Caitlin smiled. ‘Ah you’re so lucky to have me,’ she said with a peck to Grace’s cheek.
Grace flung her arms around her neck and hugged her. ‘I already know that. Now go get back to your friends.’
Caitlin rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, Mum.’
Grace giggled and skipped back towards the stairs, once again followed by her little black ball of fluff, the little dog’s nails tip-tapping on the wooden floor.
* * *
As the sun ducked behind the houses, the friends moved inside to Caitlin’s living room, and she made teas and coffees to take the chill away.
‘So, Caitlin, what would your ideal man be like?’ Morag asked as she sipped her steaming brew.
Caitlin thought for a moment. ‘Well, for starters, he’ll have to have a sense of humour.’ She paused a while. ‘And he’ll need to be kind and thoughtful.’
‘What about looks?’ Ruby asked.
Jules nudged her best friend. ‘Go on, Caitlin, describe that hunky caber tosser from the Highland Games last year.’
Caitlin felt her cheeks warming. ‘Ooh yes, he was lovely. Although I’m looking for more caber and less tosser if you know what I mean.’ She winked and her friends howled with laughter. When they had all calmed down, she continued, ‘But… to be honest, I’ve no real preference. Dark hair, fair hair, no hair. It doesn’t matter. I think when you get to my age, your priorities change. I’m not really looking for the thunderbolt to hit. I just want someone who’s a decent person. Someone I can trust, you know?’
Morag nodded and smiled. ‘Aye, lassie, that’s the important stuff. Looks fade. Although my Kenneth just gets sexier and sexier.’
‘Morag!’ Jules whacked her arm playfully. ‘Down girl.’
Morag laughed heartily. ‘Hey, I’m just telling it like it is, ladies.’
Jules turned her attention to Caitlin. ‘Don’t go settling though, eh? It worries me when you say you’re not looking for the thunderbolt. You deserve the bloomin’ thunderbolt. I want to see you swept off your feet, head over heels in love. Not just settling for someone because they’re nice.’
Caitlin shrugged. ‘I’m just trying to be realistic.’
‘Hey, have you thought about online dating?’ Ruby asked. ‘It’s quite common these days for people to find the love of their lives online, or on an app.’
Caitlin scrunched her nose. ‘Nah, I’ve read too many horror stories. Catfishing, I think it’s called. So, I think I’d prefer to meet someone face to face right off. No point messing around chatting online to someone whose profile picture looks like Gerard Butler, only to find out that in real life, he looks more like Gerard Depardieu!’
Jules’ cheeks turned pink. ‘I actually think he was quite sexy inGreen Card.’
Ruby rolled her eyes. ‘I’ve met them both.’
All eyes suddenly focused on Ruby. ‘And?’ the three women asked in unison.
Ruby drew her fingers across her lips in a zipping motion. ‘I couldn’t possibly comment.’
They all sighed in exasperation.
‘For a former A-list celeb, you’re no good at spreading gossip!’ Morag laughed.
* * *
Once her friends had gone home, it was close to midnight, so Caitlin blew out the scented candles and switched off the lamps in the living room before heading upstairs to her bedroom.
She stood for a moment looking out over the inlet, where the moonlight was dancing on the surface of the water. From her vantage point, she could see the Coxswain pub where she had spent many a raucous night dancing to ceilidh music, Morag’s shop that she frequented regularly, and the whitewashed houses that joined onto it, and then, right at the end of the old slipway, the Lifeboat House Museum with its historical items and stories of the old lifeboat that brought the village’s past to life. All the buildings had colourful summer bunting draped across them in true Glentorrin style.No, she thought,I couldn’t leave this place. Glentorrin is my home.
‘Mum?’ Grace said with a yawn as she stepped into Caitlin’s room.
‘Hi, sweetheart. Did I wake you?’
Grace shook her head. ‘No, it’s okay. I just wanted to talk to you.’
