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“Well, excuse me if it’s a lovely thing that the first of the new generation are on their way,” Elspeth says, her eyes already shimmering. “And you two wonderful ladies are having children at the same time, just as Mairi and I had these two at the same time.” She indicates Ally and Aidan then, sniffing, adds, “Your mother and father would be so proud, Ally. I’m just sorry they’re not here to see it.”
“Nope!” Cat objects. “No, no, no—you’re going to set us all off. I miss Maw and Da too, but Aidan’s right: no blubbering on Christmas Day.”
Jamie gives a firm nod of agreement. “Anyway, how much more time can you spend staring at those pictures, Elspeth? Let’s be honest, right now, both babies look like aliens. All we can do is pray that, when they come out, they resemble humans.”
“Don’t listen to Uncle Jamie!” Emily gazes downwards and rests a hand on her neat, almost nonexistent, bump. “You’re perfect.”
“As is the wee one Grace is carrying,” Elspeth adds. “The bonniest lass I’ve ever seen.”
“Thanks, Maw,” Iona mutters. “Not me, then? Your own daughter?”
“At least Richard thinks you’re the bonniest lass he’s ever seen,” Jamie offers. He scans the faces around the table and frowns. “Wait, where is Richard? Why isn’t he spending Christmas with his bonny lass?”
Iona shoots daggers at him. “You know fine well why. He’s spending Christmas with his family, and I’m spending it with mine. We’ll be seeing each other for Hogmanay, though.”
“Right.” Jamie nods thoughtfully. “Well, Lewis is here, and I’m pretty sure he thinks you’re the bonniest lass he’s ever seen, so that’s something, right?”
Lewis, who’s normally the most mild-mannered of the three brothers, glowers at Jamie. I remember what Aidan mentioned in London, that Lewis and Iona used to be best friends until something happened between them.
It’s meant to be the season of cheer and goodwill, but in many families, it can spiral into a period of disagreement and conflict. I don’t want that to happen here, so I try to change the subject.
Turning to Cat, I say, “How are you getting on down in Glasgow with your teacher-training course?”
She curls a lock of auburn hair around her finger. “Hmm . . .”
“The answer better be that everything is going perfectly,” Ally warns.
Wow, now he is on edge. Maybe this wasn’t the best direction in which to move the conversation.
“If you drop out, you’re on your own,” Ally adds. “This is your fifth year as a student, Cat—I can’t go on supporting you indefinitely. Aidan and I have a fledgling business, I’ve got a bairn coming—”
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist! I’m not going to drop out. I think I’d make a good English teacher. It’s just . . . it’s been four and a half years since I left this tiny town and escaped my three overbearing older brothers.” She grins at Ally, Lewis, and Jamie. “I didn’t think I’d ever look back, but I’ve finally found something about Glasgow I don’t like.”
She pulls a face. “The teenagers! I shouldn’t generalise, but . . . Highland teenagers are so much nicer than Glasgow teenagers. I mean, when we were young, we fooled about and gave our teachers the odd bit of grief, but on the whole, we were all right. In Glasgow classrooms, though, it’s completely different. Some of these kids are wild! Was it the same in London?” She glances at me and Emily.
“Er . . .” I try to think.
Cat doesn’t wait for an answer but pushes on. “Anyway, I’m having to consider which local authority to request for my probationary year. A few months ago, I’d have put down Glasgow, no hesitation, but now I’m wondering if the Highlands aren’t so bad after all. So . . . exciting news, bros: I may be coming back!”
“God help us,” Jamie mutters.
“Jamie!” Elspeth reprimands. “It’s Christmas! I normally let these things go, but don’t take the Lord’s name in vain today.”
“Oh, you pick him up on that,” Lewis grumbles.
Elspeth ignores this comment. “Anyway, Cat, it’d be wonderful to have you back. Would you teach at Bannock High School?”
“It depends. You don’t actually get to pick your school, only the local authority. They send you wherever needs a teacher, and because the Highland Council is huge—even if a lot of it is just empty land—they could send me miles and miles away. Still, no matter where I end up, I’ll be closer than I am now, so I’ll be able to drive back at the weekend and visit my wee nephew.”
“Hmm.” Jamie takes out his phone and taps at it.
“What are you looking up?” Cat questions.
“Just checking which high school is furthest from Bannock. I’ll put in a good word for you.”
Cat rolls her eyes. “You act like I’m the problem, but I’m not. It’s you, Jamie. If we could just send you away somewhere, the rest of us might actually have nice, pleasant family meals.”
There are general murmurs of agreement. Even Elspeth nods.
