Page 5 of A Summer House on Arran (Scottish Romances #3)

It was the morning after she had waved goodbye to Cameron, and Kitty sat at the breakfast bar in her kitchen, nursing a mug of tea.

It was peaceful, apart from the sound of birds chirping gently outside.

She had spent yesterday cleaning the house from top to bottom and decluttering, knowing that she wouldn’t hear from Cameron while he was in the air.

She should keep herself busy. Then, when she had eventually gone to bed, she hadn’t been able to get to sleep until she knew that Cameron had landed safely.

He sent her several messages telling her all was fine and not to worry.

Despite his reassuring words, she had tossed and turned for ages before finally drifting off.

When she woke up, she stared at the ceiling, forgetting for a moment that things were different.

It was a mere moment of suspended bliss and then she felt the dread in the pit of her stomach when she remembered. Cameron was gone.

Kitty twirled a lock of her red hair as she thought about how strange it all was.

She knew it wouldn’t be easy when Cameron left, but she wasn’t expecting to feel quite so awful.

Friends had warned her what to expect. She had dismissed their concerns and just assumed she would have a quick cry and then get on with things in the way that she always had.

How wrong could she have been? It had been the complete opposite — it was like a tsunami of emotions threatening to drown her.

She wondered if his departure had perhaps triggered all the emotions and feelings that she had managed to bury away for years.

But she didn’t want to go there just now.

Instead, she looked around the kitchen. It was more spotless than it had ever been.

But she missed the trails of cornflakes and sticky juice residue on the worktop and the numerous mugs piled in the sink.

Looking out through the hallway, she sighed when she saw how empty it was without the shoes.

She was so used to climbing over several pairs of size-ten trainers belonging to Cameron and his friends.

A bout of cleaning usually settled her mind, and she hoped yesterday’s session would help distract her.

But it all just reminded her how empty the house was and how empty her life was.

Thank goodness she was heading away for a change of scene.

She didn’t think she would cope if she was home alone all summer.

Just then the doorbell rang, and she could see her best friend Ellen’s face through the glass.

Flinging the door open, she managed a weak smile and was glad of the warm hug Ellen gave her.

‘How are you this morning?’ Ellen asked, kicking her trainers off in the hallway on her way to the kitchen.

Kitty smiled wryly to herself. The hallway hadn’t been without mess for long. ‘Tea?’

‘I could murder a coffee actually. But I’ll make it,’ Ellen said, already reaching for the cafetière in the cupboard by the kettle. ‘Sit down and tell me how you really are. I was worried about you yesterday, Kitty. Your communication was limited.’

‘I know. Sorry, Ellen, but I didn’t want to see anyone.

I just needed some space.’ She almost added that she was an emotional wreck and spent the day wailing, so couldn’t have managed to string a sentence together.

However, she decided not to share the gruesome details — Ellen would only fret even more.

Ellen frowned. ‘But he got to the camp okay?’ She paused and reached out to stroke Kitty on the arm.

Kitty nodded. ‘Yes. He’s there now, and he said he’d FaceTime when he can, but it would probably be quite full-on with the induction and getting settled.’

Ellen poured the boiling water from the kettle into the cafetière and gave it a quick stir before plunging down the lid. ‘I know you’re supposed to wait for it to percolate or something like that, but I’m desperate for some caffeine.’ She poured herself a mug and took a gulp.

‘I think I should be asking if you’re okay,’ said Kitty, surprised at how agitated her friend was.

Ellen wrinkled her nose. ‘I am now. I was just desperate for a coffee. Here, sorry, let me pour you one.’

Kitty poured her now cold tea into the sink, rinsed her mug and placed it onto the counter. ‘Thank you.’

‘I almost forgot. I have biscuits too.’ Ellen reached into her huge handbag and pulled out a tinfoil package. ‘Don’t worry, they’re dairy free. It’s your cookie recipe.’

Kitty laughed, amused that Ellen, who never ever used to bake, had started to embrace her inner cook.

Ellen shrugged. ‘What can I say? You were right. It’s a nice thing to do. It’s all very relaxing. That is, until you eat all the stuff you’ve baked and realise you’ve piled on half a stone.’

‘Oh, hardly,’ said Kitty, genuinely delighted that Ellen had baked her goodies.

Ellen was usually never in her flat long enough to make a cup of tea because she worked so much.

‘Anyway, I really appreciate this. It was so thoughtful of you.’ She unwrapped the cookies.

‘Mind you, I think you’ve overdone the packaging, Ellen.

’ Kitty shook her head at the several layers of tinfoil and baking paper.

‘It’s like you’ve packed illegal drugs for a flight. ’

Ellen gave a belly laugh. ‘I just wanted to keep them fresh. Tuck in. We can’t have you fading away, can we? Especially when you’re also taking off for the summer. Feeding you now is the least I can do.’

Kitty felt a small flicker of guilt when she realised that she wouldn’t see Ellen for weeks. ‘You could come and visit?’

‘I would love to. But I’m just not sure I can get any time off. They’re so short-staffed just now.’

Ellen worked in a care home, and the past few years had taken a lot out of her.

She loved her job and was so good with the residents.

She felt terrible that they were struggling for staff, which was why she worked extra shifts.

‘Talking of which,’ she said, glancing at her watch, ‘I better be off as I’m working later. ’

Kitty worried that she was burning the candle at both ends. ‘I do worry that you do too much.’

Ellen flicked her hand in dismissal. ‘It’s fine. Everyone works hard, don’t they? These days we’re all in the same boat. Look at all you’ve been doing, these past few years especially.’

Kitty worked full-time at the local nursery after having a bit of a career change just before the pandemic.

She had trained as a counsellor when Cameron started school and had a thriving business.

Then it had all gotten too much, and she started to feel burned out.

She decided she wanted regular hours and to be around kids who were less complicated than the adults she spent her days with.

‘Well, look, I appreciate you coming over. I know time is tight for you, and here I am with the whole summer off to just house-sit!’

‘Hey,’ said Ellen, firmly but gently, ‘this is your time now. So don’t feel guilty.

You have every right to have some time off after all that you’ve been through.

You’re an amazing mum to Cameron and have put him first all these years.

It’s time for you to think of what you want to do.

And that’s okay. A break from the nursery will do you the world of good too.

’ She paused and winked. ‘I reckon a good holiday romance would be just the medicine you need right now.’

Kitty scoffed. ‘That’s definitely not going to happen.’

‘You never know,’ said Ellen, winking. ‘Promise me that you’ll just be open-minded and keep me posted.’ She gulped the rest of her coffee down. ‘Sorry, Kits, I better run. You’re away the day after tomorrow?’

‘Yip,’ said Kitty.

‘Okay, well, I’ll try and nip round before then. I’ll definitely call though. And don’t worry, I’ll pop in and out of the house to water your plants. If I remember,’ she said sheepishly, pulling Kitty into a warm embrace. ‘Don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do.’ She laughed.

‘That’s exactly what Cameron said to me too. What is it with you pair?’

‘We talk a lot of sense. Maybe it’s time you listened to us both.’

Kitty was still smiling after waving bye to Ellen. She had a sense that things were going to work out okay, and the feeling of dread was replaced with a fluttering of something she thought was excitement. It was time to pack for her trip.