Page 45 of A Summer Wedding on Arran

‘No, not really. Other than the times I hired a car to explore. Ross had a car and he drove, but he wouldn’t let me behind the wheel. It was his pride and joy.’ Amy rolled her eyes. ‘And before you completely deride him, I have to be fair by saying it wasn’t all bad. He’s not a terrible guy, just not right for me. It didn’t really bother me to be honest. I tended to prefer using public transport or walking. I always think that’s how you get to know a place.’

Kirsty listened with interest and silently agreed that it sounded like it had all worked out for the best. She was just a bit worried about what would happen when Amy went back. Would she be lonely? She gave herself a little shake. That was none of her business. It was Amy’s decision and she needed to learn to keep her nose out of things that didn’t concern her. ‘It has been sooo long since we did this, girls,’ she said.

Sunset trips used to be one of their favourite things to do together. Brodick, where they lived, had the most beautiful sunrises and their mum could often be found up early watching the fiery, orange glow on a clear morning. However, the sunsets were best from the other side of the island, and they used to spend hours on the gentle, sloping beach at Blackwaterfoot scrambling about in rock pools, waiting for the sun to go to bed — that’s what Dad always used to say. Even though Kirsty lived here she still didn’t make the time to go over and do this. It never seemed the same without the girls or the kids who were much happier doing their own thing now they were older.

It only took about twenty minutes to get to the car park by the beach, which was always much quieter than the other beaches nearer Brodick. Kirsty switched off the engine and they smiled as they looked ahead at the clear waters over Kilbrannan Sound and towards the Kintyre Peninsula.

‘Come on, let’s go,’ said Kirsty, leaping out the car in excitement. The girls followed her, grabbing the picnic bag and blankets and made their way down the sloping sands towards the water. All of them were lost in their own thoughts as they went down memory lane, remembering joyful times as kids, filled with excitement and hopeful times ahead.

‘Remember the sandy sandwiches? And the bashed bananas?’ said Emma.

‘Yuck and Mum’s egg sandwiches which nobody liked apart from Dad.’ Kirsty chuckled. ‘Then she started going the opposite way and getting all posh, making mini quiches and Scotch eggs?’

‘I hope you’ve got all of that in there.’ Emma pointed at the cool bag that Kirsty had dumped on the sand.

‘I don’t have egg sandwiches, but I do have other things that you like. Maybe not as fancy as Mum . . . but . . .’

‘Did you bring your tomato and feta salad?’ asked Amy.

‘Yes . . . and the falafel and some pitta bread and dips.’

‘Amazing,’ said Amy, turning to Emma. ‘You know if it was left to me, it would be wine and crisps?’

A seagull dived over their head and squawked. ‘He thinks that sounds good, too,’ Emma said smiling.

‘Isn’t it a lovely evening and still so warm? I can’t believe how still the water is,’ said Kirsty, gesturing at the glass surface ahead. ‘We should have brought the paddle board.’

Amy’s mouth twitched with excitement. ‘Let’s just go for a swim instead. I have beendreamingof being back in the sea here.’ She kicked off her flip-flops and pulled her floaty summer dress over her head. ‘It was on my bucket list of things to do when I got home. I can’t believe I have been back for a couple of days and not ticked it off yet.’

‘Don’t you swim a lot though, in Vancouver?’ said Kirsty, who bent down to take her sandals off.

‘Yes, but there’s something about being in the water here. It’s just different. Maybe it’s the air or something . . . but isn’t it crazy to think too that the water temperature isn’t that different to what it’s like in Vancouver.’

‘Seriously?’ said Emma. ‘That seems very weird. I would just have assumed it was warmer there.’

‘I know,’ said Amy. ‘It surprised me, too.’

‘I can safely say it’s been ages since I’ve been in the sea.’ Emma frowned, clearly trying to think when she had last been to the beach. ‘Maybe North Berwick last summer with Max and his sister?’

Kirsty was now pulling off her shorts and T-shirt until she stood wearing just her bathing suit. ‘I’ll race you in,’ she said, pulling her hair into a high ponytail. She watched as Emma shrugged off her clothes too and ran behind her, splashing them as they shrieked at the cool water landing on their warm skin. They all floated on their backs and took a few moments to let their bodies get used to the water.

‘Remember to breathe calmly and slowly,’ called Amy.

Soon after they began swimming further out. ‘Don’t go out your depth,’ said Kirsty, feeling very much like the parent of the group.

Amy giggled. ‘You’re always such a mum, Kirsty. Have you appointed yourself as the group’s lifeguard?’

Kirsty shook her head and laughed, used to her sisters teasing her about her constant health and risk assessments. She had always been the same. ‘I just don’t want to have to come and save you. I’m too hungry for that.’

It was hard to think that it was late on a summer’s evening as the sun was still high in the sky and the air was a perfect temperature. Kirsty let her imagination relax and she tried to focus on the present, noticing the colour of the sky and the bubbles on the surface of the water as they pushed their arms through it. She looked at the birds overhead and then flipped onto her back and let herself float and stare at the sky above again. It was lovely to be in the moment and not think about anything but being in the cool water and watching the faint streaks of clouds above.

Eventually she decided that she’d had enough. She didn’t want to sit shivering on the beach for hours afterwards. Flipping onto her stomach, she began swimming towards the shore and Emma and Amy followed behind. They all dressed quickly and pulled on extra layers to keep cosy.

‘I think Mum would be glad we were doing this,’ said Amy wistfully as she lay back on the blanket.

Kirsty nodded. ‘Definitely. She would want us to be having fun and looking ahead.’ She had started to unpack the picnic and there were Tupperware tubs of feta and tomato salad, some cold meat, hummus, carrot and celery sticks, falafel, a baguette, some cheese and olives. ‘I hope you’re hungry!’

‘Don’t worry, Emma,’ said Amy, reaching into her own bag. ‘I’ve got the most important bit — the crisps and the wine!’

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