Yes, it was all bustling and beautiful and the jar was already half full with donations, and the chalkboard repair totals were jumping up another few notches, but Ally couldn’t help scanning the room, waiting for Jamie and what she hoped was going to be a decent goodbye.
There she was at her workbench. Red hair gleaming purple in the glow from the pink neon sign. Eyes deep green. Even from all the way over the heads of the crowd he could see their emerald shine.
His resolve weakened. How was he supposed to do this without dissolving away entirely? He caught her eye and shifted through the people, a smile fixed on his face.
‘You made it!’ Ally cried. He looked good. The scar was silvering nicely against his summer tan. She hadn’t seen him in over a week since that day at the bothy. They’d both had the excuse of being extremely busy and distracted; Ally had been co-ordinating the skills share plans, and Jamie had his volunteer hours to complete. All this busyness had meant staying away from her and the repair shed. They’d both chosen to believe this was for the best, in the circumstances.
‘I said I would.’ Jamie was looking around at the people milling about, his hands in his pockets. ‘You did it then. All this. Amazing, but not surprising.’
He’d always been able to make her flushed and bashful. Today the pride in his voice made her eyes want to stream. She fought the feelings back.
He seemed to think for a moment before propelling himself forward to kiss her swiftly on the cheek. ‘Congratulations.’
‘Thanks. So… all set to leave?’
‘Yup.’ He checked his phone screen. Ally knew it meant they had minutes only. ‘And you’re all good? Packed for your flight and everything?’
Ally nodded. ‘We’re leaving at six on Monday morning for the airport.’
‘Your mum and dad taking you?’
Another nod. Ally wished now they’d made time to meet up since the day on the mountain. Ten minutes might have settled things in her mind. But there had been too many loose ends to tie up and plans to make, and Ally had prioritised spending precious time with her family and her old friends.
Plus, Jamie hadn’t actually asked her to meet up, and she hadn’t suggested it either. He’d made it clear he was pleased for her and he was letting her go without a hint of possessiveness or making her feel bad for chasing her dream of launching herself into adult life at last.
‘Dad and Karolyn say hi, by the way. They wanted me to tell you good luck.’
‘They’ll be looking forward to having you home.’
He smiled a flat smile, nodding.
‘They said you were welcome to come and visit, or… stay a few days, if you were flying back for Christmas, or…’
She shook her head as soon as he started saying it. Ally had to stop him before the hope cracked both their chests open. ‘I did consider it, cos I’ll have a few days off, but the flights are so dear, double the price of the rest of the year, and I’ll not be making much money and…’
‘Of course.’ Jamie was the one stopping her now. His eyes had lost their lustre. This was beginning to hurt way too much. ‘Is Murray going back with you?’ He looked around as if to ask where her brother had got to.
‘He’s not going. He spoke with his boss, well, our boss, and she wanted him there, but he just couldn’t face it. Going back would be too hard, or so he says.’
‘Wow, what happened to him over there?’
‘I think he needs some time to process things. Bit of a sibling trait.’
‘But you always get there in the end.’ He smiled. It was so simple and so reassuring.
Rhona appeared with a cake in a bag. ‘For your train journey home,’ she told Jamie tearfully before hugging him and disappearing back to her little café corner.
‘Someone has a soft spot for you,’ Ally said, trying to wear a grin, not sure she was succeeding.
She watched as Jamie sniffed a laugh, but as her words hung between them, his face fell and he seemed to want to say something.
She wasn’t sure if she should drag him outside, right round the back of the barn and hug him and cry and kiss him hard and promise him everything if he’d just wait for her, for twelve to eighteen months, say?
Part of her wanted him to leave now so he wouldn’t see her in agony and she couldn’t be tempted to ask him why he was so glad she’d got the job and what had it all meant to him that day they’d got lost in the clouds, and in each other, on the mountain.
Instead she did nothing, her face surely conveying the message that if anyone had a soft spot for him, it was her. The tenderest of spots.
Sachin was directing someone over towards her. Oh no, she thought. This can’t be it? She’d have to fix someone’s alarm clock or iPad while he walked away from her, unkissed and confused. After everything they’d been through.
