Page 82 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

Tonight followed the same pattern, so he did what he’d done on previous nights – he got up, poured himself a wee dram and stared out over the loch.

But he was even more restless than usual, thoughts whirling around his head, regret and heartache biting deep.

Feeling caged, he got dressed and slipped into the darkness.

The night was still; not a breath of wind stirred the leaves and the only sound was the gentle lapping of the waves on the shore.

He turned away from the loch and the sliver of beach, away from the boathouse and the woman who slept there, and headed towards the castle. He might as well do a quick circuit to check everything was as it should be, then he would head up the mountain, hoping it would help soothe his soul.

However, when he turned the corner into the courtyard, he noticed that the light in Tara’s studio was on, and Cal was drawn to it like a moth.

She was inside, beavering away, her head bowed to her task, and he wondered whether she was working late or starting early. Either way, she should have been in bed at this ungodly hour. But then, so should he. It was his weekend to have Bonnie, and he would need his wits about him. This would be the first time he would have spoken to his daughter since he’d told her he no longer had a girlfriend, and he wasn’t sure whether she had entirely forgiven him. He’d feared she hadn’t when Yvaine had told him not to collect Bonnie on Friday evening as he usually did, but when she explained it was Katie’s birthday and there was a party and a sleepover at Katie’s house, some of his tension had eased.

Cal continued to watch Tara for a while, drinking in the sight of her until he couldn’t stand it any longer, then he went back to the cottage. He didn’t go to bed though, taking up residence on the deck and keeping vigil for her return to the boathouse.

When she failed to show by the time the sky lightened, he got stiffly to his feet and went indoors, the early morning chill having settled into his bones. It might still be summer on Skye, but the warmth of the days he’d spent in the sun with her seemed a lifetime ago. The island had returned to her moody, fickle self, and although the day promised to be a calm, dry one, Cal knew there was a storm brewing out in the Atlantic. Before this day ended, the sky would darken, the wind would pick up and squally rain would hide the far shore of the loch.

The weather would suit his equally dark and stormy mood perfectly.

‘Bloody hell, Tara, what’s happened to you?’ Jinny demanded when Tara unlocked the studio door on Saturday morning. ‘Are you ill? Can I get you anything? Would you like me to fetch Cal? I’ve just dropped Bonnie off at his cottage because she had a sleepover at mine last night, but I expect you know that.’

Tara lumbered to her stool and slumped onto it. ‘No Cal,’ she croaked, her voice hoarse from lack of use. She’d barely spoken to anyone since the phone call with her mum, and it was now Saturday.

‘Are you sure? It’s no hassle.’

‘No Cal,’ she repeated.

‘Tara, hen, don’t take this the wrong way, but you look dreadful.’

‘I feel it,’ she admitted.

‘You need to go home and get yourself to bed.’

Tara’s laugh was bitter, edged with hysteria. She didn’t have a home. Not any more. She’d hoped she could make Duncoorie her home, but Cal had smashed that hope to smithereens.

Jinny was staring at her in alarm and Tara realised she would have to explain. ‘Cal and I have split up,’ she said.

Jinny pulled up the other stool and sat on it. ‘I’m assuming it wasn’t a mutual decision.’

‘No.’

‘Did he give a reason?’

‘Bonnie found out about us, which mightn’t have been so bad, but Cal had promised her he would never have a girlfriend.’

‘Never? That’s a bit extreme.’

‘Or until she had a boyfriend, at least.’

‘Still extreme. What if she’s gay? She might never have a boyfriend. He shouldn’t have made a promise he couldn’t keep.’

‘I’m assuming he thought he could keep it until Bonnie was more interested inhersocial life thanhis. And I’m pretty sure that when he made it, bumping into me again was the furthest thing from his mind.’

‘Aw, hen, don’t take on so. Bonnie will get over herself, and Cal will come to his senses.’

‘I’m not sure I want him to. He’s hurt me, Jinny.’

‘I can see that.’ Jinny blew out her cheeks. ‘It’s not going to be easy with the pair of you living and working in the same place.’

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