Page 79 of Lochlan

“Aye,” Geordie says. “He's requested that all three of us be in the meeting.”

I postpone my talk with Kenzie to concentrate on this current threat.

“Did he say what the meeting is about?” I ask, the two of them looking as worried as I feel.

“You know Granda as well as I do. He likes to operate on a need-to-know basis.” Geordie glances at his watch. “Let's go find out what this is all about.”

We agree to open a feed in my office. I have a large monitor that I use for presentations. We sit at a circular table, looking up at the screen, when Ian MacTavish appears.

It's night in Edinburgh, so he's probably in his office at the residence.

“Good evening, Granda,” I say to begin the conversation.

“Thank you, I'll manage it from here,” he says to someone off-screen. He doesn't focus on us until a door closes.

“Good afternoon, and thank you for responding to my meeting notice. I'm pleased to see that Catriona has officially been announced; it was impressive to hear it from the BBC news. My aides have also brought to my attention that you had an interview that not only announced Catriona, but that Lochlan and Fiona have decided to reunite. So may I say congratulations, but as you know, we are a family business and we must consider our livelihood and align it with our personal lives.”

He reaches for something off-camera. When he's back in view, he's sipping a glass of water.

Fiona takes this moment to respond. “Thank you, Ian. I can't speak for Lochlan, but I'm thrilled at the turn of events.”

“As you should be; you deserve to be happy. This call is not about your reunion. I've decided to place Fiona in control of MacTavish Cellars and Catriona as of today. Lochlan and Geordie, please assist Fiona with the transfer of information and support her with anything she'll need.”

Geordie and I both nod in stiff, stunned silence.

“Thank you, Ian,” Fiona says, flushed with excitement.

“You're more than ready for this task. I know you'll do an excellent job. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to speak with my grandsons. We'll speak tomorrow and I'll give you more details.”

Fiona pushes away from her seat and leaves the room.

The day could not get any worse. With barely controlled anger, I confront my Granda.

“Was my management of the winery and Catriona so inept that you had to take control away from me?”

Geordie shoots me a warning look.

Granda places his tumbler somewhere off-screen, then settles back into his black, overstuffed leather chair. “I didn't say I wasn't pleased with the running of the winery. I think Fiona should manage our California interests. Geordie?”

“Aye, Granda.”

“Please leave us to talk. You and I will have a private word later.”

Geordie rises to his feet, turns his back to the screen and mouthscalm down, then exits the room.

There have been very few showdowns I've had with Ian MacTavish, and no one who goes against his wishes comes out unscathed.

“Lochlan, I think you've done an excellent job building and running MacTavish Cellars. I have no doubt if I left you to manage Catriona, you'd do an outstanding job with that project as well. That's not the point. I want you to play a bigger role in the business. I want you to come home.”

I've wanted to hear these words for a long time. I'd almost given up on being invited back home.

“Are you saying I'm allowed to come back, that my penance is over?”

“Sending you to America was never a punishment. It was to save you, and it did.”

I think about what this means.

“Lochlan, you've always been my favorite, although I never could show it, because it wasn't fair to have favorites among three grandsons. You may be my favorite, but I do love you all equally.

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