Page 119 of A Scottish Island Summer

Chapter Thirty-Two

The last couple of days vanished with me taking last-minute photographs for the book and undertaking a few more interviews alongside Campbell.

‘Are you sure you want to wish me au revoir? I’m just getting the bus from down the road.’

Campbell pulled a dismissive face. ‘It’s the least I can do. I need a break from all this publicity circus for a bit.’ He pulled a pair of sunglasses out of his jeans pocket as we lingered at reception in The Gorse and thrust them on. ‘It’s getting rather wearing, being a celebrity.’

I laughed despite the dragging feeling in my stomach, and embraced Julie and Kathleen in turn.

‘Thank you so much for everything. I’m going to miss you both. And your delicious breakfasts.’

Both women, their eyes damp with tears, bundled me into their arms.

‘Don’t you be a stranger,’ managed Julie, giving me another affectionate squeeze.

I nodded, struggling to say something. I knew I wouldn’t be back to Skye. How could I, after what had happened with Logan? It would hurt too much.

I tried not to look up and down the high street as I stepped outside but failed. My sliver of hope that Logan might show up evaporated. There was no sign of him.

I distracted myself by conducting a mental check that I had everything with me. My wheelie case sat by my feet and my bus ticket was stashed in my coat pocket. My mobile and camera meanwhile, were bursting with information and photographs of Skye … and Logan.

‘I’m going to give you ladies and The Gorse a glowing review in my travel guide,’ I said as I contorted my mouth into a watery smile.

‘You just make sure you return for a visit,’ insisted Kathleen.

Campbell looked down at his watch. ‘Come on, Darcie. You don’t want to miss your bus.’

With one more forlorn wave at Kathleen and Julie, Campbell and I set off down the street towards the bus stop, my wheelie case clacking behind Campbell. He’d insisted on taking charge of it till we got to the bus stop.

‘When you first came here,’ remarked Campbell, as we passed the bottle-windowed shops, ‘you gave the impression you couldn’t wait to get back to London.’

I kept my watery gaze fixed on the pavement snaking ahead of us and the tantalising glimpse of the hills beyond. ‘Little did I know.’

Campbell kept offering me charged side glances. ‘Thank you, Darcie.’

‘For what?’

‘For not giving up on me like a lot of other folks did.’

Oh no.

Hot tears pricked my eyes. ‘I should be the one thanking you.’

‘Now it’s my turn to ask what for?’ He edged out a quirky smile.

‘For not turning against me when I was stupid and blabbed to Justine about the cross. You forgave me.’

‘Ach!’ Campbell continued to angle my wheely case along. ‘We’ve all done things in the past that we regret and anyone who says they haven’t is a liar. Any anyway, it worked out well in the end.’

Did it? Logan nudged at the edges of my mind again. I tried to sound nonchalant but even to my own ears, the pain was evident in my voice. ‘I take it you haven’t heard from Logan?’

‘I did text him last night to remind him you were leaving today, but I didn’t get a reply.’

My heart spun to the floor. ‘Oh. Right. OK.’ I bit my lip. No doubt he was still hiking in Rum and pushing me to the back of his mind.

I deserved it.

We were drawing closer to the bus stop now and I paused to take in the pastel-coloured rows of houses, like strung candy beads. I imprinted them in my memory. I didn’t want to forget.