She sat back down at her own desk and looked at him curiously. ‘This must have been an awful lot of work for you when you were here on your own.’ The previous reporter had left more than six months ago to work abroad, and Jim had since told her they’d struggled to fill the post.
Jim shrugged. ‘Yes and no. I’m quite used to multitasking so just got on with it. That said, I am glad that you’re here now. As is Freya. I think she was getting quite cheesed off with all the late nights, of me calling home to say I was “just doing one more thing” and then would get back hours later.’
‘I’m sure.’ Beth gave a wry smile. ‘It can be hard being partnered with a journalist. I know how work can become a consuming passion.’
Jim chuckled. ‘Aye, I think Freya would agree with you. She’s been very patient over the years. But there have been a lot of comments about the paper being my other woman.’
‘Did you ever want to go and work for one of the big papers?’
‘Not at all. The biggest paper I worked for, before coming here, was thePress and Journalin Aberdeen, and that was full on, especially with the kids being little. I lost count of how many times I missed their bedtimes because I was working late or got called in at the weekends when a big story broke. That’s why I jumped at the chance for this job when I was offered it. I wanted something more settled, and I didn’t want my marriage to fall apart.’ He grimaced. ‘I’d seen it happen too many times to colleagues who had no boundaries between their lives and work.’ He looked around the office and shrugged. ‘I know this is a small operation, but to be honest my heart was always in local news,and I think regional newspapers are more important than ever. Especially nowadays. They can help to strengthen connections in communities. Local news really does matter.’
Beth thought about how driven and ambitious she had been as a young journalist. Her focus had been all about getting to London as soon as possible. She knew that staying in Scotland wasn’t enough for her back then, and that was why she was so quick to turn down the job of trainee reporter here and head south to a junior position with a news agency.
‘What about you? What have you enjoyed most about your career?’ Jim leaned back on his chair.
Beth tucked a leg underneath her on the seat and frowned as she thought about it. ‘Meeting lots of incredible people and helping them tell their stories . . . Travelling to places I might otherwise never have been . . . that has been amazing . . .’
‘Where was the best place you went to?’
‘I loved New York for obvious reasons. But I think the most memorable place I went to was Bosnia. To interview people impacted by the war. It’s always good to try and shine a light on places and people who are left affected by a war, yet the rest of the world seems to have moved on and forgotten them.’
They were both quiet for a moment, lost in thought.
Jim broke the silence. ‘What else?’
‘The parties and the social life . . . though saying that out loud all sounds quite trite, doesn’t it?’ For a while Beth had lived the high life and mixed with people as ambitious as her, until she realised something was missing, in more ways than one. Then, when her carefully constructed life started to crumble, she found herself unconsciously avoiding the people she had once called friends until she slipped off their radar. There had been no contact from them, when she couldreallyhave done with friends, when she’d been at rock bottom. It had been a harsh life lesson, making her think about the impermanence of life andof people, and how colleagues, contacts, friends came into your life and then just as easily drifted out of it. She often wondered whether the sacrifices she had made over the years had been worth it.
‘Anyway,’ she forced a smile, ‘that all seems like a million years ago now.’
Jim glanced out the window and waved at Laura, the postwoman, who had just walked past. ‘Remind me to introduce you to Laura. She knows everyone and quite often everything . . . I often think she’s an honorary team member. If I have a question she generally will have an answer.’ He finished his coffee and placed the mug on his desk. ‘Well I for one am glad to have you here with all your experience and enthusiasm. We maybe don’t offer the glamourous life of London, but what we lack in fancy nights out and travel we make up for in friendliness.’
Beth shuddered at the thought of returning to her old life — she realised what she’d been missing in London. She missed having friends who were authentic and there for her. She had so much to be grateful for right now, and she wanted to make sure she focused on that rather than looking back. She had tried so hard to make things work in London, and then tried again, always trying to focus on being as positive as she could, until those last few months in particular. But it clearly wasn’t meant to be.
She was grateful that things hadn’t worked out because then she would never have come back to Arran. Her excitement at being here was also mixed with nerves — she wanted to make sure she lived up to Jim’s expectations. Apart from anything else,The Arran Newswas one of the best-performing weekly newspapers in the country and had a really loyal readership. She felt privileged to be part of it, as though she was now able to do something positive for the place she once loved.
‘Not at all. It feels good to be doing something different and worthwhile, Jim, and I’m grateful you’ve given me this chance.’
Chapter Thirteen
Later that night, Beth walked along the promenade and followed the road that swept round to the hotel. The weather was settled and still. The sea was calm. She crossed the road to look out over the water towards the twinkling lights of the mainland. There was something quite reassuring about the stretch of dark water that separated her in this new life from the rest of the world. Although she wasn’t quite sure she would ever get used to the cooler temperatures in Scotland. Shivering, she pulled her hat down over her ears and turned to make her way back to the cabin. As she reached the driveway, she looked at the welcoming fairy lights in the window of the restaurant, the guests cosy inside and enjoying dinner. For a moment she stood watching and breathing in the cool, night air. Going to fancy restaurants for dinner, or meeting friends in bars for drinks, was such a big part of her life for so long that she took it for granted. She’d been completely unaware of the people on the other side of the window — those outside and looking in, like she was now. Eventually she turned her attention to the lit pathway that took her to the cabin. As she walked, she looked up at the stars in the dark sky. It was so peaceful tonight without the wind howling and no revving engines or blaring sirens like there would have been in Deptford.
Two years ago she and Tim had spent a couple of nights on a stargazing break in Northumberland. During the day they had visited the remnants of Hadrian’s Wall and the tree at the Sycamore Gap. She still couldn’t believe that someone had hacked it down. At night an astronomer gave them a laser-guided tour of the constellations, and she remembered her excitement when she realised she could see the Milky Way arching its way across the sky. Beth wasn’t quite sure that she could remember all of the planets and galaxies, but as she stoodnow peering up at the dark sky, she could see clusters of stars. It was another romantic spot just like Northumberland had been, which wasn’t lost on her, but she felt quite empowered to be standing here at this momentandeven more so that she was alone. Beth realised she had almost forgotten what that kind of confidence felt like. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt content and comfortable enough to just be like this. For a few moments she stood enjoying the glittering vast sky and felt very at peace. Until she heard the sound of footsteps crunching on the path behind her. She turned to see who was coming.
‘I see you are enjoying the lovely evening and beautiful sky.’ Alessandro walked confidently towards her with a huge silver platter. His smile lit up his face and his gaze lingered on her.
‘I can’t believe how clear it is. Isn’t it amazing? Though it’s starting to feel quite raw.’ She shivered. ‘I’d better get inside and warm up.’
She began walking, and he accompanied her in a comfortable silence. ‘I’m not sure if Jim mentioned,’ she said, ‘the flat will be ready for me tomorrow so I’ll move my stuff out then.’
His face fell. ‘Yes, we will be sorry to lose you.’
Beth wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that. ‘Uh, well, it has been lovely staying here. Thank you for making the space and for looking after me so well.’
‘It has been my pleasure. Don’t be a stranger.’
She gestured at the platter. ‘I’d better let you deliver that, otherwise it will get cold.’
He laughed. ‘Ciao for now.’
