Page 27 of A Summer of Secrets on Arran (Scottish Romances #5)

With Bella’s sudden departure for the mainland, Rosie was trying to do her best to persuade Isobel to come on the walk with her and Luke. They were sitting on the squishy sofa both still in their pyjamas and enjoying an early cup of tea.

‘No danger,’ Isobel said. ‘I’m not being the third wheel.’

‘Will you be quiet,’ said Rosie. ‘It’s not like that.’

‘Rosie, if you’re trying to tell me to button it, then you should know better than now that I won’t. All I’m saying is that I am not up for playing gooseberry. Especially on a romantic walk through the woods. Which is, by the way, the perfect place to have your wicked way with him.’

Rosie winced.

‘Honestly, I’ll be quite happy having some time to myself.

Especially after everything that has happened since I arrived.

I could do with some solo time. I’ve already had a look at the buses and I’m going to go into Brodick to do some shopping.

There are a few wee gift shops I want to check out and I want to go to Home Farm to get some of that cheese and maybe some new perfume too. ’

‘But I feel awful,’ wailed Rosie. ‘You’re supposed to be here to see me and I’ve dumped you for a random bloke.’

Isobel shrugged. ‘It doesn’t matter at all.

We weren’t expecting Bella to arrive and to bring an unexpected guest .

. . and then we weren’t planning on her making such a hasty exit.

It’s not quite been the holiday either of us expected.

And that’s okay. Keeps us on our toes. Anyway, the reason I wanted to come and see you was to cheer my supposedly broken-hearted friend up.

But it would seem someone else is doing a more effective job. And that makes me happy.’

Rosie threw a cushion at her and snorted. ‘Will you stop that! We are just friends. In fact, not even that. I’m his teacher and he is my student.’

Isobel smirked. ‘If that’s what you want to call him.’

‘Listen, about when Ash comes . . .’ said Rosie.

‘Stop trying to change the conversation,’ said Isobel, who had evidently read her thoughts. ‘I know what you’re going to say.’

‘Do you?’ Rosie had tried to broach the subject a few times during the week already and Isobel had either changed the topic of conversation or Bella had walked into the room.

Isobel nodded grimly. ‘Yes. I know it’s something that I need to deal with. I’m not convinced that will be the end of it for Bella. But you’re right. I think it’s worth discussing when the three of us are together.’

‘I think that’s a good idea.’ said Rosie glancing over at Coisty who was sitting on the rug staring at Isobel. ‘But I also think that you’re overanalysing things and worrying too much. It will all fizzle out. Especially when Bella starts her new job. She will forget all about it.’

‘Mm,’ said Isobel non-committedly and patted Coisty’s head. He had now jumped up beside her on the sofa and sat as close to her as he could. Isobel’s fitness watch buzzed. ‘That’s my sign to move, Coisty. I’ve been sitting down for too long.’ She stood up, stretching.

Coisty slinked over to sit next to Rosie, who knew that the conversation was over for now. ‘Right boy, come on, we’d better go and get ready for our walk too.’

‘I’m already looking forward to our debrief later,’ said Isobel with a wink.

Rosie shook her head in exasperation. ‘Well, you will most likely be disappointed.’

* * *

A couple of hours later, Rosie and Luke were making their way through the forest and up towards the falls of Eas Mor.

It was a walk that Rosie hadn’t done for ages and she thought that Luke might like to explore and see it.

Especially as there was a café there too.

She hadn’t told Luke where they were headed as she wanted to surprise him.

Her only instructions had been to wear comfy shoes as they would be walking for a while.

When he indicated that might be a problem as he only had his smart trainers and golf shoes, she had rummaged in the hall cupboard and loaned him a pair of Ben’s.

As they made their way through the lower forest walk, with Coisty running ahead in his element with the smorgasbord of new smells, Rosie inhaled the scent of pine.

Luke was wearing navy shorts and a grey t-shirt, with a sweatshirt tied round his waist. He took off his baseball cap and ran his hands through his hair, shaking his head in awe. Rosie couldn’t help but smile at his appreciation of being outdoors.

‘Yes, it’s the simple things in life that are the best,’ she said with a sigh.

‘Are you going to tell me where we are headed then?’ he asked with a quizzical smile.

‘Nope. You’ll soon see, when you spot the sign,’ she said, and jerked her thumb in the direction ahead. ‘Come on. Let’s keep going.’

‘It’s just as well I trust you,’ he said. ‘It’s not everyone who would feel safe being led deep into the forest like this.’

Rosie grinned. ‘True. Who knows where I might take you. Come on,’ she said sternly. ‘Let’s keep moving.’

‘You’re quite militant,’ said Luke with a chuckle. ‘I’m sure you’d give that Tartan Wanderer guy a run for his money.’

Rosie was puzzled for a minute as she wondered who he was talking about. The Tartan Wanderer? ‘Ah, you mean Logan?’

‘Is that his name? Yes, I saw some of his leaflets in the cottage and I burst out laughing when I saw he was known as the Tartan Wanderer. What a brilliant name.’

Rosie nodded. ‘Yes. I don’t think I’m quite in his league as a tour guide,’ she said. ‘Logan is here for the serious walking tours and I believe he is quite popular with the ladies who follow him on Instagram.’

‘Yes, I checked him out,’ said Luke. ‘I can see why he would be popular. His posts are great. He’s quite the actor.’

‘Are you jealous?’ she asked jokingly. ‘Yes, I have heard his Instagram posts are very entertaining. Though I haven’t seen them. But I’ve heard he is actually very down to earth.’ She was standing close to Luke now and gave him a small nudge.

‘Are you saying that I’m not?’ he said, his eyes wide.

She pursed her lips and shrugged. He was very easy to wind up. ‘Mm, I’ve not quite made up my mind yet.’

He feigned a look of outrage and, as they continued to walk, Rosie and Luke chatted like old friends. He was very easy company and a great storyteller. Especially when it came to some of the escapades that he and his band got up to while touring.

‘You have so many great tales to tell, Luke. You should put that in the book too. You’ve probably got several volumes of stuff there.’

He shrugged. ‘I don’t know about that. It’s just life, well, my life, and I find it tricky to know what people will be interested in.

It’s fine when I’m verbalising stuff, like this to you.

That’s when I think maybe I have got some good stories to share.

It’s just when I sit down to write it that I seem to clam up. ’

‘Have you thought about just recording yourself telling them and then transcribing them afterwards? Just pretend you’re talking to someone or leaving a very long voicemail.’

He considered this and nodded. ‘That’s a good idea. I hadn’t thought about that. But I will try it. Thank you.’

Rosie gave a self-conscious smile. He was doing that thing of staring at her again which she was finding unnerving.

‘Which do you prefer?’ she hurriedly asked.

‘The singing and touring or the acting?’ But just then Rosie’s phone started to buzz.

She pulled it from her pocket and frowned when she realised it was Dermot.

Ignoring the call, she switched it off and tucked it away in her small backpack.

‘Is everything okay?’ said Luke, concerned.

‘Fine, fine,’ she said, brushing off his comment and glancing ahead through the trees.

‘Sorry. What were we saying there?’ Rosie was annoyed that seeing Dermot’s name had thrown her and she couldn’t help wondering what he was calling about now.

Surely, he wasn’t going to start up about getting the cottage valued again.

She wanted to scream with frustration and she hoped Luke wouldn’t detect the shift in her mood.

‘I was saying that you’re really easy to talk to, Rosie. It just feels like the words flow when I’m telling you the stories. You’re a good listener.’

Rosie blushed and shook her head vehemently, wishing she could accept his comment graciously.

But she was struggling to think any gracious thoughts right now.

All she could think of was ways in which she could dispose of her ex-husband.

But the way Luke held her gaze was certainly helping to sooth her anger.

‘I’m happy to listen, Rosie, if it would help to talk?’ he said gently.

Rosie was about to brush him off again but paused. He had a sincere look in his eyes and, well, maybe telling him might actually be helpful. ‘That was my soon-to-be ex-husband calling,’ she said tentatively. ‘It tends to trigger me when I see his name appear on the screen.’

Luke nodded at her but didn’t say anything.

‘He wants me to sell the cottage which I’m absolutely not doing. He decided to walk out and it was his choice to take up with another woman. . .’ Rosie’s voice wobbled slightly as the enormity of what Dermot had done hit her again.

Luke’s eyes were focused on Rosie and he gave her a kind smile. ‘I am so sorry, Rosie.’

She shrugged. ‘It’s okay . . . splitting was the right thing to do.

I now realise that our marriage had been over for a while.

It just still all came as a shock and I just can’t believe the cheek of him suggesting I should sell Creel Cottage.

I mean, it belonged to my parents .’ A tear trickled down her cheek and Luke reached forward and gently wiped it away.

At which point Coisty came bounding up to her and sat barking for a treat.

Honestly , she thought, it was like having a toddler at times .

He had a way of ruining the moment which was probably just as well.

‘Honestly Coisty, what are you like?’ She shook her head and shrugged apologetically to Luke.

‘Anyway, we are here.’ She pointed to the sign at the small car park they had arrived in.

‘Oh, I know where you’re taking me,’ he said as they crossed the road to the start of the trail. ‘You’re going to take me to the library in the woods?’

‘You already know about it?’ asked Rosie, feeling a bit deflated.

He must have realised how disappointed she looked because he lay a hand on her wrist and she almost jumped at the spark she felt.

He shrugged apologetically. ‘Another leaflet in the cottage,’ he said, cringing.

‘But there is no way I would have come up here alone, Rosie. I’m a bit out of my comfort zone just now.

So, thank you for bringing me.’ He flashed her a grateful smile.

The rain had suddenly begun falling like a sheer mist and they both put their hoodies back on and pulled up their hoods as they started ascending the track towards the falls.

The only sound to be heard was their shoes crunching on the carpet of pine needles and leaves underfoot.

Rosie was glad that Luke was happy to walk in companiable silence at times and didn’t feel awkward when there were lulls in their conversation.

Especially as some of the climb was quite steep in places.

She watched Luke as he glanced around in awe of the scenery.

‘It does feel like we are in the middle of nowhere,’ he said in a low voice as they stopped to glance at the waterfall. Coisty was running ahead and then back to check they were coming. The trail had an assortment of beautiful wood carvings and they stopped to admire their intricate details.

‘Look,’ he said, pointing over. ‘It’s like something from a fairy tale. It’s magical. Far better than what it looks like in the leaflet,’ he said softly. Luke had now walked towards the small cabin which was covered in moss and grass.

She followed him over. ‘Shall we go inside?’ She looked up at the sky, pointing at the blue patch in the distance.

Inside the hut, the walls were covered with hundreds of pieces of paper which visitors had pinned up.

A mixture of words, stories, pictures and poetry.

‘’It’s so peaceful,’ she murmured quietly.

Luke was now standing very close and she felt him brush against her and she felt her legs turn to jelly.

‘Thank you, Rosie,’ he said. ‘I will never forget this. It’s incredible.’

Rosie wasn’t sure whether he was talking about the library or this moment and she felt as though invisible threads were drawing them closer.

She sighed, longing to rest her head against him for a moment.

Then she cringed at herself. Was she having some kind of midlife crisis after her marriage split?

She’d forgotten what it felt like to be held and her heart was racing so quickly that she was sure he must hear its thud.

Then, when she raised her eyes to look at him, he looked as though he was about to bend forward to kiss her.

But when she heard a shout of ‘we made it’, they sprang apart as three walkers started to make their way through the door and into the library. The moment was lost.

‘Let’s write a Haiku,’ suggested Rosie quickly.

‘A what?’ said Luke.

‘It’s a really short poem, with three lines, the first one has five syllables, the second line has seven syllables and the third has five syllables.’

‘Okay,’ said Luke dubiously. ‘I’ll watch and learn from you.’

Rosie picked up a pencil, chewed it in thought for a moment and then started to write.

The wee library

Tucked away in the forest

A place to reflect

Luke grinned and nodded. He picked up a pencil and leaned over a piece of paper.

Deep in the forest

Is a library of words

Now I need coffee

‘Brilliant,’ said Rosie. ‘You’re a poet. Just like that. And what’s even better is there’s a café at the bottom.’ She started to edge towards the door. ‘Looks like the rain has gone off.’ She laughed and said, ‘Last one down buys the coffee.’ Then she raced off leaving Luke to catch up.