Page 39 of Promises to Keep

Magnus said, “Coca-Cola, but the bag is on it so it winna distract from the taste.”

Sean said, “Aye, sorry, Young Magnus.” He slid the can back into the bag and once everyone had one, Magnus showed them all how to pull up the tab to open it, and then to drink. Coke sprayed and fizzed, and everyone tasted it, and grimaced and shivered and carried on as if it were the worst thing ever, but though they were warm, they continued drinking anyway, licking their lips and smacking.

Magnus pulled bottles of perfume from the box next, giving one each to Lizbeth and to Maggie, then duct tape and Zippo lighters for Sean and Liam. He ran his hand through his hair nervously as he passed the gifts around. Then, rubbing his hands together excitedly, he passed them each a bottle of bourbon, and pre-mixed margaritas for Lizbeth, who asked, bemusedly, “Young Magnus did ye buy us these presents yerself? I believe tis usually Kaitlyn who does it!”

“Aye, I picked them all out. Smell the perfume, ye will like it, I think.”

“I daena think I ever had m’brother give me a bottle of perfume before!”

He ran his hand through his hair again, flushing awkwardly. “I wanted ye tae hae something verra fine.”

Her eyes were misty. “That is lovely. I think I always assume that the wife will buy the presents. I think tis a fine compliment that ye hae done it for me, thank ye.”

“Yer welcome.” He placed an extra piece of chocolate in front of her. Lochinvar was farther down the table with a box of Oreos, ripping it open on the side, and quickly swarmed by Magnus’s nieces and nephews, placing one each in front of them. The kids all cheered. Wee Ainsley tasted his first, with all the others watching him wondering how it would taste.

He chewed. “Vewa good!”

The kids begged for more, so Lochinvar gave them three each and told them to run off. They did, cheering.

Magnus said, “Now we ought tae all eat our own cookies and drink our own drinks.” He mixed Coke and bourbon for Sean and Liam in glasses that said, I love New York on the side. Sean tasted it. “Young Magnus, this is delicious!”

“Aye, tis verra delicious tae hae such a drink with the sweetness and the fizz, though tis better with ice in it.”

Lizbeth said, “Och, how I do miss ice. Twas lovely when I had it in m’drinks! And coffee, I hae a special fondness for it.”

I grinned, “Magnus brought coffee for you too!”

Lizbeth clapped her hands. Then she broke a small piece of chocolate from a bar, bit off a very tiny piece, and moaned happily.

Sean said, “Magnus, ye must come tae the nursery and see the new bairn, a son!”

Maggie nodded demurely.

Magnus exclaimed, “Och aye! Another son! How many bairns dae ye hae now, brother?”

Sean finished the last of his bourbon and Coke, slammed the glass on the table, and exclaimed, “Six! She is a fine wife, the bairns keep comin’ and most of them sons!”

I glanced over at Lizbeth who pursed her lips.

She said, “Brother, there is a wonderful virtue in making many bairns, tis of course the divine callin’ of a good, virtuous wife, but ye might want tae consider slowin’ down, else ye will tire yer wife, and what if she lost her good humor?”

Sean laughed. “M’sweet Maggie would tire? Nae, she winna tire! She is a patient, and doting mother, och nae, Lizbeth, that is the blood of Lady Mairead flowing in yer veins tae even suggest it. Ye take after our mother, daena she, Liam? And now that we are speaking on it, when will ye hae another bairn, Lizbeth?”

“God will decide, Sean, and ye ken, the last was a verra difficult delivery for me.”

Sean, looking a bit drunk, nodded, “Aye, I ken Lizbeth.”

She continued, “Liam and I near lost our son. He is verra fine and that is all we can ask for — a fine son, perhaps there winna be another, but Liam is verra proud of him.”

Liam, always quiet, patted her hand.

Sean said, “What of you, Young Magnus, another bairn for ye? Yer Kaitlyn will give ye a son?”

Magnus grinned at me. “How do ye like it, my Kaitlyn, whenever ye come tae visit m’family, m’brother asks ye why ye arna with bairn yet? This is a verra proper question for ye?”

I laughed. “There is no one else in the world who gets so far up in our business, husband, than your brother, always wondering whethereveryoneis with bairn.”

Sean laughed, “I appreciate a castle full of bairns, it secures our future — daena ye enjoy it as well, Young Magnus?”

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