‘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 inCountdownand 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 wordsGretna Green Since 1754standing 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 tonotlike. 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 whenshe’dsuggested 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 whenshe’sthe 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.
