Page 64 of A Summer of New Beginnings
‘Up to you,’ Marco said, ‘but the Highland retreatis the one with the best reviews.’ He grinned.
‘I’ll bear it in mind.’
‘I bought you a prezzie too,’ Will said as he handed her a long, wrapped, rectangular gift.
Once again, she ripped off the paper and pulled out the surprise. ‘Haemorrhoid cream? Seriously?’
Will burst out laughing. ‘Well, I heard that those thin bike saddles can take a bit of recovering from so I thought I’d help.’
Shewhacked him playfully on the arm. ‘Trust you.’
‘Here you go, darlin’, we got you something too.’ Her dad handed her a large box. She sat on the floor, removed the lid and inside, wrapped in tissue paper, were lots of NC500 branded things. Coasters, postcards, a wallet and T-shirt that said ‘I cycled the NC500’ and a beautiful framed map of the route.
Seeing the route again made tears sting hereyes. And that strange feeling of something like homesickness bubbled up again.
*
Time was passing just as slowly in Zara’s absence and whilst in the past this had never been a bad thing, now it was just a sad reminder of his loneliness. He had been out tending to the sheep and then to a local pub with Tosh and the rest of the buffoons he went to school with and as always Bess had dutifullysat by his side. She’d seemed sad too since Zara had gone. The poor little collie really had adored her. He wasn’t afraid to admit to himself that he’d felt the same. He bid his friends goodnight and walked back to the croft.
The answering machine light was flashing when he walked into the kitchen and his stomach lurched. He rarely got messages and he hoped, desperately, that it was from Zara.Just to hear her voice again…
He hit play:
Lachlan, darling, it’s me, Saskia. Where on earth are you at this hour of the night? Surely there can’t be much to do up there in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, it’s Mummy and Daddy’s golden wedding anniversary and there’s going to be a huge party. I haven’t told them we’ve been taking a break and I need you to come. Mummy will be inconsolable if shethinks my plans of marriage aren’t going ahead. And whilst we’re on that subject, I’ve decided we can tell everyone the engagement is on. We can discuss the details when I see you. And I’ve been thinking, you can keep the little farm. But let’s get someone in to run it so you can come home to your real job. Anyway. The party is at Mummy and Daddy’s house. On the twelfth. I’ll expect you on the eleventhand wear your tux, darling. You always look so delicious in your tux.
He slumped onto the chair at the table that Zara had favoured. Great. Saskia.That’s all I bloody need. How the hell do I get out of that?
He checked his phone and realised it was far too late to call her back, so he’d try and think of an excuse and ring her when he was sober. Bess climbed onto her bed and Lachy poured somestale coffee from the jug that had been left warming. He wondered what Zara was doing now. He’d hoped she would at least text him to say she had arrived home safe, but she hadn’t. He’d toyed with the idea of contacting the bike shop, but decided it would be too weird to explain the reasons for his call.
He thought about her passion for writing and the range of emotions she had evoked from himwhen he had read her book. He wondered if she had dared to submit it to any literary agents yet. He could have offered help on that score, but knew she was too damned stubborn and in denial about her talent to accept it. So, of course, he had refrained.
He sighed and glanced over at Bess where she lay, head resting on her paws. ‘Well, we’re a gleeful pair, eh, lass? I’m guessing you miss heras much as I do. Why didn’t we make an actual date to see her again? Why didn’t we at least just ask her, eh? I knew that sleeping with her would be a bloody mistake. I knew I was bloody falling from the moment she yelled at me outside her tent.’
Bess walked over and sat before him. She nudged his hand with her head and he ran his fingers through her fur. ‘And now I’ve got to go and play happyfamilies with Cruella de Vil. Lucky me, eh?’ He crouched down to make eye contact with his canine companion. ‘Now, I know you don’t like her. I remember you peeing on her designer shoes when she came to visit. But I promise you, I’ll go to the party as a favour to an old friend and, after it’s done, I’ll tell her in no uncertain terms that I’m not getting back together with her. We were over a longtime ago and I just don’t love her. I don’t think I ever did. And more to the point I don’t think she ever loved me either. But I’ll do this one last favour for her. And then that’s it. You have my word, Bess.’
As if she understood completely, the dog licked his chin and gave him her paw.
*
Three weeks passed and life was almost back to normal for Zara. She had been spending more and more timewith Josh and he’d been doing his best to make amends for his transgressions. There had been meals to fancy restaurants, nights out at the theatre and he’d cooked for her at her place, seeing as she refused to set foot in his again. He had even hinted at the idea they could move in together somewhere totally new. She was still thinking things through, but he was wearing her down. The only thingthey hadn’t done was sleep together. That prospect was taking a little more getting used to.
Although, Zara still couldn’t dismiss the feeling that something was missing from her life. David Bowie’s lyrics had taken up residence in her mind and the keyring that Lachy bought seemed to catch her eye often. Her next assignment was arranged and soon she would be leaving for the Maldives to checkoutmorehigh-class honeymoon locations. The thought didn’t grab her with eager enthusiasm as it would have once done, but she was looking forward to the distraction nonetheless.
Marco had been seeing a lot of Toby and had announced at the pub the night before that they had agreed to be exclusive. It was good to see him happy with someone who epitomised a decent human being for once. Some ofhis former lovers had left a lot to be desired in that area. He had been messed about so much, leaving him with trust issues that had manifested in many one-night stands. She hoped this meant that things had changed for him.
London was still manic by its very nature but, instead of the fact exciting her as it always had in the past, she longed for the fresh air and open spaces of the Highlands.She had looked into hiring a motor home and travelling the North Coast 500 route again, but this time doing it in more luxurious accommodation. Her bid to get Noah to agree to her writing about the route from the opposite perspective to the original piece had fallen on deaf ears. Noah insisted he wouldneversend her to Scotland again. It was his promise, much to her dismay.
Lachy haunted herdreams and her thoughts. What was he doing? How was Bess? Why hadn’t he been in touch? It took her a while to realise that she had never actually given him her contact details. She’d lost his business card and all he had was the name of the magazine she was employed by, and he didn’t seem the type to just turn up there. But a letter would have been nice. She had hoped, stupidly, that he missed herand might want to at least be friends.
The coming weekend had given her something to focus on. Her friends had rented a large seafront house at Ramsgate and they were leaving Friday morning and returning Monday evening. A long weekend and some fresh, sea air were just what the doctor ordered. The only downside was the fact that she was the only one not taking a significant other. Josh had beenkeen to go along but Zara wasn’t quite ready to take that next step yet. The bags were packed, Marco and Toby had loaded Jake’s car – it was the biggest – and Shelley was sitting on Zara’s bed waiting for her to finish applying her make-up.
‘Zara! Post!’ Marco shouted from the hallway. ‘Looks important.’ He walked into the room and handed over the envelope. The return address was one in Invernessand her heart skipped a beat as she ripped it open.
‘What is it? Is it from Farmer Hot Kilt?’ Shelley asked with a lascivious grin.
‘Give her a bloody chance, Shells,’ Marco insisted, but then continued with, ‘Is it though?’
Confusion washed over Zara as she read the words on the page. Nothing was sinking in. It must be a mistake. It couldn’t be real.
