Scott.
When Heather last saw him, she was wearing fishnet stockings and a Dracula outfit with a high-necked cape. And crying her eyes out. And, concern for Georgia aside, she’s obsessed about him ever since. No one has held her and supported her like that.
Ever.
‘I think I get it now’, he’d said. I getyounow felt implied.
‘Hello,’ he says. He’s wearing jeans with a white linen shirt tucked into the waistband. His smile is almost shy.
‘Hi.’
He extends his arms. There’s a circular dish in his hands, its contents obscured by some messily applied tin foil.
‘Pumpkin pie,’ he says, gesturing that Heather should take it. ‘Bit of a disaster, to be honest. All those American measurements in cups and ounces and Fahrenheits kind of caught me out. Bethany was a godsend.’
His eyes smoulder into hers. Goodness, he’s hot. Does he think the same about her? Does he notice the smoothed hair, the smoky eye she’s experimenting with, having watched numerous TikTok shorts designed for twelve-year-olds, but perfectly pitched for a complete novice like herself?
Can he see the glisten on her upper lip because he’s so damn sexy and she’s like a teenager again? If she's honest, she finds her own reaction a little unsettling. She already knows Scott’s type; he’s not the kind of guy who’s in it for the long term.
Only…
Only…
What if he is? It’s a question that she can’t even allow herself to contemplate today. She has a houseful of guests. A three-course dinner to cook. And they’re all here for Trey.
‘It’s litres and grams and Centigrade for you, is it?’ she asks.
Scott shrugs.
‘Come in,’ she says.
Heather knows the meal was good by sheer virtue of the clean plates around the table after each course. Even Scott’s self-proclaimed disaster of a pumpkin pie was reasonably palatable when doused in caramel sauce and whipped cream.
‘So,’ Heather says when she takes the plates away, ‘Bethany tells me we need to go around the table and say what we’re grateful for. Who’d like to start? Trey, would you and your family like to show us how it’s done?’
They dial into Baltimore and are joined by Bethany, Trey’s brother, Mason, and other members of their extended family. The American contingent start off citing health, pride in their children, and proximity to their friends as being noteworthy.
‘I’m grateful to you all for looking after my son,’ Bethany says, ‘and I’m thankful and nostalgic for my own year in Scotland many, many moons ago.’
Trey is next. He looks at his family, on camera, his eyes glistening, then moves his focus to those in the room and smiles at everyone.
‘Well, clearly, I’m grateful for all of you. My surrogate Scottish family who make me so welcome and valued. And you guys back at home, who always have my back. I’m grateful to have the chance to study in a place like St Andrews, and the opportunity to learn about my heritage and travel while I’m here. And things I’m looking forward to, well – seeing Mum and Mason at Christmas when we go to Morocco, learning more at university, and having more fun with my lovely friends.’ He stretches his hands out to either side and takes one each of Georgia’s and Brianna’s.
Brianna whoops, and Georgia gives a small cheer.
Georgia tells everyone how thankful she is to be part of the St Andrews University community. ‘Especially given how things were during Covid, when Paul vanished and Mum was left home schooling me and holding down a full-time job. It didn’t look like I was going to make it to university at all in those days.’
Georgia looks at Heather and gives her a lopsided smile. Heather’s eyes tear up. She’d been so consumed by loss and anger when Paul left, she hadn’t considered how it might have affected Georgia’s schooling. She breaks eye contact to wipe her eyes with a napkin. When she comes to, everyone around the table is looking at her with concerned eyes. Including Scott,who’s staring at her. He must realise, surely, that by this stage in life he’s not the only one with a knotty history to deal with?
Scott and Brianna follow suit. They express gratitude for family and friends and new experiences that their circumstances allow. ‘Oh. And I know we’re not allowed to be grateful for materialistic things, but I’m so glad my favourite bike is being released in a carbon fibre frame in the New Year,’ Scott adds as an apparent afterthought, which generates a laugh around the table.
‘Honestly, Dad. You and your adventure sports,’ Brianna says in mock frustration.
Georgia raises her hand in the air. ‘I’d like to request an amendment to my Thanksgiving list,’ she announces, as though she’s in court. ‘If Scott gets a materialistic one, then I do too, right?’
‘Well …’ Heather’s fearful Georgia is about to scupper her Christmas plans and ask for something outrageously expensive.
‘I’m thankful for the Winter Ball and that I’m going to get a lovely dress and go with my bestest friends.’
