Page 71 of Highland Games
‘What? When?’ Icy fear was petrifying his bones.
She folded her arms across her body. ‘Now.’
Rory bundledBandit in the back of the courtesy car he’d got from the insurance company and drove out of Kinloch. The rain lashed down, swelling the streams and sending sheets of water across the road. He tried to formulate the words he could say to her, the words that would convince her to stay but came up short with each thought.
He rounded the bend and saw with sickening dread that her truck was gone. He ran to the door, unlocked it and rushed in. His tools were by the door, the patchwork blanket had gone from the bed, Basil’s cage was missing, and the Rayburn was cool to the touch.
That was it. She’d gone. He sat at the table and sank his head into his hands as Bandit whined. Could he catch her up? Not in that car. He had to ring her.
He drove up the road until he had signal and called her. It cut to voicemail and he hung up, his palms sweating. How could he find the right words?
24
As soon as Zoe had left Fiona’s house, she switched her phone off and headed south. She’d already packed up the truck the night before, and called her delighted parents to tell them she was coming home. Now she needed to get some distance between her and Rory, and if her phone was on she would be checking it obsessively to see if he’d messaged her. She drove all day, breaking only to refuel her truck, her tummy, and empty her bladder. It was seven o’clock when she finally arrived at her parents’ bungalow. She stepped stiffly out onto the pavement and up to the low iron gate, pushing it open and walking along the small concrete path to the front door.
It was flung open before she could even get her key out, and she was enveloped in the arms of her parents.
‘Our darling girl! You’re home!’ cried Mary.
‘Come in, love, I’ll get your bags and your pet,’ said Arnold, patting her shoulder and kissing the top of her head. ‘I’ve never met a Dumbo rat before.’
Zoe followed her parents into the house, familiarity settling over her. She knew her surroundings and she knew her parents. There were no secrets, nothing unexpected under the stairs waiting to come out and bite her. Only unconditional love, warmth and the smell of home cooking.
‘I’m so glad I’m here. What a drive,’ Zoe groaned, as she took off her shoes and hung up her coat in the tiny hall. ‘Can I smell lasagne?’
‘Yes, darling, I made it just for you,’ said her mother. ‘Use the bathroom if you need it, then come on through and I’ll dish up.’
Zoe went to the toilet and washed her hands, then walked through into the kitchen and sat at the small round table as Mary filled her plate and Arnold brought her bags in. He put Basil’s cage on the floor by the back door and took a bottle of Prosecco out of the fridge, presenting it to Zoe as if he were a wine waiter.
‘Would madame like a glass of fizz?’
‘Yes please. That’s exactly what I need right now,’ replied Zoe with a sigh.
He uncorked the bottle and poured her a glass as her mother set a steaming plate of food in front of her. ‘Here we go, darling,’ she said. ‘We’re so glad you’re home. Now things can go back to normal.’
Wakingthe next morning in her old room, she was drowsy with nostalgia. Memories of the latter part of her childhood, post her mother’s diagnosis, after her time in Scotland with Willie floated around her, faded, and tinged with a sense of separation. They belonged to an old life, a distant one, one that didn’t fit any more. It was like finding your favourite blanket from childhood and discovering it was smaller than you remembered and didn’t smell right.
Last night she’d been glad to be back with her parents. She was safe within the walls of their home and their love. But now, did she want her life to go back to how it was? Was normal what she really wanted? Scotland seemed so far away, as if in another universe. But it was a universe of adventure, wide-open spaces, old friends and a man who had thrown her life upside down.
She took out her phone and switched it on. Beeps and pings filled the room as her home screen lit up like a firework show. Her heart rocketed into her throat as she opened a text message from Rory.
Man-bear, yeti, mutant-redneck-hobbit, hobo: I came to find you but you’d gone. I’m sorry for everything. You deserve more than I gave you, and I’ve got what I deserve. There’s only one other secret I kept from you, because I didn’t want to scare you off. I know it’s too late now, but I need you to know. I love you, Zoe. My heart is yours and will be forever. Safe journey, Rory X
She stared at the screen, reading it over and over again, memories fluttering across her skin like butterfly kisses. He loved her. And she knew she loved him, at least the version of him she had known until a couple of days ago. But did she want him after everything that had happened? Did she want a life that involved the castle and his mother? She couldn’t reply until she’d got her head straight, and that process would involve her best friend, Sam. She sent her a message, got out of bed and wandered into the living room to find her parents reading the papers.
It was such a familiar scene and tears welled up. Her dad got up and sat her on the sofa next to her mum. ‘I’ll put the kettle on,’ he said, walking out.
Mary put her paper down and pulled Zoe in for a hug. ‘You’ve had quite the adventure up there, my darling.’
Zoe nodded into her mum’s shoulder. ‘It was certainly that. I ended up being arrested for attempted murder.’
Mary sat up, staring at her with shock and disbelief. A loud crash came from the kitchen.
‘Only a mug. Hang on, don’t start without me,’ Arnold called through.
Zoe disengaged from her mum’s arms. ‘It’s okay now. I’m sure I’ll find it funny in about ten years.’
Arnold came back into the room. ‘I’m afraid tea will have to wait. If I don’t find out what’s going on, I might drop the kettle, and I’m allergic to boiling water. What’s gone on, love?’
