The Highlander's Promise

Try To Keep It Together

CLAIRE

I had to keep it together, things were going well and I know Gregor has been hinting around about meeting the kid because he wants a DNA test. I have nothing to fear though, the kid is his and I keep reassuring him of that. This is not the time to bring the kid over to Scotland though and maybe we could go visit him.

I have told him these same lies every day, all the time he has asked, I told him what I rehearsed with Maddox. I haven’t heard from Maddox in a few days and it was causing me to worry. The kid was a sniveling brat, I gave birth to him but I hated him. He was just a bargaining chip to get what I wanted and I ultimately wanted to be Mrs. Claire Mackenzie.

I have known I wanted to marry Gregor since we were children and everything was going along swimmingly until I got the itch to go abroad and become a doctor. I never went to school to become a doctor, in fact, the only thing that I did to come close to doctoral work is to get checked into rehab.

I had a problem but I was all better now. Staring at my shaky hands I clenched them and then held my breath counting to ten, exhaled, and counted to ten. I was stressing out over nothing, Maddox was probably just busy with whatever new woman he was screwing. I remember when he and I had a whirlwind week of s*x and cocaine.

Of course, I found out I was pregnant in rehab, that was a buzzkill. The nurses and doctors kept telling me that my child would have issues because of everything I was doing while pregnant. I laughed at them and said that if there was something wrong with the kid then I would just abort it or give it up for adoption. You should have seen the shock and disapproval on their faces.

The longer I was in rehab though, the more pregnant I became, and for a brief period there, I really thought I could actually be a good mother. I could forget all about Gregor and just start fresh with my kid and we could be the family I always wanted.

Things were great after I left rehab, I managed to get a job as a receptionist at a clinic, and I was living in a nice flat. It was not in the best part of town but it was good enough for me right now and I could make my meetings just by walking. It was perfect. I even started going to church again, there were times that I thought I had been forsaken but I was loved.

I even met a new man, his name was Charles, he was a widower and lost his wife in childbirth. That should have been my first red flag that things could end up going down the toilet. I was blissfully happy, he paid for a new flat for me and bought baby stuff for me.

Then he asked if he could take pictures, he loved the pregnant female form and I was feeling bloated and disgusting but he was the one paying my bills and everything. I posed for him in some tasteful shots and it made him deliriously happy. He would kiss my stomach and fall asleep on it and things were odd but nothing out of the ordinary.

Then he started asking for more shots but I would have to do odd poses and perform acts that were a bit distasteful in my current state. But he told me it was just to make him happy and I had to make him happy or everything of mine would be tossed into the gutter. He also told me that I wasn’t actually performing the acts I was just pretending. I couldn’t say no so I did what he asked.

The last straw was when I came home from the store and saw him wearing a diaper and m**********g through the diaper to my pictures while talking like a toddler. I nearly threw up, I turned around and went to my mother’s home.

She was not thrilled to see me especially since I was pregnant. She demanded to know who the baby’s father was and I told her it was Gregor’s child. She let me stay for two nights and then promptly kicked me out on the street. I had nowhere to go and I was refusing all calls from Charles.

I started skulking around my old haunts, someone would hopefully offer their couch to me out of pity. I wandered into one of the clubs I used to frequent and they nearly threw me out until Maddox saw me. He led me up to his office and let me sit on the couch while I explained everything to him. I was a crying sorry mess and he told me to hold on.

After a few minutes, he brought a cup of tea and a sandwich for me. Patting my shoulder he told me I could come stay with him. No strings attached and he would be ok with a child too. I hugged him and he was just the savior I needed. Things were finally going to be fine for my baby and I.

I didn’t remember much that night, I must have been more exhausted than I thought I was. I had fallen asleep on his couch and he let me crash in his office that night. I woke up feeling somewhat groggy and a little confused about where I was. Yet it was the best sleep I had in a long time.

I had him hook line and sinker now I just needed to get this kid out of my stomach and I could start living again. Things were a big blur after that but Maddox was my friend and he was the person who suggested I actually start teaching the kid Gregor’s mannerisms and acting like the man. Then he handed me the money and told me to go to Scotland it was time to make an appearance and get my man.

I do not regret listening to Maddox, I should have come back sooner. If I did he would not have started falling for that stupid American woman. I had Maddox create a fake will leaving Sheeps Lodge to me, I knew Melinda. I grew up here, this should have all been mine. Well it was mine now and Gregor was mine.

My hands continued to shake and I resisted the urge to take the pills that I had gotten from Maddox. I was trying to stay clean. I was trying to keep it together, but I found out that Gregor had his lawyer friend looking into things, that shrew was also taking me to court to get her house back. She could get it back over my dead body.

My phone rang and I jumped, looking around to make sure I was alone I answered it. Hopefully, it was Maddox with some good news. He was falsifying some paperwork in case it was needed for DNA results. He knew people and he would do anything for me. That is what he told me.

“Why haven’t you called me?” I tried not to sound impatient but he sometimes ended up on my last nerve and I needed to be very careful.

“Well, we have a problem. Your brat ended up falling in the street and hurting himself while I was on the phone with my guy about the papers we need.” I scowled at the phone, there was going to be a big payout at the end of this charade. Maddox would get the money he wanted and I would get this house and Gregor Mackenzie. That was all I wanted, Melinda was loaded and I didn’t need all her money.

“Is the brat ok? He is such a klutz.” I somewhat resented the kid but he was too much of a handful sometimes and very unwilling to just make me happy. I was his mother, he should want to make me happy.

“I’m sending you a picture and let me know if you know these people. They had your son taken away.” I nearly dropped the phone, cursing loudly and letting out a scream I punched the wall and immediately regretted my stupidity. I heard the notification on my phone and saw a picture of that b***h Annabelle and Gregor sitting on a bench watching my kid. I squinted and looked at the man again and cursed even more.

“That’s Gregor’s brother Sullivan and the woman is that b***h Annabelle. What the hell is she doing in London?” I should be worrying about if my kid was alright, and why he was taken away. But that wasn’t the priority right now. I had to keep calm and find out why they were in London.

“My guess is they were trying to figure out if the kid is Gregor’s. But he fell in the street and she swooped in acting like she was concerned about the kid. He fell down in front of them and another couple who called Children’s services. It doesn’t look good Claire you may have to come back momentarily and answer for this.” I nearly threw the phone at the wall as I paced in the kitchen. Why was nothing going my way?

“No, this could work too. I am too busy here in Scotland. You know people just make my information a little harder to find and let the kid float around in the system until I get Gregor.” Maddox let out a sigh and I could imagine him rubbing his temples.

“Claire, this could be very bad for all of us. I will do what I can but you are either going to have to hurry things along on your end or cut your losses and come back to London.” I grit my teeth and stared around at the estate. I was not going to leave this all behind, I have gotten too damn far to give up.

“Do what you can Maddox, I know what I have to do and thank you.” He grunted and the line went dead. I hurried into my room which was her room. I dug through my bag and found what I was looking for. I popped open the bottle and dumped two of the pills in the bottle of whiskey Gregor drinks when he came over. It was nearly empty and he was due to come over tonight. Well he wouldn’t be leaving and I am going to give him a night he will not forget.