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‘No, thank you. I’ll manage.’
He shrugged and walked towards the car park. Hesitating, she wondered if she should forget all this. There was still time to catch the ferry back to Ardrossan and a train to Glasgow. Though then where would she go? She didn’t really belong anywhere anymore.
‘Problem?’ He frowned when he realised she wasn’t moving.
She gave herself a shake. ‘No, no. I’m coming.’
He opened the passenger side so she could jump in and took her bag. ‘So, you’re here from London?’ He slotted the keys into the ignition and started the engine.
‘Yes.’ Amelia yawned. The last thing she wanted was to make polite small talk with a stranger. Even a good-looking one.
‘You’re here to work with Edie?’ He glanced across at her.
‘Yes,’ she said, suddenly lost for words. ‘Should be fun, I hope.’ What did that even mean? She was hardly going to be working at a theme park. ‘I haven’t worked in a castle before.’
He nodded and cleared his throat as though about to speak but stopped. Instead, he flicked on the radio and she rested her head against the window. Fergus turned up the volume and she smiled when she realised it was her favourite song,‘I’m A Cuckoo’.‘I love Belle and Sebastian.’
‘Oh.’ His tone indicated he was clearly surprised she knew them.
‘I saw them in London a few times.’
‘Right.’
Amelia closed her eyes, and the combination of the music and the hypnotic sound of the windscreen wipers lulled her to a happy place several years ago, when her brother, Jack, had come over to visit. They rarely managed to spend time together due to his busy career as a doctor in Boston. They maximised their time together, out most nights at the theatre or pubs and gigs. The concert at the Roundhouse had been extra special, and not only because they’d laughed so much together and danced, carefree and without a worry in the world. It had been the night he’d told her he was in love with his new boyfriend, Ray. His eyes had shone and Amelia had been so glad to see him smitten again after being miserable and broken-hearted after several bad break-ups.
Jack and Ray had come over for her wedding, and her brother had been a rock ever since Declan walked out. He’d never tried to talk her out of moving to Arran or accused her of being ridiculous. He’d listened to her crying across the Atlantic at different times of the day. They were close and had been for a long time. Jack might only have been two years older but he’d assumed a bit of a father role after their own dad passed away ten years ago. Their mother had decided to return to her roots in New Zealand and now lived in Auckland, where she’d remarried. Aside from her brief visit back to the UK for Amelia’s wedding, Auckland was now her home and she didn’t like to travel too far unless necessary. If it hadn’t been for Jack and Suna, she didn’t know how she would have coped the past couple of months . . .
Amelia woke to the sound of tyres moving across gravel. Fergus had pulled into . . . a driveway? A light came on, illuminating the outside of a cottage.
‘We’re here.’ Fergus gently patted her shoulder. ‘Welcome to Lamlash.’
She became aware of the drool sliding down the corner of her chin. Wiping it away, she turned to him, her voice groggy. ‘Sorry. I must have dozed off.’
‘Well, it sounds like you’ve had a long journey.’ He jumped out and went into the back to retrieve her bag. ‘Though you’re quite a loud snorer.’
Amelia’s face flushed.
‘Just joking.’
A small woman, with grey bobbed hair and cerise lipstick, opened the front door of the whitewashed house and beamed. Two large pieces of driftwood framed the door and above it hung a little sign:Welcome to Coorie Cottage. ‘Hello, dear. Great to meet you!’ She stepped forward to hug Amelia.
‘Hi.’ Amelia was unexpectedly overcome with emotion. ‘I’m glad to finally be here.’ In a bid to stem the tears threatening to start, she focused her eyes on Edie’s bright pink dungarees covered in tiny sunflowers.
‘Do you like them?’ She noticed Amelia staring.
‘Yes. They’re very . . . colourful.’
‘My way of adding a splash of cheer to a drab day. Anyway, come on in, out the cold. What a long day. I know you had an early start.’
‘Here’s your stuff.’ Fergus walked in behind her and put the rucksack on the hall floor.
‘Thanks for that, my love. You’re a wee superstar.’
He smiled fondly at Edie. ‘Always pleased to help.’
‘Thank you for the lift. I appreciate it.’ Amelia smiled at him.
‘No bother.’
