Miracle of the MacLeods-Chapter 4-Part of the Truth
I wholeheartedly apologize for the lack of updates; my muse for this particular story left me in the lurch.
Also, Athair means father and Màthair means mother in Scottish Gaelic.
"There's something we need to tell you, Mìorbhuil."
Mìor turned to face her cousin, a puzzled look apparent on her young face. "What is it?"
"You know that you were put into Elsie's care after your parents died, yes?"
"Yeah, but I've heard this story dozens of times before. Elsie and Athair were the only children in the clan without siblings, so they were as close as brother and sister, and when my parents died, I was given to Elsie to raise because Athair and Màthair had asked her to be my godmother."
"That's not the entire story, lass."
"It's not?"
"No. You've heard of the story of the battle between the MacLeods and the Frasers about 300 years ago?"
"Yes; what about it?"
"Well, after that battle, there were so many dead on either side that the leaders of both clans got together and decided that-"
"They decided that no child born of a Fraser and a MacLeod would be allowed to live," Elsie finished for him.
"What does that have to do with me? Athair was a MacLeod and Màthair was a Geddes."
"Sweetheart, your grandmother was a Geddes; your mother was a Fraser. Kirsten and Aiden eloped to London. When they were married, your mother said she was a Geddes so that her clan couldn't find her. The true reason you were given to me was because I am the only other person in the clan who has Fraser blood. Your parents-" Before Elsie could finish explaining Mìor's family history to her, the girl ran up to her room and slammed the door shut.
"I was afraid of this," Elsie said before walking to the kitchen.
"You're not going to talk to her?"
"I've talked enough."
"I'll go talk to her," Kate, who had been silent throughout the conversation, suddenly stood and walked up the stairs.
"Mìor?" Kate called through the wood.
"Go away!"
"Sweetie, I just want to talk," Kate said, pushing open the door.
"About what? The lie that is my entire life?"
"It wasn't a lie; it was more of a—half-truth. They were only doing it to protect you."
Instead of replying, Mìor just broke down and started crying. Kate let her weep for the next thirty minutes before picking up the girl and dragging her into the bathroom to wash her face.
"Let's get you cleaned up, we'll go to the mall, and we'll get you a make-over and," Kate looked at the clock in the room, "We'll have just enough time to go get you some new shoes. New shoes are always the best thing to get when you're feeling miserable."
"Why?"
"Well, because they can make your feet feel very happy. And happy feet are one step closer to happy faces." The two women giggled at the joke.
"Yeah, sure. Can I call Jamie and see if she can join us?"
"Of course, sweetie."
Kate watched as her husband's cousin grabbed her cell phone and, after finding the number she wanted, called and started talking and laughing, mentioning the make-over and shoe shopping.
"We're going to the mall!" Kate called to the two Scots sitting in the kitchen. "We'll be back in time to get to the high school!"
Duncan and Elsie heard the door slam and sighed. "Well, if anyone can make an unhappy teenager happy again, it's Kate."
"That's true."
Okay, so not the best chapter in the world, but I'm trying my best.