Page 20 of From Scotland with Love

“Yeah,” she bristled. “Like galleries and museums, bars and cinemas. Our closest cinema is a two-hour drive away!”

He continued to gaze at the horizon, and Lori noticed the colour spilling onto his face as his brown eyes focused on the islands ahead. “No, we’ve no cinema. But I can make the journey if I want to see one of the new DC or Marvel movies. We can choose around here - to do those things when we want, and escape the rest of the time. What we have here is so precious. I realised how lucky I was, almost as soon as I left to go traveling.”

“You left to go traveling?”

“Aye. You think you’re the only one who upped sticks? That year you went to Australia, I moved away a few months after. New Zealand, Asia, and Nepal. It was incredible, seeing those huge landscapes, and the many different ways to live life. But it made me appreciate what a beautiful place we’re from. That’s when I thought, if I wanted to live here permanently, then I had to start my own business, instead of working for others.”

Lori was shocked, but she tried to hide it from her face, and hoped Callum didn’t see. “You were in New Zealand? But I was in Australia!” She turned to him, hurt that at one stage he had been so near her, and she had never known.

“Yeah I know, Lori. I was writing to you. It seemed as soon as you left you just decided to ignore me, remember? I sent several letters, but you never responded.”

Lori bit her lip, she knew she really should have an excuse for that fact by now, but nothing came to her. She was aware Callum had been trying to get in touch, but why hadn’t she responded? Maybe she just hadn't been that interested in being with him? No, that wasn’t it. She had really liked him; she had seen herself being happy with him at one point. But a part of her had feared that he would never achieve anything. One of those good-looking boys from high school who would stay in the area - never leaving, or making much of his life. That was the exact opposite of what she had been looking for. How could she say that to him? It was horrible to even think it.

“I couldn’t find you on any social media, why didn’t you email me?” Lori changed the subject.

“Lori, I hate all that bullshit, I thought you knew that? Even if I did email after I’d sent all those letters, I thought it was obvious you didn’t want to see me - why would I lower myself to then send you emails that you would never reply to either?” He ruffled his hair with irritation, his calm composure gone. “I can walk myself the rest of the way. Goodnight.” He marched off down the road, to then stop abruptly and turn back to face her. “By the way; when I asked if you were going to apologise that day at the church... It was for then - when I waited for you. The least you could’ve done was let me know you weren’t interested in me. That’s why I didn’t go to Australia - you were there, and I didn’t want to have you in my thoughts any more than you already were.” He left her standing speechless on the road, phone hanging by her side, mouth open.

Lori crawled into bed, exhausted from her busy day but mainly from speaking with Callum. What could she say? She was with Michael now. She didn’t want to spend too much time with Callum, partly because, as she hated to admit, she didn’t trust herself not to fall for him all over again, just a little. But she did owe him an apology, and especially now that he was Alan’s best man they both needed to be on good terms. Lori rolled over and removed the letters that were under her pillow. She slowly opened a discoloured envelope and propped herself up to read:

Dear Lori,

Just checking you received my last letter? Sometimes these things get lost, especially covering all that distance. Your sister Tammy said you’ve been busy in your new job working in an office. I have to say I can’t imagine you in an office! – I thought you’d be picking fruit or working on a farm? I’m still at the fish farm, it’s been a really harsh winter – the snow has been on and off for weeks and I’m forever cold. I’ve been exploring the idea of traveling too, I’m going to stash the cash and make a plan soon. Have you seen any kangaroos or koalas? I love the idea of stumbling across all those animals in the wild, day in day out!

I've been playing with the idea of starting my own business, but not sure what exactly right now. It’s been floating around in my head, so I’m looking around for inspiration.

I hope you’re well Lori.

From Scotland with love.

Callum

12

The following morning, Lori was on a mission to find her sister and nut out the final details of the wedding. Since she had announced the wedding venue at supper, Tammy had been nowhere to be seen, and the big day was fast approaching. Lori was beginning to panic. She had done a lot of homework, and had contacted various people, she just needed her sister to pick out the specifics of what she wanted. Lori called into the bakery, but instead of her cheery sister, she was greeted by a man with a moustache and a big belly under his white apron. He didn’t know where Tammy was; she had called in sick that morning. Lori couldn’t find her sister at her gran’s either, where she had been sleeping lately while Alan’s parents were at his almost everyday, checking on wedding preparations. Since they kept her living with him as a secret, she would spread her time between Gran’s and Alan’s, a role which Lori was glad she wouldn’t have to play for much longer. Lori drove along the coastline in the direction of Morvaig and knocked on Alan’s door but no answer, so she gave up, and walked down to the Morvaig harbour. The town was a hub of activity, particularly after a large car ferry had come in from the Isle of Skye and unloaded a continuous stream of cars onto the mainland. Lori wandered around the lively shops, just in case Tammy was roaming the streets looking for last-minute wedding favours. Tourists walked around munching fish and chips or licking ice-creams to the cries of gulls above which swooped and dived for any morsel. The bustling town was once where Lori went to high school, and the transformation from domestic port to diverse tourist town left Lori stunned. She passed craft shops, delicatessens, pubs and of course, fish and chip cafes. She peered into The Isles Café where she would often go with Callum. In those days the tables were mostly empty, as the loved-up couple snuggled together in their usual booth. Now the booths were gone, to be replaced by wooden benches and communal tables, something Lori had seen in very hipster cafes in New York, but never imagined that the town of Morvaig would also exhibit. She continued along the street and came across the familiar yellow sign for ‘Adventurous Tours’. She walked in without thinking, before she could talk herself out of it. Callum stood at a desk on the far wall talking on the phone, and nodded with a small smile as she entered. Lori busied herself looking at brochures and photographs on the wall, mostly displaying previous customers in hardhats, rock climbing and kayaking.

“I remember you used to be a bit of an adrenaline junky,” Callum remarked as he placed down the receiver.

“That was a long time ago,” Lori chuckled and looked at the delighted faces on the wall, full of exhilaration after climbing some epic rock-face or other.

“Not that long ago!” Callum walked towards Lori. “Are you in to book a lesson? I could put you down for diving off the coast?”

Lori shook her head. She looked down at the floor, and then forced herself to meet Callum's gaze. “I came here to apologise actually. You were right, I did ignore you. I don’t know where my head was then, the least I could have done was to write or call. And the other day, what I said about you.” She paused trying to find the words. “That day in the changing room. It was a horrible thing to say, and I want you to know I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry if I hurt you - again.”

Callum waved his hand, his cheeks flushing slightly. “It’s fine Lori, I shouldn't have been so sensitive.”

“No, really. I have been pretty awful to you. I don’t know why. It stops here.” She put out her hand. “Friends?”

He smiled and grasped her hand firmly, shaking it slowly. “Friends”

“Phew! I’m glad that’s over!” Lori quickly let go of his hand and scratched the back of her neck.

“What? Were you nervous about seeing me? I don’t believe that! Lori Robertson isn't scared of anything!” They both laughed in nervous relief as a small group of people entered the premises.

“Well, I’ve changed now, haven’t I?”

“Did I say that?” He looked down at her with a playful smile. “Maybe I was a bit hasty, and if we’re apologising, I shouldn’t have talked to you the way I did either.”

Lori put up her hand. “All forgiven, all forgotten!” She smiled, feeling like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders, as though an anchor around her waist had been cut loose, down into that harbour of Morvaig. She felt giddy at the light sensation flowing through her, and if she was being honest with herself, at the way Callum was looking at her this very moment. Suddenly, both of them became aware of the three potential customers hovering by the desk, and Lori forced herself back to reality. “Right, well – I need to get going and find that young sister of mine, before she misses her own wedding!” she joked. “And I think you might have just hooked some interested folks to throw off a cliff at the desk there!” She whispered. Callum grinned, and gave her arm a light touch as he turned to engage with the group of tourists.