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Amelia laughed. Ray was a dentist, with the brightest, whitest smile she had ever seen. He was a walking advert for his practice and it was no wonder he was doing so well. ‘Is he still enjoying his convertible?’
‘Oh, yes. He loves nothing better than going for a spin . . . Look, sis, I should go now, but keep in touch and send me more pictures so I can live vicariously through you. And keep your eyes peeled for a nice Scottish hunk.’
‘I will,’ she said, laughing. ‘And thank you. I love you, Jack.’
‘Love you, too. Bye, sis. Call me soon.’
Amelia placed the phone on the breakfast bar and sat quietly for a moment. She was fine when her mind was occupied, but in the quiet moments her thoughts drifted back to Declan’s letter. If only she’d picked up on how unhappy he’d been. How she wished he had spoken to her about their problems rather than running away. Then she thought about her journal prompt for the day:Write about what you are most grateful for. When she’d sat with her coffee this morning, she’d made a list:a warm place to stay, good coffee, fresh air, the sea, the beach, happy dogs, this place.
She had forgotten one of the most important things she was grateful for and that was her brother. She reached for her notebook, tucked underneath her pillow, and added:Jack, laughter, conversation with someone who listens, and the shepherd’s hut because it is what I need right now. She was about to close the book when she added another word:Edie.
Chapter Sixteen
Amelia was starting to think it never rained on the island. Aside from the day she’d arrived and a couple of heavy showers during the night, when she was happily and cosily tucked up in bed, she enjoyed waking up to a view of the sparkling sea. If it wasn’t for the cooling temperature, the scent of bonfires in the air and the red leaves now rapidly falling from the trees, it would be easy to think it was late summer. She loved the way a grey plume of smoke twisted from the chimney at Coorie Cottage. She saw Edie most days, though they didn’t chat all the time. Mostly Edie gave her a wave and smile before disappearing back inside. Amelia made a note to knock on her door later.
She had grown quite used to her morning routine of having her icy shower, which seemed to be doing wonders for getting rid of her worries for a while. Afterwards she would pull on her clothes, which now included a hat, and stroll along the beach until she reached Cèic. She had since learned that was the Gaelic word for cake.
Cèic had some of the best views she had ever seen. She loved it, and not only for the stunning views, or the freshly baked scones, but because it was like the hub of the community, where people would talk about everything and anything or pass some time, in fact quite a lot of time, discussing the weather. Amelia realised that it gave them focus. The first man she had seen there, reading his newspaper in the corner, was called Ed and he came in every day. He told Amelia that his wife had dementia and had been moved into a care home. They’d been married for fifty years and he’d sounded devastated that he could no longer manage to look after her on his own. He visited her as much as he could but he missed her and struggled on his own. That was why he brought his paper into the café every morning, where he would distract himself in its pages for a while and eat his breakfast.
Doris always called in for her takeaway coffee, and whenever she saw Amelia would shout, ‘Good morning!’ She had already made sure to sign Amelia up for the fair, and had also asked if they could catch up to brainstorm the new festive gin. ‘We’ll meet at the bar and you can taste some and we can play with words,’ said Doris. How could she refuse?
‘How are you today, Amelia?’ Cano asked.
‘I’m well, thanks.’ Amelia was growing fond of Cano and loved listening to him talk proudly about his children and grandchildren. If the café was quiet, he would whip out his phone and show the latest pictures of his two granddaughters and one grandson. In the New Year, a fourth baby was due, which he was excited about.
‘Are you enjoying your time here?’
‘Yes, I really am.’
‘I make your coffee and bring it over for you. Please, take a seat.’
Amelia went over to her usual spot at the long table and mouthed, ‘Hello,’ at Ed, who briefly looked up before resuming reading. She glanced over, and when she saw Fergus coming through the door, her pulse started to race and her heart gave a little skitter. Trying not to stare, or let her jaw fall open, she busied herself with her notepad.
‘Oh, Cano. I can’t tell you how good that smells. I am so in need of my coffee this morning,’ Fergus said.
‘Of course. To go?’
As Fergus stood at the counter, Amelia glanced up and checked him out. He wore his usual outdoors gear ? black all-weather trousers, a dark red fleece and a black jacket. Fergus looked over and caught her staring. Their eyes locked.
‘Amelia, hello. I didn’t see you.’ He clocked the empty chairs next to her. ‘Want some company?’
She tried to shrug casually. ‘Sure.’
‘Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll join you. Cano, I will take it for here, please . . . Amelia, can I get you anything?’
‘No, thanks. I’ve ordered.’
‘Go sit down,’ said Cano. ‘I will bring your coffee over.’
Fergus strolled over and sat in the chair opposite her.
‘I haven’t seen you in here before,’ Amelia said. ‘Is it your regular stop-off?’
‘Yes, every day. I’m a bit predictable. Although normally I’m in much earlier than this,’ he said, checking the time. ‘Which is why I’m crotchety this morning. I need my coffee.’
‘Ah. That explains why I’ve not seen you. I’ve been coming in every morning but later than you. What an amazing spot. The views, the coffee, the aroma . . . and it’s a million miles from London.’
‘Yes, it is indeed.’ He looked at her curiously. ‘You’re not missing the big smoke?’
