Page 55 of Summer Escapes on the Scottish Isle

‘Vinnie.’

‘Oh, good. How is he?’

‘Rhona says he’s looking a bit frail, but that’s only to be expected, considering what he’s been through.’

‘How’s Freya?’

His mum sent him a sharp look. ‘All right, I think.’

‘Should I call in and see if he needs anything?’

‘You could. I expect he’ll appreciate that. We can both go, if you like. I made a sponge cake earlier – I could take him a couple of slices.’

‘Good idea.’

‘What’s Freya like now? I haven’t set eyes on her since she was a girl. From what I can recall, she was a bonnie little thing: red hair and freckles.’

Yeah, she still is bonnie, he thought. Very bonnie. He said, ‘She’s nice.’

‘Just nice? I heard you took her out on the boatandmade her tea after. And how was dinner at the castle?’

Mack realised that he hadn’t spoken to his mother for several days, but it came as no surprise to discover she already knew what he’d been up to. ‘Don’t read too much into it. Mhairi was behind both the boat trip and dinner.’

‘At the castle, aye, but I don’t think she twisted your arm about tea at your place.’

‘I felt sorry for her, what with her dad being in hospital.’

‘Did you now? Make yourself useful and lay the table.’

Mack grinned. His mum said the same thing to him every time, as though he’d forget that laying the table was his job.

‘It’s about time you found a decent woman and settled down,’ she said.

‘What’s for tea?’

His mother huffed. ‘Did you hear what I said?’

‘I heard. I’m ignoring you.’

Jean opened the oven and peered inside as a cloud of steam billowed out.

‘Mum, I asked you, what are we having for tea?’

‘I heard. I’m ignoring you.’ She threw his words back at him with an arch of her eyebrows.

Mack tutted. ‘The difference is,I’llknow in a couple of minutes what we’re having.’

‘Then you don’t need me to tell you,’ she shot back.

Damn, his mother could be trying at times. Mack relented. ‘Yes, I like Freya; no, I didn’t have to cook her tea; no, it wasn’t because I felt sorry for her. But…’ He met his mother’s eye. ‘She’s not for me. For one thing, she’s got a boyfriend, and for another, she’s been offered a job in America. And for a third, I’m not the settling-down type. I like my own company too much.’

‘Ah, now, that’s because you haven’t spent time in therightcompany.’

‘I’m spending time with you, aren’t I?’

She flapped a tea towel at him. ‘Don’t be cheeky.’

‘I wasn’t,’ he protested, watching her take a baking tray containing two pieces of golden battered fish out of the oven. ‘Ooh, a fish supper. Nice.’ His mouth watered. ‘What I meant was, I haven’t found anyone to compare to my mum.’

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