glad to hear it. It was a little embarrassing to have to go back in there and back out, but at least he wasn't going to be saddled with the kid. I wonder how Suzie would look with curly hair? He thought to himself as he followed the women back into the conference room. Cynthia did not sit back down again.
"My clients have had a change of heart. They admit to no wrongdoing, but Mr. Ericksen doesn't have the heart to put his wife through a long custody battle. I'll have the papers to dismiss on your desk in the next couple of days."
Abby controlled her urge to jump up and down and holler "Yes!" She also controlled her urge to yell at Brad, as she had so many times before. He doesn't have the heart to put Suzie through a custody battle?!
"So now tell me about Ruth," Abby said to Duncan as they walked into Sammy's for lunch. Abby wasn't sure she could eat after all the excitement of the morning. Brad was gone. He wasn't going to sue for custody. He didn't even want to set up a regular visitation schedule.
"Ruth Julian Young Abercrombie."
The ramifications of what that meant ran through her mind. Did Suzie have the same problem as Ruth? "Was Suzie the woman that Ruth had alluded to?"
"Yep. Downtown Ruth has been running in the same circles as Suzie. Downtown Suzie calls herself Amber. Seems she has some interesting hobbies of her own that we figured she would rather keep secret."
"Oh, my goodness."
"Hey, girl!" Sharmagne led them to a table by the window.
"Ruth told me—the night that I had dinner with her—that she knew her friend Amber, Suzie, was involved in something desperate about a child. When she realized it was you, she agreed to help."
"Now listen," Duncan said once they had gotten their food, "I have been instructed by my mother to find out if you will be attending the Easter on the Lawn party. You didn't RSVP."
"Oh, my gosh. I have been so caught up in—yes, I will come."
"Bring Chloe. I haven't seen her in a while."
"Well, you'll see her at church on Sunday since it's Easter."
Chapter 42
Easter morning was bright with new green leaves and clear yellow sunshine. The joy in the congregation of Bethel rivaled that at Christmas, for they came to celebrate the reason Christ came. He is risen. The men wore their finest suits, and the ladies were dressed in the palest colors of spring and summer.
Abby walked through the garden of worshipers holding Chloe with one hand and her dulcimer in the other. Duncan met them on the steps and took her dulcimer for her. Abby used her free hand to check her grandfather's tie pin at her throat and then took her seat on the altar. Chloe sat in between Debbie on the right and Duncan on her left. During the service, Abby saw Chloe rest her head on Duncan's chest as she herself had done that one night he had taken her to dinner. When it was time to stand, Chloe stuck up her hands to be lifted, and he picked her up.
Chapter 43
“One would put up with a lot to be mistress of Pemberley." The words from Pride and Prejudice echoed in her mind and caused her to giggle. She was out of her league, and it didn't matter what anybody said. The stately manor house of the MacLeod's rose out of the ground like a grand brick edifice worthy of Mr. Darcy and his Elizabeth. The effect would have been made perfect by the sight of ladies dressed in long, light-colored frocks from the nineteenth century. But the shorter ones worn this Easter did no harm to the illusion.
Erin MacLeod had pulled out all the stops, unless it was normal for the MacLeod's to have waiters walking around in white jackets with trays of food and drinks.
Abby was glad she had gone all out herself on Chloe's outfit. She was perfect in her little gown complete with gloves and hat. They walked up a cobblestone path to the house and were greeted by Erin herself.
"Abby, welcome." Erin was dressed in an exquisite dress of muted gold. "This must be Chloe."
Abby followed Erin into the most beautiful house she had ever been in, but Duncan's home was more welcoming than regal. The colors were red and gold and blue and green. As they made their way to the terrace by way of a dark hallway, Abby saw on the wall a framed piece of old needlework. It was yellowed with age, but it still had good color although Abby suspected that the embroidery was more even when it was first done.
"It's beautiful," she said to Erin who stood behind her.
"It's the linen given to the first Duncan MacLeod."
"The song is real then."
"Of course it is. No one would ever make up such a ridiculous thing, although I will say that it has worked for this family. One thing the song leaves out. They only have six months from taking the oath to find a bride."
"Only six months."
"Duncan has only four months left." Erin turned and led her the rest of the way out.
She knew. Abby wasn't sure if Erin was giving her approval or not, but she definitely knew what Abby was up to.
Lord, give me courage, she prayed and put a hand to her throat. Chloe pulled on her hand, excited to get back outside.
From the terrace, the MacLeod men came into view. They were all dressed in their tartan. The other men were dressed in ordinary suits. Abby's eyes were drawn to Duncan. Chloe pulled on her hand. She wanted to be in the grass. Abby was glad this party was outside. All she had to do was follow Chloe around; there was no precious crystal for her to break.
As her eyes refocused to follow after Chloe, Abby noticed that she knew most everyone milling about on the lawn. Pastor Bob was there with his wife; Debbie and Kay shared the shade of a large maple tree with Angus; Rachel, Debbie's daughter, walked around and around the tree dragging her hand on its trunk. Pat Gordon was sitting on a bench near a bank of white azaleas in full bloom. Even Jack was there dressed in a suit that had grown bigger as he had grown older. His harmonica was sticking out of his breast pocket.
Duncan walked up to her trailing a smaller man dressed in a gray suit, who was followed by two women with wide-open faces.
"Abby." His voice thrilled her. "This is Max Gordon."
Max stuck out his hand. He looked like his father. Max introduced his fiancée, Maureen Mayhew, and her sister Grace.
"They are home on furlough."
Chloe pulled on Abby's hand. "Rachel–Momma–Rachel." She was pointing.
"Excuse me." She let Chloe pull her toward the tree.
"I don't want it, girl." Angus had laid down the law. Kay looked after him, mouth open, as he walked away toward Duncan and Max.
"What's going on?" Abby asked Debbie when Chloe was occupied with Rachel.
"All I did was tell h
im what we all think," Kay began. "I was going to tell him at the grand opening, but I never had the chance. It was such a busy day. Anyway, here we all were, so I told him. Debbie is my witness. All I said was that we all thought that the business should go to him. That's all I said. Isn't that right, Debbie?"
"Yes, and he said that he didn't want it," Debbie replied.
"Well, I guess that settles that, doesn't it? Imagine that. Wait till I tell everybody. No one will believe it." Kay walked away toward Jack.
Abby and Debbie laughed together. They had talked to "everyone." The only die-hard fan of Angus MacLeod was Kay herself.
"This place is huge. I knew they were well off, but surely all this didn't come from a little charter boat business," Abby said.
"Oh, no. The Tours is only one of the businesses they own. They own the fishery, and most of the rest of the town—not to mention what they inherit."
"You're kidding. How did I miss that?"
"You've had your own things to worry about," Debbie said.
"That's the truth." Then the thought struck her that Bradley worked for the fishery. He must then work for Duncan. How could Duncan not have told her that? Anger surged. How could he not have told her something like that? She looked for him through the crowds of guests.
"Can I leave Chloe with you for a few minutes?"
"Of course you can..." Abby walked away without hearing the rest of the sentence.
"Duncan, may I speak to you alone?" she whispered in a break in his conversation. He stopped and stood still to look at her.
"Of course. Follow me."
She followed him back into the house, back through the dark hallway, past the entrance to the kitchen, and into an immense room lined with bookshelves full of red and brown leather slashes. In the middle of the room sat a large mahogany desk. A couple of high-backed chairs were placed in front, for visitors, she guessed.
"What do you need?" he asked her once he closed the door. The windows of the room overlooked another vista of the Bay.
"Debbie just told me that you own the fishery and most of the rest of this town."
Duncan looked down.
"What is your question?"
"Bradley works for you, doesn't he? I want to make sure that you don't do anything stupid."
His eyes flashed up at her.
"I didn't mean stupid. I meant that I don't want you to send him away, fire him."
"Abby..." He smiled, stepped forward, and took her hands. "Bradley works for a contractor who works for me. I couldn't fire him even if I wanted to, besides which, I think Chloe needs a father too. I wouldn't send hers away."
Abby sank into one of the chairs behind her.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed that you would do something like that."
"Well, you should know that he has put in for a transfer. He wants Colorado. If you want me to I could speak to Steve."
"No, he has to be free to make his own choices. Chloe will have to deal with it, but..."
"She'll be all right, Abby. He'll see to that." He pointed to the ceiling.
Her heart felt pounds lighter. He was right. God had not let them down yet. Once again Abby's hand went to her throat. She removed her grandfather's pin. She clasped it in her right hand and took a deep breath.
"Well, then, it's high time I speak to thee, Duncan MacLeod."
His eyes shot up at the reference to the old song. She took his hand. The blood rushed to her head and pounded in her ears. She slid down on her knee. He took both of her hands and pulled her to her feet.
"Get up."
"Duncan, I must do this right." He held onto her hands. His face was red, his eyes misty.
She tried to pull her right hand away, but he it held too tightly.
"Duncan."
He released her hand. She opened it to him.
"It isn't much. It was my grandfather's tie clasp. It only has a diamond chip." She blushed. "Except for Chloe, it is the most precious thing I have. I give it to you if you will have it and me as well."
He took the clasp from her hand and closed it in his fist. He dropped to his knees and closed her in his arms.
"I love you, Abby."
"I love you, Duncan."
This time he was not gentle. His kiss ignited the passion between them and caused them both to lose themselves in the bond that was growing in them and between them— love that would last a lifetime.
I hope you enjoyed meeting Duncan and Abby. If you did, won't you please take a moment to leave a review at your favorite retailer?
I hope to see you again soon for Angus's tale in Finding Grace.
During the meantime, you can find me on Facebook, on Twitter at @chevyhull and on my website, echull.com.
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Please also look for my other book The Christmas Gift, a heartwarming tale to remind us all that it’s never too late for love.
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