Evidently Greg felt the same as he shook his head. ‘Ah, thanks, but I should get back to Angus really. I’ve had a great birthday. Thanks for making it so special.’ His eyes sparkled in the moonlight.
‘You’re more than welcome. I had fun too. And you were right, you cook a mean steak.’ She punched his arm playfully.
‘Why thank you, Miss Westerman, how kind you are.’
‘I speak only that which is true, Mr McBradden,’ she giggled in a posh voice.
‘Enough of this nonsense, now bugger off so I can get home to my dog and my bed.’ He waved his hands towards the house.
She obeyed and climbed out of the car still giggling and she waved from the door as he drove away.
*
Monday morning was rainy and cold for July. Since returning from Canada Mallory had thought long and hard about Sam’s ashes. She was beginning to feel that it was time to set them free. She rang Josie to see if she agreed.
‘Mallory, it has to be done when you’re ready. But I think maybe you are. The service in Canada was a big step for you and it sounds like it really helped. Maybe it’s time.’
Mallory sighed. ‘Maybe. I have thought about driving around the places we went to when we were in Scotland for that camping road trip. Maybe releasing them bit by bit. Is that weird?’
‘Not at all. People do that kind of thing all the time. Remember that scene in the filmElizabethtownwhere Orlando Bloom’s character takes his father’s ashes on a road trip? I thought that was really sweet. You could do the same kind of thing.’
Mallory smiled. ‘Oh, I love that film. Never fails to make me cry.’
Josie chuckled down the line. ‘That’s ’cause you’re a sap. Hey, do you want me to come up to go with you?’
‘No, don’t worry. I know you’re busy in the shop right now and you’ve been up and down a lot. I think maybe Greg will go if I ask him. He knows his way around better than I do and I think he would drive me.’
‘Good idea. You guys seem to be getting on really well since you came home.’
‘Yes, he’s great. He’s fun to be around.’
Josie laughed. ‘I don’t believe a word of that,’ she teased.
‘He is! We laugh a lot.’
‘Well they say laughter is the best medicine. Let me know how you get on.’
‘I will. And Josie?’
‘Yes hun?’
‘Thanks ever so much for all the hard work you’re doing in the shop.’
‘Ahem, you don’t have to thank me for doing something I love.’
Mallory was relieved to hear that Josie was still enjoying running the place. ‘Well, I appreciate it. Right I’m off. Speak soon. Love you.’
‘Love you too, chick.’
The next day Mallory had a busy time in her workshop painting signs and packaging them up to post to Josie for the shop. She loved being covered in paint again and came up with some funky new designs. She had chatted briefly to Colin and Christine about her work and they had asked if she would like to sell some in their shop. She jumped at the chance and had produced some signs ready for display. She had chosen to hang them from a beautiful piece of gnarled and twisted, almost sculptural, driftwood she had found when she and Greg had been to the beach.
Later when she was working her evening shift with Greg at the pub she decided to ask him about her idea for Sam’s ashes. She told him what she was planning and then took a deep breath, hoping she didn’t sound cheeky.
‘I wondered if you would mind driving me?’ She cringed and awaited his answer.
He smiled. ‘Mallory, I’d be honoured to go with you. Thank you for asking me to be a part of it.’ He seemed genuinely touched.
They agreed that they would go on a mini trek that weekend. She just hoped she was strong enough to go through with the difficult task.
