The Skye Collection, page 5
‘I will. And, honestly, there won’t be any need for you to follow me. I’m sure it will be everything I’ve dreamed of and more.’ She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. ‘You’re just looking for an excuse to do your Valentino Rossi up the motorway, aren’t you?’
He held up his hands. ‘Guilty as charged.’ He kissed her head and locked his bright blue eyes on hers. ‘Anyway, the offer’s there. Now bugger off. I’ve seen you twice this week and that’s plenty.’ His grin hid the worry she knew he was feeling. He had been by her side during Laurie’s illness and had been instrumental in getting her to seek help when her downward spiral had begun. He’d driven her to therapy appointments and had held her for hours as she’d cried. He’d sat in silence with her, just to be there when he knew she needed him, and he’d forgiven her for the times she’d lashed out at him. He’d been her rock and her saviour. And she knew she owed him so much… maybe even her life.
She had been on the road to recovery for a while now and secretly hoped that this trip would help everyone to realise that she was fine – broken-hearted and a little lost, but fine all the same. And she knew she’d find herself again. It was just a matter of time.
She clambered into the car and slammed the door before winding down the window. ‘See you in three months!’ She waved eagerly and hoped her ebullience was contagious.
‘There’s time to change your mind!’ Millie blurted and immediately covered her mouth, as if the words had fallen out by accident.
Dexter scowled at her and gave her a nudge with his elbow.
She shrugged, sheepishly. ‘What? I’m only saying.’
‘Speak soon! Love you a squillion!’ Juliette shouted the saying that had been a part of her family since forever as she started the engine and put the car in gear. The CD player sprang to life and she grinned as she spotted the double jewel case on the passenger seat complete with the label Songs for the Road.
Dexter had made one of his famous compilations for her journey and she couldn’t wait to hear what songs he’d chosen. This should be fun.
She pulled away from her little cottage to the lilting guitars of ‘Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)’ by Green Day and couldn’t help grinning and shaking her head at his choice.
The first leg of Juliette’s journey took her through some pretty, yet familiar scenery. The early-morning sun was cresting over the tops of the houses in the rural idyll of Mistford, casting a peachy glow through the haze. The town was nestled between Gloucester and Cheltenham and had been her home since she married Laurie. The main street was quaint, with its olde-worlde charm: little stone buildings with bay windows, narrow pavements and wrought-iron lanterns atop black lamp posts – the kind of place you saw in traditional Christmas card scenes. There was a butcher and a bakery. In fact, all that was missing was the candlestick makers and you’d have had the hat-trick. There was, however, a traditional sweet shop that did a roaring trade during the school holidays.
She passed the Hope and Anchor pub on the edge of town; the local watering hole and a place where she had spent some hilarious evenings with Millie, Dexter and, of course, Laurie. And the Mistford Theatre on the opposite side of the road where there had been a variety of performances over the years by MIAOWS, or Mistford Independent Amateur Operatic Welcome Society; their little emblem was of a white cat curled around the letters. She smiled as she remembered Dexter saying he’d join if it wasn’t such a catty group. As always, he’d laughed at his own joke, whereas the others had simply rolled their eyes and groaned. Their favourite show was always the annual Christmas panto. Even as adults, they’d all got heavily involved in the loud shouts of ‘He’s behind you!’ and had booed and hissed along with the children in attendance.
After hours of driving, Juliette made a brief stop in Preston for lunch and to stretch her legs. She checked in with Millie, her parents and Dexter, as promised, but she was soon back in the car and able to lose herself in the music once again. She tapped the steering wheel and yelled along with the band, Fun, as they sang a rousing anthem about being young and setting the world alight. Drivers of passing cars gawked at her as she belted out the loudest parts. She didn’t care what other people thought. She’d always found singing cathartic; a kind of release that allowed her emotions to take flight in a positive way.
Just after five o’clock and tired from the journey, Juliette crossed the River Sark, which forms the border between England and the county of Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland. A little further on, she pulled into the parking area at the front of the modern hotel at Gretna that she would be calling home for the night.
From the car park, Juliette could just make out the blacksmith’s shop along the road that was famous for illicit nuptials dating back hundreds of years. These days, it was a fashionable place to wed, as opposed to the necessity it had once been for some. She smiled as she gazed over towards the hotel to see a newlywed couple still in their finery, kissing just beside the doorway and smiling lovingly at each other.
Those were the days, she thought as she climbed from the car and walked round to retrieve her overnight bag from the boot.
The early-evening sunlight glinted on the windows causing a kind of ethereal halo effect around the couple, and for a moment she regretted her choice of hotel and location. The air of romance around the place exacerbated the sadness tugging at her heart. Evidently, this was a place you visited with the one you loved, not alone with a grief-stricken soul.
Juliette held her breath, closed her eyes for a moment and rallied. She was embarking upon something good; something on which Laurie would have fully supported her, and that fact alone made it feel like he was there with her.
With fresh resolve, she opened her eyes and, after she’d closed the boot and locked the car, she headed eagerly towards the entrance, inhaling a couple of lungfuls of the chilly air.
Pushing through the revolving door into the reception area, she was greeted with contemporary black and grey décor and comfy-looking sofas. A door to the left opened and she caught a brief glimpse into the dining area, where smartly dressed couples and families sat eating mouth-watering dishes – the smell of which made her stomach grumble.
Once checked in, she made her way to the allocated room and opened the door. The room was just as contemporary as the reception area, with clean lines and a minimalist appearance. The colour scheme was muted tones of beige and touches of dark oak, and there was a seating area that led through to a balcony. Out in the grounds, there was another wedding party; the bride and groom posing with glasses of champagne and their friends and family snapping photos on their smartphones.
Juliette sighed as she remembered her own small ceremony with Laurie at the church in Mistford. The old vicar must have been about eighty-five. He was definitely way past retiring age and she felt sure he was going to nod off as he spoke to the congregation. Every so often, he seemed to drift elsewhere in his mind, and he’d go off at a tangent, talking about things that had no connection to the bride or groom, or even marriage. There was one part of his sermon where he started talking about lobsters mating for life and then ended up telling the congregation about an episode of food poisoning from shellfish. Not only was he factually incorrect about the crustacean’s mating habits, but the details of his sickness were a little too graphic, to say the least. Although, the gathered wedding party had found it hilarious and, as Juliette had dared to glance around, she noticed there wasn’t a single person whose shoulders were still, or whose face wasn’t contorted with the effort of stifled laughter.
At the altar, Juliette and Laurie had squeezed each other’s hands tightly and had tried their best not to giggle.
At the end of the ceremony, the vicar forgot to announce that they could kiss, and Dexter had chimed up in his unmistakeable Durham accent with, ‘Go on then, Laurie, give her a snog, mate!’ The whole congregation had erupted in laughter as Laurie had taken her in his arms and kissed her tenderly…
Laurie had looked so ridiculously handsome on that day – as he did every day –and knowing they were making this vow to be with each other until death made her feel like the luckiest woman alive. However, neither of them had expected the vow to be so short-lived.
Back in the present, Juliette decided she couldn’t quite face entering a packed dining room filled with wedding guests, so she ordered room service and, whilst she waited for the food to arrive, she decided to make some calls home. After the first call to her parents, she dialled her best friend’s number.
Millie answered on the second ring. ‘Hey, beauty. How’s it going? What’s it like? Are you okay? Have you eaten?’
Juliette laughed. ‘Blimey, okay… It’s going well, the hotel is really pretty, I’m fine and I’ve ordered room service.’
‘Well, I don’t blame you for getting room service. I’m not sure I’d be happy, in my single state, to be amongst all that sickly coupliness.’ An audible noise of disgust could be heard across the airwaves.
‘No, and anyway, I’m tired out. I just want to sleep, which is precisely what I’ll be doing when I’ve eaten.’
‘Call me tomorrow when you get to Skye, okay?’
Juliette saluted even though Millie couldn’t see her. ‘Understood, cap’n. Bye for now. Love you.’
‘Love you too, chick… oh and, Jules.’
‘Yes?’
‘I think you’re so brave to be doing this. And you should be proud of yourself.’ Her voice wobbled slightly.
A lump formed in Juliette’s throat and she swallowed it down before answering. ‘Thank you. That means such a lot. Goodnight.’ She ended the call and closed her eyes, trying to fight off the threatening tears.
The following morning, after showering, Juliette descended the stairs to enter the dining room for breakfast. Fortunately, she had woken early enough to be one of the first seated, meaning she could eat and have a little wander along to the blacksmith’s shop before she got back on the road to begin this new adventure she arranged for herself.
‘Ah, you’re a loner too, are you, dear?’ an elderly man said as he passed her table.
She looked up into his wizened old face and smiled. ‘I’m afraid so.’
He shook his head. ‘I’m looking forward to getting back to my own little village and sleeping in my own bed. I never sleep the same in hotels,’ he said, as if they’d known each other for a while.
‘Oh yes, I’m the same.’
‘Are you here for the McAndrews wedding?’
Juliette shook her head. ‘No, I’m not actually here for a wedding; I’m just stopping off on my way to Skye.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘Oh, that’s smashing. I live on Skye. Beautiful place. No husband or… wife with you?’
‘Sadly, no. My husband passed away two years ago. I’m going it alone, as they say.’
The man placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. ‘Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry. My wife died forty years ago, and I miss her to this day. Do you have plenty of family and friends?’
Juliette smiled warmly. ‘I do, thankfully.’
‘Ah, that’s good. There’s nothing worse than loneliness.’
Her heart squeezed for the poor man. ‘No, you’re absolutely right there.’ She placed a hand over his where it sat on her shoulder as empathy caused her throat to constrict.
‘Not that I’m lonely, I suppose. I’ve a big family. But I miss having a best friend.’
She knew exactly what he meant. She had Millie and Dexter, but being with Laurie was completely different. They had finished each other’s sentences, laughed at the same crazy things. Knew what the other was thinking.
‘You know, I envy those in our situation who are lucky enough to fall in love and marry again. But not me,’ he said.
‘You didn’t meet anyone?’ Juliette asked, curious.
He shook his head. ‘No, I spent so much time dwelling on the worry of betraying my wife that the chance passed me by.’
Her eyes stung a little but she forced a smile. ‘Never say never, eh?’
He chuckled and his eyes brightened. ‘My advice to you, young lady, is don’t shut out the idea of meeting someone in the future. You don’t want to get to my age and realise it’s a bit too late, and all the single folk your age are more interested in Countdown and a cup of tea than romance.’ He winked and she had the urge to hug him. The elderly man sighed and looked briefly towards the ceiling. ‘Oh, listen to me; you’d think I was here for a blasted funeral, not to see my grandson be wed to his fella.’ He shook his head. ‘Pay no heed, dear. Now, you go off to Skye and, you never know, I might see you again. It’s only a wee island in the great scheme of things.’ He turned to go but stopped. ‘You know, there’s this saying you should keep in mind, it goes “What’s for you will not go by you.” So, you go and make some new memories, eh?’
Juliette nodded and smiled as she watched him turn when he heard, ‘Grandad! Save me a seat, would you? I’m famished. I think it’s nerves.’ A handsome young man with white blond hair was walking towards the old man and hugged him when he arrived. He may have been without his beloved wife for forty years but he was still, clearly, loved.
5
Gretna was beginning to wake when Juliette stepped outside. It had rained overnight, and the sun glinted on the puddles like tiny diamonds – fitting for the location. She wandered up the road to the old blacksmith’s shop and was surprised to find people already buzzing around, making preparations for the day’s events. Fresh flowers were being carried one way and chairs in another.
The low whitewashed building was a little reminiscent of the village hall in Mistford with its black paintwork. She spotted the famous black and white sign with the words Gretna Green Since 1754 standing just outside, waiting for the next happy couple to be photographed there. She snapped a photo of the kissing gate topped with horseshoes and caught a glimpse of the wedding room as a door was propped open in readiness. Old carved pews lined the aisle and the anvil sat centrally at the front on the old stone flagged floor. The place was virtually untouched on the inside and she could definitely see its appeal; the history, the romance.
Juliette stood at the information board, twiddling her locket between her fingers, and read about the origins of Gretna’s wedding history that she knew already. Laurie had read all about it and told her they simply must visit one day. Yet, here she was. Without him.
Juliette loaded the car once again. This time, the journey meandered around the outskirts of the bustling city of Glasgow, with its industry, concrete structures and hotels and then on along the shores of Loch Lomond. The scenery here was a vast improvement on the city and she was now surrounded by the silvery waters of the loch on one side and imposing trees and purple-hued hills on the other. There were log cabins a little further on and some people sailing kayaks on the still surface of the loch, their brightly coloured life vests a luminous contrast to the earthy colours of nature. A sign informed her she was in the Trossachs National Park. It was otherworldly. A vast array of colours formed the palette before her, and she could feel a strange pull; a kind of longing.
Eventually, she found herself on the outskirts of Fort William and, on discovering a supermarket with a café, she pulled in to call her brother.
‘Hey, Dex, just letting you know I’m at Fort William.’
‘Hi, Jettie, how’s the journey been so far?’
‘Not too bad. It’s so beautiful up here. Just like Mum said it would be.’
He sighed. ‘Do you think I’d like it?’ Dexter didn’t sound his usual cheery self and worry niggled at her.
She frowned at his question. ‘Yes, there’s nothing to not like. But why do you ask? I thought everything was okay with you?’
There was a pause before Dexter answered rather too breezily, ‘Yeah, course it is. I’m great.’
She could tell he was lying. ‘I’ve known you my whole life, don’t forget. What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing… well… Brid has been making things tricky at work. She keeps hanging around me and saying she wants me back. And she’s turned up at Buzz’s too. Thankfully he didn’t tell her where I’m staying.’
‘Please, tell me you’re not considering taking her back, Dex.’
‘Oh, don’t you worry. Once bitten and all that. No, I just wish we didn’t work together. Life would be so much easier, that’s for sure.’
‘I know. Have you thought about… I don’t know… looking for work elsewhere?’ She cringed as the words left her mouth, especially remembering her comments to Millie when she’d suggested the same thing.
‘For the first time since I started there, I actually have been thinking about a change, yeah.’
Bloody hell, it must be bad then. ‘I hate what this is doing to you when she’s the one in the wrong,’ Juliette admitted.
‘Anyway, enough misery. Bugger off and get to your B and B, will you? I’m far too busy to be sat here chatting to you all afternoon.’
She laughed and shook her head. ‘Whatever, big brother. Speak soon. Love you a squillion.’
‘Speak soon, love you a squillion,’ he replied with a little more natural lightness to his voice than he’d had earlier. She wished there was something she could do for Dexter, after everything he’d done for her, but right now all she could do was be at the end of a phone for him, and she promised she would do just that.
Once she was refuelled, Juliette set off once more towards her destination. She switched from the CD to the local radio station, Radio Skye, with its presenters who spoke in the most wonderful, melodic accents, and before long she was surrounded by the jagged, mountainous vista to one side and another picturesque loch on the other. The early-afternoon sun danced on the water, sending dazzling shafts of light hovering above it as though the twinkles were alive. The tiny puffs of luminescent cloud above were a striking contrast to their cerulean backdrop.
After passing through Kyle of Lochalsh, Juliette forged ahead with an excited anticipation fluttering in her stomach. The arc of the Skye bridge loomed before her and she knew she was mere minutes away from the start of something spectacular. A few people stood at the centre point of the bridge, taking advantage of the vivid azure sky overhead, with the pretty village of Kyeleakin below.
