“Have you heard from Anna lately?”
This enquiry was accompanied by a strident voice in the background that sounded to Bev as if young Annette was impatient for her supper.
“Yes,” she replied over the escalating screams. “She tells me she is heading to Scotland soon.”
“Oh, just wait a minute will you, Bev. I’ll settle this wee one down and be right back.
Now don’t disappear on me!”
“I won’t, don’t worry!”
Bev settled down on the nearest kitchen chair and listened through the phone as Jeanette soothed her daughter and no doubt provided something she could suck on for the time being.
Bev was reminded of long-ago days when her own two boys were small, and getting herself into a shower was a task requiring the organization of a field general. She smiled. It was a sweet time in her life despite the fact that her soldier husband was often overseas and she was, in consequence, a single mother.
The boys were well grown now and off about their own affairs. She had different priorities these days. There was her new and much-loved husband, Alan, who had given her his love and trust along with a new country, a farm and a restaurant supplying farmhouse teas to tourists who visited the animals Alan cared for. Kirsty, Alan’s elderly mother had happily relinquished care of her son, and his farm, to retire to her own people on Skye when Alan married. Bev reminded herself that she had acquired a whole large, Scottish family as well as a completely different lifestyle from that of her life in Canada.
She was never lonely now. Sometimes it seemed there were not enough hours in the day to accomplish all that needed to be done. And yet, she relished every minute of it.
“Right you are; I’m back! Wee Anna’s teething and she isn’t happy when I am distracted by someone or something.”
Bev smiled to hear the baby name that had given the grown-up Anna such pleasure when she first met George and Jeanette’s second child at her christening in the summer.
“Give the wee darling girl a cuddle from me. She’s still the loveliest child I think I have ever seen.”
Jeanette laughed. “Don’t you encourage her!
George says she’ll have a swollen head from all this praise if we don’t put a halt to it soon.”
“Good luck with that!” warned Bev with a laugh.
“Now what were we talking about before we were so rudely interrupted?”
“You were asking about Anna.”
“Right you are! So what’s been happening with the romance?”
“Well, she said it was tricky to get time together because Lawren is busy with art work for a show.”
There was a pause on the line. “There’s also a bit of a situation with Alina.”
“What would Alina have to do with it? Those two are the best of friends.
Surely you’re not suggesting there’s some jealousy going on?”
Jeanette’s tone was concerned rather than annoyed but the message was clear. No one should dare come between the two lovers who had declared themselves soulmates right here in Oban.
“That’s the last thing Alina would want, yet you can see how awkward it would be to have honeymooners right on your doorstep, as it were.
They have separate suites in the condo, of course, but I gather it’s Lawren who feels like a bit of an intruder in the all-female environment.”
“Ah, that is a problem! I imagine a starving artist isn’t exactly rolling in enough money to buy separate accommodation.”
“Exactly! He is a proud man though. Anna says it’s difficult.”
“You said she was coming over here soon? Don’t say they’ve split up already!”
“No, no! Nothing like that! It’s good news. Lawren’s father has asked him to go to what was originally the family estate in England and try to mend the long-term dispute between them. Anna will join him in the Oban farmhouse when he returns via Glasgow.”
“Wait a minute! Isn’t the house let out to Anna’s brother and his family this month?”
“You are quite right about that, Jeanette. Anna is hoping to coordinate her arrival so she can see Simon again and no doubt introduce the family to Lawren.”
“Sounds like a good idea. I hope it all works out. How are things with you, Bev? You said the summer tourist season was good.”
“It certainly was! Eric and his dog shadow, Duncan, were the hit of the summer but I’m worn out with baking scones and making huge pots of tea. Visitors can certainly drink and eat plenty when they’ve been following sheep and sheepdogs on the hills.”
“Poor you! You’ll get a bit of rest after the September weekend, no doubt, and then you’ll be bored stiff!”
“I doubt it! Alan has plans to visit Skye. He wants to buy some long-legged sheep. He says the signs are there already. He predicts the snow will be deep this winter.”
“Oh, heaven forbid! I want to get out and about with this wee one in her pram this year.”
“Speaking of Annette; she’s really quieted down this last few minutes.”
“And so she should! I’ve been walking about the room with her in my arms while we’ve been talking and now she’s fallen fast asleep.”
“Right, that’s my cue to go! Try to get some rest while you can, Jeanette. It’ll soon be time to fetch Liam from nursery school.”
“Too true! We’ll talk soon, my dear!”
“Oh, just one more thing, Jeanette, I think I will ask Anna if the Samba group can add one more name to the roster.”
“Goodness me! That’s a departure from custom! Who do you have in mind?”
Jeanette sounded very curious at this proposed change to a long-standing Canadian cohort.
“Why, you, of course! You are a perfect fit and I am positive Anna will agree.”
“But! But! What will happen to the name?”
“We’ll just add J at the end. Sambaj sounds quite exotic, don’t you think?”
“Bev, I am so touched. I would be proud to be a member. It’s a real privilege to be part of the Canadian Connection.”
“We’ll have a special ceremony when Anna arrives. Bye for now.”
Bev put her phone back on the kitchen counter. She looked out of the rear windows and smiled to see the view of green fields and heather-clad hills ascending to the sky. She never tired of this ever-changing scene.
Today there were scattered dots of white sheep roaming along the high ridges. Alan would be up there with Prince forging ahead of him to spy out the land. She knew Alan was safe with the dog nearby. He would protect his master with his very life if necessary.
Bev turned back to her baking duties. All the ingredients were arranged in order on the countertop and the oven was warm. Another batch of cheese and raisin scones would soon be ready for the next group of visitors. That’s if Alan and Eric didn’t find them first.
She grinned at the thought and picked up Kirsty’s old wooden spoon. It was better than any modern metal spoon for mixing dough.
Old and new together. Past and present blended like the ingredients in the big yellow baking bowl.
Life is an interesting recipe, she thought. The surprising element is always ready to be added to the mix. She poured a little applesauce into the bowl as she considered the changes that had happened to the Samba group’s members over the last couple of years.
“And now we have found another Canadian, far from home, who fits right in. Sambaj definitely has a nice ring to it.”
Bev applied her strong right arm to the mixing and continued to think about life’s surprising twists and turns.