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It wasn’t long before the story of David’s visit practically became legend on the island. Of course, Leigh was the first person to offer her a congratulatory shot on their next date. Tossing back whisky together and then making love in the croft Kate had begun to think of as a second home was almost as cathartic as laughing in her ex’s face.
However, the quickness with which the story circulated didn’t surprise Kate as much as the tale’s staying power. By October two things were certain among the residents of Fair Isle.
The first was that Kate was truly one of them. When Leigh called her an American, it was with affection, not derision. Seamus sought her out every day for pettings and treats. The wardens often invited her to accompany them on their daily duties. Instead of “Katherine’s niece,” everyone on the island called her by name.
The second was that the caa would be a full day of well-deserved celebration. All the work that went into it––gathering and shearing the sheep, checking their health, bundling the wool, and cleaning up after––had led to this special night.
Kate could finally take that beautiful blue dress out of her wardrobe and slip into it. She changed out of the jeans, plaid shirt, and t-shirt that still bore bits of stray wool. A shower got the smell of sheep out of her hair and off her hands.
It wasn’t her first caa, but it was the first time she had participated as more than an observer. She’d helped Leigh and other volunteers drive the sheep on the northern end of the island to mingle with the others closer to the south, and get the shearing done. The event took a village, literally, and everyone had a role to play in the success of the day.
After Kate dried off from her shower, she unzipped the dress that she’d waited many long months to wear. The skirt flared out from her waist and the cap sleeves left her arms bare. Despite the fifty-degree evening, warmth pervaded her body.
A slightly sweet, smoky smell filled the room. Her curling iron was ready, and Kate twirled her hair around the hot barrel, one section at a time. Once her red hair hung in smooth, perfect ringlets, she unplugged the tool, spent a good ten minutes doing her makeup, and finally looked at her reflection.
For the first time in her life, she’d managed the perfect liquid eyeliner wing. That, mascara, a dusting of powder, and a swipe of neutral lipstick were enough for this event. No one on the island was going to get more dressed up than that, if at all. They would probably wear their Sunday best, but Kate knew that her best wasn’t good enough for tonight. Not with all the things she wanted to tell the people around her without saying a word.
This night marked the end of a particular journey for her, and she wanted to make sure the most important person in her life knew it.
Just north of the crofts was where the party started, a carefully contained bonfire lighting the night beyond the observatory windows. Kate sucked in a breath, smoothed her dress, and tossed her hair. Perfect. She wound a soft, black wrap around her arms and carried a tiny flashlight on a lanyard to illuminate the way.
When she reached the celebration, she couldn’t help but stop and stare. The beauty of the island left her rooted to the spot, her legs heavy and chest tight. Where else in the world could compare to this magical moment of light and laughter and music?
Nowhere, because this was the only place she would find Leigh approaching her, face half in shadows, the other half bright in the warm glow of the bonfire. The sheep farmer’s lips tugged into a soft smile, one Kate couldn’t wait to kiss into something more intimate to elicit open-mouthed moans of pleasure.
She tucked those thoughts away for later and returned the smile.
“You look incredible.” Leigh extended her hand, palm facing up in the night.
Everyone would see Kate take it, would know the thing they’d taken care to keep to themselves since late summer. The whole island knew, but hadn’t said a word. If she did this now, in front of everyone...
Kate swallowed.
If she did this, there was no turning back to the life she’d once known.
Watching her own hand move through the air was like watching an old black and white movie in slow motion. Her heart stopped. Her breath stopped. Everything but the gesture that would connect them both froze in place.
Kate slid her palm along Leigh’s until they were holding each other’s wrists. The farmer’s fingers were so strong, something Kate had learned for herself time and again over the past few months. Her own seemed too slender, too smooth and delicate, but her grip was sure on the wrist flexing beneath them.
“Welcome to the caa celebration,” Leigh said before tugging her in for a kiss.
It was at once warm and hot, and Kate couldn’t help but moan. There went her plans to make Leigh do that for her. But there was time. So, so much time.
A cheer went up around them, whooping, hollering, and Kate couldn’t be sure if it was for them or something else that’d happened at the same moment. When they parted and she met her aunt’s approving gaze just beyond Leigh’s shoulder, she knew the answer.
“It’s felt like an eternity,” Leigh said. “Summer was gone before we knew it and we were both so busy the past couple of months.”
“I know. With all the seabirds starting their migrations south, I’ve had my hands full tracking the annual changes. I’m glad we finally get to spend time together that isn’t going to end with one of us having to get back to work or fall asleep.” It was true. Their dates since the beginning of September had been perfunctory, at best. More of an effort to keep up with each other than build on what they’d started. A few nights snuggled close in bed. For Kate, it did little to scratch the itch. She couldn’t get enough of the woman holding her right now.
Leigh nodded and hugged her close. “And sexting is no substitute for the real thing on the days we couldn’t see each other.”
That made Kate laugh. They’d found a way to maintain at least some of the heat through sassy, sexy texts, and her chest squeezed with relief that nothing about their connection had cooled.
“There’s a lot I want to say to you, anyway, things I’ve been holding onto for months. Do you think we could talk?”
“I’m up for anything and everything you want to do tonight.” Leigh smoothed Kate’s hair back from her face and smiled. “I love the curls. You look like a real island girl––soft, but wild.”
They walked a short way from the fire until Kate thought they were out of earshot of everyone else. Considering the music and celebratory laughter, they didn’t have to go far. “Thank you. I’m feeling like one, too. You know better than anyone that I came here looking for myself.”
Leigh nodded, but didn’t speak. It was one of the things Kate adored about having a lover who was the strong, silent type. Still waters run deep, though, she reminded herself. Leigh might let her ramble on, but she’d have something to say when she was ready.
“You heard about David coming to pick up a copy of the divorce papers last month, even though he didn’t need to, and Aunt Katherine is pretty sure he did it to rub my face in his new life.”
Leigh’s laughter made any tension drain out of Kate. “Everyone heard. She made sure of it. People still talk about it.”
“Oh gosh.” Kate covered her face with her hands, her cheeks going hot.
“Hey, don’t be like that.” Cool fingers curled around her wrists and drew her hands down. “Everyone loved it. We knew it meant you were done, ready to move on, and be the person you’re ready to be.”
Kate drew in a breath to calm her rapidly beating heart. The reassurance settled her nerves, because she knew it didn’t come from Leigh, alone, but all the people around them.
“I came here to find myself, but it wasn’t until I saw David again that I realized it wasn’t in the things everyone can see. Me, I mean.”
Leigh’s lips quirked up at the corners. “Why don’t you explain.”
“Okay, take puffins, for instance. So what, right? They’re all over the place. They’re a dime a dozen here and, no offense to puffins, but I don’t want to be a... a puffin!”
“Then what do you want to be?” Leigh’s hand came up and stroked Kate’s red curls back from her face. The touch was both soothing and sweet, brushing away every last ounce of fear that'd lingered inside Kate like a bad dream.
“I want to be something special and rare, something no one has ever seen on this island before," she whispered.
Those soft, perpetually quirked lips of Leigh’s pulled up at the corners. “You are something special and rare to me. I love you.”
For the first time in twenty years, those words didn’t feel empty, but full. Overflowing with truth and promise. Kate drew in a shuddering breath before she wove her fingers around the back of Leigh’s neck to tug her close.
“I love you, too.”
When the farmer leaned in to kiss her this time, Kate knew she’d found the person she wanted to kiss her for the rest of her life.