The Accidental Scot (25 page)

Miranda glanced over her shoulder. “What are you talking about?”

It registered that she was wearing jeans and a casual sweater. Her hair was wet. She didn't have her face painted up as usual. Maybe he had stepped into an alternate universe after all. Miranda didn't look uptight. She didn't look like Miranda at all. He wondered if this was the real Miranda and the old version was just something that she'd cooked up.

“What's going on?” he asked. “I can't find anyone in town.”

“What? No one in town? But I was counting on someone to take me to Inverness. I have a flight out tonight and the taxi company said they can't make it out today.”

“Have you seen anyone? The village is deserted.”

“Ross was here earlier. But he was off to go fishing. Fishermen seldom take a day off is what he said.”

So Ross had spent the night with Miranda. Max felt guilty about that.

Miranda zipped her bag. “Did Roger call you?”

“Yes. Thanks for giving me credit for the deal.”

She set her bag on the floor. “You deserved it.” She seemed less harsh this morning. Softer, feminine. Then she gave him a wry smile. “You should have closed the deal sooner, but it all turned out in the end.”

We'll see.

“And the new position,” Miranda said. “Did Roger speak with you about it?”

“Yes. I told him I'd call later.”

She eyed Max as if seeing more than he did. “You look as if you might turn it down.”

He didn't answer. He didn't know. The most important thing was to find Pippa.

Miranda shrugged. “Your priorities have shifted.”

“Why would you say that?”

“You're thinking with your heart now instead of your head.” She looked out the window wistfully. “Watching you and Pippa . . . I wondered if that was what love looked like.”

“What?” He paused for a second, letting the truth sink in. Could it be true that he loved Pippa? He knew it was killing him to be without her, and the ache, the pain, the joy was the most real thing he'd ever felt. Why hadn't he realized sooner that he loved her? “I didn't plan on it.” And he hadn't seen it coming.

Miranda turned back to him and smiled. “Pippa is a lucky woman.”

No. He was the lucky one. And he was grateful to Miranda for helping him clear the fog and see his future—Pippa. And maybe it wasn't professional, but he did it anyway. He stepped forward and laid a hand on Miranda's arm. “You're going to find that one guy who feels like he's the lucky one to have you.”

Miranda laughed, shaking her head. “One of the reasons I like you, McKinley. You're such an optimist. But in this case, I hope you're right.”

He squeezed her arm. “Of course I'm right.” He stepped away. “But we need to talk about the MTech deal.”

“What about the deal? Roger said it's done.”

“Pippa hasn't signed yet. And I'm going to encourage her not to.” The answer to NSV's immediate problem must've been brewing in the back of his mind, because now the answer came to him fully formed.

“I'm leaving MTech and staying here. I can't let there be any chance NSV will be closed down. These people need the factory. You see how little they have.” He motioned to the town outside the walls. He'd grown quite fond of all the quirky characters of Gandiegow.

Miranda frowned, but she didn't lash out as she would've done in the past. “What do you plan to do?”

“Cash in my investments and my 401(k). I'll put everything into making sure the subsea valve makes it to market.” He'd strike a deal with his alma mater to do the testing. His money would be just enough to keep them afloat until the revenue from the subsea shutoff valve began coming in. The oil industry had been waiting for this kind of solution for a long time. It would be a hit. “Maybe I'll start my own consulting firm. I'm pretty good at improving processes, figuring out ways to make companies more efficient.” He would love to keep other small companies from going under, too. He would never go back to a huge corporation that didn't care about the little guy, who was interested only in the profit-loss spreadsheet and not its workers, or how their products
could improve lives. It would be starting all over again, but Max was okay with that. He welcomed the challenge.

Another thought hit him. “I'm sorry how this will land on you. If there is anything I can do to stop the fallout, I will.”

Miranda waved him off. “I'll be okay. I'm moving up in the company. The deal I made in France is on the fast track. It's bigger and will outshine what happened here. NSV will be ancient history before next quarter. My question to you is can you be happy in such a small town?”

“Yes.” With the right person by his side. He just needed to convince Pippa to have him. But first, he needed to find her.

“I've got to run,” Max said. “But let me get your luggage. Maybe we'll find someone along the way who can take you to Inverness.” And to tell him where the rest of the town was.

She gave him a fond smile. “I'll let you. But only because I know it'll make you feel chivalrous.” She'd said things like this before, but this time there was no sarcasm, only sincerity.

Max rolled the suitcase out with Miranda following. When they got to the parking lot, he saw Dougal getting into one of the few cars left besides Ross's rusted truck.

“Wait up,” Max shouted. With the suitcase in tow, he rushed over to Gandiegow's postman. “Where is everyone?”

Dougal shook his head. “Ye haven't heard? Everyone who can be there is. Didn't ye read the note on the door of the General Store?”

Max was exasperated. “No. Where did the town go?”

“The hospital. The ambulance took the McDonnell away.”

Max's stomach fell. “What happened? Is he all right? Where's Pippa?”

“She followed them to the hospital. I had to finish the last of the mail delivery. The word is that the McDonnell broke his other leg.”

“Which hospital?” Max asked.

“St. Timothy's,” Dougal replied.

Miranda came up behind him, pulling out her phone. “I'll get the directions.”

“What about your flight?” Max asked.

“Let's check on Lachlan first.”

“Thanks.” Max stowed her luggage in the trunk of his car and they started off. While Miranda's phone relayed the directions, he worried about Lachlan and how Pippa was doing. He had to keep reminding himself which side of the road to drive on, especially when they made it into Inverness with its confusing roundabouts.

At the hospital, they were sent to the fourth floor: surgery. Once the elevator opened, he had no trouble finding the people of Gandiegow. He followed the noise and the crowd down the hall to the surgery waiting area.

Everyone, absolutely everyone, stared at his kilt, but he didn't give a shit.

Pippa was sitting in the middle of the overcrowded space with the quilting ladies surrounding her. It looked
as if she was crying. So it was bad news then. Max pushed his way into the room.

The second she saw him, she vaulted from her chair and threw herself at him. He held her tight, never wanting to let go. Ever.

“He's okay,” she cried. “The doctor said he made it through surgery like the stubborn old Scot that he is.”

Max smoothed back her hair so he could see her eyes. “Are you all right?”

She burst into tears again and buried her face in his neck.

“Come with me. There's something I need to tell you.” He tucked her under his arm and guided her from the room, the Gandiegowans parting for them to pass.

He pulled her into the hallway, where Miranda was standing awkwardly.

“Lachlan's surgery went fine,” he told her.

She nodded. “Thank you for letting me know. I'll catch a ride from here.”

“Good luck, Miranda.”

“You, too, Max.”

To his annoyance, Deydie and Bethia had sneakily followed them into the hallway, but he couldn't tell the two old quilters to leave.

“Oh, it's you,” Deydie said to Miranda, with an uncharacteristically sheepish expression on her face.

“This is perfect,” Bethia said, latching on to Miranda's arm. “We were hoping to get another chance. Deydie and I have someone ye should meet. It's Kit Armstrong. Our matchmaker. She's just in here and we've been telling her all about ye.”

Deydie looked her up and down. “Ye look nice today, lassie.”

Miranda seemed shell-shocked at the quilters' onslaught.

At that moment Freda showed up, too, and smiled at Miranda. “Deydie and Bethia told me their idea. It's brilliant. Kit thinks ye might be perfect for one of her clients, Art MacKay. If not him, she has plenty of others.”

Miranda took a deep breath and spoke, “I'm sorry, Freda. I never should've given you that makeover and made you up that way.”

“It's of no matter,” Freda said. “Water under the stone bridge. But I'm excited about ye meeting Kit. She'll help. We all will.”

Miranda colored. “Why would you help me after what I did?”

Freda laid a hand on her arm. “You deserve a chance at true love, too. Everyone does.”

Deydie and Bethia dragged Miranda into the crowded waiting room. Freda headed the other way, which left Max and Pippa in the hallway by themselves.

“I need a minute alone with you,” he said.

“I can't believe you're here.” She smiled up at him. “I'm so happy to see you!”

As he was leaning down, a male voice called out.

John, Ross's older brother, was hurrying down the hallway toward them. Andrew followed with his arm wrapped securely around Moira.

“What's the news?” John looked worried. “Is the McDonnell all right?”

“Aye.” Pippa gave them the update. Then she looked around. “Where's Ross?”

“He's parking his truck. I was worried the piece of junk wouldn't get us here.”

Max held on to Pippa's hand, looking forward to telling her everything that was on his mind and in his heart. She pointed toward the waiting room and Max was glad the conversation was coming to an end. He couldn't wait to get Pippa alone. But then the elevator doors opened.

Max gaped at who was inside. It was Cait Buchanan and Mattie and . . .
Graham Buchanan!
The movie star had an arm wrapped around both Cait and the boy.

“Is that . . . ?” Max whispered to Pippa.

“Aye. It's a long story.”

Cait ran to Pippa and hugged her. “How is your da?”

“Surgery went well. But what are ye doing here? I thought you were bound for New Zealand.”

“Deydie called and told us the news. She knew our flight was delayed. We had to come. We piled in Graham's auto and here we are.”

Cait and Pippa walked arm in arm toward the waiting room, which was filled with their people.

Well,
his people
now, too.

Mattie pulled the movie star over to Max and spoke quietly. “Grandda, this is Max McKinley.”

Graham stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you. Pippa's beau, I presume?”

“Aye,” Ross said from behind them, clamping a hand down on Max's shoulder. “I think she chose well for herself.”

“Welcome to Gandiegow. Ye're going to love it.” Graham turned to the boy. “Mattie, do ye think we need to find yere mama before we lose her for good and miss the next plane out?”

“Aye,” Mattie said, smiling up at his famous grandfather.

Max followed them down the hallway, but when he looked in the waiting room, he had the sinking feeling he wouldn't be able to get Pippa alone any time soon. Miranda didn't look as though she was going anywhere either. The way Kit had her tucked in the corner, engaged in deep conversation, it looked as if Miranda would need to reschedule her flight.

There was so much Max needed to say to Pippa. He needed to tell her about the MTech deal for one, but it could wait. He felt in his pocket for the last page of the contract and knew it was safe with him.

More important, he had to tell her that he loved her with all his heart. But with Pippa occupied, it might take some time to get her to himself. In the meantime, he could take care of business. And after he acquired what he needed, and as soon as it was at all possible, Max would ask the McDonnell for Pippa's hand in marriage.

P
ippa saw Max standing in the waiting room doorway, watching her. Everyone in Gandiegow wanted to bend her ear, but just having Max nearby helped, his presence such a comfort. He made his way over, leaned down, and kissed her cheek—in front of the whole town. Sure, she'd jumped into his arms earlier, but this was different.

“I have to head out,” he said.

Her heart sank and she sucked in a deep breath.
So this is it. He's leaving for good.
Of course, it couldn't last forever. There was no way Max could stand to live in a tiny town like Gandiegow. He had a life to get back to in the States.

He shook his head and laughed nervously, reaching for and squeezing her hand. “No, no. Just an errand.” As if he'd read her mind. “I'll be back.”

“Then you won't be gone long?” Everyone was listening to every word she said and she didn't care. She didn't even care how vulnerable she sounded.

“I'll be back before you know it.”

“Miss McDonnell?” A nurse stood in the doorway, peering around the crowded room.

“Yes?” Pippa said, standing.

“Yere father wants to see you.”

Max pulled her in and kissed her hair this time. “I'll see you soon. Tell Lachlan hello for me.”

He walked with her to the hall, but then they parted ways. Pippa followed the nurse through a set of double doors that led into a sterile-looking hallway. Now that her da was going to be okay, Christmas Eve in the hospital seemed surprisingly cheery. For the first time, it registered with her how the nurses and doctors wore Santa caps, and that carolers roamed the hallways. They seemed to be making the rounds, spreading holiday spirit through song, and handing out small gifts of stockings and Christmas candy.

The nurse pointed to the third room on the left. “Yere mother is already in there.”

Pippa started to question her, but then noticed Freda sitting inside, holding her da's hand, and gazing upon him with love.

“Dearest?” Freda said. “She's here.”

Da's eyes eased open. “Pippa?”

She ran to his bed. There was so much she wanted to say. She wanted to apologize for everything. For running off to Edinburgh. For not coming home sooner to help with the factory. For not being honest where Ross was concerned. But mostly, she wanted to ask for forgiveness . . . for not being the daughter she ought to have been.

“Pippa, I'm sorry,” her da said, surprising her. His voice was raspy. “Freda's told me that I've been railroading ye into marrying Ross.”

“Aw, Da. It's okay.” She gave him a gentle hug. “I'm the one who's sorry, for not speaking up and telling ye the truth about not wanting to get married.”
Without
love.
She took a deep breath, ready to really lay it on the line. “I'll always be your daughter—”

He cut her off. “But ye're not a little girl anymore. Ye have to live yere own life, the way ye see fit.”

“Aye.” She kissed his forehead.

He smiled up at her. “I'm getting married, though.”

Pippa laughed—
oh, how good it felt
. “To who?” she teased.

The McDonnell pulled Freda's hand up and kissed it. “To the woman I've cared about for many, many years.”

The nurse leaned in the room. “I need a minute alone to check his incision.”

“We'll step out.” But Pippa had one message to relay before she left. “Da? Max said to tell you hello.”

Her father nodded and she kissed him on the forehead.

Pippa smiled at Freda and took her arm. The two of them left together, united, with the world feeling nearly righted. Except for one thing.

Pippa glanced down at her purse, knowing what lay at the bottom under her wallet. When they arrived in the waiting room, she let go of Freda. “I'll be back.” Feeling determined, she bravely went in search of the restroom.

It took two minutes to read the directions, less than one to do the deed, and five to find out if her life was changed forever. After it was done, Pippa stared in the mirror for a long time, trying to glimpse any difference in her reflection.

She was still the same lass, the one who would remain in Gandiegow to run the factory. But she was different from when she moved back home, because now she knew this was the life she wanted.
If Freda can stretch
and grow in our small town, then so can I.
Pippa wouldn't be alone. She'd have her da, once he got over the shock of it, and Freda would be as wonderful to the babe as she'd been with her.

And she wouldn't think any more on Max leaving. It was enough that he was in Scotland now, when she needed him most.

She wet a paper towel, laid it to her cheeks, and calmed her red face. “Sufficient unto the day,” she said to the mirror. “Sufficient unto the day.”

*   *   *

Deydie didn't necessarily like the big city, but she sure had to hand it to their grocery stores. It took several hours, but she and Bethia finally found everything they needed. Now that the McDonnell was out of danger, many had returned home for their own Christmas Eve festivities. Deydie still couldn't believe Miranda had left with Ailsa and Aileen to have dinner with them.

“Hurry up and get the food unloaded,” Deydie ordered. “It's late.” And the others would be there soon. They were going to have a feast in the waiting room. And if the McDonnell was up to it, they'd roll him down to join them whether the bossy nurses would allow it or not. She'd vowed not to miss her Caitie, Graham, and Mattie, and would think of them only when she drank a toast to their good health.

By the time they made their way back upstairs to the entrance of the waiting room, Deydie was winded. Bethia, too. And Pippa was the only one in sight, sitting alone, staring off at nothing with a foolish look on her face.

Deydie marched up to her and handed over her
armload. “Make yereself useful and set these things out over there.”

Pippa glanced up at her as if seeing her for the first time. “Oh. Sure.” She stood.

Deydie harrumphed. “So, now, do ye believe me?” She didn't need to say the word “pregnant” for the lass to know what she was about.

Pippa only smiled.

Deydie picked up a package of napkins and tore them open. “Have ye talked to the lads about yere predicament?” She nodded to the room down the hall, meaning the Yank and the McDonnell.

Pippa spun away, fiddling with a container of figgy pudding, not answering her, as if she didn't hear.

Before Deydie could light into her, Max appeared.

“I'm back.” He crossed the room quickly and kissed the lass on the cheek. “Is everything all right? How's the McDonnell?”

“Doing well,” Pippa said. “He's awake. I just peeked in on him.”

“Are ye gonna tell him now?” Deydie said to Pippa pointedly.

The stubborn lass glared at her and shook her head. Deydie wished she had her broom to knock some sense into the girl. Keeping secrets could only lead to trouble.

Max must've had something else on his mind, because he didn't seem to notice. “I'm going to see if I can speak with your father.” The Yank seemed nervous. He smiled once more at Pippa, then walked away determinedly.

Deydie shook her finger at Pippa. “I'm tired of nagging ye.” She latched onto Bethia's arm. “Come on.” Christmas Eve or no—it was time for at least the
McDonnell to know the truth. Deydie dragged her old friend from the waiting room with her.

Once in the hallway, Bethia tried to pull back. “Haven't we intervened enough?”

“Nay.” But when they rounded the corner, the Yank stood outside the McDonnell's door, talking to himself and pacing.

Deydie dropped Bethia's arm, rushed to the room, and pushed past the Yank. She put her hand out. “You wait. I need a moment with the McDonnell first.”

The lad acted as if he wanted to argue.

“Ye're no match for me. Now go help Pippa with the food,” Deydie said.

He looked frustrated as hell, but she didn't care. She had real business with the McDonnell.
Baby business.
When Max didn't budge, she left him standing in the hall.

Bethia followed her in and grabbed her arm. “Deydie, let things take their natural course. Please. For once.”

Freda glanced up from her conversation with the McDonnell. “Deydie and Bethia have come to see ye, Lachlan. I'll get you propped up.” She pushed a button on the side of the bed and the top half rose.

He waited a moment while she adjusted his pillows for him. When he was settled, he looked toward them. “How's my two favorite ladies?”

Deydie huffed, knowing he thought them a couple of busybodies. “I'm not going to beat around the bush. I know ye've had a tough go of it, but I've something to say. And since no one else will do it, then I will. Ye need to make the Yank stay in Gandiegow, come hell or high water.”

The McDonnell's brows pulled together. “What's this about?”

“Max,” Bethia provided.

“Stop frowning at me that way,” Deydie said. “I'm not the one who got Pippa pregnant.”

“What?” The McDonnell leaned forward, stopped suddenly, and winced. “Bethia, is it true?”

Bethia sighed. “Deydie says it is, and ye know she's never wrong on that count.”

Deydie tried again. “Max'll have to stay and help Pippa care for the bairn. Ye can't let him skip town.”

The McDonnell slammed his hand on the tray. “Send McKinley to me.”

Deydie felt like they'd done this before.

“Ye should take a minute to calm down,” Bethia said.

The McDonnell pushed away the tray. “I said send Max McKinley to me now!”

*   *   *

Pippa heard her father yell Max's name. She ran down the hall, knowing exactly what was going on. As she rounded the corner, she saw Deydie drag Max inside.

“Shit,” Pippa hissed. “Those two are up to it again.”

When she got to her da's door, Freda was just leaving. “I was coming to get you.”

Pippa crossed the threshold. Her father was much more awake than earlier, now propped in his bed, glaring at Max who stood by the window. Deydie hovered next to Da, acting like a sentinel to the proceedings. Poor Bethia cowered behind her.

“Pippa's here, too,” Freda said.

The McDonnell waved his good arm. “Pippa, go stand
next to Max so I won't have to crank my head around. I'll speak to ye both.”

“Sir, I wanted to talk to you, too. About a couple of things. The MTech deal—”

Pippa grabbed his arm. “The deal is done. I only need to sign the final contract.”

Max shook his head. “No.”

“I don't want to talk about the MTech deal,” the McDonnell growled.

Max put his hand up. “Don't let her sign. I'm your new investor.”

“What?” both she and her da said together.

Max turned to her and took her hand. “MTech won't give up until they have everything—your patents, and the doors to NSV closed for good. I know you made a concession to make the deal. You can't sign, Pippa.” She stared into his eyes and drank in the honesty and sincerity there. She could gaze upon him forever.

Max turned back to her da. “This next part is trickier. I wanted to speak with you in private, but if I don't get this out soon . . .”

“I already know,” the McDonnell ground out. He motioned to Deydie and Bethia. “They told me.”

Max's expression was a puzzled mixture of a frown and curiousness. “How did they know I wanted to ask your permission to marry your daughter?”

Pippa couldn't breathe. And her da cocked his head to the side as if he was letting Max's words roll in so he could process them. Pippa needed to cock her head to the side, too.

“I love her, sir. Heart and soul.”

Bethia exhaled.

Deydie smacked her knee. “Best news I've heard all day.”

Freda only smiled.

Max turned back to Pippa. “I should've realized from the beginning that I'd fallen in love with you. But I was bullheaded enough to think I didn't need love and marriage. You've given me everything, Pippa, everything that was missing. You gave me back the spirit of Christmas. You made me part of the community that I now feel is my own.” He kissed her hands. “But most of all, you've shown me I can love beyond measure. Marry me, Pippa. Say you'll be mine forever.”

Pippa leaned over and kissed him as proof of what was in her heart, also. “I love ye, too, Yank.”

Her da cleared his throat. “Can I get my two pence in? I haven't replied to Max's request yet, so ye two are getting the cart before the draft horse.”

“Aye. They got it all arse-backward,” Deydie said with a hearty laugh.

“They did indeed.” Da looked intently at Max. “To whether I'll give permission or not, this is my answer . . . the only way I'll bless this union between the two of you is if ye promise to raise my grandchild—”

“Granddaughter,” Deydie corrected.

Da gawked at Deydie. “Really? A granddaughter?”

“Aye.”

Pippa didn't dare look in Max's direction. What if he was upset, or angry, or he didn't want their baby. She couldn't bear it.

Da continued on. “As I was saying, the only way I'll bless this union is if ye raise my granddaughter in Gandiegow.” Her father stared at Max, waiting for an answer.

Pippa was waiting, too, terrified Max would want to catch the first flight out of Scotland.

Max spun and grabbed her arms, gazing into her eyes, searching. “God, Pippa! Is it true? Are we going to have a baby?”

“Nay,” Pippa said, trying to hide her joy. “Ye're going to sit by and watch me while I grow large, and then I'm going to have the bairn.”

Max kissed her hard and quick, leaving her breathless.

But not breathless enough not to tease. “I'll let ye change the nappies though.”