Page 27 of Coming Home to Winter Island
‘And what exactly is it that he’s looking for?’ I say icily.
Lachlan picks up the gin bottle and looks at it; again it seems to take on the colours of the water, the shore and the grassy banks around it. He takes a deep breath.
‘The gin. He’s looking for the recipe for the gin. It’s somewhere in the house, that’s all we know. It’s Hector’s...’ He swallows. ‘He wants the gin business up and running again. After his wife died and he got ill, the business died too. It’s his final wish, to bring Teach Mhor gin back. So that he feels a part of him will always be here.’
‘But...the care home?’
‘He wants to be here,’ he says, suddenly gruff again. ‘He wants to die at home. He told me.’
He gets to his feet and begins to tidy up, tossing the oyster shells into the water.
‘Oh really? And you think he’s capable of knowing what’s good for him, do you?’ Suddenly the peace is shattered and we’re back in our trenches.
‘I know Hector. And I know what I’ve promised. I promised to stay until the gin recipe was found and the still was up and running again. Teach Mhor gin is going to be back in business.’
I look around at the big house and the outbuildings. Lachlan begins to walk along the water’s edge towards the grassy bank to the left of the cove. I follow him.
‘So...’ I say, my brain turning over. ‘You made a promise to help find the recipe and get the gin business up and running.’
‘I did,’ he says, starting to climb up the bank. Again I follow.
‘And you won’t move out until it’s up and running?’
‘Correct. I have an agreement with Hector,’ he calls back over his shoulder.
‘And we know the house is fairly worthless, being in the condition it’s in, here on a remote island. It won’t pay for him for long in the care home.’
‘Correct again,’ he says, still picking his way up the bank, until he reaches the highest point, looking out over the neighbouring sandy cove and across to the islands beyond.
Out of breath, I stand behind him chewing my bottom lip.
‘But with an up-and-running gin business, the place would be worth a lot more.’
‘It would.’
At that moment, one, two, then three grey heads pop up near the rocks and look around. Seals! I smile in delight, gazing at them as they bob up and down, disappearing under the water then reappearing elsewhere as if playing hide and seek.
‘And once the recipe is found and the still is operational, you’ll move out and the house can be sold.’
‘Correct. You have my word.’ He turns and holds my gaze. The wind whips his hair around his face, but he doesn’t react. ‘You have to know, going into a care home is not what Hector wants. He wants to stay here as long as he can. And while I’m here, I’ll make sure that happens. But I promise I’ll leave once the gin business is back up and running; that’s what matters most to Hector.’ Despite knowing nothing about him, there’s something about him that makes me take him at his word.
‘In that case...’ I take a deep breath, look at the seals and then back at Lachlan, ‘I’d better help you find the recipe. That way, we all get what we want.’
He stares back at me.
‘Just one thing,’ I add. ‘You do know how to make gin, don’t you?’
A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. ‘I haven’t a clue.’
Chapter Thirteen
‘I know, it’s ridiculous!’ I’m talking to Joe on video chat, looking at his familiar face, reading exactly how he feels about this. ‘But he won’t leave until the recipe has been found. I just have to find it and get this still up and running, and then he’ll go and the house can be sold!’
‘Well, how long is that going to take?’ Joe frowns.
‘I don’t know. A week, maybe. Maybe more.’ I really don’t have any idea. I’ve never done anything like this before!
‘And what about the vocal retreat? What about your voice?’ He sounds really cross. ‘This isn’t just about you, Ruby.’
