Page 52 of Of Heather and Thistle
With only fifteen minutes to spare, she moved into action. She gathered her things and checked once more to ensure she had everything: phone… wallet… jacket… she’d come back for her luggage and Byrdie once she saw exactly what she had inherited.
She hurried out of the room and down the stairs to meet Mr. Reid. As she stepped outside, the brisk air hit her face, making her aware that she hadn’t even thought about the chill that had come in with the morning mist. Her jacket was warm enough, but it did little to brace her against the uncertainty curling in her stomach as she waited.
Not long after, a black sedan pulled up to the curb, and she stood straighter, ready to face whatever came next. The door opened, and a well-dressed older man with neatly-combed hair and a friendly smile stepped out.
Heather shook his hand, trying to steady the flutter of nerves in her stomach. She offered a polite smile as she slipped into the passenger seat of the car. “Thank you for coming to pick me up.”
“Of course,” he said, settling into the driver’s seat. “It’s my pleasure. I trust yer stay here has been comfortable?”
She nodded, trying to sound nonchalant. “Yes, very much so. TheThistle Havenis lovely.”
“That’s good to hear,” Reid replied, adjusting the rear-view mirror before pulling into the quiet street. “The inn’s not much, but it has charm, especially with the weather we’ve been having. But I digress; you’re here now for more important matters: Glenoran House awaits!” Reid offered her a small smile, as if sensing her nerves, but kept his eyes on the road.
She felt her pulse quicken at the mention of the house. The weight of the day ahead settled on her shoulders, but she took a deep breath, forcing her mind to focus.
“Yes, I’m looking forward to it. I have to admit: I neverexpected any of this. It’s… a lot to process.” She could feel the weight of her own words as they left her lips.
Reid glanced at her briefly, his expression understanding.
“I can only imagine, Miss Campbell. Not every day one learns of a family legacy like this. But yer here now, and we’ll take it step by step.”
The road stretched ahead as they left town, the steady hum of the car beneath them doing nothing to quiet the anticipation pressing against Heather’s ribs.
“The house is a bit off-the-beaten-path…” Reid said. “…one of those places that’s tucked away, like something from a storybook. But ye’ll see for yerself soon enough.”
She offered a faint smile. “I’m sure it’s beautiful.”
Butwas she sure?
“I’ve heard a bit about the house,” Heather said. “But honestly, I don’t know much. My mother never talked about it. At least, I don’t think she did.”
Reid nodded, gaze still on the road. “Understandable. Families have their reasons for keeping things quiet. Especially when it comes to old estates like Glenoran.”
“A burden,” she clarified.
Reid glanced at her. “Aye. Ye’ll ken what I mean when we get there.”
His words made her stomach churn with curiosity and apprehension. “I’m not sure I’m ready for all that.”
“Ye’ll manage,” Reid assured her with another small smile. “Ye don’t have a choice now, do ye?”
Heather laughed softly despite herself. “No, I suppose not.”
The trees slowly started to thin out, and she caught a glimpse of the house—dark, looming, wrapped in lingering cloud and a dusting of fading snow.
Her stomach twisted. It felt less like she was arriving at a home and more like she was approaching something ancient. Something… waiting.
The car turned onto a winding, narrow road flanked by towering trees, the mist curling away from the treetops as they moved forward—revealing the estate piece by piece. The dark stone. The towering silhouette. The gaping windows.
She had expected something imposing yet beautiful—something out of a story.
But, this? This felt… forgotten.
The veil of clouds clung to the crumbling stone like grasping fingers, reluctant to let go.
The house stood like a sentinel on the horizon, its weathered walls watching her just as much as she was watching it. Something in her chest fluttered—recognition or dread, she couldn’t tell.
Something shifted in her chest, a quiet tightening. This was the place her mother had known, had maybe even loved. And yet, it was a stranger to her.
