Page 14 of The Scottish Island Wedding

Heather had replied to the message she’d got that morning, but had no response.

What’s happening at work? It was really weird and awful being on my own yesterday.

Everyone was asking where you were.

Heather disliked lying. She was honest to a fault. Yet, in this situation, she felt as though she had to pretend everything was okay. What other option was there? Her parents had asked her how things were when they’d got back to the Inn the night before, but Heather had pretended she was tired, and gone to bed to avoid their questions.

She didn’t feel strong enough to say what was really wrong: that they’d rowed. That Matty had lied to her, and now he was ignoring her, it seemed.

That made Heather feel very uncomfortable, but she didn’t seem to be able to express her feelings clearly to her family. She wanted to tell them everything that had been going on, but she felt they’d judge her. Heather wondered whether they’d say, We told you, it’s too soon, he love-bombed you, and see what happened.

‘Well, then. To get to business: I have some requests for the wedding.’ Elizabeth handed everyone a printed agenda with bullet points. ‘I thought it would be better to talk everything through in person.’

Heather stared at the agenda in horror, and exchanged a concerned look with her sister.

Wedding dress

Jewellery

Traditional Catholic service

Approved catering

Helipad?

Branded transport – Campbell tartan on SUVs

Seating arrangements

Guest list

‘Helipad?’ Heather looked up from the agenda in alarm. ‘Why do we need one of those?’

‘For the guests arriving in helicopters, dear. Keep up,’ Elizabeth said, as if helicopters were the most everyday form of transport in the world. ‘They have to land somewhere. What do you want them to do otherwise? Jump out in a mid-hover?’

‘Um. No, that’s not what I meant, Lady Campbell.’ Heather frowned, sensing that what she thought was completely obvious was not obvious to Matty’s mother.

‘Then what did you mean? Speak up,’ Lady Campbell demanded. ‘We don’t have all day.’

‘It’s less than two weeks before the wedding,’ Heather said, feeling as if she had unwittingly been drafted into the Campbells’ TV show, and at any minute, someone was going to shout ‘CUT!’

Heather had seen the show, and the helipad conversation was pretty par for the course as far as the dialogue went. She wondered whether Elizabeth really did have a softer side, or whether Matty was delusional.

I guess I just assumed that nobody would be like that in real life, Heather thought. When she’d thought about the Campbells at all, she’d assumed that a lot of it was made up or enhanced for the show.

‘It’s just… there’s not long now to change anything,’ Heather added pensively.

‘I’m aware of that,’ Elizabeth replied crisply.

‘It’s all been organised already, is what I mean. I can talk you through what we’ve put in place so that you’re familiar, of course, but…’ Heather tried to be helpful. Perhaps Elizabeth just didn’t understand what they were trying to say.

‘No. I have certain requirements,’ Elizabeth said. She spoke in the tone of a woman who was used to having her own staff. I am not your PA, your cleaner or your private security, Heather thought, angrily. Again, she kept her feelings bottled up. It didn’t feel fair, but she also didn’t feel strong or supported enough to say, None of this is my fault. Your son has disappeared and left me to deal with you, and you are being unreasonable.

‘But… it’s less than two weeks before the wedding,’ Sorrel repeated.

‘Yes. Why do you girls keep wasting time telling me that? I do have access to a calendar, you know,’ Elizabeth said sharply. ‘The point is, all of these things can be rectified quickly. Clara and Estella will assist.’

‘Things don’t need to be rectified. They’re not wrong,’ Sorrel argued.