Page 59 of Under A Sicilian Sky
Ruby glared at him. ‘Because that would be better?’
He cringed. ‘Aye, sorry that was insensitive. But, hey, look on the bright side, at least Archie’s getting somewhere. I know it seems to be taking a while, but he’s running a couple of businesses and does freelance computer stuff on the side, so…’
Ruby shook her head. ‘No, it’s fine. I appreciate that he isdoingsomething, unlike other people I could mention.’
He scratched his head and stood there stepping from foot to foot. ‘I asked Dougie about us maybe going for a drive up the island today. I thought you might want to get out. I said we could go in my Landy seeing as there’ll be three of us, and the back windows are tinted.’ He frowned briefly. ‘Shelby was there when I asked him, and I expected her to want to come too, but she says she has somewhere to be today and she doesn’t know what time she’ll be back.’
Ruby wondered if her trip might have something to do with the phone call she overheard. ‘Great. I’ll go shower and be down soon.’
He gave a swift nod and left her to her thoughts.
She closed the door and leaned back against it with a deep disconcerted sigh. ‘Bloody hell. Who can I really trust?’
* * *
Around an hour later, Ruby, Mitch and Dougie were in Mitch’s Landy and heading north on Skye. The road followed the eastern coast of the island and overhead was a blue sky mottled with fluffy white clouds. The temperature outside was mild, but Mitch had said they shouldn’t let that lull them into a false sense of security as it could change in a split second. They travelled through a small town called Broadford and then further north along the coast, following the A87.
Mitch pointed out of the window. ‘Off in the distance to the left you can see the Cuillin mountain range. Incredible views from up there.’
The mountain range was almost a black silhouette against the sky, each rise sharp and angular like a blade. Ruby wanted to go there, to take photos, to breathe the rarefied air right at the summit. She had never longed for the outdoors before, so the feeling was alien to her, but looking up at the rocky striations she felt quite emotional. Like up there she would be free from everything making her life hard at the moment.
Around forty minutes later, Mitch pulled onto the driveway of a single-storey house. It was one of four in a cul-de-sac that all faced out over the sea. The houses were similar in structure but not exactly the same.
Mitch swivelled around in his seat. ‘I hope yous don’t mind, but I thought we could stop for a minute to see my folks. Then I’ll take us on a scenic drive.’
‘Not at all. That would be lovely,’ Ruby eagerly replied; human contact was something she was also craving of late.
Dougie cleared his throat. ‘I’ll stay with the car. I have some calls to make. Business to attend to, if you will.’ It sounded very cloak and dagger, but Ruby figured what she didn’t know couldn’t stress her out.
‘No problem. See you soon.’
Mitch and Ruby climbed out of the car and walked up to the front door of the bungalow. Before he knocked, Mitch turned to face her. ‘I hope you don’t think this is weird. Meeting my folks, I mean. It feels a bit like something we’d do after we’d been dating.’
His brow crumpled and Ruby couldn’t help the twinge of annoyance at his expression. Why was it that every time that subject was mentioned he looked decidedly unhappy about it? Wasn’t she good enough for him? And, more to the point, why did she care?
She crossed her arms over her chest, a fairly defensive stance. ‘People can introduce friends to their parents, you know. I don’t see why you have to make such a big deal about things.’ She huffed.
He opened his mouth to speak, but clearly thought better of it, sighed and knocked on the door.
Moments later, an elderly lady opened the door and beamed at Mitch. ‘Mio figlio! Che bello vederti!’
He leaned down and hugged her and she kissed both his cheeks and his forehead.
‘Ciao mamma! Questa è la mia amica, Ruby. Lei è inglese.’
‘Ah, welcome, beautiful girl, to my home. Come in, come in.’
‘Grazie, Signora Adair.’ Ruby was quietly excited that she had remembered the greeting that she had looked up in her phrase book earlier.
Mrs Adair cupped her face and gave Mitch a look that he clearly understood because his cheeks coloured pink. She grabbed Ruby’s hand and led her through to the kitchen.
Ruby glanced at Mitch and he mouthed the word, ‘sorry,’ with a cringe. But the fact was, Ruby was in love with the old lady already.
‘So, you come to Skye from England?’ Mitch’s mum’s English was impressive – definitely more so than Ruby’s Italian.
‘That’s right, Mrs Adair. Yorkshire originally, but I’ve been living in New York.’
‘Please, call me Rosa. And what is it you do in New York?’
