Page 19 of A Scottish Lighthouse Escape

‘What do you mean?’

I steeled myself the best I could. ‘Joe was having an affair with a woman he met three years ago. She wrote to me. Sent photos of them together.’

Barclay’s eyes widened. ‘Are you joking?’

‘I wish I was.’ I sighed. ‘I didn’t want to tell you over the phone.’

Barclay fiddled with his floppy cap perched on his head. ‘I don’t know what to say to you, lass. What the hell was he thinking?!’

‘Probably that he could have his cake and eat it.’

Barclay reset his expression. ‘Well, you know what you ought to do from now on? Think of yourself, Red. Focus entirely on you. Take each day as it comes, and in time, you’ll move forward and be happy again. You’ll see.’ He shook his head. ‘Bloody idiot. You were always too good for him.’

I offered him a small, sad smile. ‘And how’s Mags?’ I asked. ‘Let’s talk about you instead. I’m getting boring.’

The mention of the woman’s name, elicited pings of colour on Barclay’s sea-battered cheeks.

Mags Buchan was the landlady of Rowan Bay’s most well-known pub, The Sea Shanty. She and Barclay definitely had a thing for one another. It was a will-they-won’t-they situation and the locals of Rowan Bay had speculated for a while as to whether the two of them would finally admit how they felt about each other and do something about it. Barclay was in that pub so often; he should get shares in the place.

‘She’s good. In fact, very good.’ Barclay shifted in his armchair. ‘I didn’t want to tell you, lass. Not over the phone. You’ve had enough to think about.’ He performed a rueful little smile. ‘Looks like we’ve both been waiting to see each other, before swapping the latest news.’

He raised his chin, glimmers of happiness appearing in his eyes. ‘Mags and I have stopped dancing around each other. We don’t know how long we’ve got left, so we’ve come to our senses and are making a go of it.’

I set down my mug, jumped up from the sofa and hurled my arms around him. ‘That’s wonderful! Oh, I’m so thrilled for both of you.’

Barclay’s face bloomed even more. ‘Thank you. I took the bull by the horns, asked her out a few weeks back, she said yes and that was it. We’re officially an item, I think is the expression these days.’

I grinned at him as I sat back down. ‘So come on then. What are your plans for the future?’

Barclay dropped his gaze for a few moments. ‘I’m retiring, Red. From the lighthouse. Mags and I have decided to move to Loch Lomond. Enjoy what years we have left together.’

I blinked at him. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Aye. Never been more serious in my life.’

A mixture of delight and shock raced through me. ‘So, no more Barclay the lighthouse keeper?’ I threw my hands up in the air. ‘I’m delighted for you. For you and Mags. But what will happen to The Sea Shanty? And this place?’

‘Mags’s nephew, Damon, is taking over the pub.’ He took a considered sip of his tea, rubbed Bronte behind the ears and looked up at me. ‘As for the lighthouse, there’ll be a new lighthouse keeper in place very soon.’

‘Wow.’ I pushed out a smile.

I was thrilled for Barclay and his new future with Mags. Of course I was.

But it seemed incomprehensible that there would be someone new stationed here in the lighthouse, guiding sea mariners to safety and sending that buttered glow of light onto the water.

‘I’ll miss this so much,’ murmured Barclay. ‘But nothing stays the same, does it, and I’ve had a good innings looking after this place. Time for new blood.’

‘Well, it’s the end of an era, but hopefully, the start of a new one,’ I said, hoping I sounded more optimistic than I felt. I raised my mug and leant across to clink it against Barclay’s.

He twinkled over at me with mischief. ‘How about a nip of something a little stronger? I think we both deserve it.’