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There was still plenty of light – it was at least an hour until sunset – when the ferry approached the dock. Emily was already back in her car and she checked her phone as she waited. There was a message from her mother asking Emily to let her know when she was home safely and another from Lou asking if she could pick up some tobacco before heading back to the hotel. Emily replied with a thumbs up, knowing the convenience store in Tobermory would be open until late at this time of year.
As she drove off the ferry, turning right and heading north along the island’s main road towards Tobermory, she passed a woman waiting at the bus stop. She looked a little younger, Emily thought, and was fairly smartly dressed in a light mac and wide-leg trousers, a deep blue scarf hanging loosely around her neck. Emily couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her, knowing the woman would likely spend the rest of her evening trying to find a taxi, once she’d worked out there were no buses, to take her wherever she wanted to go.
The road stretched out ahead of her, running alongside the coastline like a tarmac canal. She glanced in her rear-view mirror at the woman at the bus stop, watching as she looked first one way, then the other, before dropping her bag to the floor. There was something about her that made Emily pull in by the side of the road. She stepped out of the car, leaving the engine running.
She called back to the woman. ‘Hey, I’m sorry to tell you this, but there are no more buses tonight. Have you booked a taxi?’
The woman glanced up at her, brushing her dark hair back from her face. ‘Shit, really? God, sorry. Didn’t mean to swear.’ She looked at her phone, swiping at the screen. ‘I thought I’d booked a taxi, but they’re not here and apparently there isn’t another one free until much later.’
‘Where are you going? I might be able to help.’
The woman looked at Emily.
‘Are you OK? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’
‘I… er… I’m going to The Glengower Hotel…’
‘No way! That’s where I’m going. I work there, but I’ve had a day off. I’ve got to go via Tobermory to pick up something from the shop, but if you don’t mind the small detour, I’m probably your best bet. Want a lift?’
‘Yes please. If you really don’t mind. I’m not sure I’ll get there otherwise.’
‘Come on, hop in. I’ve had to hitch my way back up to the hotel enough times. Taxis round here are rarer than hen’s teeth, even at this time of year. Just shove your bag on the back seat. Please excuse the mess.’ Emily nodded at the dog blanket on the back seat. ‘I’m Emily, by the way.’ She held up her hand.
‘Stella.’ Stella climbed into the passenger seat.
Emily looked at her again. ‘All good?’
‘Yes, thank you.’ She smiled but kept her eyes on the road ahead.
‘Great, let’s go. Tobermory is about half an hour from here, but then it takes a while to reach the hotel, even though it’s not that far as the crow flies. The road is terrible.’
There was a brief silence.
‘So, what brings you to Mull?’
‘I had a meeting in Glasgow and then thought I’d, you know, make a trip of it. I came up from London this morning, then, after the meeting, I took the train from Glasgow to Oban.’
‘Oh, it’s such a gorgeous route, isn’t it? I love that journey, not that I make it very often.’
‘So… you live, I mean… Do you work at the hotel?’ The woman seemed nervous despite her best efforts.
‘Yes, I’m a chef there. Have been for a while, actually. I used to work on the mainland, in fact, I worked in Oban for years, but then came out here for the job at the hotel and, well, I’m yet to make it back.’ Emily noticed the woman’s hands in her lap, her fingers wrapped so tightly together, her fingertips were white.
‘You must love it here, it’s so beautiful.’
‘It is, which is why it’s hard to leave. Like a parallel universe. How long are you staying?’
‘Just the night. I go back to London tomorrow.’
‘What? You’ve come all this way just for one night?’ Emily looked across at her passenger again. ‘That’s insane!’ She laughed.
They carried on along the straight road, the sea flashing in and out of view in between gaps in the trees. Streaks of orange and pink coloured the sky as the sun moved further towards the sea.
Emily turned on the radio, the familiar voice of Joni Mitchell filling the air.
The woman took a breath and turned to Emily. ‘I’m really sorry, please can you stop the car?’
Emily looked across. ‘Sure, hang on. Do you feel OK?’ She pulled the car into a layby overlooking a small bay. Up ahead sat the ruins of the castle and, beyond that, a white house overlooking the bay from the other side. She turned the radio down.
