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“Hmmm, I see that. I did wonder.” Her gaze sweeps from Mum’s face over to mine. There’s a pause before she adds matter-of-factly, “He was her lover.”

Mum lets out a gasp.Fuck.My brows raise. Abby lays her hand on my knee, giving it a comforting rub.

“I think she was in what you young ones call a love triangle these days.” There’s a wistful smile on her face. “She was seeingthis William fella on the quiet, but he was English and wasn’t welcome with the locals. I think it started with her feeling sorry for him. Now, I don’t know if our parents knew she was seeing him, but it did seem odd that they seemed to pluck John out of nowhere and claim that there’d always been an agreement between the two families that her and John would marry.”

“Surely not. An arranged marriage?” Mum pipes up with a shocked tone.

“I don’t know that it was properly arranged. I think they’d caught wind of the English lad taking a fancy for their daughter and decided to put a Scotsman in his way.” Ruth takes a sip of her tea before continuing, “I knew she was seeing him in secret. I don’t know for sure if they were intimate, but she was smitten, even talking of going away with him. Then her and John were suddenly engaged and then married as soon as the banns had been read three times. Everyone thought she was knocked up.”

Mum lets out a gasp. Ruth shakes her head. “She wasn’t. I guess this William guy hung around for a while. He was working here. He was some kind of broker for property; just learning the job. One of the reasons the locals weren’t keen was because they thought he was selling off local property to the rich English.” She curls her lip in distaste.

“I’m confused why Gran had to give him the train fare for the journey home if he had a decent job,” I admit.

Ruth looks down to read that part of the letter again. “Hmmm, it is strange. Perhaps he didn’t have any Scottish money? Or had to leave in a rush, and the bank wasn’t open? He would have had to have caught the ferry to Mallaig and get the train down.”

“I guess that explains it.”

“I always thought Mum and Dad were in love.” Mum speaks quietly from where she’s cuddled under my dad’s arm.

“They grew to love each other, Rebecca. You came along a couple of years after the wedding, and I remember them bothbeing so happy.” She smiles, a fond, faraway look in her eyes as they scan over the family pictures hung on the wall across from her. “John was a good man. Elizabeth knew that from the start, even when she was pining for her Englishman. They made a go of it, and they made it work.”

She watches Mum closely. “It’s never pleasant thinking about older generations having a love life, but from what I know, my sister was happy with John. He doted on her, from the get-go, as I recall.”

“I wonder if she ever heard from William again,” I say.

Ruth gives an elegant shrug. “She never mentioned him to me again after she married John. Have you looked him up?”

“Not yet. I wanted to keep it in the family first. But perhaps, if Mum is okay with that, I can make some enquiries,” I reply.

“Let me know what you decide. I’d like to know if you do locate him.” She gives a nod of finality. “So this Juniper building then? Tell me what you’re doing with it?”

Chapter thirty-two

Abby

We’re perched on an outcrop of rocks at the Quiraing, surrounded by tufty grass waving in the breeze. Gordon and Becky suggested he give me the whistlestop tour when we dropped them at home. There’s a hiking trail here, but it takes a few hours, and I am not properly equipped with walking boots, so instead he drove us up to the car park and we walked across the skinny stony path to this sunny spot where we can sit and admire the incredible view. Green and blue for miles with little spots of creamy white marking the rock climbing sheep. Skye is laid in front of us, stunningly beautiful.

“I like coming up here to think. Always try to come whenever I’m visiting,” he tells me.

“It’s stunning. I don’t understand why you’d want to leave.”

“I like the idea of spending more time here in the future, but I had to get away. Needed to find my own way in the world. See more than just this island. If only to appreciate the beauty here every time I come home.”

There’s a contentedness in the way his eyes crease around the edges. Happiness is so hot on him.

“Does it feel good to get some answers?” I ask, snuggling into his side. It’s a beautiful day, but we are exposed up here, and the breeze feels chilly with only my light coat.

“Aye, it does. I’ll chat with Mum and see if she wants me to look into William, even if we don’t make contact. But I should let her make that call.”

“Do you think your mum is okay?” I ask.

“She’ll be alright. My dad takes good care of her. And I think the weight came off her shoulders after speaking with Ruth.”

“I can see why you’d want to make a go of us when you have the example of your parents. They seem like a good partnership.”

“They are. I’m lucky to have them. After I split with my ex, I lost the plot, decided that none of it was for me. I didn’t need a special someone. Worked my arse off and fucked around, but Saff kept me grounded. Then we lost Gran, and you snuck in and kept reminding me of Gran’s last words every time I thought of you. I meant what I said last night. I don’t mind if we’re not monogamous, if you want to sleep with other people. I just want to be your person. The one you come back to.”

“I never wanted my own person, Cam. I didn’t want one person to be solely responsible for my happiness and my dreams. But I want to keep coming back to you. I want to spend more time with you.” Sitting here on this rock, looking out at what could be the edge of the world, feels so right when he’s here by my side. Yes, it would be awesome by myself.But he makes it even better.