Page 94 of Treachery in the Highlands
Chapter Thirty-Six
Rachel
"Yer giving our only child, our precious daughter, a secondhand ring ye stole from a..."my father looks to Mother."Did ye call it a mew-zee-um,gràidh?That's a building that holds...artwork or some such rubbish.Aye?"
Mother struggles not to laugh but ends up spluttering instead."Close enough, Kieran.I wish I'd had a dictionary in my purse that day when I was hurled into the past.Would've made translating twenty-first-century language into medieval Scottish-ese."
Father rolls his eyes."May I go on lambasting Joey Finnegan now,gràidh?"
"No lambasting of any kind, Kieran.Rachel and Joey are in love, the forever kind.And we will be supportive."Mother raises her brows, giving Father a reproving look."Isn't that right, sweetie-pie?"
Oh dear.She called Father "sweetie-pie" strictly to prove who really wears the trews in their relationship.It's Alyssa Vescovi, of course.No man would dare claim otherwise.
Father growls out a sigh, then his shoulders sag."Aye, all right, I will refrain from lambasting the laddie."
Mother pats his cheek."Thank you, honey."
"We must begin the preparations for the wedding, aye?"
"Yep.Immediately"
The aunts and my mother drag me away from Joey and down to the great hall, which my mother has declared will from henceforth be known as "wedding central."
"Wedding central, is it?I dinnae remember agreeing to that."The voice belongs to Efrica, the eldest of my great-aunts
"Ye didnae have to agree," I say."It's my wedding."
Mother winks at me as she pulls out a leather-bound journal that's already stuffed with fabric swatches and pressed flowers.
"When did you gather all that rubbish?"I ask her."Is this my wedding or yours?"
Mother hugs me, for no apparent reason."I'm sorry, Rachel.But I want you to have the wedding of your dreams, not like the kind your father and I had.We were in love, but we also had to worry about Simidh Gunn trying to kidnap me or kill me or both."She sets her hands on her hips."I will murder anyone who gets in the way of your big day."
"Oh, Mother."I fling my arms around her."That's the sweetest thing you've ever done for me.Or offered to do for me."
"Hopefully, murder won't be necessary."
Over the next four days, my mother and the aunts work together to create the perfect dress for me.I know Joey will approve of it.The gown has a lower bodice than the ones on the dresses I wear every day.
"Lower bodice?"Father's voice booms from the doorway, making us all jump."Just how low, Rachel?"
Efrica shoos him away with a flick of her plump hands."Away with ye, Kieran!'Tis bad luck for the father to see the bride's dress before the ceremony."
"That's the groom, ye daft woman," Father grumbles, but he backs away nonetheless.
"Same principle," Efrica retorts, then turns to me with a gleam in her emerald eyes."Now, dearie, let's discuss the enchantment for the veil."
"Enchantment?Dinnae want magic interfering with my wedding.
Mother pulls a delicate length of lace from her collection."Just a small protection charm.Nothing that would interfere with the natural flow of things.Right, Morna?"
"Aye.'Tis only a precaution."
While the aunts and Mother resume fussing with my wedding gown, I slip away to find my groom.Joey is in the courtyard---hurling a caber.By the looks of things, he must be on his tenth attempt.
"Joey!"I shout, lifting my skirts so I can run toward him."Why are ye doing that,mo chridhe?"
He has the caber vertical, but he pauses to grin at me."Hey, Rach.How's the wedding dress craziness going?"
