Like all of the Orkney islands, Hrossey had its own unique charm. No matter where you happened to be you could hear the sea, the sandy beaches were white and soft as caster sugar, and the air smelt of salt and green grass.
In the summer it was like a chilly Maldives, but the winters were long and harsh, especially for youngsters who missed playing outside in the sunshine and became as restless and bad tempered as cooped up honey badgers.
Freya and Amelia had planned the trip on the evening she moved in. Amelia couldn’t believe her luck. It was even more comfortable and welcoming than Evie’s beautiful cottage and it smelt of fresh bread and sweet herbs.
Freya had shown her to her bright spare room, the bed festooned with cushions and shelves groaning with beloved and well-thumbed books. It was the very place Evie had sought refuge when she first came back home, broken in spirit and needing to heal. And here, thought Freya, was another young woman who looked as though she had experienced a tough life and held dark secrets close to her heart.
Freya had seen that Amelia’s smile didn’t always reach her eyes and she was trying a peedie bit too hard to fit in. It was understandable she wanted to make a good impression, butsomething wasn’t quite right. Freya told herself there would be time for Amelia to grow to trust her enough to share her story and she thought it could well be a very sad one.
‘Aye,’ thought Freya. ‘That one is carrying a heavy load.’
Her heart ached that the poor lass had never known her own mother, and from the little she had gleaned about Amelia’s dad James, she couldn’t imagine he would be a contender for father of the year. Freya decided she would wait until Amelia was good and ready to unburden herself.
When Amelia had unpacked, which hadn’t taken very long, Freya poured them both a large glass of Scapa whisky. She sat on her comfy chair, plumped up with fat cushions, and her feet on the footstool Ross had made her for her seventy-fifth birthday, almost five years ago.
Amelia was curled up on the sofa being eyed up by Bette Davis. The sleek black cat was licking her paws and making up her mind whether to nestle herself in Freya’s lap or attack this usurper and use her as a scratching post. Freya asked when Amelia might fancy a visit to Hrossey. “We can either get the ferry, which is a couple of hours, but it’s a lovely sail if the weather is right or jump on the plane which will take about fifteen minutes.”
“What do you think is best, Freya?”
“This time of the year I would go for the ferry. It’s a bonnie trip and will give you a chance to get a feel of the place.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“And I’ll check when Evie might be free.”
Amelia was quiet a moment, sipping her whisky before she answered.
“Would it be too much to ask if we could go alone? Just the two of us. I know how busy Evie is and I don’t want to take her away from her work. You’ve both been so kind, and I don’t want to be a bother.”
Freya smiled. That could actually work out. Freya had been worried Amelia would take up too much of Evie’s time. Of course, she would never let on to Amelia so she merely said, “Certainly, if that’s what you want. You’re right, Evie is up to her eyes in work and she’s not always great on the ferry. She won’t mind at all and it will give us a chance to really get to know each other, especially as we are going to be housemates.”
A couple of days later, the two women were sitting together outside on the ferry enjoying the wind and the sun on their faces. Approaching Hrossey they were accompanied by a school of dolphins, frolicking, leaping and showing off to some very bored-looking seals on the rocks by the ferry terminal.
Freya chuckled at their antics. She adored dolphins and always thought it was a good sign when they followed the ferry. “Looks like we have another welcoming committee,” said Freya. She waved enthusiastically at the dozen or so people lined up on the pier.
“Oh this is just lovely,” said Amelia. “I didn’t expect everyone to come and meet us.”
“Well,” said Freya. “You coming to visit is a big deal. They want to make sure you get a good welcome. Be prepared to eat until you burst because they will have prepared a feast.”
Amelia and Freya were engulfed in the embrace of a gaggle of red-headed men, women and children who all looked alike and all spoke at once. Somehow, they were bundled into the back of an old Land Rover, and drove in a convoy past the shops, museum and hotel to the very top of the island where a clutch of white farmhouses looked across to the bay to the small island of Papay.
Cousin Drew, who was married to Inga, yelled over his shoulder at Amelia, “Do you see the windsock over there? That’s where we are heading. We live just beyond.”
Amelia nodded. “There’s a tiny little plane there.”
“Aye,” he said. “That’s the plane that flies across to Papay.” He added proudly: “It’s the shortest scheduled flight in the world. Depending on the wind you can do it in under a minute.”
Freya sat quietly in the front seat taking in the familiar scenery. She loved the island where she grew up. She might have made her home on the Orkney mainland, but this was where her heart was.
She thought, ‘I will tell them to bring my ashes back here to be scattered to the winds so I can be part of Hrossey forever.’ Freya gave herself a shake. What was she doing thinking of death and funerals on such a bonnie day?
She leaned over to ask Drew, “How are you all? How’s Inga and the bairns? I can’t believe you are a granda, and peedie Daisy is five years old already and at school.”
“We are all fine, Freya. It’s good to see you. What a shame we won’t see you on your birthday.”
“Away and behave yourself. I know fine well everyone has booked the ferry across and you will be coming to my surprise party,” Freya laughed.
Drew chuckled. “I told them you would know all about it. Inga owes me a fiver.”
