Page 77 of Chasing a Highland Dream

It was Bella’s turn to be indignant. ‘You don’t cramp my style. I’m not leaving Inverness.’

‘Aye, well, I might be.’

Bella scoffed. ‘And where will you go exactly?’

‘Skye with Maeve.’

‘Granny, you’re being silly. Skye is over two hours away and your family is here.’

‘Not if you go to Skye too.’

‘Whoa, you’re way ahead of yourself. Me and Harris have only just got together. And I have my job at the castle. And anyway, what about Beau?’

‘I can take him, I’ve checked. Well, Maeve has.’

‘This is crazy, Granny. I’m not going to go running off to Skye with a man when I don’t know what the future holds.’

Isla shook her head. ‘Believe me, when you know, you know. Like me and your grandpa.’

Bella scowled. ‘Well, Harris doesn’t need me putting pressure on the relationship either. He’s got enough going on; he’s going to start a new job in a new location. I don’t want to become his Albert Ross.’

‘Funny,’ Isla sneered. ‘Now, I know you. And I think you need to have the freedom to be able to go if you choose to. Maybe not right now, but maybe in a few months, who knows. And I’ve decided I’d like to go with Maeve.’

‘Again, your family is here,’ Bella said, pointing to the floor as if to emphasise her point. ‘And you’re injured, you’ll need us. What do you think Mum and Dad will say about it?’

‘Arabella, children move abroad all the time and leave their parents behind while they go off to start new lives. Australia, Canada, you name it. What’s stopping me from moving a few hours away? Your mum and dad both drive. So does Callum. And your dad was talking about moving away and doing something different when he retires. That happens next year.’

‘But don’t you think it’s all a bit sudden; a bit knee-jerk, so to speak? I think you need to think it through some more. You would be leaving us all behind. And what if Harris and I don’t work out? Then you’ll be in Skye all by yourself.’

‘I’ll still have Maeve. Family means the world to me, Bella. You mean the world to me. But I refuse to be one of those gyratics who stops their family from living their own lives. My house is worth enough to help you and Callum and your mum and dad. My savings will pay for my place at the home in Skye. Once I’m up and about again, which I know might be a while, I’m going. My mind is made up.’

In the couple of days that followed, Isla refused to speak any more on the matter of her relocation. Her mind was definitely made up. Bella’s mum and dad kept expecting Isla to eventually say it was a joke but when she didn’t, they asked Bella to try to convince her that it was a bad idea.

Bella refused.

Friday was rainy and as Bella was leaving her apartment to go to the castle, she bumped into Aiden. He had a box in his arms and a bag over his shoulder.

‘Oh, hi, are you okay?’ she asked with sincerity.

He curled his lip. ‘Like you care.’

She was in no mood to flog a dead horse so simply replied, ‘Okay, bye.’ Then turned to lock her door.

‘I’m moving back to London, in case you actually do care. Although Candace won’t take me back.’

Bella felt no pity. ‘I’m sorry, Aiden, but there’s no one to blame here but you.’ She turned once more.

‘Look, I’m sorry about saying you were rubbish in bed.’

She turned to face him. ‘Luckily Harris trusts me and knows we didn’t sleep together. Regardless of whether you like it or not, you’re about to become a parent. I think you need to take a long hard look at yourself and your choices. Good luck, Aiden, I think you may need it.’ And with that she left, knowing she would be unlikely to ever see him again. And she was fine with that.

Saturday arrived all too quickly for Bella. She stood there, by Harris’s bike, all kitted out in leathers and a helmet borrowed from Mel, who, it turned out, didn’t only ride horses. Her heart was trying to escape through her jacket and her stomach trying to escape through her boots.

‘You look incredible,’ Harris said. ‘I’m so glad they fit you. And boy do they fit you.’

If she wasn’t so nervous, she would have been happy with the compliment and the way he devoured her with his gaze.

‘I’m dreading this,’ she admitted as she stepped from foot to foot.