Page 31 of The Castle in the Bay

He nodded and took the mug. ‘Thanks. Smells good.’

‘Yeah, well, it’s not exactly Starbucks level, think more roadside diner. Even that’s probably pushing it.’

‘I’m sure it’s fine.’ His eyes met hers, as they had done often that afternoon. Something shifted inside her every time it happened. Not a bad thing, just weird. Like she quite enjoyed it, but also knew she shouldn’t really. He wasn’t her type at all, so finding him even slightly appealing was strange. Mainly because she couldn’t pinpoint what there was to find attractive about him.

‘Let’s take these drinks down to the beach.’ She grabbed a rug from the shelf, then led the way back out to the shore, finding a sheltered spot on the sand, in front of a dune covered in grassy tufts. She spread out the rug and sat down. ‘I think the rain must have blown away. For now.’ It changed so quickly around here.

Monty settled beside her, not too close. He was a gentleman, if nothing else. They both cradled their mugs, looking out at the waves. The thick clouds lingered, obscuring most of the sun’s brightness, but some yellow beams glowed in the distance. Iona took a sip of her hot chocolate. ‘So, how do you feel about the sea now?’ She glanced at Monty.

‘Better than I did this morning. Thank you.’

‘You’re welcome. You seemed to enjoy it once you were in.’

‘Yeah, surprisingly, I did. I appreciate you teaching me, even though I’m such a…’

‘A what?’

‘A scaredy cat or whatever.’

She laughed into her mug. ‘You’re funny. You can’t be a total scaredy cat though or you wouldn’t have gone in at all.’

‘I’m getting better. You know, at leaving the comfort of my own zone.’

She shook her head, still grinning. Something about him was undeniably cute.

They sat in silence for a moment, the only sound the roaring of the waves, increasing in tempo and fizzing as they broke over jagged rocks. As Iona listened, she heard music, like someone humming a soft, low tune. Its notes seemed at first to be part of the waves, but they got stronger and in them was a deep sense of spirit, like they were connected to the island itself and its people.

Iona tilted her head, listening. ‘What’s that?’ She turned to Monty. ‘Is that you?’

He nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. The song stopped.

‘I thought I was imagining it and it was some mysterious song coming from the sea. What’s the tune?’

‘I’m not actually sure. I think it’s a song my dad used to sing, something about the Hebrides. Or maybe I just made it up. Either way, it seems to fit.’

‘Yeah, it does.’ She gave him a little frown. ‘So, you’re a composer and a singer as well as a banker.’

He tilted his head and threw her a look. ‘When you say banker like that, it really doesn’t sound nice.’

She tossed back her head and laughed. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.’

‘Hmm. Not this time, huh?’

‘You read my mind.’

He shook his head and narrowed his eyes, but he couldn’t completely rid his face of the smile, and Iona knew he wasn’t angry. ‘But I’m not a singer or a composer…’ He raised his eyebrow as he caught her eye. ‘So, yes, just a banker.’

‘Well, I can’t comment on your banking skills, but your music is lovely.’

‘Really? I guess I enjoy it. I don’t have any special talent or anything.’

‘Not sure that’s true.’ She sipped some of her hot chocolate. ‘It had a kind of haunting sound, but it seemed like it was coming out of the sea. Weird.’

‘Yeah. That’s why it came to me.’

‘Sing it again, if you like. I enjoyed it.’

He stared forward, and she assumed he didn’t want to, as he was silent. But as she took another sip of her hot chocolate, the song started again, a little melancholic but alluring. It tugged at her insides, calling to her, stirring her soul. Her eyelids dropped, and she saw inside her mind images of forgotten days, harsh times, dangerous weather, all wrapped in island spirit.

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