Two Kinds Of Truth(21)

I spin around and glare at my drunken brother.

“Enough,” I cry. “You’ve crossed the line and dinnae ken what you’re saying.”

I march back to the car and fling open the driver’s door and jump inside. Callum chases after me.

“Jamie, please. Just hear me out.”

I start the engine and thrust it into first gear, but then turn and face him.

“Either ye shut up about me getting Maddie pregnant or ye can find another way to get home.” He hesitates, but then climbs inside.

I drive like a madman, unable to think of anything except what my brother has had the audacity to ask of me, until I take a bend a little too sharply and almost lose control.

“For Christ’s sake, take it easy,” Callum cries, but I can’t. I glare at him and press the pedal even harder as I look back at the road, barely focused on what’s in front of me, miles away inside my own head. Inwardly, I curse my brother over and over as my anger simmers within me. I’m barely in control and I’ve a real fight on my hands.

By some miracle, we make it home in one piece. I drive through the gates, break sharply and kill the engine. Without a backward glance, I head straight for the farmhouse. Alasdair has left the downstairs lights on, but he’s nowhere to be seen. I look down at my watch: it’s eleven-fifteen. I guess he’s in bed, and Maddie, too.

I make my way towards the study, where there’s a full decanter of whisky, for I now badly need a drink. I open the door and switch on the light. The room smells musty, of old books and cigars, and I head straight over to the oval bar server and pour myself a stiff drink, knocking back the golden liquid in one shot. It burns my throat, but I quickly pour another.

The door creaks and I spin around to see Callum standing there. He’s no longer defiant. Now he stands before me, his shoulders hunched over and his eyes pleading. I turn away from him and pour myself yet another shot of whisky.

“Ye need to go to bed,” I state, placing the stopper back into the decanter.

I’m surrounded by silence, so I assume Callum’s taken my good advice, and I let out a sigh and turn around. He’s still standing there.

“Dinnae ye hear me?” I snap. “Time for talking’s over.” I go over to a high-backed chair that faces a fire that’s no longer lit, and there I sit down, swirling the drink around the crystal tumbler.

To my dismay, Callum comes and sits beside me. He coughs, clears his throat and I look up to see the image of a broken man, one now wringing his hands. He’s clearly desperate for help, but I’m not the one he should turn to.

“Jamie,” he says in a small, defeated voice, “I want you to know our marriage was perfect in every way until she wanted a child. Not being able to give her the one thing she desires most in the world haunts me and has left the deepest furrows of pain in my heart. Up until that moment I’d provided her with everything she ever wanted. It was me who put up the capital for the flower shop when it was a goal she thought she’d never reach. I supported her through her training, watched her determination to succeed grow, like the flowers in her shop. I’ve always loved Maddie because of her unreasonable wildness. Every day with her is a challenge, but I wouldn’t change her for the world. She’s been so strong these past months, much stronger than I ever could be, and I feel myself growing weak.”

“Cal, I hear what you’re saying, but what you’re asking…”

“Do you not think it kills me to beg my own brother to do what I should be man enough to do myself? And the fact is…I’m ashamed. Ashamed I’ve dropped so deep into my pit of despair that I’m asking my own flesh and blood to do something that goes against everything we’ve ever believed in. But there’s simply no other way, not for me…not for Maddie.”

I shake my head. The booze is starting to hit me, but I’m still in control.

“Ye have nae right,” I declare, “to ask me to do such a thing, to ask…anyone.”

“Do you think I don’t know that? But I implore you to reconsider and think this through. I know what I’m asking goes beyond brotherly love, but I’m a drowning man begging you to throw me some rope.”

“I cannae do it, Callum; I just cannae,” and I watch my brother push his fingers through his hair, slowly inching his chair a little closer. His voice becomes low, conspiratorial, just like back in the pub.

“All I’m asking is for you to think about it. The quiz night is two days away. It’s just one night with her, Jamie, one night that could change everything.”

“Och, so let’s say for argument’s sake, I agree to go along with this crazy idea of yours. What if I sleep with her and she doesnae fall pregnant. Let’s face it, the stakes are stacked against us. What then?”

“Then at least I know we tried, and gave it our best shot.”

Before I can say anything, Callum pulls himself from his seat and pats me with affection on the shoulder.

“Two days, Jamie. Please think about it. That’s all I ask,” and I remain noncommittal as I watch him take himself off to bed.





Chapter 6


Maddie



I open the kitchen door to find Alasdair sitting alone by the fireside.

My gaze sweeps around the room.

“Hey,” I say lightly, “where’s Tweedle-dee and Tweedledum?” but he doesn’t crack a smile, and so I hurry over to him.