Page 82 of Knots About You
‘My sister, Isla, has kept our business alive behind the scenes for years, not as an owner, but as an employee. Otterleigh Bay Whisky has always passed to the eldest son. But truthfully, other than manual labour and my kilt, she’s been the key to keeping us open for years.’
I looked down at my little sister, whose eyes misted. My dad caught my gaze and gave me a nod. After the initial shock, he’d decided to fully support my decision.
‘I’m so pleased to announce that Isla is now my full co-owner at the distillery.’
Jean pulled Isla into a hug. Isla laughed and then mouthed‘about time’, wiping her eyes on her sleeve as the villagers cheered. They all knew how hard she worked. How much she deserved the recognition.
‘Secondly, I’m retiring from public tours. You’ll still see me around behind the scenes, but I’m moving off-camera so better people than me can show you a good time. Others can fill out a kilt far better than I.’
‘Lies,’ came a voice from within the crowd. My face heated.
More laughter.
‘Lastly,’ I said, watching my red-haired beauty stand beyond the stall. I looked only at her. ‘I’m hoping Miss Claire Braxton, who’s been instrumental in our new direction, will keep working very closely with us for a very long time. Because while she’s helped the business, she’s also stolen my heart. And I’d like her to stay here in Otterleigh Bay. And if she doesn’t… I’ll find myself on the first train to London.’
Poppy grinned, phone held high. And mum made a sound that was half sob, half cheer.
I hopped down and sought out Clare, scooping her against me. Let the cameras gape. I tipped her face up.
‘If you want London,’ I said, low enough for only her to hear, ‘take me with you. City girl or country girl, I want to be yours. For good.’
Her breath caught, and the world blurred around us.
‘I haven’t made any decisions on where I want to be, but I’ve already chosen you. Plus, Claire Harris has a nice ring to it.’
Whatever came next, I’d live with it. If it were London, I guess I’d have to co-parent Meowrse and learn to deal with people.
Isla threw her arms around us, and I couldn’t help but grin.
‘Thank you,’ she said.
‘It always suited you far more than me. You’ve been bossing me around since you could speak.’ I nudged her, and my mum joined our little group.
‘Since before she could talk,’ Mum added.
thirty-two
CLAIRE
Faces spun to me,pink and gleaming, as Owen whirled me this way and that. The music rose and fell as the villagers whooped and hollered.
I’d never experienced anything like a ceilidh, and it was wild.
The steps eluded me, and no one seemed to care. I was tossed from person to person, swung around, and tossed back. Everyone was a little sticky and an awful lot happy.
The ceilidh had that end-of-night delirium, but it lasted the whole way through. My heart raced and my feet ached to the point I’d abandoned my heels long before, and yet it was intoxicating. Even Scruff looked like he was having a rip-roaring time, trying to catch swishes of kilts as they swung past him.
Isla yelled at Jeff, ‘Left. No,myleft!’
I was tipsy enough to love every minute without an ounce of embarrassment at my terrible dancing, and clumsy enough to keep stamping on Owen’s boots.
‘I’ll have no toes left by morning,’ he said.
‘You’re in my way.’ I laughed, clinging to his thick bicep and swooning a little.
He whisked me about until my lungs felt like they’d burst from my chest and land in the middle of the eightsome reel.
‘I’m going to get a bit of air, I’m sweating like nobody’s business.’ Owen’s stubble scraped my cheek as I leaned close to whisper-shout in his ear.
