Page 44 of Snowy Surprises in the Highlands (Scottish Highland #5)

Another ten minutes passed, and everyone was chattering worriedly amongst themselves so that a low hum was all that could be heard.

Bella had taken to pacing the floor, still wearing the robe with Bride emblazoned on the back.

She’d had her nails done and was trying really hard not to bite the skin around them as she usually did when stressed.

Her phone rang and she almost dived on it, fumbling in a hurry to answer the call as everyone in the room seemed to collectively hold their breath. ‘Harris? Harris, is that you? Are you okay? Where are you?’ she asked in a rush of panicked words.

‘Aye, darlin’, it’s me. I hope you don’t mind me not video calling but I know I’m not supposed to see you before the wedding,’ Harris replied. There was a simultaneous sigh of relief as Bella nodded at the room to confirm it was him. She sniffed and he paused. ‘Hey, are you okay? You sound upset.’

A sob escaped from Bella’s chest. ‘Oh, Harris, I’ve been so worried about you. We saw on TV about the fire on the bridge and I was terrified it was your Jeep. Or that you’d be unable to get here, and we’d have to delay the wedding.’

‘Oh, dammit. I was hoping you wouldn’t see that. I hoped you’d be too busy drinking champagne and listening to my playlist. I knew you’d worry. That’s why I didn’t call you because I knew I’d have to tell you I was stuck. But it’s not my Jeep, so don’t worry.’

‘I was hoping you might have missed it, but you didn’t answer when I called so I panicked.’

‘Aye, I would have missed it if I’d been able to set off when I thought I was going to.

The thing is, after the first delay which was a phone call about something that really could’ve waited, I was leaving just as an old guy pulled into the car park at the station.

He was driving from Aberdeen to see his daughter who lives up at Waternish, he’s supposed to be spending Christmas at her new house and hasn’t been before, but he’d somehow gone in a circle, taken a few wrong turns and got totally lost, then ended up back in Glentorrin.

So, I gave him the directions he needed and drew him a map and sent him on his way, but that meant I was delayed leaving again .

And that resulted in me getting stuck at our end of the bridge because the fire had just happened.

I heard the sirens and wondered what was going on.

I knew the police officers working the cordon at our end so I went to see if I could do anything, more fool me, and ended up helping them to redirect people.

Turns out it was an engine fire on an old diesel camper van.

Although who wants to spend Christmas in one of those old things?

The smell was rancid, and the fumes were travelling for miles, so it wasn’t safe for anyone to cross. ’

‘But you’re not injured or anything?’

‘No, I’m absolutely fine, sweetheart. I recognised the firefighter in charge as that woman who came to get you out of the lift when you were trapped with that American numpty, and I was explaining to her that I was on my way to get married.

She spoke to her guys, and they gave me some breathing apparatus and then escorted me across past the fire, so I was safe.

Anyway, I’ve just pulled over to get a bottle of water because I’m fair drouthy , and then I’ll set off again.

I’ll be there at ten to one, which leaves me a few minutes to get a quick wash to rid myself of the smoke.

Because I absolutely stink at the moment.

Tell Brodie I’ll need to borrow some aftershave.

I know he has the good stuff.’ He laughed.

‘But nothing’s stopping me from marrying you today, Bella Douglas, do you hear me? ’

Bella laughed as tears of relief spilled over. ‘I hear you. I’m just glad you’re okay and will get here.’

‘Hey, stop crying! I don’t want a blotchy, puffy-faced bride,’ he said laughing. ‘Now go on and get that dress on and get your makeup redone because it sounds like you need to. And I’ll see you as soon as you walk through the chapel door, okay?’

She nodded and laughed. ‘Okay.’

‘I’ll be the one in the kilt that fits this time. And Bella?—’

‘Yes?’

‘I love you.’

She beamed. ‘I love you too.’

When she ended the call, the room erupted in cheers and applause. Maeve hugged her, and then her mum and dad and granny followed suit. Everyone was relieved but no one quite as much as Bella.

‘Right! Everybody get yourselves down to the chapel so we can get this bride ready to be wed!’ Olivia shouted and the dining room began to empty, everyone expressing their relief as they left.

Once everyone had gone, Bella and her bridesmaids were left alone, they made their way upstairs to Olivia and Brodie’s bedroom where the dresses were hanging, ready to be worn.

The bridesmaids’ dresses were a rich deep green colour with billowy long sleeves, which was very apt for the season, they each had Donaldson tartan shawls on account of the winter temperature, and their bouquets were a mix of seasonal evergreens and berries interspersed with gypsophila.

Bella gasped when she saw them and her eyes welled with tears once again. ‘You all look so beautiful.’

‘Ah ah ah!’ Olivia said, holding up her hand. ‘No more tears!’

Bella’s bouquet had arrived from the florist in Drumblair too and it was stunning; filled with Christmas roses and evergreens, it looked every bit the part for a festive wedding.

‘Let’s get that music back on,’ Olivia said as she hit play once more and ‘Chapel of Love’ began again from the beginning, but this time they all sang along, even Isla, and Olivia retouched Bella’s makeup using her own.

‘It might not look as good as the first time around, but you’ll still look beautiful,’ Olivia told her.

‘Let’s get some champagne down us. I think we need it now, we’ve lost that pre-wedding buzz,’ Skye said, producing a bottle she had brought up with her along with three glasses.

‘Aye, I’ll partake of a wee glass too. That decapitated coffee is fair boggin,’ Isla said with a shudder. ‘I’ll be drinking the proper stuff again when I get home.’

The photographer came in to take some photos of them getting ready, and once Bella was dressed, they made their way to the central staircase for some more pre-wedding shots.

Jack Johnson’s ‘Better Together’ was the next song to play as the photographer snapped away and posed Bella, who couldn’t help the smile that had made its way across her face.

* * *

Bella stood in front of Olivia’s full-length mirror and couldn’t believe her eyes.

‘Liv, you are a genius,’ she said as she fought back happy tears.

Her lovingly created floor-length lace and satin dress fit perfectly and was finished off beautifully with the Donaldson Clan tartan sash in green, red, blue and black; a very festive-looking fabric.

All that was left now was to travel the short distance to the chapel and marry the love of her life.

Dougie had polished up Lady Freya’s old Rolls-Royce that had been in one of the garages for years.

He had kept it running ever since she’d passed away and polished it regularly in her memory.

And even though the walk down to the chapel by the loch wasn’t too far, Dougie insisted on driving them down, so their dresses didn’t get spoiled.

‘You look stunning, Bells,’ Skye said, dabbing at her eyes.

‘Don’t cry or you’ll set us off too,’ Olivia said, nudging her. ‘But she’s right, you do look stunning.’

‘My beautiful Arabella,’ Isla said, cupping her face in her hands.

There was a knock on the door and Olivia opened it. ‘Hey, gorgeous, I just wanted to let you all know that the eagle has landed.’ It was Brodie. He stepped inside the room and caught sight of Bella. ‘Wow! You look amazing. Harris is going to flip!’

Bella laughed. ‘Is he okay?’

Brodie nodded. ‘Completely unscathed and smelling fresh as a daisy now he’s washed the smoke off and borrowed my cologne. Just a heads-up, too, it’s started to snow. I’ll see you soon.’

He left and Bella gasped, making a dash for the window to open the curtains. Sure enough, feathery, glittering flakes were floating from the brilliant white sky overhead and settling on the ground beneath them, blanketing everything in a smooth covering like icing on a wedding cake.

‘I got my wish!’ Bella said as she stood there. Isla, Olivia and Skye joined her to gaze out at the view as the snowfall got faster.

Skye linked her arm through Bella’s. ‘This place always looks so magical when it snows. I used to love coming here in winter when we were kids.’

‘I know, the snowball fights were rather epic,’ Olivia said. ‘Unless Kerr was involved. He was far too competitive.’

‘Aye, him and his cronies were a wee bit too aggressive for us. Although I think we gave as good as we got,’ Bella said, remembering how the snowballs stung even through her padded coat as they hit her arms.

‘We sure did. We’re no shrinking violets. Do you remember the time we built snowmen and raided your mum and dad’s wardrobe for the accessories?’ Skye said, giggling.

‘I sure do. I was grounded for a week after that for using my mum’s pure silk scarf and dad’s best tie.’ Olivia laughed. ‘Kerr took great delight in taunting me for the whole week when he was going out to play but Mirren used to sneak me mugs of hot chocolate to my room so it wasn’t so bad.’

‘Mirren’s hot chocolate was always the best,’ Skye said dreamily.

‘It still is in my opinion,’ Olivia replied with a smile.

‘It’s coming down pretty fast out there, lassies,’ Isla said.

Skye shivered audibly. ‘Bells, you’re going to be freezing. We have our shawls but I wonder if you should wear a coat. We don’t want you catching pneumonia.’

Olivia gasped. ‘Ooh, I’ve just remembered. I have the perfect thing for you to wear until we get to the chapel, Bells.’

‘Haha! Chapel bells,’ Isla said, giggling. Olivia, Bella and Skye turned to look at her, shaking their heads but smiling. ‘What? I thought it was funny… and topical.’

Olivia walked to her wardrobe and opened the double doors before pulling out an ivory satin hooded cape, embellished at the hem with crystals and pearls. It was almost as if it had been made to accompany Bella’s dress.

Bella’s eyes widened as she looked at the exquisite item. ‘That’s perfect! Where on earth did it come from?’

‘Believe it or not, I made it years ago as part of my university portfolio. I’ve kept it all this time because I loved it and couldn’t bear to part with it. I must have known, eh? You can take it off just before you go in.’

Skye shivered. ‘I’m glad we’ve got the Donaldson tartan shawls to wear because it really has dropped chilly.’

‘We’ve made sure the heating is on in the chapel, so it’ll be nice and toasty in there,’ Olivia said.

There was a knock on the door. ‘Come in!’

Bella’s dad walked into the room and stood there glassy-eyed, shaking his head. ‘Well, look at you. You’re a vision, Arabella. An absolute vision.’

‘Thanks, Dad. I think we’d better get going.’

* * *

The snow had slowed a little by the time they reached the chapel, and once Bella had stepped out of the car she clung to her dad’s arm, afraid of slipping. Isla, Olivia and Skye walked on ahead, their green dresses and tartan shawls a striking contrast to the glistening white of the snow.

They stopped at the door and Bella removed the cape, passing it to Olivia before she and Skye approached the door and, as if by magic, it opened.

Bella waited for Pachelbel’s ‘Canon in D Major’ to begin but as Skye and Olivia walked into the chapel another, very familiar tune began to play.

Bella was confused at the change of song but when she realised it was ‘Adore You’ by Harry Styles she laughed and shook her head.

As Mr Styles sang about walking through fire , she made eye contact with Harris and completely understood the reason he had changed the music.

He looked wonderful in his kilt and jacket. There was something innately sexy about a man in a kilt, but there was something even better about her man in a kilt. He was so handsome, and of course, incredibly sexy.

Harris beamed at her, shaking his head as she slowly walked towards him and when she reached him at the altar, she caught sight of his silver St Christopher sitting on top of his tie, glinting in the lights of the candles, and she smiled. It was as if Harris’s grandad was there with them in spirit.

After her dad stepped aside, Harris whispered, ‘You look stunning, Bella.’ His eyes were glassy with emotion and her own eyes began to sting a little.

She whispered her reply, ‘Thank you. So do you. Nice kilt, by the way. I hope it stays up.’

He chuckled and whispered back, ‘Me too. Oh, and I hope you don’t mind the change in song. It sort of felt quite fitting after the events of this morning. And your friend Mr Styles says it far better than I could. But I mean every word he’s singing.’

She smiled. ‘It’s absolutely perfect.’

‘Just like you,’ he replied.

The celebrant began. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Drumblair Chapel on this beautiful Christmas Eve. We’re here to today to celebrate the union of Harris and Arabella.’

A dog barked from somewhere at the back of the chapel and after a scuffle Bella turned to see Bertie running down the aisle towards them wearing his tuxedo bib, his tongue lolling out of his mouth.

They both crouched to greet him, laughing as he wagged his tail and then sat like such a good boy beside Harris, his tail swishing on the stone floor like a sweeping brush.

A little velvet pouch hung from his collar, just like it had on the day Harris proposed.

‘I think our four-legged ring bearer would like us to hurry up,’ the celebrant said, and a rumble of laughter travelled the room. Bella returned her attention to Harris to find his gaze was fixed on her. He reached out and took her hand and she knew this was it.

‘Are you ready for forever?’ he whispered.

‘Absolutely,’ she replied.