The Long Journey Home to Scotland

by Somerville

Summary:

What if Sophie Brown neé McGuinty first got to know Myles Dunbar before Callum McGuinty passed away?

Notes:

I have so many thoughts about the characters in this film, and their journeys!

This particular scene came to me a few weeks ago, and I already have a lot more ideas written, or forming in my mind. I will probably be bringing in all the characters of the film along the way. Since Callum McGuinty's death is canonical, I've not used the Archive Warning for 'Major Character Death', although clearly this is (let me know if you think I should change that).

So whether you're drawn to the chemistry between Sophie and Myles, or between Thomas and Maisie, or between Rhona and Lexi, or between Angus and his lost Graeme, or between everyone and Hamish; or you watch more for Pride & Prejudice or Princess Bride vibes; or mostly, for the real bits of Scotland that were brought together so beautifully to form the film, I think here we mostly agree that we're transcending the 'tartan tosh' label into something really meaningful. I hope to add a second chapter next month!

ETA: My subconscious took inspiration for this story & then forgot it, from The Favour Returned by InkInMyHeartAndOnThePage - to whom, belated thanks!

Chapter 1

200X

Sophie Brown took a deep breath, and dialled the landline number for Dun Dunbar Castle. With her father, Callum McGuinty, now far too ill to ever make the journey home to Scotland, what did she have to lose?

Beep – beep … 0 44 1674 850 XXX

A cheery man’s voice answered, and Sophie’s heart jumped.

“Hello, Dun Dunbar Castle. Thomas speaking. How may I be of assistance to you?”

“Hello. Sophie Brown here. How are you today? You know, I really am hoping that you might be able to help me out in a big way.”

Sophie swiftly outlined the unfortunate facts of the case: that her father had had to leave Dun Dunbar as a youngster, and now would never be well enough to make the journey home.

“Well, I’m very sad to hear that, Ms Brown. How upsetting for yourself, and for your father. What is it that we could do that might help you?”

~*~

Later that day, Thomas caught up with Myles, 12th Duke of Dunbar, sparks flying. Myles was tinkering in a rather antiquated electrical junction box once again. Thomas rolled his eyes, and explained Sophie Brown’s sad situation and plea for help.

“And so, since her father was last here as a boy about 50 years ago, what she asked was: could she commission us to take a few special photographs for Callum McGuinty, of the places in and around Dun Dunbar Castle which were most important to him and the McGuinty clan?”

Myles’ ripost: “Did she sound like she could pay?”

Thomas barked out a laugh. “This is Sophie Brown, she’s just published another best selling book about this Emma Gale character: of course she can pay!”

~*~

Smiling through the tears, Sophie made another costly but so worthwhile transAtlantic telephone call to Dun Dunbar Castle.

“Myles, I can never thank you enough for the joy you and Thomas brought to my father in his last few weeks. You should have seen how his face lit up at every new photograph, as all his happiest memories of childhood came rushing back.”

Myles seemed reluctant to take any credit, but Sophie insisted, “I hope you can imagine how he laughed and laughed, when we got the photograph of the edge of that huge wooden door, and I explained you’d finished carving ‘McGuinty’ into it with your own two hands and in his honour. My father said, ‘The old Duke, he must be spinning in his grave!’”.

Sophie could hear the smile in his voice as Myles responded, “Your father worked here, he’s part of the history of Dun Dunbar Castle. You know, you should come and see for yourself, one day.”

Sophie Brown sighed, wistfully, “You’re right. I should. I will do. One day.”