Page 79 of Coming Home to Winter Island
As I put my hand to the wooden door and push it open further, my heart pounds like it’s going to burst from my chest. And then practically explodes as I see Lachlan standing there in front of me, holding the pieces of the broken record. He looks up at me uncertainly.
‘I thought you’d gone,’ I say, my mouth dry.
‘Thought I should take a look at this place.’ He glances around. It’s the first time he’s been in here since he moved back, I know. ‘See how it’s been after all this time. I grew up here, you know. I can still see my parents here.’ He smiles.
‘And Isla?’ I ask tentatively.
He shakes his head. ‘I can’t see her here any more,’ he says. ‘She’s happy and I’m happy for them both.’ He looks at me. ‘I could always...’
‘I don’t want you to...’ I say at the same time. We’re as nervous as each other.
‘I said I’d move out when the gin was made. I didn’t say where to.’ He smiles. ‘This is a good house. I could move in here. Then if you needed help...’
‘I don’t want you to go anywhere!’ I say suddenly. ‘Teach Mhor is about more than just Hector; it’s about you too. It’s your home, and you’re as much a part of the business as I am. I can’t do it without you.’
‘You could. Just like you sang again. You followed your instincts.’
‘I don’twantto do it without you. I don’t want you to go anywhere. Please say you’ll stay. Stay in the house. Be the head distiller. Stay! The three of us together.’
He looks at me. Then he steps forward so that he’s standing right in front of me and kisses me, and I know I’m finally home. Any doubts about my new life disappear completely. Everything I want is right here, right now, and my heart sings louder than it ever has before.
Eventually he pulls back and looks at me, and I wonder whether we could just excuse ourselves from the last of the party, light the fire and spend the night together here.
‘Maybe we should go and see what Hector thinks.’ He smiles. ‘Tell him the news. See if he’ll let us both stay. He may get that wedding party he’s been hoping for!’
As we pull the door to, our arms wrapped around each other and Douglas by our feet, I look at the croft.
‘You know, it would make a lovely home...but it would also be perfect for foraging holidays. You could teach people about foraging and run gin-making workshops.’
He nods. ‘Or a recording studio?’
‘Oh no, I’m going to do that in the attic!’ I laugh. So does he.
‘Looks like I’m going to have to move rooms then!’ He raises his eyebrows and stops to kiss me again, the snow falling on my cheeks. And as I feel myself melt into his body, I know that tonight can’t come soon enough.
‘Come on, let’s go and talk to Hector,’ he says, his arm around me, steadying me in my oversized boots, laughing as we go.
When we reach the back door, Rhona is standing by it barking, slowly, like a metronome.
‘All right, good girl. We’re back,’ I tell her, and rub her head. ‘It’s okay, I found him. We’re all here now.’
We take off our coats and I step out of the wellies, still smiling. There’s laughter coming from the dining room, and it looks like Jess and the rest of the band are going to the pub with the locals. Coats and hats are being pulled on.
‘We’ll meet you down there!’ Lachlan tells them.
‘Don’t be too long!’ Jess waves a finger and gives us a knowing look, and we laugh. Rhona is still barking, slowly and methodically, and I rub her head again, then step into the warm living room, where Hector is still sitting looking out of the window, his tea and scone still untouched.
‘Hector,’ I say, walking over to him. Lachlan stops to put another log on the fire. ‘Hector,’ I say again, thinking he hasn’t heard me and beaming from ear to ear. ‘Have you heard the news? I’m not leaving, and neither is Lachlan. In fact we’re...’
I pause and look at him, and straight away, I know.
Chapter Fifty
‘Do you think he knew?’ I swallow. Outside, it’s snowing hard now. I don’t know why, but I put an extra blanket over Hector’s cold body.
‘Judging by the smile on his face, I’d say he knew everything,’ says Lachlan, his arm around me. He passes me a cup of tea and I can smell the whisky in it. ‘For the shock,’ he tells me.
‘So you’ll stay?’
