Page 43 of Snowy Surprises in the Highlands (Scottish Highland #5)
Skye walked over to Bella and put her arm around her. ‘It said no casualties, Bells. He’s probably driving. In fact, judging by the time he set off he should have passed the bridge by the time the fire happened. You know he won’t answer the phone when he’s driving.’
‘She’s right, hen,’ Isla said. ‘I’m sure he’ll call you on the WhatsUp if he pulls over. Or he might just come straight here and not bother stopping.’
Bella’s phone rang and she answered it immediately. ‘Harris?’
‘Oh… sorry, no, love, it’s Mum. I was just wondering if he’d arrived yet.’
‘No, Mum. We’re still waiting for him.’
There was a brief pause where she could hear her dad mumbling something in the background. ‘Okay… it’s just that…’
‘It’s okay, Mum, I know about the fire on the Skye Bridge. We’re hoping he was already across when it happened.’
‘Okay, love. Keep me posted though if you hear from him.’
Bella nodded. ‘I will.’ She ended the call and slumped onto the sofa. ‘What if he’s stuck? What if he doesn’t make it in time? Or… what if it’s his car that’s on fire?’
‘Let’s not think about that until we know more, eh?’ ‘Chapel of Love’ began to play on Harris’s Spotify song list and Skye reached down to Olivia’s phone to stop the track. ‘He’ll be here, Bells.’
Time ticked slowly by whilst they sat and waited for news.
Bella’s mum and dad had joined them, as had Tam, and of course Maeve, who was worried about her son.
Mirren rushed about making everyone cups of tea and handed out shortbread to keep everyone going and pretty much give them something to do to occupy their time and Dougie kept the fire stoked, poking it frequently as if it was the only thing he could do to feel useful.
Bella kept ringing Harris in the hope he would answer. He didn’t.
* * *
Twelve o’clock arrived and still there had been no word from Harris.
The makeup artist had gone, and the rest of the wedding guests had arrived.
Everyone had been relocated to the dining room for more space.
Everyone was standing around in their wedding finery talking in hushed whispers as if they felt it disrespectful to speak any louder.
Bella, her two best friends and Granny Isla sat still dressed in their robes, silently wondering what to do while the other members of the family and their friends waited with them.
Bella’s knee bounced up and down in a rhythm of its own as she peered around the room, taking it all in in a bid to keep her mind occupied.
As the wedding reception was taking place in the picture gallery at the other end of the castle, the dining room had already been decorated in readiness for their Christmas lunch the day after, and a stunning garland of greenery with red velvet ribbons and pinecones was draped across the large marble fireplace.
The fresh smell of pine wafted through the air, filling the space with the inimitable fragrance of Christmas.
There was a huge Christmas tree in the corner with piles of gifts wrapped in shimmering paper beneath it, the lights twinkled, and Bella found herself staring at them, entranced, as she thought back to the last Christmas she had spent with Harris; the Christmas he had proposed to her in front of their families.
She missed him terribly, even though it had only been a couple of days since she left their home, and the current situation only made things worse.
Harris’s best friend and best man to be, Neil, came over to speak to her. ‘Bella, love, d’you want me to go pick up my bike and go see if I can find ’im? I can bring ’im back pillion if he’s stuck on’t bridge. I’ve got a spare ’elmet.’ His deep voice and Yorkshire accent thick and familiar.
Bella reached out and touched his arm, grateful for his offer. ‘Thanks, Neil, I really appreciate the offer, but let’s just wait until we hear from him. I don’t want to send you all that way if it’s not necessary.’
He nodded. ‘Aye, all reyt , love. But just say’t word an’ I’ll go.’
There was a knock on the door and Olivia went to see who it was. ‘Oh, hi, Esme, is everything okay?’
Olivia’s PA stepped sheepishly into the room. Olivia had mentioned earlier that she hadn’t been due to work Christmas Eve but had heard what was happening and had run over from her cottage in the grounds to offer any help she could.
‘Sorry to bother you, Lady Olivia,’ Esme said, ‘but the photographer is wondering if she can take shots of the bride and bridesmaids getting ready.’
Skye placed a hand on Bella’s arm. ‘Maybe you should get your wedding dress on, Bells. Let’s have some photos done, eh? You need to be ready for when he gets here. Because he will get here.’
Bella burst into tears. ‘What’s the point if my groom isn’t coming? You say he’ll be here, but he hasn’t been in touch so I’m not sure what to think.’
Her mum and dad enveloped their daughter in an embrace. ‘Come on, love, don’t think like that,’ her dad said, his voice wavering, evidently hating seeing his daughter in distress, and even more so on her wedding day.