He stopped and looked down at her.
“You have amazing endurance, Luke,” she said, smiling up at him. “And a powerfully strong and rather loudheart.”
“Yeah,” he said, feeling a bit drunk from the sudden surge of energy coursing through him. “And every so often, I can actually hearit.”
Chapter Twenty-three
“Can you ever forgive me?” Cam whispered against her father’s chest, snuggled up in his arms on her bed.
Her mother, lying with her arms around both of them, squeezed her tightly. “We forgave you one second after Luke told us.”
Her father’s arms also tightened, and his lips brushed her hair. “Actually, we forgave you before we even knew, daughter, because we love you.” He ducked his head to see her face. “You are supposed to come to us when you’re having a crisis.”
Cam sighed, closing her eyes with a smile, and snuggled deeper into his embrace to prepare for the coming lecture.
“But even though you should have,” her mother rushed to say, apparently hoping to waylay her husband’s scolding, “it soon became obvious to your father and me that Luke would be able to help you better than we could.”
“It did?” her papa muttered.
“Yes,” Grace said. “That’s why instead of going to Go Back Cove to get you himself, your father thought it would be better to send Luke.”
“I did?” He sighed, smoothing down Cam’s hair. “I am such a wise man.”
“So, oh wise father,” Cam said with a giggle, “did you know you were sending my future husband to fetch me, or were you just hoping that by waving him in front of my nose, I would fall madly in love because he’s big and strong and handsome and smart . . . just like you?”
His arms around her tightened. “Your falling in love with him was your mother’s idea. Whereas I was perfectly content for you to remain a spinster your whole life.”
Cam snorted, then turned her head to look at her mom. “I . . . we couldn’t find Podly’s data bank. I’m afraid it might be gone for good.”
Grace patted her arm and sat up. “Maybe. But you and Luke don’t really need it, do you?” she asked, getting off the bed and turning back with a smile. “With your combined brainpower, I’m sure you’ll duplicate my work in no time, once you lock yourselves in my lab.”
Cam also tried to sit up, but she seemed to be stuck in her father’s embrace. She patted his chest and grinned up at him. “I’m not going far,” she whispered.
When he reluctantly opened his arms, she jumped off the bed, then turned back to him. “Except that I do have to take a quick trip to British Columbia, to meet Luke’s parents and sister. But we’ll be back right after Christmas.”
“I’m afraid that if you’re going to British Columbia, you’re going to miss them,” Grace said. “Because they’re here.”
“They’re here? But how did you know to invite them?”
Grace walked to the bathroom door and waved her over. “Come on, you need a bath. The party starts in less than an hour. And to answer your question, it seems Luke’s mom got a card in the mail, inviting them all to Gù Brath for Christmas.” Her eyes shone with amusement. “When his mother called to question me about the invitation, she mentioned the card had a beautiful angel on the front, and was signed by a flourished F.”
“Oh my God,” Cam said, covering her mouth with her hands. “She sent Luke’s family a card, too?”
“Would ye happen to know who F is?” her father asked, getting off the bed.
Cam looked from one parent to the other. “Um . . . it’s Fiona.”
Grey arched a brow. “ OurFiona?”
Cam sighed. “It’s a long story, Papa. I’ll tell you about my rather interesting last couple of weeks tomorrow, okay? I’m just dying to sink into a tub of hot water.” She looked at her mother. “Where’s Luke’s family now?”
Grace started filling the tub, pouring a liberal amount of lilac-scented bath beads into the cascading water. “I imagine Kate pounced on Luke the moment he stepped out of his own shower. That girl is positively enchanting.” She pulled Camry into her arms and kissed her on the forehead. “Welcome home, daughter of mine. I’ve never missed you so much as I did when I realized you really were missing.”
“But now I’m found,” Cam whispered back, hugging her tightly. “Fiona and Luke and Roger AuClair helped me find myself.” She leaned away. “And . . . and you, Mama. You were always right there in my heart, guiding me every step of the way.”
Cam turned when her father walked into the bathroom, and threw herself at him. “And you, too, Papa,” she cried. “I could almost hear you lecturing me, letting me know how much you love me.”
He squeezed her so tight she squeaked. “Sorry. I’m afraid you’ll get no more lectures from me. That’s your husband’s duty now.”
Cam looked up. “But Luke’s not very good at it, Papa. He actually tried once, and my ears didn’t even come close to falling off. In fact, I fell asleep.”
He hugged her to him with a laugh, then kissed the top of her head. “I will see what I can do to remedy that. Welcome home, my precious highlander.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Luke sat in the huge dining room of Gù Brath, more than a little overwhelmed and utterly awed by the sheer magnitude of the festivities. The boisterous younger children—whom Luke had heard more than one person refer to as little heathens—had temporarily been relegated to the playroom downstairs, apparently to give the adults a few minutes of peace. But there still had to be forty people—sitting and standing around the table, which was thirty feet long if it was a foot, and crammed in among the balloons and streamers—and every damn one of them was wearing a birthday hat.
Except him.
And Tigger.
At Camry’s somewhat threatening insistence, Luke was wearing AuClair’shat, and Tigger was wearing her own miniature version.
Kate’s snickering wasn’t at all helping his mood, nor were her repeated requests that he look at her; each time he complied she would then take his picture on her cell phone.
Luke figured several of them were already posted on the Internet.
While they waited for Winter, who seemed to be late for her own birthday party, Luke tried to concentrate on putting each sister’s face to her name. He wasn’t having much luck, though, considering he’d been introduced to all of them almost at once. As for their husbands and children . . . well, the only one he could place was Jack Stone.
But then, one usually does remember one’s rescuer.
“Luke, let Max get up on your lap,” Camry said, leaning close to be heard over the sounds of lively conversation. “His feelings are hurt because I’m holding Tigger.”
Well, why the hell not? He already looked ridiculous in his hat, why not try to hold an overly excited fifty-pound dog on his lap, too?
He turned his chair slightly, bumped into someone and apologized, then patted his chest. “Come on, Max. You sit quietly, and I’ll share my piece of cake with you after they blow out the candles.” Max jumped up, then immediately tried to crawl onto the table, apparently more interested in the gift sitting next to Camry’s cake than he was in the cake. “No, boy. Sit,” Luke commanded.