Page 33 of Edinburgh Escape
Ewan nodded. “Entered the British Air Force straight out of school and served in the SAS. Left three years ago after catching some shrapnel. My running days were over.” He patted his left leg. “And you?”
Callum’s lips twisted in a wry grin. “SAS.”
Ewan’s eyes widened. “Cal McCall. I thought I’d heard that name. Your team spent more time in Syria while we were cleaning up in Afghanistan. We probably ran into each other somewhere in our careers.”
Callum nodded. The man’s red hair did seem familiar. Many of Callum’s memories of his time in SAS revolved around his team, most of whom were now gone.
“Ewan, are you going to introduce us to your guests?” a woman’s voice sounded behind Callum.
He and Maggie turned toward the sound to find a tall, slender woman with platinum blond hair and brown eyes standing at the entrance to the sitting room. She wore a tailored pantsuit, classic heels and a pearl necklace.
“Ah, Fiona, come meet my sister, Maggie McKendrick.” Ewan waved the woman forward.
As Fiona moved further into the room, something moved behind her. She turned and glanced down at a little boy with bright red curls. “It’s okay. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” she said softly.
The little boy slipped his hand in hers and stared at Maggie and Callum, his eyes round and wary.
“Maggie, Cal, this is Fiona Drummond, my beautiful stepmother.” Ewan crossed to the woman and child and swung the boy up into his arms. “And this little guy is my brother, Bryce.”
The boy grinned and wrapped an arm around Ewan’s neck.
“Bryce, my boy, come meet your big sister, Maggie.” Ewan carried the boy over to Maggie and set him on the floor, squatting beside him.
Maggie’s eyes widened and filled with tears. She slowly knelt beside the little boy to get on his level and held out her hand. “Hello, Bryce. It’s nice to meet you.”
The child took her hand and shook it, his face solemn. “Pleasure to meet you,” he said, his voice soft and the words so grown up for one so small. When she released his hand, he reached up and touched a strand of her curly red hair. “It’s like mine.”
She nodded. “Yes, it is.” Maggie looked up at Ewan. “And like his.”
“I thought sisters were smaller,” he said.
Maggie laughed. “I once was small like you. Then I grew.”
His brow puckered. “You sound funny.”
“I grew up in a place called the United States. Do you know where that is?”
He nodded. “My teacher showed me where the United States was on a map. It’s really big.”
“Yes, it is,” Maggie said. “People talk funny there. Like me. I’m a teacher back where I come from with students just like you.”
“I like my teacher,” Bryce said.
“I bet she’s nice.” Maggie straightened and held out her hand to Fiona. “It’s nice to meet you. Your son is very nice.”
Fiona’s eyes narrowed as she looked down at Maggie’s hand. She looked back up without taking the proffered hand. “Why are you here?” she asked, “and who is this man?”
“She’s here because I invited her,” Ewan said.
Maggie nodded.
“And I’m Callum McCall,” Callum said, “her fiancé.”
Fiona’s frown moved from Maggie to Callum. “A man dies, and the vultures circle.”
“Now, Fiona,” Ewan said. “Maggie and I found each other on the ancestry app. That DNA test I sent off got a match. We exchanged emails, and I invited her to meet the family here in Scotland. Besides, it’s just like Master Bryce said, I always wanted a sister. Isn’t that right, my man?”
Bryce nodded and looked up at his mother. “Can we keep her?”
