Page 5 of Chasing a Highland Dream

Bella laughed to herself as she wandered into the kitchen to put the kettle on. Beau followed her, his tail wagging in the hope there may be treats for him too. ‘You can’t have fruit cake, wee man. It’s poisonous to dogs.’

‘Your mum called earlier, she wants to borrow a dress of yours for the cruise. I told her you’d call her back later,’ Isla called after her.

‘Okay. I wish I was going with them.’

‘You could’ve gone. They did invite you. Your dad would love you to be there to celebrate his sixtieth.’

‘Hmm, I don’t want to leave Olivia in the lurch, especially when the booking system for the apartments is about to go live. I’m in charge of overseeing that.’

Bella had been reticent about moving into her granny’s three-bedroom house on Innes Street in Inverness, but at the time it had been necessary when she’d had to move out of her flat after losing her job. She had, for a short time, moved back home into her brother’s bedroom while he was at uni – her own bedroom had been turned into a gym/office – but when Callum returned from uni, she had been faced with the prospect of sleeping on the sofa. Living with Granny Isla had always been intended as a temporary situation until she could afford her own place, but now she didn’t really want to leave. Isla was such fun for an octogenarian. With her varying hair colours, her boho chic clothes, and her inane ability for malapropisms, there was never a lull in entertainment.

‘I’ve made stovies for tea, by the way. It’s ready when you are,’ Isla called again. Bella knew she had, thanks to the familiar, mouth-watering aroma of cooked meat and vegetables. ‘I got some oatcakes from the wee deli by the day centre. I wasnae sure if you were off oot, though.’

‘No, Granny, I’m looking forward to the stovies! I’ll set the table, eh?’ She grabbed the mats and plates from the old dresser and laid the table. ‘Come on, I’m serving up.’

Isla came through. ‘I’m starving. We only had roast pork, veg and sponge with custard for lunch.’

Bella began to plate up the stew and placed a portion in front of her granny. ‘Only? It beats the salad sandwich I had.’

‘Aye, but they think gyratics eat like sparrows at that place, all fancy pants but no substance.’

Bella smiled and shook her head. ‘Anyway, do you fancy coming to visit the castle with me at the weekend? Olivia would love to see you.’

‘Count me in. Will that handsome chap of hers be there?’

‘Brodie? I would think so. Don’t you go flirting with him, Gran,’ Bella said with a wink.

‘I wouldnae dream of it. Can’t stop him flirting wi’ me, though, eh?’ Isla smiled with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Brodie had a definite soft spot for Granny Isla and the feeling was clearly mutual. ‘Do you think he’ll ever propose properly to Olivia?’

Bella chewed a mouthful of melt-in-the-mouth beef, onions and soft potato before replying, ‘Absolutely. He’s just waiting for his divorce from that evil, violent woman to be finalised, then I bet there will be an official lavish proposal.’

Isla smiled dreamily. ‘Don’t you think he’s got a look of that actor?’ she asked. ‘The one named after that fancy rice stuff that’s all the rage these days? Although I don’t see what’s wrong with plain ol’ boil in the bag mysel’.’

Bella scrunched her brow and shrugged. ‘I have no clue who you mean.’

Isla waved her fork in frustration. ‘Och, you do.’ She placed her fork down and clicked her fingers. ‘Not couscous… the other one…’ There was a light bulb moment and Isla’s face lit up. ‘Quinoa! Aye, that’s it, Quinoa something or other. Reeves! Aye, that’s him. Quinoa Reeves.’

Bella almost choked on her food as she laughed. ‘Quinoa Reeves! Aye, I suppose Brodie does look a little like him.’

Isla scowled. ‘Aye, although who names their child after a rice substitute? But then again, Gwyneth Paltrow named her daughter Apple, I suppose.’ She rolled her eyes and shrugged.

Bella was a little bewildered by her granny’s knowledge of the American actress and her offspring. She briefly considered arguing and explaining the actor to whom she was referring was Keanu, but decided not to bother. Her version was cute and funny and would be added to the list of other Isla-isms uttered by the Douglas matriarch, which would go down in history.

‘Right. It’s a date then,’ Bella said. ‘We’ll go and visit Saturday morning. The weather’s supposed to be dry and I can’t wait for you to see everything in real life rather than photos on my phone.’ They chatted about nothing much until they finished their meal. ‘Right, I’ll go call my mum and then I’ll sort the dishes.’

3

Saturday was a dry and bright day, if a little chilly for May, and as Bella drove Fifi, her ‘vintage’ (some would say ancient) red Citroen 2CV, to the castle with her granny in the passenger seat, her heart skipped with excitement. She couldn’t wait to show her granny the newly decorated apartments.

As they travelled up the long tree-lined driveway, Isla sang along with Lewis Capaldi’s ‘Pointless’ playing on the radio in her almost operatic voice.

‘I didn’t know you were a fan, Granny,’ Bella said with a smile. ‘In fact, I didn’t even know you were aware of Lewis Capaldi.’

‘I do like to keep up with the modern tunes, you know. I listen to Radio Highland when I’m baking or cleaning. Beau likes him too. He’s from Glesga, you know. And he’s a handsome young man. Not quite as handsome as his father, though.’ Bella was a little confused as to how Isla might know Lewis Capaldi’s dad. She needn’t have wondered because Isla added, ‘Aye, I remember him in that lovely film Local Hero. His father, I mean.’

Bella remembered watching Local Hero with her granny when she was younger; it was one of Isla’s favourite movies because it was filmed on location in Arisaig on the west coast of Scotland, a place she had visited as a young girl.

‘Hang on, Granny, Lewis Capaldi’s dad isn’t an actor. In fact, I’m sure I saw an interview with him once where he said his dad was a fishmonger.’