MacKenzie Heat

Chapter Three: Home Again

                Malcolm pulled up to the old ranch house he’d grown up in. The two-story house was grey, and the trim was white. His mother had even insisted on the cliché white picket fence around the yard. The field for the alfalfa was behind the house and the barn and horse paddocks were to the side. Malcolm smiled as he opened the door and the smell of fresh-turned dirt and horse manure his him. Lord, how he had missed this place, missed the smell, and the faces of his loved ones. He’d seen all of them at one point or another in the last 10 years, but it hadn’t been as often as he would have liked, or for that matter, as often as his mother would have liked. Malcolm reached into the back seat of his crew cab truck and grabbed his duffel bag. Living with his parents was temporary. He’d be getting his own place as soon as he could. He was hoping to be closer to the fire station, further in town and away from the farms and ranches…

                “Malcolm!” Skye’s voice pierced his thoughts.

Malcolm looked up to see Skye running across the yard, he smiled and walked through the open gate and into her arms.

                “Hiya mum,” he whispers into her hair. He inhaled her scent before pulling away, “how’s everythin’?”

                Skye’s smile slipped ever so slightly. She didn’t think that Malcolm had noticed, but he had. He’d been a firefighter for too long not to notice little details.

                “Great,” Skye said, fidgeting with her apron before turning to the house, “come on then, I’ve got fresh sheets on yer bed, and dinner is almost done.”

                Skye walked away briskly; Malcolm followed knowing that his mother had just lied to him. As he entered the house, he pushed the thoughts away, he was home! Malcolm went upstairs to his childhood bedroom. There were posters from bands that he didn’t even like anymore, pinned to the walls, clothing that hadn’t fit him in years were hanging in the closet and a small box of childhood toys that he’d been too nostalgic to get rid of sat in the corner. He set his duffel bag down on the full-sized bed and sat down. Malcolm thought about Skye’s reaction to his question. Something was wrong and she was hiding it from him. He whipped out his phone and opened the group text that he had for his brothers and himself.

                Malcolm: Somethin’s up

                It was a painstaking 2 minutes before he got a reply.

                Morgan: Eh?

                Murdoch: What dae ye mean?

                Malcolm: I jus’ got here and when I asked mum how’s things she hesitated. Mates, she lied tae me.

Morgan: Mum’s never lied, that’s a horrible thing tae say ‘bout mum…

Murdoch: Nae mate, Malcolm’s right. She lied tae me too. When we was last there, she looked stressed, worried almost, I asked what was wrong and she said nothing, but I could clearly see summat was wrong.

Malcolm: WHAT!? Why the hell dinna ye say something before now!

Morgan: I just got off work, I’m on my way over.

Morgan lived in town, and it would only take him 5 or 10 minutes to get here. Malcolm sighed with relief; he didn’t want to confront his mom alone. He thought about what Murdoch said.

Murdoch: sorry, I was overworked and stressed, figured I’d just been seeing things. Listen, this is supposed tae be a surprise, but we’re on our way home too. I got hired on at the hospital in Lancaster, Em is going tae be working part-time…she’s pregnant again…we’ll be there tonight. We’ll be there in about an hour. Please dinna say anything to mum without me.

Malcolm stared at the screen…pregnant again! Holy shite.

Morgan: FFS mate! Dinna ye ken what a condom is! Yer a doctor dinna ye ken how to use one!

Malcolm nodded his head in agreeance. Hell, Raider was only 2 ½ months old!

Murdoch: I’m nae talking about this right now! Just dinna talk to mum about her lying until we get there!

Malcolm and Morgan both agreed, and the text chat ended. Malcolm stood up and went to the bathroom to clean up before he heard feet stomping up the stairs. He went to the hallway to see Morgan racing toward him! The brothers embraced, they had not seen each other since last Thanksgiving, it was now almost September.

“Dinner!” Skye’s voice echoed up the stairs.

“Does she ken yer here?” Malcolm asked Morgan.

He smiled ruefully.

“Nope!”

Malcolm chuckled and led the way down the stairs. They entered the dining room; Skye’s back was to them as she finished setting the food out on the table.

“Malcolm, I ken ye’ve nae been home in 10 years but lad, ye should ken better than running up and doon the stairs like an elephant.” Skye scolded.

“It wasnae me, mum, I’ve never been one fer racing up or down the stairs.”

Skye nodded and looked around at Malcolm. Morgan had disappeared down the hall to grab himself a plate to add to the table.

“True, that was always Morgan’s bad habit, still is the little wretch!” Skye chuckled. Malcolm grinned and looked behind him to see that Morgan was nowhere to be seen. He shrugged when he didn’t see him. Malcolm turned back to his mother to see Morgan sneaking up behind her from the other door. Malcolm bit his lip to keep from laughing. Skye looked at Malcolm’s expression.

“Are ye ok lad?”

Malcolm nodded, holding his breath.

“Okay…” Skye began to turn toward Morgan.

“BOO!” Morgan jumped toward Skye. She jumped and shrieked. Malcolm burst out laughing. Morgan laughed too. Skye grabbed the cloth napkin from the table and began beating Morgan with it.

“Ye little wretch, how could ye do that tae me! Ye scared me half tae death!” She scolded.

Morgan grabbed her up in a hug and she quieted.

“Yer both awful! Playing tricks on yer old mum like that, shame on ye.”

“Woulda been worse if Murdoch had been here eh?” Morgan asked.

Skye shook her head.

“Individually you three are great men, behaved and mature. Get just two of ye together and it’s like yer 15 years old again! I canna imagine what it would be like if all three of ye were here.”

“It would probably be a madhouse,” Callum MacKenzie entered the room. He looked as though he’d lost a lot of weight, but he still looked strong, and just like Malcolm had seen him last almost three years before.

Skye nodded in agreement and gestured for everyone to sit down. Morgan grabbed the extra plate he’d gone to the kitchen for and set it on the table. Skye nodded and the four of them bowed their heads. Callum said grace before he looked up and smiled.

“It’s almost like old times, we’re just missing our boy, Murdoch. Welcome home Malcolm, I’m glad ye decided tae finally do it.”

“Ta dad, I think I just needed tae wait fer the right time, and it just finally felt right.”

Everyone began dishing their food and eating. They chatted about many things, catching up on how things had been. Malcolm watched his parents closely. Skye watched Callum closely, each time she looked at him, worry and fear flooded her eyes, but her smile never faltered. Morgan also watched, listened, and tried to subtly pry, but whatever was going on, neither of them was opening up.

Malcolm and Morgan put the leftovers away and did the dishes, they were just drying the last of the dishes when they heard Skye shout. The two ran to the sitting room to find Skye in tears, Callum laughing, and Murdoch and his brood standing in the doorway.

“So, the madhouse begins!” Callum chuckled reaching out for Race. The little boy ran to his grandpa and hugged him tightly. Callum snuggled the boy before settling him on his lap.

Skye continued to cry as she reached out to hug Murdoch. She hugged Emily next before snatching the baby from her arms. Skye took the bairn to Callum.

“Look, Callum, he’s got ye eyes! Oh, I was wondering if any of the grandbairns would look like yer da,” Skye said looking at her sons.

“Jeez ma, ye act like ye’ve got 10 grandbairns already! Ye only have 2!” Morgan said awkwardly. Malcolm nodded.

“Aye and who’s fault is that?” Skye said stalking the two across the room. Malcolm and Morgan continued to back up away from Skye. They ended up backed against the wall.

“Ye two lazy sack of bones are sae busy with yer work ye cannae even find time tae get married? Have a bairn or 2? Look at Murdoch and Emily…they went tae Med school! Freaking Med School and they have 2 bairns already!”

“Aye, because Murdoch doesnae ken what contraceptives are,” Morgan muttered. Malcolm bit his lips.

Skye glared at Morgan.

“Ye’ve been seeing sweet Danae fer years now, when are ye gonna marry her?”

Malcolm grinned and looked at Morgan. Morgan nervously shifted his gaze away. The baby in Skye’s arms began to fuss and she turned away from her sons to settle Raider. Emily sat and was talking to Skye and Callum, drawing their attention away from the boys. Murdoch motioned for his brothers to follow and the three snuck out of the room. They were out the back door and into the treehouse before anyone could notice their absence. Malcolm looked around the treehouse. Their dad had helped the three of them build it when they were 10 years old. Callum had kept it protected with weatherproof stains and maintained the safety of the treehouse even now. Malcolm laughed.

“We’re in the treehouse…. we’re twenty-eight years old and we’re hiding in our childhood treehouse.”

The other boys chuckled at the comment.

Malcolm looked at Murdoch. He looked worn and had dark circles under his eyes. Between residency and a newborn, Malcolm had no idea how Murdoch even functioned, he surely wasn’t getting much sleep.

“Hey Murdoch, congrats on the job, and the new baby. I ken we teased ye, but seriously, congrats.” Malcolm said quietly.

Morgan nodded, “aye mate! I love Race and Raider tae bits, I canna wait fer another one tae love. Besides, if ye and Em keep popping them oot mum will ignore the fact that we havenae!”

Murdoch laughed, “thanks…. I think.”

Malcolm turned to Morgan.

“Sae, when are we having wedding bells?”

Morgan rolled his eyes, “ye sound like mum. I already proposed. Danae said yes. She’s planning the wedding and hasnae told me when yet. When I ken ye’ll ken. Mum already ken’s that too. She’s been trying to push Danae to let her help. Since Emily’s family didn’t let mum be involved, she’s hoping Danae will, but Danae, although she loves mum, wants her own mum and sisters tae help with the wedding plans. Sae if I dinna ken anything, no even a date, then mum doesnae get involved.”

Murdoch shook his head, “mate, yer supposed to be helping yer bride plan the wedding too. She cannae shut you out, it’s yer wedding too.”

“Oh she asks me for my opinion on things and I’ve helped pick out stuff, but I agreed that as long as everyone kenned at least 2 months ahead of time what date it was that it would be fine. Danae says the invitations will be sent out tomorrow, and its 4 months in advance, so I do ken it's in December.” Morgan shrugged.

His brothers accepted that, and they didn’t push for more details. Instead, the brothers began talking about their mother and her odd behavior. Malcolm and Morgan shared their observations from dinner with Murdoch. He nodded his head.

“I think this has to do with dad,” Murdoch said after a moment.

Malcolm nodded and Morgan looked away.

“Di ye think he’s sick?” Morgan asked.

Callum loved his sons equally and treated them all equally but Morgan had always been more like dad than the other two and had been closer to him, he was the first one to come back after they were sent away…Morgan forgave easily and loved deeply and without reservation. Murdoch was a bit more guarded but Malcolm, he loved his parents but held grudges, or he had in the past, and because he was so alike to Callum the two butted heads more often than not, and their relationship was strained. Despite that Malcolm felt a lump grow in his throat at the question, he wasn’t ready to lose his parents…

They looked at Murdoch for an answer. He looked back sadly.

“Aye, mates, I think sae. He’s lost a lot of weight, I knew the Fraser boys have been here a lot “helping” and if mum’s really behaving like that, then I would say that there’s summat wrong and they’re keepin’ it from us.”

The brothers sat silently for a time, then the silence was broken by the ping of a phone. Murdoch pulled his phone out and looked at it.

“It’s Em, she’s got the bairn to sleep and she’s going tae bed too. She says mum and dad are in the study, whisperin’…I think we should just go talk tae them.”

The other two agreed and the three descended from the treehouse and reentered the house. Malcolm brought up the rear and as he closed the door, he locked it out of habit. In the country, they never locked the doors, but in Louisville, locked doors were a must. He followed his brothers to the study door. Morgan and Murdoch hesitated. They looked at Malcolm. He swallowed nervously, nodded to his brothers, and knocked on the door.

“Enter,” Callum’s voice beckoned.

They entered the room and walked straight up to the desk and formed a wall of muscle, full of strength, fear, concern, and bravery. Callum looked up at his three sons and smiled proudly. A Doctor, a lawman, and a firefighter, each of them heroes by their own right. Skye sat in Callum’s lap. The boys didn’t think anything of it. All their lives their parents had been openly affectionate and mum’s favorite place to sit was on dad’s lap.

Malcolm cleared his throat.

“We need tae talk,” despite clearing his throat, his words came out quiet and weak. He swallowed repeatedly.

“Mum, you lied tae Malcolm today. Ye lied to Murdoch last time he was here, and honestly, I’m beginning to think ye’ve been lying to me,” Morgan said. His voice was stronger but is wavered.

Skye looked down at her lap, refusing to meet the eyes of her children.

“Yer mum lied because I told her tae,” Callum spoke firmly as if to say that this discussion was over. Murdoch and Morgan looked as if they were going to accept this and began to retreat. Malcolm didn’t move a muscle. Callum’s eyes met his, daring him to push further. Malcolm stared back, he was 28, not 18, he was no longer intimidated by Callum MacKenzie.

“Families dinna lie to each other,” Malcolm’s voice was strong now and firm, “Families dinna keep important things from each other. Families dinna ask others to lie fer them.” Malcolm glared at his dad.

“We ken something is wrong. An’ after watching ye two at dinner it’s blarin’ obvious that it summat to do with ye dad. We cannae force ye to tell us, but if ye dinna, we’re gonna make our own assumptions. They could be worse than what’s going on or they could be not bad enough. Either way, we have a right to ken, we’re yer family,” Malcolm growled at the end. He was angry now that his parents were keeping secrets. Everyone was entitled to some secrets but if it was tae do with their health, or the ranch, the three of them had a right to know.

Callum sighed and lifted Skye off his lap. She smiled slightly at Malcolm and then moved to pour a shot of whiskey for everyone in the room. None of them knew that Malcolm had been an alcoholic, and although he knew the day would come when he’d have to tell them, he didn’t want it to be now.

Malcolm watched Callum, he’d sat back and was staring at the three boys. Skye passed out the tumblers and returned to Callum’s lap.

Callum lifted his glass and saluted his sons.

“Am sae proud of all three of ye. I want ye to ken that,” he took a sip before speaking again, “I’ve got cancer.”

Malcolm’s hands started trembling, he looked to see how his brothers were taking the news. Murdoch had clearly gone into doctor mode, he nodded and remained stoic, Morgan looked like someone had just punched him in the gut, his hands shook, and he took a sip of the whiskey to steady himself. Murdoch also took a sip. Malcolm took a few quick deep breaths before looking at his parents again, but he was at a loss for words. Murdoch finally broke the silence.

“What type of cancer?”

“Hodgkin Lymphoma, stage 2,” Callum sipped his whiskey.

Malcolm turned to Murdoch; Morgan was also looking at Murdoch. They were waiting for the “Doc” to tell them how bad it was. Callum also looked at Murdoch.

Murdoch smiled softly; worry was still in his eyes, but he turned to look at his brothers.

“Hodgkin Lymphoma has about an 86% survival rate.”

Malcolm sighed. So, this was a battle, but it wasn’t a losing battle. He knew Callum was a fighter, and he would be okay.

Callum nodded, “I dinna see the point in worryin’ ye lad’s wit this as its no’ sae serious, it dinna seem important. But I have been tired a lot and yer mum has been running the ranch fer me, with the help of the Frasers, while I do ma chemo….but yer mum is a worrier and I go in fer my next round of chemo tomorrow. I’ll be up in Lexington fer a couple a’ days. Yer mum hates it and that’s why she’s so upset and worryin’. Now, I ken the three of ye dinna work tomorrow sae I expect ye up early tae do the chores.”

Callum smiled, “Malcolm, wait one minute I need tae talk tae ye.”

The other boys left the room and headed to their beds. Technically Morgan didn’t live at home anymore, but as dad said, he didn’t work tomorrow so he may as well stay here and help.

Callum watched as the other boys left the room. He looked at Skye as she looked at Malcolm. Malcolm raised his eyebrows at her, she chuckled. Callum cleared his throat to get her attention.

Skye looked at him.

“Go tae bed, I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Oh…okay,” Skye left the room hesitantly.

Malcolm stood holding his glass of whiskey and waiting for whatever Callum was going to say. He prayed that Callum wasn’t mad at him.

“Ye stood yer ground. Am glad, ye’ve really changed the most ye ken? Yer brothers learned to hold their tongues and nae to argue, but ye, ye learned to speak yer mind and stand up fer yerself.”

Malcolm nodded but said nothing. His fingers fidgeted on the glass in his hands.

“Ye dinna drink yer whiskey.” Callum nodded to the glass in his hands.

Malcolm looked down at the amber liquid in his glass, he so longed to drink it, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to stop. He sighed and placed the glass on the desk.

“Nay and I will no’. I’ve been 5 years sober and I wanna keep it that way.”

Callum nodded in understanding.

“Do yer brothers or mither ken?”

Malcolm hung his head in shame, “Nay dad, I am a recovering alcoholic, I’m no’ proud of it and it’s no’ something that I go around telling people. I’m ashamed of it.”

Callum stood and walked over to Malcolm; he pulled his son into a hug.

“Yer so much like me ye canna even see it. Ye just said families dinna keep important things a secret. Being a recovering alcoholic is important lad, it will allow us tae support you better.”

Callum turned and picked up Malcolm’s glass of whiskey, he shot it back and set the glass back on the desk.

“There ye go, lad, the temptation is gone.”

Malcolm smiled, “thanks, dad.”

Callum nodded.

“Ye may no’ be proud to be an alcoholic, Malcolm, but ye can be proud that yer 5 years sober, I ken I’m damn proud of ye fer it.”

Malcolm nodded again; a tightness returned to his throat.

“Get so sleep lad,” Callum said as they walked to the door of the study. Callum grabbed a key from a shelf, and Malcolm watched as Callum locked the study door. It was the first time Malcolm had ever known it to be locked, and Malcolm was a bit saddened that Callum thought it needed to be locked, yes the alcohol was in there, but Malcolm had more self-control than that…Malcolm told himself that Callum was just trying to help, he’d tell him another day that it wasn’t necessary.

“Goodnight dad, it’s good to see ye.”

“Goodnight Malcolm, welcome home.”