Page 13 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

The sun was high in an azure sky with not a cloud in sight as they arrived at the park, and Cal insisted on smearing more sunscreen on Bonnie’s face, arms and legs before he let her loose. Then he helped his dad carry the picnic basket, the cooler box and travel blanket to the spot his mum had decided would be an ideal place to sit and have lunch.

Calan had loved coming to Whin Park when he was a kid. Despite growing up only a stone’s throw away from Beauly Firth and within easy walking distance of the Caledonian Canal, the boating lake in the park with its ducks and swans had held a special appeal.

His mum, bless her, had remembered to bring a bag of lawn cuttings for the ducks, and Cal helped her spread the blankets out on the grass while his dad and Bonnie went off to feed them.

Sitting down next to her, his gaze was on grandfather and granddaughter as Bonnie chewed his dad’s ear off.

‘That child can talk for Scotland,’ he observed.

‘She’s certainly a live wire,’ his mum said, her eyes also on the pair.

‘You’re going to need a holiday after we’ve gone.’ He was only half joking.

‘You forget how hard work they are,’ she said, adding hurriedly, ‘Not that your dad and I mind. We’re always thrilled to see her. And you too, of course.’

‘Thanks.’ He smiled wryly. ‘Glad to hear you don’t mind seeing me.’

They sat in silence for a while, Cal enjoying the sound of the ducks squabbling and the shouts and laughter of children in the play area. Then his mother surprised him with a question.

‘Are you happy, Calan?’

Taken aback, he said, ‘I’m notunhappy.’

‘That’s not the same thing.’

‘Whoishappy?’ he countered.

‘Your dad and I are.’

‘Yeah, that’s because you took early retirement. You wouldn’t be as happy if you had to scrape ice off the car in the dark on a winter morning before you went to work.’

She gave him an arch look. ‘That’s not something you have to do, either. And our happiness isn’t because we are retired, although I’m very grateful that we are. It’s because we don’t just love each other, we are stillin lovewith each other.’

Cal didn’t know what to say to that, so he didn’t say anything.

‘I want you to be happy, Cal, like me and your dad.’

‘Difficult, considering I’m single and intend to stay that way.’

‘I understand, I really do. But not all women are like Yvaine. She was a real piece of work. I remember thinking it the first time I met her, but I never said anything. Well, you can’t, can you? You’ve got to accept your son or daughter’s partner and hope it works out.’

Calan was lost for words again.

His mum had enough words for both of them. ‘It’s a pity you couldn’t find someone nice to settle down with.’

‘As opposed to someone nasty?’ he quipped.

‘I’m serious. You don’t want to let one bad experience put you off love for life.’

Cal scoffed, ‘I’m not “off love”. I love you and Dad, and Bonnie.’ God, how he loved Bonnie!

‘I’m not talking about the love you have for your parents, your children or even your friends. I’m talking about the kind of love that makes your heart sing.’

He knew what she meant. He had felt it himself, years ago.

Once again, an image of a woman with long dark hair and grey eyes floated into his mind.

‘Mum, I’m fine as I am,’ he replied. ‘I’m not looking for love and romance.’

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