‘Oh, I hear wedding bells on the horizon,’ Morag said excitedly.
‘Give them chance, Morag! It’s been a matter of weeks and you know what happened when Lyle tried to pull that one.’ Ruby laughed.
Caitlin didn’t speak.
When the others fixed her with a questioning stare, she shrugged. ‘I think I’d say yes this time.’
‘Bloody hell, Cait! That’s amazing! It’s the real deal then,’ Jules said, her eyes as wide as her smile.
Caitlin shook her head. ‘I mean, it’s early days and I won’t ask him in case I make an arse of myself. But… we’ll see what the future holds. But for the first time ever I’m not against the prospect.’
Ruby raised her glass. ‘Well, ladies, I think we should drink to that!’
* * *
The following weekend hadn’t come around fast enough for Caitlin. She’d had a crazy week in the bakery and Archie had been busy at the campsite and the outdoor gear shop too – that was holiday season on Skye for you. Scottish schools may have gone back to their studies, but English schools didn’t go back until September. They had caught a few kisses here and there, but that was all they had managed. Now that it was Saturday, Caitlin had every intention of remedying that. Isla was working in the shop for the day and so the four of them and the dogs were going to Staffin Beach for a picnic. Sophie and Archie were staying over that night, too, and Caitlin couldn’t wait to snuggle up to Archie in her bed.
The picnic was packed and when Archie and Sophie arrived at Caitlin’s, she flung open the door ready to hug him. Instead, Sophie lurched at her and hugged her legs tightly.
‘I’ve missed you, Cakelin. I haven’t seed you for ages and ages!’ the five-year-old said as she gripped her.
Cakelin,bless her heart. The name definitely was quite fitting. Caitlin hugged the child back and a lump of emotion lodged in her throat as she lifted her gaze to meet Archie’s.
He shrugged. ‘She’s missed you as much as I have,’ he said as if it was a simple matter of fact.
‘Where’s Gwacie?’ Sophie asked.
‘Go on in, sweetheart, she is just looking for her sunglasses.’
Sophie let go of Caitlin’s legs and dashed into the house.
Archie stepped forward and pulled Caitlin into his arms. ‘Do you mind if I don’t just hug your legs?’ He chuckled.
She grinned. ‘Not at all.’
He lowered his face and kissed her tenderly. ‘I really have missed you.’
‘I’ve missed you too. We’re like teenagers,’ she giggled, but secretly relished the very fact.
‘Hmm, but I can’t wait to get you alone later and play at grown-ups,’ he whispered, sending shivers of delight traversing her spine.
A loud throwing-up noise came from behind them, and they both turned to see the girls making pukey faces.
‘Eeeeeuw! Kissing is gusting!’ Sophie informed them.
‘Yeah, totally gusting!’ Grace agreed with a giggle.
‘Come on you, wee monsters. Bowie is waiting in the car, so let’s go have a picnic!’ Archie announced as he took Cleo’s lead, and they cheered and followed him while Caitlin grabbed the picnic basket and locked the door.
* * *
Staffin Beach was one of Grace’s favourite spots. Mainly because of the dinosaur footprints etched into the rocks by the creatures thousands of years before. And partly because twice a year, in spring and autumn, the local crofter accompanied his swimming cattle across the shallow and short spit of water from the mainland to the island, and vice versa. These days, he didn’t swim with them but used a boat instead, but Grace still loved to watch.
Another sunny day meant the place was fairly busy when they arrived, but they managed to find a spot by the cliffs that was plenty big enough for their blanket and parasol. The girls ran down to the water’s edge with their buckets and Bowie and Cleo proceeded to dig holes as if in competition to see who could reach Australia first.
From their vantage point, they could see the little fishing bothy on Staffin Island in front of them and around to their left they could see the sun glinting off the rocks of the Quiraing.
Archie laid back on the blanket and closed his eyes as Caitlin watched the girls filling their buckets with wet sand. She kicked off her sandals and pulled her sundress up over her knees to allow the sun to warm her skin and she closed her eyes.
