‘It’s better burnt. Otherwise it wouldn’t be called a barbecue.’
‘Did you learn that at culinary school?’
She chuckled, putting their plates down so she could loop her arms around him. As ever, she had to rise to her tiptoes to really see him, his knees bent slightly to accommodate her. His hazel eyes glittered, the corner of his mouth tugging with that lopsided, boyish grin she loved so much.
‘Thank you, Struan. Nobody’s ever considered me the way you have. You take care of me without me ever needing to ask.’
‘Because I love you,’ he said, leaving a kiss on the peak of her nose. ‘I’d like to spend the rest of my life taking care of you. I don’t ruin songs for just anyone, you know.’
Giggling, she cupped his jaw, letting herself feel this connection openly for the first time without being plagued by the fear that it was wrong or forbidden. She wasn’t sure she believed that she could be lucky enough to have him forever, but she had no complaints about trying. There was both exhilaration and serene safety in the possibility that he’d be her first and last.
‘Will you let me take care of you, too?’ she asked, because she hated to think it might be one-sided. That she might never be able to offer him the same support he’d given her.
But he hooked his hands at the base of her spine and said, ‘You already do, sweetheart.’
He kissed her until, from the picnic bench, she heard retching noises from Martha. Struan groaned, resting his forehead against Rae’s. ‘When can I have you to myself?’
‘Tonight,’ she promised. ‘And, if you’re good, all the nights after.’
‘I like the sound of that.’
She did, too.
They interlaced hands and returned to the table, laughing with the people they loved most until the sun was nothing more than an orange blot on the horizon and the first cool breaths of autumn seeped through her summer dress. Even then, after the others had left, they stayed, a future building itself between and around them. Rae wasn’t yet sure what it would look like, but she knew he’d be there. As long as that was true, she’d figure the rest out.
First, though, she could afford to press pause and soak up the last sweet drops of summer with him.
Epilogue
As it turned out, Rae could stay on the farmandmaintain her love of cooking: it just took her a little while to figure out how. She’d spent the autumn planning new things for Sweetbriar: sowing seeds to expand their varieties next year, planning seasonal events like the Scarecrow Pageant, participating in Belbarrow’s annual Autumn Festival, preparing for the Christmas Markets in December.
She’d also learned to rest. A lot. Mostly because being in love with a handsome mountaineer who found her irresistible was tiresome in the best way. They spent their weekends in nature or else in bed, Rae taking a step back from farm work when needed, especially as Dad healed and enjoyed his independence without painful flare-ups getting in the way.
The farm shop was her second true love, though. By winter, she stepped out into the frosted grass to see the expansion completed for the first time. Struan, clad in his scarf and fleece coat, wrapped his arms around her, keeping her warm after she’d been too excited to remember her own coat. A sign had been placed above the stained-glass door readingSweetbriar Farm Shop & Eatery,with a conservatory extension where customers could enjoy Rae’s lunches while overlooking the view of the fields.With any luck, the farm would bring in visitors all year round, alleviating some of the pressure over the summer months. She’d never realised how nerve-wracking it must have been for her dad and gran, so limited by the changing seasons, but she planned to make it easier on them by focusing on new ventures. Come January, construction would start on a large greenhouse to keep production up year-round, and she couldn’t wait to start planting new crops – chillies, rhubarb, herbs, as well as new varieties of the delicious fruits Sweetbriar was famous for. Her notebook was already brimming with recipe ideas.
The eatery was no Michelin-star restaurant, but she’d have an entire kitchen to herself, and she was certain that witnessing the patrons enjoying her homemade meals and baked goods would feel far more rewarding than the disconnected mayhem of her old kitchens. She wasn’t just an anonymous saucier, flustered in a clinically modern kitchen. She was part of the community, contributing to enjoyment and happy memories. There would be no fancy, minimalist décor: this would be a rustic, homely, pet-friendly space where people could sit for hours with sweet treats and quiet chatter. The escape Rae had always needed, now shared in the hopes others would find the same peace.
‘I wish we could open it now,’ she complained.
Struan chuckled. ‘You have all the time in the world. Come spring, the place’ll be packed.’
She hummed, turning in his arms to face him. He wrapped his tartan scarf around her, though her cream cable knit jumper was thick and cosy. Since they had a long drive ahead of them, she’d dressed for comfort. Haru had invited her to visit down in London, booking the two of them a table at Calypso for tomorrow evening so she could see his achievements for herself. Though Rae didn’t regret her shift from big restaurants, she was eager to introduce Struan to the artistry of fine dining. She’d witnessed so many people delight in a new cuisine for the first time, and just knew Struan would love the fusion of flavours after so many evenings of him enthusiastically complimenting the experimental dinners she cooked. It was one of her favourite ways to show him just how much he meant to her: greeting him with a hot plate she’d poured hours into when he’d spent a long day in the mountains. After a rescue operation, when he was so exhausted he could barely stand, a hearty dinner was the best way she knew how to take care of him.
Well, second best.
‘I brought your suitcase down,’ he said. ‘Ready when you are.’
‘I need to go through my checklist one more time.’ She dashed inside for her notepad, Struan’s chuckles following her as she unzipped her suitcase in the hallway. The part of her that needed order and predictability hadn’t gone away, but with therapy, she was discovering ways to manage before the anxiety turned to a breakdown.
She cried when she wanted to, now. Struan let her. She let herself.
Soon, they were bidding Dad, Myra, and Gran goodbye, the golden Highlands fading into the distance as they embarked on one of many adventures together.
Struan had never been built for cities, but he’d admit it was thrilling to steal Rae away from Belbarrow for a couple of nights. She was the most vibrant – and delicious – part of Calypso, clad in a gorgeous wine-red dress, her dark hair curling over one shoulder. She’d lit up as soon as they’d stepped into the lively restaurant, pointing out her favourite details, like the Sakura tree they currently sat under, and the water feature providing a serene trickle across one wall. He loved to see her rediscovering that version of herself, but he couldn’t pretend that it didn’t leave him feeling a smidge insecure. He might have put on a nice shirt and tailored trousers, the first pair he’d owned since his high school prom, but he didn’t blend in with the other diners, who sported expensive haircuts and made sophisticated conversation revolving around wine tasting and weekend trips to the South of France. What if she discovered she missed this life enough to want to go back to it?
What if there was no place for him here?
The first course came, jerk salmon sushi with pineapple-infused soy sauce. The chopsticks frightened him. It must have been obvious, because Rae giggled as he fiddled with them, lightly rearranging his fingers over the sleek wood.
