Tuesday
We were up at the crack of dawn the next morning – before anyone in the house stirred – and into the car while it was still dark.
Jamie drove – I hated his dad’s enormous Land Rover but he quite enjoyed driving it. He said it was like taming a wild beast, even though it was so fancy and new it almost did everything for him. We pulled out of Mum’s drive and instead of turning right to head back down the hill into Claddach, we went left. The road narrowed here – though it had been ploughed – and rose up into the mountains through a series of hair-raising switchbacks. It was absolutely beautiful watching dawn break over the loch far below us and the sun begin to light up the snow-covered roofs of the houses in Claddach, which nestled under the foothills.
‘How did Tansy react when you told her we were going?’ I asked, once my hastily gulped coffee had kicked in and I was feeling more human.
‘She was a bit minty,’ Jamie said. ‘I think she wanted to be invited along too.’
I turned to look out of the window, so he wouldn’t see my smile.
‘She said I should be getting to know Parker,’ Jamie carried on. ‘But your mum said I had the rest of my life to do that.’
The thought struck me that perhaps Tansy was viewing her trip to Scotland as some sort of test. Seeing how Jamie measured up against the wonderful Michael. If he didn’t make the grade, it was entirely possible she could go back to Boston, marry Michael, let him adopt Parker and we’d never hear from her again.
Tansy one, Esme one, perhaps.
‘Maybe she’s right,’ I said. ‘Maybe we should turn back so you can spend some more time with your son.’
‘Too late now,’ Jamie said, turning into the lane that led to the cottage. ‘And your mum was talking sense when she said we’ve got all the time in the world to get to know each other. Once we’ve sorted out regular contact visits it’ll all be fine.’
Unless Tansy plumped for Michael to be daddy, I thought. I knew I had to tell Jamie the truth, because Tansy seemed in no hurry to spill the beans while she was busy playing her own version of happy families with my fiancé, But then we were pulling up outside the lodge and this wasn’t the time or the place.
‘Today and tonight is all about me and you,’ Jamie said, pulling up the handbrake and turning to me. ‘This isn’t the wedding week we’d planned and there have been more than a few major hiccups along the way, but let’s enjoy ourselves today and look forward to Saturday.’
He kissed me gently.
‘I love you, Esme McLeod, and I can’t wait to marry you.’
I grinned at him.
‘Right back atcha, James Brodie,’ I said. ‘Doesn’t mean I won’t whip your arse on those slopes though s enjoy ourselves today and look forward to Sat’
We took our bags into the lodge. It was small but absolutely beautiful – of course. All wooden, like a traditional alpine chalet, the front door opened into a living area with a tiled floor and a small boot and ski storage room off to one side. One end of the lounge was a kitchen with everything you’d need to cook a gourmet meal – though I think the most cooking that was ever done there was toast in the mornings – and the other had French windows opening out onto a tiny terrace with an amazing view of the slopes. The bedroom, with its en suite shower room, was next door and had the same view.
I dropped my bag on the floor and slid open the door. Jamie followed me out on to the terrace and we stood together, breathing in the cold air. It was too early for anyone to be on the slopes yet but the gondola lift that ran from just next to where we stood was beginning to operate.
Jamie pointed.
‘The gondola is running,’ he said. ‘And a fair few of the slopes are open, apparently. So the drag lifts at the top will be working too.’
I clutched his arm in excitement.
‘This is it,’ I said.
‘What’s it?’ Jamie asked.
‘A way for Dad to get here.’
I went back inside and picked up a map of the ski slopes that was lying on the small table, then I went back out onto the terrace and unfolded it, as Jamie watched, bemused.
‘Look,’ I said, pointing at the slopes on the other side of the mountain. ‘This road is open and Dad can drive up to the lift here.’
There was another gondola that led up to more draglifts on that side. All the lifts met at the top, where there was a café and a bar.
‘Then they could go up to the top, and ski down this side. We can collect them from there.’
I was bouncing from foot to foot in excitement.
Jamie grinned.
‘It’s definitely an idea,’ he said, cautiously. ‘But it’s not without flaws.’
‘Olivia can’t ski,” I said. “That’s one flaw. And there’s Chloe’s kids to think about.’
Chloe’s three little ones were only seven, four and two. There was no way they’d make it down a tricky ski run.
‘And we’re not sure if all the ski slopes will be open,’ Jamie pointed out.
‘Well let’s go and find out,’ I said.
We laughed as we got dressed in our sallopettes and jackets. Jamie looked like a plonker in his helmet but he was adamant we had to wear them so I didn’t argue.
By the time we were ready, the gondola was running so we hopped in and sat holding hands as it soared over the trees. I loved skiing. Loved it. Growing up where we had, we spent lots of time on the slopes as kids. We had ski lessons like children in other parts of the country had netball.
‘Excited?’ Jamie asked as I looked down on the few people who had already started making their way down the slope.
I nodded.
‘About skiing and about Dad maybe coming this way,’ I said.
‘Don’t get your hopes up,’ Jamie warned. And it turned out he was right. We got to the top of the mountain, and sat in the café eating bacon sandwiches – we’d left so early we’d missed breakfast and we needed energy for our day on the slopes.
Jamie peered out of the window at the opposite side of the mountain.
‘That drag lift isn’t on,’ he pointed out.
The waitress put a teapot on our table.
‘That side of the mountain’s completely closed,’ she said. ‘Avalanche risk, and the slopes are too dangerous.’
‘For how long?’ I asked.
She shrugged, not caring one way or another.
‘Few weeks,’ she said. ‘My tips are taking a battering.’
I looked at Jamie, disappointed.
‘That’s that then,’ I said. ‘We’ll have to find another way to get Dad here.’
He reached out and took my hand.
‘We will,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry.’