Page 9 of Summer Escapes on the Scottish Isle

‘Shall I mash the neeps?’ he asked, selecting a masher from the rack of utensils on the wall.

‘You’re a good wee laddie.’

‘Wee?’ He laughed. He towered over his mother by about a foot.

‘I’m just wondering how poor Vinnie will cope. He’ll never manage on his own.’ She reached up to pat him on the cheek. ‘If anything happened to me, at least I’ve got you and Carter to look after me.’

Vinnie’s daughter lived in London and had done so for years. She’d gone to university there and hadn’t come back – not to live, anyway. Mack was aware that she visited her dad now and again, but he hadn’t seen her since school.

As he tucked into his delicious tea, his thoughts lingered on Freya Sinclair and he idly wondered what she was doing now.

Mack supped the pint of dark ale and smacked his lips. He’d had agood day on the loch and a lovely meal that he hadn’t had to cookhimself (Thanks, Mum), and he was now enjoying a pint with hismates. Even though he had work tomorrow, Friday night down the pub was asymbolic start to his non-existent weekend.

The place was buzzing, full of locals and tourists alike, and he made his way towards a group in the corner, careful to ensure no one jogged his elbow.

He was pleased to see a good turnout, as not everyone could make it every Friday. His brother, Carter, was there with Jinny. So was his mate Cal along with his better half, Tara, plus a few of the people who worked at Coorie Castle.

Among them was Giselle, and as Mack approached the table, he gave her a speculative look. Would it be worth asking her out again?

‘We’ve saved you a seat,’ his sister-in-law said, removing her handbag from a chair as she noticed him.

‘Jinnysaved you a seat,’ Carter said. ‘If it was up to me, I wouldn’t have bothered.’ He smirked as Mack sat down.

‘You’re just jealous because Mum lovesmebest,’ Mack shot back.

‘You’re mistaking love for pity, bro. She feels sorry for you.’

‘You’re not funny, you know.’

‘My wife thinks I am.’ Carter patted Jinny’s knee.

‘I really don’t think she does,’ Mack argued. ‘She’s just humouring you for an easy life.’

Jinny rolled her eyes and said, ‘Don’t involve me in your childishness.’ She turned to the others. ‘These two are worse than the kids. Speaking of kids… Calan, I thought this was your weekend to have Bonnie?’

Cal had a daughter who he looked after every other weekend. She was a sweet kid.

He shook his head. ‘I had her two weekends on the trot because Yvaine and Lenn went to Liverpool for a city break.’

Jinny said, ‘Katie will be disappointed; she was hoping to see her.’

Katie (Carter and Jinny’s daughter) was another sweet kid. Mack quite enjoyed being an uncle, and he often took her and her younger brother out on the boat. Ted, especially, loved being on the loch, and Mack always found something his nephew could do so he felt ‘part of the crew’.

As the conversation swirled around him, Mack caught Giselle’s eye.

She smiled shyly, and he hoped it meant she was more receptive to his advances than she’d been the last time he’d asked her out.

‘How’s business?’ he asked.

Giselle’s reply was practically a whisper. ‘Steady.’

Nevertheless, Jinny overheard. ‘Steady?She’s being modest. Giselle’s stuff flies out the door.’

Mack supposed Jinny ought to know, considering she managed the gift shop up at the castle. Giselle was one of the talented artists who rented a studio in the castle’s craft centre. She made the most amazing pictures out of sea glass and other bits and pieces, such as shells, pebbles and driftwood. He had one of her creations on the wall of his sitting room.

Giselle dropped her gaze and a light blush spread across her alabaster cheeks. She reminded Mack of the mist that crept over the loch in the early mornings: ethereal and beautiful, and not something you could hold in your hands. Dreamy − that was another way to describe her, as well as reserved. She’d had a studio at the castle for a couple of years and lived in the village, yet he knew next to nothing about her.

Would he like to?

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