Stella and Joren had put on quite a spread of food and there was a huge cake in the middle of the buffet table with the wordsSparkly Julesin edible glitter – she had to fight the tears at that point. Greg McBradden showed up and played a few of her favourite songs and, as before, his demands for no one to join in were lost as everyone was in such good voice. The place was alive with music, laughter and singing. Juliette was grateful to everyone for making such an effort, but, in reality, she would’ve preferred to slope off without the fuss. This was too hard; too emotional.
Morag found her and pulled her into her arms. ‘Oh, lassie, I’m going to miss you so much, my dear, dear friend. Promise you’ll come and visit. You’d be more than welcome to stay with Kenneth and me. We’d love to have you.’
Even though Juliette adored the couple, she was unable to tell Morag that it would break her heart to return, so she smiled and said, ‘I would love to, thank you.’
‘It won’t be the same around here once you’re gone. Too many changes for my liking, and I’m quite adaptable.’
‘Any news about Donny and Leanna?’ Juliette asked, on the subject of changes.
‘Oh, therein lies a drama. Donny has told her to leave. He’s decided to turn the café into something else. Everyone is reckoning the new owners of the museum will be a coffee shop chain. Goodness knows what he’ll do though. He hasn’t been into the village for a few days. Probably too ashamed to show his face, and rightly so, if you ask me. But, apparently, Reid refused to bring assault charges.’
The mention of Reid caused her stomach to flip. ‘That sounds exactly like something he’d do. I hope he’s okay.’ Juliette’s heart sank; for Reid, for herself and for Evin. There was even a tinge of pity for poor, disillusioned Donny. But one thing was certain. She’d be heading home without a proper goodbye from the man and little boy who’d stolen her heart.
37
Juliette was swung and swayed by Archie, Kenneth and even Joren. She tried to enjoy the night for what it was; tried to put Reid out of her mind. Of course, she didn’t succeed. However, she was touched that so many villagers made the point of coming to say goodbye. Hamish popped in but didn’t stay long. Clearly, the fact that the co-op were forging ahead with the sale was breaking his heart.
He handed her a gift. ‘My grandson works in graphics,’ he explained,’ So I had him do this for you. It was a bit sneaky and I’m surprised you didn’t catch me out.’ She opened the gift and burst into tears.
In her hand, she held a framed copy of the photo of her mum and her grandparents beside their beloved croft house. She couldn’t speak, she simply hugged the kind old man and whispered thank you when the words would come.
When she pulled away, his eyes were glistening with tears. ‘It’s been a pleasure to know you, Juliette Fairhurst. You remind me so much of my darling Mary Ann.’ He dabbed at his eyes. ‘I must be going. My grandson is waiting outside. You take care now. And be happy.’ He cupped her cheek in his wizened hand, and she placed hers over it.
Towards the end of the party, Kenneth and Morag presented Juliette with a framed photograph of her group of friends that was taken on the day of the Highland games. It would be taking pride of place on the mantelpiece when she got home, along with the gift from Hamish, and she would look at both with such fond memories.
Caitlin gave her a little photo album with selfies taken on their various shopping trips, walks and nights at the pub, and Archie presented her with a tartan blanket from his outdoor shop. Along with these, she received a variety of cards, chocolates, shortbread, single malt and even a vacuum-packed haggis from Stella and Joren.
They were such a wonderful group of people for accepting her into their community and making her feel a part of it. Their generosity and warmth had helped her to heal and to finally feel able to move forward. She knew she would always be welcome to visit and would be greeted fondly if she did, and that meant the world to her.
After all the dramatic changes in her life over recent years, this was the most positive one, and she would be forever grateful to the community of Glentorrin. The fact that she had fulfilled a dream of visiting Skye and she’d been able to run the museum were the icing on a most beautiful cake. Add to all this that she had used her own experience to help someone in need meant that something good had finally come from losing Laurie. Things with Reid may not have ended how she expected or hoped, but knowing she had gone a little way to do some good made her smile.
Before she left the pub at the end of the night, Joren handed her another wrapped gift. It was a large, flat box wrapped in brown paper and tied with a bright red ribbon. He kissed her cheek and said. ‘This one is the most special. You’re not to open it until you get home to Mistford. Not my rules,Reid’s.’ He held up his hands.
She nodded, unable to speak due to the emotion clogging up her vocal cords, and she hugged him tight, in lieu of hugging the man she wished was there.
* * *
Saturday morning arrived too soon, and with a heavy heart, Juliette climbed from the bed and looked out of the window. The sky was dull, and the breeze was kicking up leaves and other detritus. She had arrived at the height of summer, but it was the cusp of autumn now; the weather was changing, the leaves were already losing their verdancy and beginning to carpet the ground; the air was nipping at ears and noses, breath was becoming visible as it condensed in the air and soon, coloured lights would replace the bunting. She knew the place would still be beautiful in the cold and it tugged at her heart that she wouldn’t get to see it.
Today the lacklustre sky, with its grey hues and rain-filled clouds, matched her mood. Overhead, seagulls were fighting against the gusts and for once there was no sign of Gus, the fisherman. The prospect of fighting the increasing wind was not a good one.
A man she’d seen around but didn’t know walked, head down, determinedly into the oncoming, prevailing wind, and on the end of the lead he held was his little dog, whose expression told Juliette that he’d rather be tucked up in his basket with a juicy bone than walking in such inclement weather. The darkening clouds moved rapidly inland as if they too were trying to evade the worsening weather.
She gazed over towards Caitlin’s shop, where the lights were on, and beside it, Reid’s former café, where they were not. She wondered what he was doing. She hoped he was having a positive day, wherever he was.
Juliette took in every little detail, committing it to memory and wondering if she should have done more to secure her dream, instead of giving up so easily. There were ways and means – if she’d had the guts to take a risk.
Once she had brought her case and bags of gifts downstairs, she hovered at the door to the museum, her hand resting on the handle. She wanted one last look but knew it would only serve to darken her mood further. So instead, she turned away and left the cottage to load up her four-wheel drive and slammed the door.
She had one last walk around the house to check everything was in order and said a bizarre goodbye toFlorence the Philodendron,whose blooms were apparently a sign of a contented plant. At least she hadn’t killed it/her. With one last glance, Juliette stepped outside and locked the door behind her. She took a final stroll along the street to Morag’s shop to drop off the keys and, as she arrived, she was greeted at the door by Kenneth, who hugged her tightly.
‘Safe journey, hen. It’s been a pleasure to have you here. Come back any time.’
‘Thank you, Kenneth. And any time you fancy a change of scenery, you’re more than welcome to visit the Cotswolds.’
He thanked her sincerely and walked back inside the shop.
‘He’s quite taken with you, like the rest of us,’ Morag told her as she appeared in the doorway. ‘You’ll be missed so much.’
