After Dinner Surprise

By Donna and Toni

As Rob Roy MacGregor and Finley MacNab, both dressed in their best kilts, walked down the street to the Campbell house they could already smell the wonderful dinner that the two sisters had promised them, and they both quickened their pace a bit.

Inside, there were two very busy cooks. The main course was Shepherd's Pie, which was a favorite of both men; and since both men had huge appetites, there were plenty of side dishes too! This was the first time the sisters had had this particular twosome over for dinner, and they especially wanted everything to be perfect. Especially Joy! As she watched her younger sister, Mercy smiled, "Joy, calm down; you already know Finley loves your cooking." The twosome had hit it off well since the day he'd won her lunch, and the older woman was very happy with that particular match.

"I hope he likes me stovies," she said as she stirred the oatmeal and leek soup. Besides the fried potatoes and onions that the Scots called *stovies*, there were also side dishes of turnip greens and baby carrots. "I made them with lots of onions, just the way he said he enjoys them best!"

"Then you'll be just fine. As for Rob....we already know he likes just about anything I put in front of him!" The two sisters giggled at the memory of that, demonstrated time and again to them.

The loud sound of two men stomping the dust off their boots on the front step told them that their guests had arrived, and laughing, Mercy went to go let them in.

She was met with a tender but not overwhelming kiss from Rob Roy, in deference to the fact that they were not alone, and a happy smile of greeting from the other man. "You look lovely tonight, Mercy. Ah - your sister is here tonight, isn't she?" He looked with concern toward the kitchen, where Joy was nervously hiding and also making absolutely sure that everything was as it should be before bringing the food out.

"She is, indeed, Finley. You two make yourselves comfortable, and I will go and see what the hold up is."

Inside the kitchen, Joy was ladling the soup into the serving bowl, still fretting that everything be just so. Their table was set with their best dishes, and for the occasion, they had asked Marty to bring in one of Luc's wonderful fruit wines to serve with the meal.

The women finally brought the food out to the table, much to the men's delight. For every course, there was plenty of praise, until both cooks were blushing - and Mercy was well used to Rob's opinions! Throughout the meal, Joy was conscious of Finley's gaze on her more than usual, though she tried not to let it make her too nervous. Something was up; she could sense it!

Once the meal was over, topped by a delicious blackberry tart with a buttery shortbread crust and served with hot tea, the two couples retired to the sitting room, while their friends, Faith and Hope, snuck in the back door to do the dishes for them and to put up the food for them. This was a prearranged payback of course, because the Campbells had done the same for a fancy sit down dinner the three MacDonalds had served to their men folk just the week before.

When they were settled on the sofa and a couple of comfortable easy chairs, Joy found out that her feeling had been right, in spades. After some small talk, Finley cleared his throat, then told Mercy, in a calm voice, "Mercy, since your father is not with us, there's somethin' I must ask you; the most important thing to me since comin' to Edan. I would like to ask for your permission to wed your sister Joy."

Joy's mouth dropped open in a very unladylike fashion, and it took her a moment to compose herself as Mercy went through the required drill session, asking how he planned to support a wife, etc, etc. As Joy fidgeted in her seat, her face a brilliant crimson, her sister and the man she had been courting planned out her future!

But Finley was not as rigidly traditional as the young woman first thought. After settling things with Mercy, he turned to the woman he wished more than anything to make his intended, went to one knee on the floor before her, and asked softly, "All the discussion in the world is worth nothin' without one thing; Joy, would you do me the honor of becomin' my wife?"

She sputtered a moment. "I wa' love nothin' more tha' to be yer woman, Finn, but I can't... not just yet at least!"

He looked a bit surprised, as he asked, "But why, love?" Even Mercy and Rob looked surprised; they hadn't expected this of her.

Joy looked embarrassed and very distressed, then leaned in to whisper into Finley's ear. "Me sister ha’ to be wedded first. Ye know that, don't ye?"

His shoulders drooped, and he got up and sat back on the sofa, looking crestfallen as he nodded. He'd forgotten all about that custom, it'd been so long since he'd wed his late wife! Mercy, seeking to head off any more unhappiness for this man she most certainly wanted for a brother in law, stood up and said, "Excuse us, gentlemen; we'll be but a moment. Joy, might I have a word with you in the kitchen?" Not giving her sister a chance to say no, she took her by the arm, helped her up off the sofa, and walked her into the kitchen. Once there, she said, trying to keep her voice down, "Joy, for heaven's sake, what's gotten into you! You and Finley love each other, anyone can see that; and I couldn't want a better match for you than if I'd picked him meself! What did you tell that poor man?"

Tears ran down Joy's face. "Only that I had to wait.. until...," she sobbed, and then ran upstairs to her room. In the meantime of course, Rob Roy was asking Finley the same thing!

It was obvious that her sister wasn't going to confess, so Mercy went back into the living room and confronted her sister's beau. "Finley, please.....I've no desire to intrude on your privacy, but she wouldn't tell me what she said that got both of you so upset. If I'm going to set this right, if there's any way I can, I have to know what it is she told you." She looked pleadingly at him.

He looked at her with sad eyes, though he tried not to look as upset as he felt, as he told her, "She said she couldn't marry until you did, you bein' the oldest and all. I'd forgotten all about that, especially since my late wife was an only child."

Her eyebrows went up; she'd never thought Joy would do that! She expected her to use her common sense and not let the right man get away, when he came to her with *The Question*! After a moment to recover herself, she said, a bit of command in her voice, "I see. Rob, can I see you in the kitchen, please? We'll be but a minute, Finley." Not giving her own love a chance to say no, and expecting him to be right behind her, she turned on her heel and walked back into the kitchen. Fortunately for him, he had indeed followed her in.

Looking up at the man she herself had been courting for quite awhile now, she said, "Robert Roy MacGregor, I need to know only one thing from you. Do you still love me as much as you did when we first discussed settling down together, and I told you I had to wait until I saw Joy's future secured?"

"Aye, lass," he said. "In fact, even more now than then!"

She nodded. "I feel the same about you. Therefore, since my sister's future is now not only secure, but she won't move to take it in hand until I see to my own, my answer to your proposal is yes; I will marry you as soon as possible." Though she was trying to be calm and official about it, her eyes were shining brightly, and a small smile trembled on her lips, as her own heart was beating so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

It was now Rob Roy's turn to stand there open mouthed in surprised, but a moment later, his ear shattering cry of victory as he swept Mercy up into his arms and whirled her around could surely be heard by half the town!

The kiss that followed then was most certainly *not* a very proper one, and it was followed by him carrying her, still in his arms, into the living room, where he announced the happy news to Finley! When everyone had calmed down and the other Scot had given his congratulations, Mercy (now back on her feet) smoothed her hair, straightened her dress, and smiled, "Now, I must go and tell my sister the good news. Excuse me once again, gentlemen!" And she headed up the stairs, to Joy's closed bedroom door. Her heart ached as she heard the young woman still sobbing, and she knocked softly and said, "Joy, might I see you a moment? Please?"

A moment later, her younger sister opened the door, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry. 'Tis actin' like a weepin’ bairn I am. Is Finley terribly distressed with me?"

"No. In fact, he was very understanding about the whole thing. And there's no need to worry about upsetting him any longer; because I have some news of my own for you, little sister. I have accepted Rob's proposal, that he's been waitin' on for quite some time now, poor man." She could barely hide the huge grin she felt inside, but managed to keep her smile normal, as she looked at the younger woman.

"Oh Mercy!" cried Joy as she threw her arms around her sister's neck. "I'm so happy for you!"

The women hugged tight for a long moment; then, as they parted, Mercy smiled, "And I am for you as well. I trust now that tradition will be satisfied, you're going to do the right thing by that man of yours as well!"

"Maybe we can have a double wedding! Just like it had been planned for us by our father!" Joy said, a bright smile on her face.

Mercy's smile softened at the mention of the man they'd both loved so much, and she replied, "I'd like that very much; and I’m sure Father would approve whole heartedly of both of our men, you can count on that. Now let's go tell them, and put a smile back on Finley's face!" And together, hand in hand, they went down the stairs to do just that.