He looked so ridiculously handsome when he was in his element. His face lit up, his cheeks flushed and the smile that stretched his lips did funny things to Caitlin’s insides.
‘Yes, I’m enjoying the view too,’ she replied with a grin.
He turned his face towards her. ‘But you’re not looking at… Oh, I get it. Well played Fraser, well played.’ He laughed. ‘So, dinner and sleepover at mine tonight, eh?’ he asked with a knowing glint in his eyes.
‘Sounds like a great plan,’ she said as she snuggled into his side, rested her head on his shoulder and gazed out towards the waterfall just before them.
‘I think I’ll live on Skye when I grow up,’ Sophie announced as she squeezed herself in between them, sitting on Archie’s lap but resting her head on Caitlin. ‘I don’t want to live in another place because it’s pretty here and I can work on the campsite saying “hello” to people when they come to stay, or in the welly shop where I can tell them which wellies are the best colour.’ She shrugged as if it was an obvious decision to make.
Caitlin loved the way Sophie had latched on to those particular elements of her dad’s businesses.
‘Sounds like a good idea to me, sweetheart,’ Archie said with a kiss to her shoulder. ‘Then you can visit your old dad all the time.’
‘And Cakelin,’ Sophie added.
‘Well, that goes without saying,’ he agreed.
Sophie pondered things for a moment, then said, ‘But we could all stay in one house instead of more than one house because that would be easier.’
Archie glanced over at Caitlin and smiled. ‘Aye, right again, Soph.’
* * *
Later that night, the girls were tucked up in bed and Archie lit the firepit in the back garden of his house. It was almost midnight, and they should probably have been tired considering their long day, but the sky was so mesmerising that they sat, drinking hot chocolate and gazing up at the stars, listening to a Spotify track list that Archie had made especially for them. Biffy Clyro’s ‘Space’ played in the background and Caitlin smiled at the lyrics.
‘Ooh, I have a wee gift for you,’ Archie announced, jumping from his seat. ‘I almost forgot!’ He went dashing into the house and returned moments later with a box that was too large to be an engagement ring. Caitlin tried to push her disappointment down as she knew whatever gift he had bought her would be special no matter what it was.
He grinned. ‘Now, there’s a bit of a story attached to this, but I’ll let you open it first.’
The box, which was the size appropriate for a tea mug, was wrapped in sparkly paper and had a tag that read:
To my love, from Archie.
‘You don’t have to buy me gifts,’ Caitlin told him, although excitement bubbled in her stomach, because who was she kidding? She loved surprises.
Inside the wrapping was another box that simply said:
Your Custom Perfume from Scents.
‘I made it,’ he announced from where he knelt on the ground before her. ‘Well… I helped make it. I went to this place near Portree that I’d heard about, where you can design your own fragrance and it was amazing. But do you want to know the funny part?’
Caitlin grinned at his enthusiasm. ‘Of course.’
‘The guy who helped me was called Frank.’ He chuckled. ‘The shop was called Scents. So, I was helped by Frank-in-Scents.’ He snickered and she couldn’t help but join in.
‘I think Sophie was right. Her daddy is a bit bonkers.’
‘Aye. I had to really force myself to not laugh when he introduced himself. It’s almost as funny as the mate of mine called Frank that used to be a bartender at the Stein Inn up in the northwest of Skye… Frank in Stein…’ He chuckled to himself again, then waved his hand. ‘Anyway, I digress, so… I put all these fragrances together that made me think of you.’ He gazed lovingly at her; his laughter gone but his smile still in place. ‘This was the result. I hope you like it.’
Her heart squeezed. He never ceased to amaze her with how thoughtful he was. ‘Archie, that’s so wonderful. And so unique. How lovely.’ She eagerly took out the next box, which was navy-blue and clearly handmade, with silver stars embossed on the outside.
Archie cringed. ‘Erm… excuse the crappy craftsmanship. I made the box as I wanted it to be special. I might have failed a wee bit there.’
‘Not at all. It’s beautiful,’ she insisted.
He had named the perfume ‘Starlight’ and she took the round, iridescent glass bottle out of the box to open it. She dabbed a little on her wrist, closed her eyes and inhaled with a tiny bit of trepidation. But she needn’t have worried. The fragrance was incredible. Fresh, flowery and clean. Possibly how starlight would smell if you could bottle it.
‘Now, I know it’s completely mushy, and I’m a bit of an old romantic but…’ He sidled closer on the ground before her. ‘You’re my starlight, Caitlin. That’s what you’ve brought to my life. A glint of brightness in what was becoming a dark, lonely time. You and Sophie, and Grace too. I’m so grateful to have you all in my life. Things feel so… complete.’
