Highlander Ever After

Family Lunch

Gregor

Three days later and I am still thinking about that guy who took Sully’s phone. Dahlia was lounging on my couch and reading some medical journals she found in my grandfather’s study. My mother was supposed to greet us at the door, but she sent the butler.

My sisters opted out of the family lunch as well. It seems they could also care less about our fortune. Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair and waited for my parents. I had to wear traditional Scottish attire and my kilt was itching me.

“Gregor, please sit down, you are making me nervous.” She was looking impeccable in a tweed skirt and suit jacket, pearls around her neck, and her dark hair perfectly coiffed.

“Aye, I would love to. I am just a wee bit nervous.” My parents were not fans of Anna even though they never met her. They were definitely put off by Claire and her antics.

“Baby, as you know what they say, the third time is a charm and I am a charm.” She grinned at me and my heart melted a little bit. I grabbed her hand and grinned at her.

“Ye are very charming.” I stroked her knuckles and she went back to gazing at the journal she sat on the coffee table.

“Oh, dona get up on our account.” My mother walked in with my father behind her, his steps were slow and the stormy look on his face could only mean they were arguing about something.

I stood up and walked over to give my mother a kiss on her cheeks. She still wore the same expensive designer perfume from when I was younger. Some things never change.

I gave my father a handshake and they turned their attention to Dahlia, who was completely engrossed in the book and ignoring them.

My mother wrinkled her nose and muttered something to my father while I tried to get Dahlia’s attention. She looked up and her eyes went wide and a huge grin split her face.

“Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie I was reading one of these old medical journals and was absolutely intrigued by the information.” She gushed and walked over to my mother and gave her a huge hug. Then she hugged my father.

Neither of my parents liked that, we were not big on displays of affection. My mother pulled away and wiped her arms and hands off as if Dahlia were something disgusting.

“Is this that Anna girl you were with?” I wanted to sigh at the disdain in my mother’s voice.

“Actually, madam, I am much better than that ill-bred American and I do wish you would get to know me before you look down your nose at me.” Dahlia was staring my mother down and I swallowed I thought it was going to be a fistfight.

“OH HO BOY she has spunk. I like this one. Come along, ladies lunch awaits us. Dahlia is it, nice to meet ye I am Gregor’s father, Gregor, he is junior and I am senior.” I let out a sigh of relief as my father took Dahlia out of the study.

It was just my mother and I and the tension was so thick you could cut it.

“Have ye heard from Sullivan? I keep ringing him but I believe he is ignoring my calls.” My mother still had that look on her face as if she smelled something rotten.

“Aye, I talked to him and he said he wouldna be coming to lunch.” She let out a sigh and examined the Rolex on her wrist.

“What about yer sisters? They willna take my calls either.” I wanted to tell my mother that if she wasn’t so judgmental of their husbands and boyfriends, then they would have a relationship with her. She has alienated almost everyone in the family.

“Mother, ye do realize why they dona want to talk with ye?” I couldn’t hide the exhaustion and annoyance anymore. She widened her eyes and gave a small gasp of surprise.

“Gregor! Ye have never talked to me like this before, is this because of that new girl ye are dating?” I pinched the bridge of my nose and shook my head.

“Mother, ye are exhausting. It is because ye have not given any of us the chance to find happiness.”

“I have brought ye up to be God-fearing children and I have brought ye up to have the best opportunities in life. Running around with some ragamuffin American and getting her pregnant is not what I had in mind for ye.”

“Mother…”

“Yer sister could have done so much better but she married an Asian man and now my grandbabies are halfbreeds. Oh, how embarrassing for me.” She was now in full hysterical mode and there was no stopping her.

“I have someone coming over for ye Gregor, so yer little trollop will just have to deal with ye getting to know a real woman.” I slammed my fist down on the coffee table and she jumped.

“I am dating Dahlia now, Mother, I have no interest in other women.” She narrowed her eyes at me and smiled. I knew that smile, it was the smile I knew that would mean my life would change.

“Ye are just dating her, I have arranged for yer marriage to Maisie Campbell and there is nothing ye can do about it.” She stalked out of the study just as I heard the front door open.

My mother let out a scream and I rushed to her side. There stood my brother, Anna, another man, and a woman chatting with Anna, who I assumed must be Maisie. Sullivan had his arm around the man’s waist and he was grinning.

“Hello, Mother and dear brother. I ran into this lovely lady outside and she introduced herself as Gregor’s wife-to-be. I figured I would come to lunch after all.” My mother was pale as Maisie laughed at something Anna said.

My heart stopped, she looked stunning, her hair was cut shorter and it suited her. She was practically radiant and jealousy stabbed at me. Was it because of that new man or had Sullivan finally seduced her?

“Oh, baby, look at your brother. He looks positively green with envy.” My mouth dropped open as Jer sauntered up beside Sully, he was dressed in full-out drag queen wear and he placed a kiss on my brother’s mouth.

“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS SULLIVAN?” My mother’s screeching voice echoed through the hall and I am sure my father heard it as well.

“Oh, you didn’t know I brought my girlfriend Anna, and my two boyfriends, Cassius and Jeremy. Did I mention that Jer is also married and we are having an affair?” Anna made eye contact with me and the cold look in her eyes could only mean she knew about Dahlia.

My mother let out a blood-curdling scream and stomped out of the hall and she was yelling for my father. Jer started laughing and took off his wig to wipe the sweat from his brow.

“Jeremy, where did ye get those shoes? I want to know if they have them in my size.” Maisie seemed unfazed by this but I couldn’t help sizing up Cassius, he looked a lot like that actor Rob Lowe.

“Well kiddies, this looks like it is going to be my type of party. Oh lookie, here is that your little girlfriend Gregor.” The venom in Jer’s voice made me turn around to see a stunned Dahlia standing in the doorway.

“Gregor, I am open-minded, but if we are to get married I willna share ye with another woman. Hello, Dahlia, is it? Yes, I am Gregor’s fiancée, Maisie Campbell. I do hope ye are done with yer little fling with my man.”

I felt like I was going to pass out, when I came to this lunch, I was not expecting a circus. I expected my mother to give Dahlia the cold shoulder.

Leave it to Sullivan to liven things up and make an entrance.