Page 59 of Snowy Surprises in the Highlands

‘Is everything okay? You look a little down.’

Bella sighed. ‘I’ll be fine. I won’t bore you with my woes.’

Jules tilted her head. ‘Don’t be daft. What are friends for? Come and have a seat for a while.’ She nodded to the bench situated by the railings of the inlet. ‘I’ve got time to spare.’

They sat on the bench and as Bertie and Chewie jumped on, and chewed at, each other, Bella explained the situation she found herself in.

‘Oh, honey. I’m so sorry for Harris. But the thing is life is full of loves and losses. You can’t avoid it unless you live in a cave all by yourself and speak to no one, but what kind of life would that be? Harris adores you and he would be so miserable without you, and I’m pretty sure he knows that. I think this reaction will just be the shock of losing someone he once loved.’

‘I’m sure you’re right. I’m just worried, because as we get closer to the wedding I think I’m waiting for something to go wrong. I have in the back of my mind that he’ll be thinking about backing out because of what he read in that email.’

‘I’m sure he isn’t thinking that at all. We’ve all seen how he looks at you, Bells.’ She paused for a moment and then continued, ‘I look back at my marriage to Laurie and ask myself if I’d known he was going to die would I have done anything to avoid falling for him and the truth is – no, I wouldn’t. Because loving him made me who I am today. Losing him was horrendous, of course, and I was determined not to fall in love again because the pain was so bad, but then I met Reid, and I couldn’t help myself. Yes, it crossed my mind that I could lose him in the same way I lost Laurie, but there’s also the chance we’ll have a long happy life together and that made me want to be with him even more. To make every second count and to make as many wonderful memories as possible, taking every day as it comes. Just give Harris time, honey. It’s a lot to process and it does sort of make you question a lot of things when someone your age dies. He’ll come home and everything will be fine. I somehow just know it.’

Bella smiled, grateful for her friendship and for sharing the experience of her own loss. ‘Thanks, Jules. I really appreciate that.’

Jules placed a hand on her arm. ‘Anytime. I mean it. And if you need to talk again just drop me a message and we can go for a drink or something. You don’t have to suffer in silence.’

Bella smiled. ‘Likewise, if ever you need an ear or a shoulder.’

Jules stood and with a warm smile said, ‘Thanks, honey. I’d better get this dog walked before he eats Bertie.’

They both laughed as they glanced down at the dogs whose ears were now matted and slimy. ‘I think someone needs a bath now,’ Bella said, scrunching her nose.

* * *

A little while later, Bella was sitting at the kitchen table going through photos on her phone that she had snapped of them decorating the tree earlier, before the mood had drastically changed, when Granny Isla’s face popped up requesting a WhatsApp video call.

‘Hi, dearie. What are you up to today on your day off?’ she asked.

‘We’ve been decorating the Christmas tree, hang on and I’ll show you.’ She walked through to the lounge and turned the camera around.

‘Ooh, that’s vera pretty, hen. You’ll have to watch Bertie doesn’t try to eat the baubles like he does with everything else. Where’s Harris? I thought he was off today too.’

Bella decided not to worry her. ‘Oh, he’s fine. He’s just gone to Portree to pick up a parcel. I’m hoping he picks up a Chinese takeaway while he’s there because I haven’t a clue what we’ll have for tea if not.’ She forced a laugh.

‘How are the wedding plans coming along, bella Bella?’ Tam asked as he took a seat beside Isla.

‘We’re pretty much sorted now, Tam. Just waiting for the big day to arrive.’ If it actually does. Oh, stop it, Bella. You’re such a pessimistic cow.

Oblivious to her inner monologue, Tam continued, ‘And is Harris excited about his nuptials?’

Isla whacked his arm. ‘Tam! What sort of a question is that? You cannae ask about another man’s nuptials out of the blue like that. It’s vera personal.’

Tam frowned. ‘Why not? It’s his wedding too.’

As if Bella somehow wouldn’t hear her, Isla whispered, ‘Aye, but you can’t ask about a thing like that. His nuptials are his business.’

Tam’s brow furrowed. ‘Aye and Bella’s, too, so what’s the issue?’

Isla glanced at the camera and through a forced smile where she barely moved her lips, and again as if Bella wouldn’t hear, she said, à la ventriloquist’s dummy, ‘It’s just a very private thing to ask a young lady about her betrothed, Tam. That’s all I’m saying. It’s inappropriate.’

Bella pursed her lips, holding in her laughter. ‘Granny, exactly what do you think nuptials are?’

Isla patted her hair and pursed her lips. She raised her eyebrows and leaned forward, closer to the camera. ‘Well, if you don’t know maybe you shouldn’t be marrying a man that’s got them, hen,’ she said in a theatrical whisper.

Tam turned to her and patted her arm. ‘Isla dearie, nuptials is just another way of saying wedding.’

Isla’s eyebrows raised, and then crumpled, then raised again as she simultaneously opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish. ‘Aye… I know that,’ she said.

But clearly she didn’t.