Chapter Twenty-Seven

 

Will’s tour around Skye was amazing. We drove all over, talking and laughing. A highlight for me was Kilt Rock, where I took photographs of the cliffs and a waterfall which fell 170m from the cliff into the sea. The sun came out for a few moments and I was quite pleased with my shots.

“You’ve captured it really well,” Will told me, putting his arm around me as he guided me away and to another viewing point. It felt nice to be part of a twosome again, even if it was only platonic – and temporary.

“My photos are only good because of the amazing scenery you’re showing me,” I told him.

A coach full of tourists turned up and we moved out of the way to let them look at the waterfall. I asked one of them to take a photo of us together with Fern and Wentworth sitting at our feet.

Then we drove for miles, over hills, through valleys, past lochs. I kept asking Will to pull over so I could take more photos and we snacked on crisps and sweets, and talked about the old days, and the days between then and now.

As we drove on, it started to rain. I told him about my mother’s last couple of husbands and he told me about his father dying. I told him about some of the more interesting weddings I’d photographed, and he shared anecdotes about the animals he treated, and their owners. It was easy to be with him, and I kept thinking about what it might be like to kiss the older, more mature version. Would the man’s kiss be much different to the boy’s?

Yet, he was just behaving like my friend. A few times I caught him looking at me, and he’d been quite affectionate, putting an arm around me here and there, but no more than the way Shane treated me. Friends, that was all. I was both disappointed and relieved at the same time. I didn’t want to be the other woman to his Mandy … but it didn’t stop me daydreaming about it, either.

Eventually, we came to Elgol – a beautiful little village on the shore of Loch Scavaig, with a view of the Cuillins opposite, a few fishing boats and the odd cottage scattered here and there. The rain was decreasing and the sun came out, casting a rainbow. I grabbed my camera. As the rainbow faded and the rain eased off, we went and sat on a blanket on the rocks while our dogs ran in and out of the water.

“I love it here. I’m officially declaring this as my favourite spot on Skye,” I told Will.

“It’s quite something, isn’t it?”

“Beautiful! And so quiet. So remote.”

“You like remoteness?”

“I like being far away from crowds of people. Does that make me antisocial?”

“Not at all. I like the peace and quiet myself. But it can get a bit much, sometimes. You’d probably miss the city if you lived here.”

“Maybe.”

I’ll miss Will, when I leave, I realised. The thought of leaving left me with an ache and pain that I couldn’t describe. How come I managed to deal reasonably well with our parting back when we’d been boyfriend and girlfriend for over a year, but now after just a few days as friends I couldn’t cope with it?

I’d miss this comfortable feeling around him, as well as the nervous flutters I felt every time he looked at me or touched me. If only I didn’t have to return to Bath the day after tomorrow and face reality.

I shivered.

“Chilly?”

I nodded my reply.

“Lean against me,” he offered and I did, and he put his arm around me and he had no idea how comfortable it was or how I longed to be able to ask him if he’d hold me like that every day. Ugh. Stupid Skye and stupid Hayley for dragging me here.

“What do you want to do tomorrow?”

“Can we come back here?”

“Of course.”

“Maybe bring a picnic, just sit and talk and read?”

“Sounds perfect.”

I relaxed back into his arms and started wondering if I should suggest that we both just quit our jobs and move to Elgol. I wasn’t sure how we’d earn enough money to get by. I really must start buying those lottery tickets, I thought.

“Hey, I think I know that guy over there,” Will said, getting up. A man was pulling up in a fishing boat. “You mind staying here with the dogs while I go say hello?”

“Of course not.”

I watched him walk off, admiring his rather cute and firm behind. If only life could be as simple as it’d been the past two days. No work to do, hanging out on this beautiful island with a man I both found attractive and enjoyed being with, with no expectations, no chores … just relaxing, walking, reading, drinking wine, talking, laughing … I sighed as my phone beeped, bringing me back to the reality of my life back home.

I hadn’t looked at my phone all day and found I had several text messages. I read and replied to each:

Ross: How are you babe? I’m missing you. You’re home Saturday, right? Can’t wait to see you. Love you x

Me: Yes, home Saturday. Please don’t be there when I get home, I’d like a little time to get unpacked without you hounding me. I’ll call you when I’m ready.

Shane: Hey, how are you? What’s happening? No decision as yet on Maidstone. I need to hear about your drama, drama, drama!

Me: Hayley’s shagging the farmer and I’ve got a huge crush on a man who’s not interested and married – I’m having a great time but don’t want to come home, except to see you of course. Enough drama for you? x

Aiden:Hi Jenny. How’s it going? I’ve been thinking about you a lot. But still no pressure. Love, Aiden x

Me (after taking a deep breath … the thought of his kiss still gave me the warm and fuzzies but I hadn’t thought about him much in the past few days): I’m having a lovely time, thank you. Hope you’re having a good week. Maybe we can get together and talk on Sunday? Jenny x

I had no idea what I’d say to either Ross or Aiden when I got back, but I still had a few days and a long car journey to figure that out. I’d kind of come to the conclusion that I needed to find somewhere to live, and maybe after a few weeks, if we felt like it, Aiden could take me on a date and we’d see how that goes. Maybe it’d be worth giving it a shot, I didn’t really know.

But right now, I didn’t want to think about all of that, only about the lovely Will who was still chatting to his friend.

My main concern while I was still here was Hayley, and what she was going to do, and how she was going to go about it. Kieran was such a lovely guy, and I remembered now with a jolt of surprise that I’d been jealous of Hayley when she’d first met him. He was good looking, sweet, and so kind and generous towards her. Much more so than Ross had ever been with me, and certainly for quite some time.

She’d seemed so loved-up, and he’d wined and dined her, then asked her to move in, and then proposed less than a month ago. I thought of him at home alone, wondering why she’d not been in touch, completely unaware that the woman he thought would become his wife was cheating on him and about to break his heart. She was just as bad as Ross, and I didn’t like her too much right now. I’d always loved her fickle, spontaneous side, but this time she’d gone too far.

Will was headed back towards me with a big smile on his face, and the two lovely dogs ran towards him as he whistled at them. It was like we were this temporary little family unit, and I realised I could get used to the sight of the three of them walking towards me like this. I could quite happily see this every day.