Page 19 of From Scotland with Love

“Can I help, Mary?” Callum asked.

“Call me Gran,” she insisted “No, everything is under control, you both just go through and enjoy the evening. I’m sure you’ve got a lot to catch up on.” She shooed them away and Lori caught the smallest of smirks on her grandmother's face.

They both ventured out onto the veranda, where Alan, Tammy and Jean were all in a deep conversation about politics. Alan casually saluted Callum, and Lori decided it best to leave the three to finish their discussion.

“How are you Callum?” Lori asked. After the chilliness between them the day before, she was unsure what else to say. Her heart beat so fast, she hoped he couldn’t hear it. What was wrong with her? She felt her cheeks warming, and she didn’t know why. Callum took a sip of his drink, taking his time to answer the question. His shirt clung tightly around his chest, making Lori imagine for a split second what he looked like without it on. It had been well over ten years since they had been together, but Callum looked just the same as he had in high school. Compared to many other local men who spent their weekends in the pub, he still looked athletic, and his brown skin showed he was to be found outside whenever possible.

“Uh, good. And you?”

Oh jeez, thought Lori. This was going to be a slow night.

11

Callum glanced over at Alan who had his arm around Tammy, both in an in-depth conversation with Jean. The two small girls hovered around their mother’s legs, until Bracken shuffled past and immediately distracted them. Callum knew this family well; after spending time with Lori all those years ago, he had developed a close relationship with them after she had left. Gran had always been a stable, reliable figure in his life, someone from whom he could ask advice, which he did from time to time. He had never known his own grandparents, as his parents had been older than most when they had had him and his sister. Mary Robertson had always been there when he needed her, giving him objective support and encouragement when he first started Adventurous Tours. Now with Lori back home, he didn’t feel as welcome here as he once had. But it was her home, he told himself. All he could do now was to take a step back and wait until he was included in the conversation, offering any small contribution he could. He looked at Lori; she wore a light blue dress that clung to her beautiful curves. He loved her curves, so much nicer than the stark angles women were supposed to inhabit nowadays. He always thought she suited blue, making her piercing eyes stand out from under her deep auburn hair. Her hair was a shorter length than when he knew her in high school. But he liked the change; she looked sophisticated and elegant, and, as he reflected to himself, sipping slowly at his champagne, she was just as pretty as she had been all those years ago. This was going to be tough, spending personal time with Lori after what she had done to him. But he needed to get over it, he thought, as she called over to her nieces who were lying on the grass nearby. If only they could be civil to one another, then he could get through this. But as Lori had been snooty and rude to him on all three occasions since her return - he sensed he was going to struggle. Callum found himself hostile towards her, unsure how to accept her, and he hated himself for it. This was not him, but each time they met his insides felt like they had been ripped open a little. By just seeing her inflicted the wounds all over again. She had set him up for a fall; besides, after the whole terrible business with Jennifer, Callum couldn’t see himself being with anyone again. But as Lori’s eyes met his, memories flashed before him of summer nights together out in wild open spaces, something he thought would continue on and to the other side of the world. But his hopes of going to Australia had fallen flat on their face. He had been so sure Lori had felt the same, but something had changed as soon as her feet left the Highland soil, leaving him to a dead-end job and a cold bed, alone and confused. After much discussion with her gran, he had almost been encouraged to go out to her with the daft idea of proposing, but after her total lack of response to any of his letters or his calls, he had decided to let her go. How wrong he had been, and what a lucky escape too, he thought to himself. The woman before him now was selfish, and thought herself superior to everyone around her. Whatever had happened to her in the city had made her into an entirely different person, one he liked considerably less. Or, he thought, maybe she was always this way and he had been too young and love-struck to see it. Shaking his head a little he tried to block out his unhelpful thoughts, and drank more deeply of his champagne.

Gran announced that the food was ready, and everyone eagerly sat around the table among the aromas of chicken, garlic and roast vegetables. Maggie and Anne squabbled with one another of who would sit next to Lori, so to calm them both Lori sat in between the sisters. Gran tapped her glass with her knife and all the murmurs quietened.

“I’d just like to welcome everyone here tonight. This house hasn’t seen this many people since my son used to have parties here after the pub! I tell you I have never seen so many musicians in one house!” She chuckled and looked over to Tammy. “Your father would be so proud of you my dear, as he would of all his daughters.” She smiled at Jean, and winked at Lori. “Now, I’m not one for speeches - but here’s to a special summer and a special wedding for our youngest, Tammy, and her lad Alan - I’m sure you’ll both be very happy. To Tammy and Alan!” She raised her glass, and the table cheered as the couple kissed.

The evening went on at a relaxed, gentle pace. Maggie and Anne told everyone what they had done at school that day, with Maggie the youngest, speaking out ever-louder to get the whole table to laugh. She spotted her mother, who was looking at her phone, preoccupied, and spoke up: “Mummy, didn’t you hear my story? Why aren’t ya laughing?”

Jean sighed, taking her eyes away from her device. “I heard, toots. You were being a cheeky so-and-so today to the teacher, so I shall be having a wee chat with her to be more tough on you!”

Maggie’s reaction was a perfect pout as she pushed potatoes around her plate.

“I learned about the war and all the men who left Arlochy to fight.” Anne said in a quiet voice in-between mouthfuls.

“Well done dear, good on you,” Gran declared. “Please help yourselves to more wine - Lori, please can you keep everyone topped up?” Gran glanced at her own empty glass, and Lori diligently obliged.

“So, seeing as I’m on my feet - I have some news for you Tammy – for you all! Pretty exciting news!” Lori smiled broadly. “I went up to the big house today and met Hector. Now, as you might know, he doesn’t usually open his estate to weddings before July, and it’s booked up anyway from then until October. Well…” She breathed in, pausing for dramatic suspense. “I have secured the big house and the grounds for your wedding, Tam! And before you go and say it’s too expensive: this is my present to you both.” Lori stood excitedly, with the bottle of wine in her hand, waiting for Tammy’s response. But to her surprise, her sister stared down at her glass of orange juice, and then across to Alan in silence.

“That’s great news!” Alan said, looking to his bride to be. “Are you sure Lori? That’s very generous. What do you think Tam?” He put his arm around her but she remained still and rigid.

“Very fancy, it’s normally all the London people who hire it out!” Jean remarked, and nodded to Lori, but her younger sister was still quiet, and shifted in her chair.

“Lori that’s very kind, but we’ve booked the hall already. It’s a bit late to be changing our plans.” Tammy ran her fingers up the stem of her glass. “Thanks so much, but it’s.. too much...”

“Nonsense, I’m happy to do it! I can make all the preparations - think of me as your personal wedding assistant. I can meet with Hector and his manager, and get things all in place ASAP.”

Alan squeezed Tammy’s shoulder. “Well hun, what do you think?”

The suspense was killing Lori, and she was a little irritated too; there was no way anyone would turn down this offer. This was a generous and timely gift, and she had hoped for a more enthusiastic response.

“OK... Yes OK... If you’re sure?” Tammy smiled, and Lori sat down feeling triumphant.

“Of course! It’s going to be a bloody great wedding!” Lori squeaked with delight and downed the last dregs of her champagne.

Later that evening Lori walked with Callum into the village, mainly in order to contact Michael and her assistant in New York. They strolled down the main street on the side of the water. The sky was a hazy mix of pinks and oranges all swirling into one another. It was very late, but the day still did not want to relinquish its hold and fade into night. Lori squinted at her phone and held it up high to find signal.

“This is ridiculous, I’ve found signal at this exact spot before. Now I have nothing!” she groaned as Callum stood still beside her.

“Lori, you’re really missing what’s important here. Look at that view.” He nudged her, and she reluctantly looked out at the horizon. The water was so still, reflecting the sky’s hues, and the only sound that could be heard was a flock of geese flying in formation far in the distance. She saw a heron near them next to the pier, standing on a rock, its feet submerged underwater. It stood patiently, unmoving, like a statue waiting for dinner to swim its way.

“Bet you don’t get this in the city,” Callum whispered, and Lori felt his breath so close to her neck that it made her whole body stand to attention.

“No... but they have a lot that we don’t have here.”

“Oh aye?” He rolled his eyes.