Page 61 of Snowy Surprises in the Highlands

‘All sorted. Bertie too. All dealt with. You have nothing to worry about.’ He shrugged and pulled her into his lap. ‘Bella, if I’ve taken anything from Alba’s death, and the letter from Bryn, it’s that I want to make you happy and to make every memory I possibly can with you. I don’t want to put things off if we don’t have to. What’s the point of saving for a rainy day that may never come? You’re my future and although no particular length of time is ever guaranteed, we can’t sit around focusing on the end when we’re only at our beginning.’ She was utterly gobsmacked and sat in silence trying to take it all in. He sighed. ‘Are you disappointed? Or angry with me for doing this without your agreement?’

She widened her eyes and wiped away her tears. ‘Absolutely not! Harris, this is the loveliest, most special thing anyone has ever done for me. You’re giving me my dream honeymoon. How could I possibly be disappointed?’ She threw her arms around his neck and peppered his face with kisses. ‘We’re going to Tuscany!’ she said as the excitement finally kicked in to replace the worry and anxiety that had plagued her for the last few hours. ‘Tuscany!’

* * *

The group video call was scheduled on Zoom for the following day at 7 p.m. and Bella sat, her heart doing somersaults as she waited for everyone to join. One by one their friends and family logged in and Harris kissed her hand.

When everyone was present and had said hello to one another, Bella began. ‘Thanks for logging on, everyone, and Granny, please tell Dorothy thanks from me for helping you and Tam with Zoom.’

‘I thought it was a washing powder,’ Isla said. ‘I had no clue this thing existed. I’m only familiar with the WhatsUp.’

‘Well, you’re here now and that’s all that matters. We just wanted to share our exciting news with you all.’

‘Are you pregnant?’ Ben asked, wide-eyed. ‘Because I’m telling you now, I’ve forgotten what sleep is.’

‘But it’s definitely worth it,’ Skye added, giving him a swift dig in the ribs.

‘Oh, aye, it’s so worth it,’ Ben agreed.

Bella giggled. ‘Sorry, no, no babies yet. But it’s something we didn’t think was going to happen.’

‘Come on, Bella, my suspenders are killing me!’ Isla said and everyone laughed.

‘Erm, Mum, I think you mean the suspense is killing you,’ Bella’s dad said, cringing.

Isla winked at the camera. ‘I know what I meant,’ she said and at this point no one could hold a straight face.

‘Harris has been very naughty,’ Bella said.

‘Maybe that’s not a topic for video call?’ Brodie said and another rumble of laughter travelled the ether.

‘Come on, Bells, just say it, or you’ll never get a word in with this lot,’ Olivia said with a roll of her eyes.

The excitement had got too much, and Bella was ready to burst. ‘Harris has booked for us to go to Tuscany for our honeymoon!’ she blurted, almost in a squeal.

This was met with a cheer and applause. ‘Oh, that’s amazing, Bells! Well done, Harris.’

‘Absolutely brilliant!’

‘You’ll love it!’

‘I’m so jealous.’

The comments kept rolling in and Bella sat there beaming as Harris squeezed her hand.

‘You have to go to the Uffizi,’ Reid said. ‘It’s incredible. Seeing Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus up close was an emotional experience for me.’

‘And the pizza is divine in Italy,’ Granny Isla added. ‘None of this processed rubbish you get in supermarkets. Proper cheese and an authentic Italian base. Nothing like it. Giovanni’s in Portree comes a close second, but it helps that he’s a proper Italian.’

‘We’re going to a wine tasting by candlelight,’ Bella said, swooning.

‘Bloody ’ell, Harris, you’ve done it now. Us blokes are all gonna be compared to you, you romantic sod,’ Neil said in his broad Yorkshire accent.

‘Aye, that’s one way to ruin all our street cred, pal,’ Dex added in his Geordie twang. ‘Not only are you a good-looking bloody hero who plays fiddle, but you book romantic holidays too. Jeez, what hope have we got?’ He was grinning as he spoke.

‘Take a leaf out of his book, boys!’ Ruby said, nudging Mitch. ‘You could all do with some lessons from Harris.’

‘So, you’re telling me a tent in midge season is no longer classed as romantic?’ Archie asked, feigning ignorance, and was swiftly whacked on the arm by Caitlin.

Everyone was laughing and Bella was ecstatically happy that they had all been so lovely about it.

When the call ended, Bella turned to Harris. ‘Thank you again, Harris. I can’t quite believe how lucky I am.’

He cupped her face in his hand and kissed her. ‘It wasn’t luck, sweetheart, it was fate. You and me? That’s what you call meant to be.’