Thirty-Six
“Stop. Trust me, mo grian. She will be too happy for words.”
Anne closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of being in Douglas’ arms. Truth was, she’d barely been out of them since he’d found her.
“I remain yer sun?”
He chuckled as they slowly made their way on horseback towards the Ramsay keep.
“Aye, mo grian. My sun. For ye are. Ye are my sun, my air, my verra soul.”
He kissed her soft hair. It had taken much work to rid it of knots, and quite a length had already been cut off. Her lady’s maid, Edith, had done a great deal, made easier by having the correct tools.
Wynton had provided them with nothing additional other than rationed food and water.
“Mayhap my appearance won’t be pleasing.”
Douglas felt Anne tremble. She began smoothing her skirts. He tightened his hold around her, bringing his lips to her ear.
“The last thought that will enter our daughter’s mind is judgment about yer appearance. Trust me. Ye look beautiful, mo grian. Ye look just as I remember ye, from so long ago.”
Anne snorted. “Douglas, you’ve never lied to me. ‘Tis nay a time to begin.”
Douglas barked in laughter. “I have never lied to ye, nor will I begin now. Look,” he said pointing. “We’re approaching.
Connor stepped out of the keep and approached Douglas. A small number of men accompanied him. Douglas had sent a messenger ahead to request that Connor meet them outside alone.
“Douglas.”
Connor looked questioningly at the woman in front of him. Anne’s face was turned sideways looking about, and when she faced forward, Connor inhaled sharply.
“Who is this, Douglas?”
Douglas smiled, dismounted, and wrapped his hands around Anne’s waist, bringing her down.
Douglas looked at his son-in-law and laughed.
“I told ye, didna I?”
When Anne squirmed, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She barely reached his chest. She had always been a petite woman, just like Madeleine.
“‘Tis how I knew Madeleine for who she was. Maddie has the Menzies dark hair and golden eyes, but her beautiful face was that of her mother.”
“Mother?”
Connor looked uneasy, staring quizzically at Anne.
“If ye’re surprised, I canna fathom Maddie’s reception. ‘Tis why I requested a messenger ahead for ye to greet me. Give yerself a moment to accustom yerself so that ye could support Maddie.”
“Douglas…”
“Is James here?”
Connor nodded, not taking his eyes off Anne, who fidgeted next to Douglas.
“Aye. He came as requested with Katie, but he wasna happy about it. Three months remain before Katie has their bairn.”
“Paranoid son of mine,” Douglas laughed. “Verra well, Connor. I’d like for ye to meet yer mother by marriage. This is Lady Anne Menzies.”
Connor opened his mouth to speak but found no words. Douglas laughed at his son-in-law’s discomfort. Anne elbowed him.
“You’re being awfully rude.”
Douglas kissed the top of Anne’s head.
“Anne? Menzies?”
Douglas rocked on his feet. “Aye. Once I made her a widow, I could not wait another day to wed her. I found the first priest I could.”
“Alive?”
Anne stepped forward. “A pleasure to meet the man who has loved and protected my daughter.”
She moved forward again and hugged a baffled Connor.
“Now ye understand why I wanted to first meet with ye.”
Connor returned Anne’s hug. After a moment, she moved back towards Douglas.
“Except for coloring, they could be twins.”
Douglas nodded, and began discussing how they would approach Anne’s introduction.
***
“What is amiss?”
Malcolm looked at Kiel. Connor raised his hand, sitting next to Maddie. James and Katie were sitting to their right. The remaining family was gathered around.
Douglas stood in the center.
“I’d requested for Connor to gather ye all. I have someone to introduce to ye.”
Douglas looked at Maddie and James, who sat next to one another.
“I am a newly married man.”
Maddie and James stood.
“Father…” James said, confused.
“Father!” Maddie was excited. “Who?”
Douglas smiled at them and walked to where he’d asked Anne to stand. Walking with hands linked, Maddie cupped a hand over her mouth, reaching back for Connor. James’ breath whooshed out of his lungs.
Anne began crying immediately when she saw her daughter.
“This is Lady Anne Menzies.”
Douglas turned to his daughter, beckoning her forward.
“Yer mother. My life.”
Maddie gasped, tears glistening in her eyes and falling down her cheeks.
“Mother?”
Eyes wide, Maddie launched herself at Anne, who received her with open arms and cries of joy.
“My sweet baby,” she kept repeating. “He told me you were stillborn.”
Anne choked on her words, her tone mournful. She hugged Maddie tightly.
“You’re so beautiful.” Anne backed up but held onto Maddie’s forearms.
“Mother. You are more beautiful than I ever envisioned.” Maddie placed her palms on the sides of her cheeks. “The Lord has granted me that for which I’ve always prayed and never believed possible. A miracle. My mother!”
Maddie could barely speak through her tears and she tripped over her words. Anne turned towards James.
“Aye, your father was correct. You are no longer a small boy. Look at you! A giant and as handsome as your father!”
James laughed and walked forward. “Lady Anne!”
They hugged for long moment before he opened his arms to include his sister.
“Such blessings,” Anne whispered, tears rushing down her cheeks.
“More blessings yet, mo grian. Meet our grandbairns.”
Anne stepped back and turned to where Connor now stood with Katie and the children.
“Oh my!” She began laughing and reached back for Douglas. “Bountiful blessings. In moments, I have gained daughters,” she said indicating Katie and Maddie, “and sons!” she gestured to Connor and James. “Now grandbabies!”
Douglas hugged her tightly from behind.
Miriam, Malcolm, Kiel, Iain, and Ginny came forward to meet Anne.
Later that night, Anne sat before the hearth with Maddie, Douglas, and Maddie’s children. James and Katie sat with their little boy.
“You named your first baby after me?”
Maddie smiled. “It was always in my mind to, Mother.” Maddie smiled when she said “mother.”
“The girls took an immediate liking to me.”
Anne had both girls sleeping on her after they complained that their baby brother was taking too much attention from their Grammy, as they’d pronounced it.
“They can feel the love from ye, mo grian. Ye are their blood.”
Anne laughed. “It is also a boon that their mother looks like me, so it was nay much for them to accustom themselves to a stranger since the stranger had their mother’s face.”
They laughed at her words.
Anne and Douglas shared a loving look. Smiling, they each looked at Connor and Maddie, and Katie and James.
“Wish that I could have spared you all the years of grief believing I was dead, but if that trial was meant to give us this moment, here with all of my family, I’d relive the purgatory I survived to experience this.”
Anne stopped for a moment and looked at all of them. She reached for Douglas without disturbing the girls on her.
“God has given me what I’ve always desired, and more blessings than I may deserve. For the remainder of my days, I will live in the grace of the blessings I have been granted.”
She squeezed Douglas’ hand.
“You are the family I always desired with every beat of my heart.” Anne smiled. “I love you, all of you, with all of my heart. May the years be long, and the love be eternal.”