A Highlander For Christmas

Christmas Party in November

We made our way out of the café and walked along the cobblestone streets of the village and I was pleased to see the fusion of the old world and the new world coming together in a wonderful collection of old and new.

Christmas lights and other decorations adorned shop windows and even the streetlamps. I frowned, it was just like things in America, it was Halloween and then Christmas threw up on everything. Thanksgiving was overlooked and forgotten.

“Alexei! Darling, come over here. I missed you so much.” A tall bubbly blonde came bounding towards us and embraced Alexei in a cloud of perfume and Burberry plaid. I wrinkled my nose and stepped away from them and he gave me a look. I put up my hands and decided to check out the art supply store.

Alexei continued to glower at me, and I could practically hear him screaming Traitor at me. I gave him a small finger wave and disappeared into the store. I decided it was time to start developing a craft again. I needed something to unwind and maybe do something to make a little money.

The bell over the door chimed and I inhaled deeply, the scents of paint thinner, paper and new art supplies were one of my happy places. I trailed my fingers over the different displays of paint and brushes.

“Hello welcome, how may I help ye?” a man with a poofy red afro popped up from behind the counter and I blinked at him, he looked like a Scottish version of Bob Ross. I LOVED Bob Ross. I spent so much of my time as a child watching The Joy of Painting. The man saw me staring at him and started chuckling.

“Ye must be Melinda’s great-niece, she told me ye were American and ye are probably thinking I look like that Ross feller.” Shaking my head, I offered my hand to the man, and we shook, he had paint caked under his nails and in the wrinkles of his hands.

“You knew Melinda?” He gave me a look; I chuckled and shook my head.

“Right dumb question, alright Mister, sorry I didn’t catch your name.” He leaned back and sat on the stool that was behind the counter.

“Felix Mackenzie, nice to meet ye.” I made another face. I knew that Mackenzie was a popular name in town, but I could not assume that he was related to Gregor. This guy was pleasant, not a royal pain in my rear, the man snapped his fingers and I was startled out of my thoughts.

“Ye must have met my grandson Gregor, I apologize lass, he can be a bit of a hard arse.” I choked on my spit and started laughing. The man was related to that thorn in my rear and he also knew what I was thinking.

“How did you know I was going to ask you if you were related to him.” The man gestured to the other stool at the counter, and I sat on it gingerly, making sure I didn’t go sliding off. The last time I sat on a bar stool like this, I went flying on my butt and flashed everyone in the bar. Sure, I was half drunk on tequila shots, but that was not the point.

“Ye had this look on yer face like ye wanted to strangle something. I recognize that look. Most women get that look when me grandson is involved.” I snorted again and shrugged. He wasn’t wrong.

“I am guessing Gregor has that effect on women.” The bell over the door gave a pleasant tinkle and I ignored it.

“Aye he does, but that is not why ye came here. Ye aunty left some stuff in the back fer ye. Let me just scoot to the wee back and git it fer ye.” He hurried to the back, and I was left to my own devices and decided to browse the shop and look at the paintings hanging on the wall.

“Looks lie ye found my grandpap.” I shrieked, turned around and ended up punching Mack in the face. I shook out my hand and saw Felix come rushing from the back room with a broom in his hand. He saw me holding my chest and Mack holding his nose. He started laughing and put the broom down.

“I told ye since ye was a wee lad, stop groping girls.” Mack’s eyes widened and I started laughing at him.

“It wasn’t that he just scared me.” Felix scrunched up his face like he didn’t believe what I was saying,

“Are ye daft woman? That is ye first response to getting scared? Punching someone in the face?” I shrugged and rubbed my knuckles.

“Yeah, well your big stupid blockhead may have broken my hand.” Felix was laughing so hard his face turned a bright shade of red. I pulled his hands away from his face and felt his nose and slapped him on the shoulder.

He slapped my hands away and I slapped him back. He was being such a big baby about getting punched in the face. I thought he was one of those really manly men. Not some crybaby, I huffed angrily and rolled my eyes.

“Invite her to the party tonight.” Both Mack and I stared at Felix, who had a huge cart of painting supplies and canvases. I pushed Mack out of the way and practically bounced on my feet at all the goodies he had brought out.

“What party? Also, I love it but I can’t afford all this, Felix.” He dismissed me and my objections.

“There will be a Yule Party tonight and everybody will be wearing traditional Scottish costumes. Lila down the street supplies dresses, for free. We used to have it at yer Aunty’s place but yer weee wooly beast is a menace.” I cracked up and couldn’t help the unladylike snort that escaped.

“I have heard a lot about Magnus. I don’t know about the party though. I’m not much of a party girl.” Mack let out a strangled sound that he covered with a cough. I narrowed my eyes at him and wondered what exactly he had heard.

“I will have the lad deliver the stuff to yer place. Come to the party, the townsfolk want to meet ye.” He waved Mack over and I guess I was dismissed.

“Ummm where is Lila’s place?” Mack groaned and stopped talking with his grandfather. Felix gave the man a clap on the shoulder and shook his head.

“Take the lass to get fitted and matched with yer plaids boy.” We both glowered at him again.

“Now why would I want this crazy woman to match with me?” I smacked him on the back of the head. He was just being rude as heck, I mean talking back to me was one thing, but sassing his grandpa was just unforgivable.

“ACH why did you smack me ye crazy banshee?” I glowered at him.

“You know why, now show me the way to this dress shop. Away noble highlander.” I grabbed my phone and sent a text to Alexei asking him about the party.

Are you going to this party tonight? Do I get to see you in a kilt? ?

Yes, want to be my date? I can meet you at the dress shop so we can coordinate.

Sure, Gregor Mackenzie is escorting me to the shop. His grandpa kind of made him do it!

LOL, I love Felix, alright I will meet you there. I know this is kind of odd because it is not even Thanksgiving yet. But this is a big deal and Fiora wants to show you around and off.

OK, talk to you at the shop, I’m going to get my history on and look all lady-like.

Mack was glowering at me and looking at his watch like he had somewhere important to be. Well, I was going to detain him for as long as I could.