Page 41 of From Scotland with Love

“Is he a film star?” Jean whispered to Lori.

“No!” Lori couldn’t help but laugh at the question, especially coming from her sensible big sister. “Why would you think that?”

Jean squinted her eyes at him as he discussed local restaurants with Gran. “Mmmm... he just looks like he stepped right out of ‘Ocean's Eleven…’”

Michael had taken them out to a seafood restaurant in Morvaig, and Lori hoped with all her heart that they wouldn’t run into Callum. She had no idea what happened earlier, but luckily nothing really had happened. She panicked briefly at the thought of being caught even another minute later, then forced the idea angrily out of her head. Michael wore his Armani suit, and she saw people looking over at him every few minutes. Jean might have a point, she thought, maybe people did think he was a movie star, showing up in a tiny fishing town in the Highlands of Scotland to make a new movie – the new Local Hero, perhaps? Gran and her sisters equally made every effort to pull out all the stops, and dressed up for the occasion. Jean sat, relaxed and delighted to be out on the town without her children. “Ex has got the kids tonight!” she beamed, and Lori thought with a small smile that she looked a lot happier than usual. She herself had worn one of the dresses she hadn’t been able to find an occasion for until now, and she relished looking and feeling like her old self again. Black silk decorated with white lilies clung to her elegantly, as she sat proudly next to the most handsome man in the restaurant. The evening was a success, and Lori breathed an internal sigh of relief; she had made her decision. She would be going back to New York with Michael tomorrow night.

In the early morning light, Lori’s eyes gently flickered open to find Michael watching her.

“Good morning...” She stretched her limbs in the cosy bed.

“Are you coming back with me today?” Michael drew circles with his fingers over her freckled shoulders.

“Yes,” said Lori, knowing that she needed to go back to New York regardless, and now was the time, before she became any more confused.

“Good.” He kissed her on the forehead and went for a shower.

Lori had planned to spend her last few precious hours with her nieces, but they were with their father. So she passed the time instead with Gran and Bracken, strolling along the seafront while Michael prepared the bags and arranged their flight. Gran put her arm through Lori’s as they stood at the edge of the pier. Bracken leaned his warm furry body against her bare legs, and a quiet moment fell between them, with only the sounds of the water gently splashing and clapping against the wooden jetty.

“Well my dear, it was so very lovely having you home. I hope you will be wonderfully happy together, and get settled back in the city very quickly. Lord knows we spend so much time apart, but I want you to know, there’s always a place for you here. This is home, remember that.” She kissed Lori’s cool hand, and they continued looking out to the islands in the distance. Lori thought of all the times she had spent at this spot: chasing her sisters in the dying light of the first warm spring afternoons; witnessing the dolphins rising and falling over the mirrored surface of the water; Tammy and Alan holding hands over on the green outside the village hall, toasting each other in front of a pink, cloudless sky. She now had new memories that intermingled with the ones from her childhood, but she had to move on from both. Michael and her job awaited her.

“Thanks Gran. You’ve been the best grandmother, and mother, and father, all rolled into one -” the words caught in her throat and she stopped herself from saying anymore.

Her gran smoothed Lori’s hair, and lovingly kissed her on the cheek. “My Lolo. I know, it’s OK. It’s been my life’s work, and you girls are my pride and joy.”

The two women strolled back to the house, arriving just as the farewell party turned up, with Maggie and Anne making their final affectionate appearance.

“We wanted to say bye to Auntie!” Anne ran to hug Lori, Maggie not far behind. Lori bent down and kept her two nieces close.

“We will see each other very soon.”

“In Disneyland?” Maggie suggested.

Jean’s face fell. “Disneyland..?”

Lori quickly sent them back to their mother and tried to hold back the tears. Since Michael and Lori had arrived in separate cars, he headed off first allowing her time to say a proper goodbye. She opened her car door and turned round to see them all on the front steps waving at her, love shining on every face. Maggie held onto Gran’s hand, Anne cuddled into Jean, and Tammy wiped away a few stubborn tears. Lori drove off resolutely, only when she reached the main road did she allow the tears to stream down her face.

“Have you got everything?” Michael carried his briefcase onto the plane. “I’m looking forward to catching up on some emails before I get some sleep.” He hitched up his suit trousers elegantly before taking his seat in their spacious business class cubicle. Lori reflected on Michael’s strong work ethic, but couldn’t he have just one day away from work? After all it was the weekend! Lori shook herself, there was nothing unusual in his attitude - this was their routine, they both worked hard to keep on top of things. Shouldn’t she be grateful that Michael enjoyed his work, rather than be a failure and always anxious of how to pay the next bill? Her parents had struggled in that way, and Lori had always known she would never be caught in the same trap. If Michael could, he would work every day. As admirable as that was, especially since he hoped to make partner eventually, Lori made the firm decision in her head that they would be spending more time together enjoying experiences. Treks, horse-riding, surfing - taking weekends away to explore other cities and other cultures. She smiled to herself; she would make certain of it by organising both their calendars well in advance.

The air steward came over with a tray of champagne, but Lori declined, preferring to wait until the plane was in the air before she tried to relax. She thought of her desk at the office, of Julian’s nervous face, and the toilet cubicle she’d no doubt be going back to. She breathed in and out as her office came into her mind’s eye, with all the well-known problems surrounding it. Suddenly she had the feeling that her breath had disappeared, and was caught somewhere in her throat as blood pumped loudly in her ears. The panic reared its head that very moment, embracing her on the plane. Lori gasped, and looked over to Michael in desperation, but he was preoccupied with his laptop. The familiar and aggressive hold flared up inside her, and she felt like the plane was moving already. She closed her eyes, willing the attack to subside, and faintly heard Michael calling her, as though from some distance away, like she were in a dream.

“Lori! Your phone!” He shook her by the shoulders.

How long had she been in this trance? Her trembling hands took the small device from him.

“Lori?” It was Jean, and Lori knew immediately that something was very wrong. “Lori are you there?”

Lori reminded herself: she was on the plane, she was in Inverness. “I’m here. Jean, what is it?”

“It’s Gran. I’m sorry, I wouldn’t call you otherwise, but... she’s had a stroke!”

Lori stood up without a second thought, pulling her bag from under the seat. “I’m coming, where is she?”

Jean sniffed, talking to Tammy in the background for a moment, then she came back to the conversation on the phone. “I’m sorry, I wouldn’t have called. But she’s in the ambulance, we’re driving behind it. Oh god, I’ve never seen her like that before!” Jean wept on the phone.

All Lori could say was, “I’m coming.”

The stewardess’s alarmed faces stared at Lori as she pleaded with them to open the door.