Page 51 of A Seaside Escape
Renee stepped forward to speak. She was shaking and squeezing Mallory’s hand the whole time. ‘My sons have always made me so very happy. They have been loving and kind. They’ve helped people in need all through their lives and I couldn’t be more proud. Cara came along and completed my Ryan’s soul. He has never been happier since they got married. She’s wonderful and I know Sam adored her too. Sam was always the outdoors type. Even as a child he was always off trekking somewhere or other. Climbing trees or rocks and coming home with grazed knees. He loved to be in the open air and you can hardly get in our loft for all the scenic photos he’s taken over the years. We were all shocked when he agreed to go to England and become a white-collar worker in his fancy suits. But then one day it all fell into place. It was all meant to be.’
She smiled at Mallory. ‘One day, not so long ago, Sam told us he was finally, utterly, irrevocably, head over heels in love with a beautiful English girl he had met within two months of being there. We were all delighted. When we had the pleasure of meeting the soul who had completed our Sam, we all fell in love with her too. And his love of the outdoors was shared by Mallory. They bought their home in Scotland and he had his dream come true; Mallory, the outdoors and the amazing backdrop of the Highlands. Sadly, now Mallory has to live the dream without him.’
A tear escaped and she simply let it fall. ‘Sam will be missed more than words can say, but I hope Mallory knows…’ She turned to address Mallory directly. ‘I hope you know, sweetheart, that some of the best memories I have of Sam are of Sam withyou.’ She hugged Mallory hard as the tears came. Mallory held onto Renee as if she held the very essence of Sam within her.
It was Mallory’s turn to speak now. She had to muster up every ounce of strength she could find. She had actually planned out what she was going to say to him on their wedding day and it felt fitting to say most of the words now.
Mallory closed her eyes and with a trembling voice, began to speak from the bottom of her heart. ‘Sam, I literally fell into your life, one cold December lunchtime. You made me laugh so much and I knew right then and there that my heart was yours. The way you looked at me, let me know that, even though I doubted myself, you sawme. You saw the light inside me and you made it glow brighter than ever simply by being with me.’
With her lip quivering she inhaled a little courage. ‘You made everything fun and even when we argued you made me laugh, which I said I hated, but I didn’t really and you knew that. I miss you so much that I sometimes forget to eat, which isn’t like me.’ She laughed through her tears. ‘Being here these past few weeks has helped me to love you more, but also to let you go. But I want you to know that you’ll always be in my heart. I love you, Sam.’ She could hear little sobs coming from the small gathered crowd of friends and family and her heart ached.
The crowd wandered down the garden to the area which took them away from the trees. They stood in silence and, in small groups, released their lanterns. The sky lit up as they floated away in peaceful silence. The lanterns danced and played in the slight breeze as they floated higher and higher towards the heavens. It was a truly breath-taking sight. They all stood and watched for a while. Renee, Ryan, Cara and Mallory clung onto each other.
With tears streaming down her face Mallory whispered, ‘Goodbye, Sam, I love you.’
*
After a six and a half hour flight from Toronto to Glasgow, Mallory alighted the plane at eleven fifteen a.m. It was raining heavily when she climbed into the chauffeur-driven car that had been arranged for her as a treat by the Buchanans. She relaxed into the seat and thought back to her wonderful holiday. A serene calmness filled her now; one that she hadn’t felt since before Sam’s death.
The sleek black Mercedes pulled up outside her cottage and the driver opened the door and helped her out. She went to unlock the door and the kind driver, Michael, brought all of her bags inside for her. She thanked him and he wished her well.
She closed the door and looked around her lounge. It felt good to be home.Home, she repeated in her mind. The word seemed to finally fit. She took her bags, one by one, up to her room and dropped them on the floor. They would have to wait. She wanted to see Ruby-doo.
Moments later, and ignoring her tiredness, she started the engine on her little yellow car and it reluctantly spluttered to life. Pulling away from her cottage, she set off for Greg’s house. She had informed him by text of her ETA but hadn’t had a reply so wasn’t sure if he would be around. In addition to that she wondered if Trina would be there, scantily clad in something of Greg’s. For a moment she wondered if she should call ahead to give the woman fair warning to put some damn clothes on. She frowned at the realisation that Trina’s presence irked her and turned up the radio to keep her mind occupied.
When she arrived, he was outside in the rain messing about under the bonnet of the Land Rover. She tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around, startled, banging his head on the hood.
‘Ahhh, shit!’ He rubbed his head and then realised who the culprit was. ‘Mallory! You’re home!’ He went to hug her but stopped, looking down at his oil-covered wet clothes.
Mallory sniggered. ‘Yep, I’m home.’ Her stomach fluttered a little and she smiled. It was really good to see him in spite of how things had been left before her holiday.
Wiping his hands down his grimy T-shirt, he gestured to the house. ‘Come in, I’ll make us a coffee.’
She followed him in and Ruby came scurrying towards her making little yappy noises and whining. The little fluff ball had missed her owner so very much, that much was clear. Mallory got down to floor level and cuddled her little black dog.
‘Has she been okay?’ Mallory asked as she nuzzled Ruby’s spikey fur.
‘Aye. She was fretting a wee bit to begin with but I think Angus brought her around. She’s followed him like a little shadow.’ Greg clanked around filling the kettle and taking mugs from the cupboard.
‘Oh I… erm… brought you this as a thank you.’ She handed Greg the little gift bag.
His eyes widened. ‘Oh, you didn’t have to get me anything. I was happy to help.’
She shrugged. ‘It’s not much.’
He pulled out the little black box from the gift bag and opened it. ‘Oh, wow, that’s beautiful.’ He lifted out the turquoise and shell bracelet and held it aloft to look at it more closely.
‘It was made by the Chippewa tribe in Ontario and I know you like symbols and things. The crossed arrow charm hanging from it represents friendship.’
He swallowed hard and remained silent as if trying to find the right words. ‘I… I love it. Thank you,’ he eventually croaked as he slipped it on his wrist.
‘So, where’s Trina?’ Mallory eventually enquired, trying to appear nonchalant.
Greg ran an oily hand through his wet hair. ‘Ah, we…’ He looked at the floor.
Mallory held her hands up in apology. ‘Sorry, it’s none of my business, rude of me to ask.’
‘Na. It’s okay. We just weren’t compatible, let’s say.’
