Page 76 of Chasing a Highland Dream

She bent and kissed his chest, where a smattering of hair lightly covered his smooth skin. ‘Well, when you put it like that…’

‘That’s settled then.’ He pulled her down into his arms again and held her as he peppered her face and neck with kisses.

33

‘I’ve decided I’m definitely moving out of my house,’ Isla announced out of the blue as Bella and her family sat around her hospital bed.

Bella’s dad burst out laughing. ‘Aye, all right, then. Where are you planning on going? The Maldives?’

Isla scowled at her son. ‘I’ve not decided yet but I’m selling the house once it’s liveable again. And I’m moving into sheltered housing. It’s time.’

Bella’s dad laughed again. ‘Aye, whatever you say, Mum.’

Isla crossed her arms over her chest with clear indignation. ‘I’m not kidding, son. I’ve made up my mind.’

Bella’s dad’s grin disappeared suddenly. ‘You always said you’d disown us if we put you in a home.’

‘Aye, but you’re not putting me in a home, I’m doing it.’

Bella’s mum tried to reason with her. ‘Mum, you love your house. You’ll hate it in sheltered housing. All those old people, remember?’

Isla folded her arms, annoyed and with pursed lips. ‘How do you know? And they’re not old people; they’re folks my own age. I won’t be on my own and you won’t have to worry about me all the time.’

‘But Bella lives with you, Granny, so we know you’re safe already,’ Callum added to the conversation.

‘Arabella is a young woman who has her future ahead of her. She doesn’t need me as an Albert Ross around her neck.’

‘An albatross, Mum.’

‘Aye, that’s what a said.’

‘Granny, you’re not a burden to me, I love living with you,’ Bella insisted.

Isla huffed. ‘Can you all give me and Bella the room, please?’ she said, like a character in a US cop show. Bella’s parents sighed and left, closely followed by Callum. ‘Is that the real saying? Albatross?’ Isla asked with a crumpled expression when they had gone.

Bella tried not to smile. ‘Aye, it is, Granny.’

‘But why would you have a bird around your neck? That doesn’t make any sense. I thought an Albert Ross was a kind of heavy gold chain like the rappers wear. They must get neck ache from those things. Gold is very heavy, you know. I presumed Albert Ross was the jeweller who designed them.’

Bella smiled. ‘No, it’s from a poem where a sailor shoots a seabird and has to wear the body around his neck as punishment.’

Isla scrunched her face. ‘Eeeuw, that’s not very nice.’

‘Neither is shooting a poor bird.’

‘Aye, no, fair point.’

‘Anyway, why did you want to clear the room like that?’ Bella asked, both concerned and intrigued.

Isla glanced at the door, making sure no one was listening. ‘I know about you and the sergeant.’

Bella raised her eyebrows. ‘Oh.’

‘Aye, Maeve messaged me on the WhatsUp. She and I both think it’s wonderful. He’s a very kind man and he’s right for you. Apart from that motorbike, but we’ll let him off so long as you never go on it again.’

Bella was reminded of the conversation about her impending trip to Skye on the back of said bike. She chose not to mention it.

‘Anyway, I’ve decided I’m going to sell my house and give something to you and Callum towards places of your own. That way you can live wherever you want to live. You don’t have to hang around with me cramping your style.’