Page 30 of Blakely and Liam

“Two days! You sound like my husband.”

“Nae, I daena mean tae sound like him, I daena mean ye can never do it. I mean ye are nae ready and ye arna thinkin’ on it straight. I am sayin’ yer pack is too heavy and ye’re risking yer life. I am nae saying ye are shite, I think ye are verra braw, actually, I am sayin’ yer plan is shite. And ye ken I think yer plan is shite because yer husband was part of plannin’ it. He sounds like an arse.”

“You think I’m braw?”

“Aye.”

“Thank you. But about the shite-ness, Liam, I have to go on this hike. I honestly do.” She looked back at the pack. “It’s going to be good for me.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “As long as ye’ve thought it through.”

She laughed. “I have thought this through for so many years in so many ways, I have been basically planning this my whole life. Honestly, I’ve thought through every scenario and it’s really high time to get going. Before I overthink it, you know?”

I nodded. “Aye.” I slapped my hands on my knees. “All right, Woodshee, I hae tae go tae the pub, ye will be gone in the mornin’?” I stood.

“Yes, and thank you again for your help. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Ye are welcome, lassie. Beannachd leibh, it means ‘blessings be with ye’, m’grandmother would say it.”

“Beannachd leibh, Liam. My grandmother would do this...” She put out her little finger and showed me tae wrap mine in hers and then she pressed her lips to her thumb. “Now you press your mouth to the other side.”

I did the same.

She let go of my hand.

Then she threw her arms around me and gave me a big awkward hug and for a moment there was a rush of scent — vanilla and spice from her hair that filled my lungs and made me lose m’breath. Then she let me go.

* * *

I rode tae the pub, parked m’truck, and stared out at the building taking some long moments before going inside tae fulfill m’duties tae my father’s dream.

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