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I flipped her phone over to see the time. “Just over an hour.”
“Oh, bollocks.”
***
So much of the drive to the airport was quiet.
I told myself it was because Grace was looking out of the window and enjoying the scenery she’d missed a week ago because she’d slept for most of the journey to Glenroch Castle.
Now, with the leftover snow, it was a winter wonderland.
I wished it would be a spring wonderland, but we couldn’t have it all.
The truth was, I didn’t want to say anything. If I did, I was sure I’d say the wrong thing. She was stressed about getting to the airport and had already decided they weren’t letting her on the plane after how she’d spoken to the customer service agent on the phone. She’d already checked in, but she was panicking all the same.
She hadn’t liked saying goodbye to my family. My grandparents and parents, especially Mum, had been sad to see her leave early. Mum had promised that they’d meet up when they returned to Oxleigh later this week, and I’d not said a word as they’d hugged goodbye.
Not as Dad said goodbye.
Or Grandma.
Not even Grandpa, who’d thanked her for their history talk in the library and hoped he’d see her again soon.
I hoped he would, too.
I just couldn’t bring it up. Not right now. I couldn’t believe that only three or so hours ago I was thinking how I couldn’t let her go, and now I was driving her to the airport.
Potentially to do just that.
The sign to Inverness airport told us to take the next left off the roundabout, so that’s what I did, and the building loomed ahead of us.
Grace sighed. “I guess we’re here.”
“Yep. At least we didn’t get stuck in traffic,” I said, indicating to make the next turn to the car park where I could drop her off.
She peered over at me. “You don’t have to park. Just drop me off outside.”
“No, I’ll take your case in. It won’t take you long to drop it off, right?”
“I have priority boarding, so no.”
“Was that an upgrade you wrangled out of the customer service lady?”
“Maybe.” She grinned, but her smile quickly dropped as I pulled into the multistorey car park. “There’s a spot over there, in the corner.”
“Where? Oh, I see it.” I crept through the carpark and pulled into it, shutting off the engine. “You sure you have everything?”
She nodded. “If not, I’m supposed to have lunch with your mum, so…”
“Right. Of course. I’ll get your case for you.”
“Thank you.”
I got out of the truck and shut the door a little more vigorously than I intended, and by the time Grace joined me at the back end of the truck, I had her case out and was ready to go.
We walked silently towards the terminal. Her case rattled against the uneven floor of the car park and the pavement after it, and we made it to the main door and inside, despite how busy the drop-off area was.
“I bet you’re glad I didn’t drop you off now,” I muttered.
