Page 19 of Summer in the Scottish Highlands (The Scottish Highlands #5)

‘This is the best picnic ever,’ said Natty.

Jake just felt relieved that after they’d arrived back at the car park, and handed back the bikes, he’d visited the shop in the visitor centre and discovered they did sell clothes.

Faye had stayed behind, hiding in the car.

There hadn’t been a lot of choice – black and grey walking trousers, t-shirts, shirts, and fleeces – but at least they had a dry set of clothes each.

Jake had changed in the toilets and returned to the car with Faye’s new set of clothes.

They didn’t sell underwear, but Jake had managed to dry theirs under the hand dryer in the toilets, ignoring the strange looks from other guys using the facilities as he dried Faye’s bra.

Faye had changed in the car, somehow managing to dress under the rain mac.

As he and Natty stood outside the car, holding the picnic basket, waiting for Faye to finish changing, he thought that perhaps in the future, when he and Faye had grown old together, they’d look back on this outing and laugh about it. Oh, how he hoped that would all happen.

Faye opened the car door and got out. ‘What do you think?’ She did a twirl .

The black trousers and grey t-shirt suited her. He grinned.

‘I couldn’t have chosen better myself. I really like the clothes, Jake.’

‘Me too.’

Jake had also bought her a fleece that zipped up in case it got a bit chilly by the loch where they were planning to have their picnic.

Jake had asked for directions to the Green Loch when he was purchasing the clothes, trying to avoid the stares of other customers at his bright yellow rain mac.

Jake had said, in a loud voice to the shop assistant, ‘I fell off my bike into a load of mud.’ It was a lie, but he wasn’t about to tell anyone about their impromptu swim in the loch.

The Green Loch – or, to use its proper name, An Lochan Uaine – was just a short walk from the visitor centre, along a forestry pathway adjacent to the road. It was surrounded by Caledonian pinewoods, with the backdrop of the mountain SgòrGaoith.

As they walked, Jake repeated what the shop assistant had told him. Locals called it the Green Loch because of its deep turquoise colour, which apparently was the result of a combination of the green algae in the water and the pine trees surrounding the lake reflected in the water.

Of course, there was the local folklore about the fairies, which the shop assistant had also shared with Jake and Natty.

As they walked to the loch, Natty told her mum that the reason the loch was green was because fairies washed their clothes in it.

‘The lady said I should wear something green for the fairies.’

Faye looked at Jake. He shrugged, ‘Yeah, she said some local people wore green out of respect for the fairies when visiting. ’

Natty wanted to wear something green. There hadn’t been much in the shop, but the young lady had helpfully found a dark green baseball cap with the words The Green Loch emblazoned on the cap. Natty had worn it since leaving the shop.

Faye smiled. ‘Ah, I wondered why you’d bought that when Natty already had a sunhat.’

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the loch. It was stunning – the description and photos Jake and Natty had seen in the visitor centre were amazing, but even they couldn’t do it justice. It was wonderful to actually see it, especially on such a beautifully calm summer’s afternoon.

‘Oh, my god, Jake,’ exclaimed Faye. ‘This is just beautiful. I’m so glad we came here today.’

Jake was so relieved that the day would be salvaged after all. The cold dip in the lake, their wet clothes, and the uncomfortable return journey on the bikes had all but been forgotten.

They found a spot on the shore of the loch, spread out the tartan picnic blanket, and unpacked the basket. ‘Oh, it was just so kind of Gayle to pack us all this food,’ said Faye.

Jake was just as surprised as Faye when they discovered not just finger sandwiches, but sausage rolls, scotch eggs, vol au vents, and small slices of quiche. There was a bowl of salad, fresh fruit, and a selection of little cakes and scones with jam and a pot of butter.

‘It’s like afternoon tea on the train,’ observed Natty.

Faye grinned. ‘So it is.’

‘There’s a lot of food,’ Natty added.

Faye said, ‘Well that’s just as well, because after that bike ride I’m starving.’

‘So am I,’ agreed Jake, passing them each a plastic plate and matching cutlery from the picnic hamper. He glanced at Faye. The mention of the bike ride didn’t seem to have dampened her mood.

‘And don’t forget your swim in the loch, Mummy.’

‘How could I forget?’ Faye commented. She started to laugh. ‘What a silly pair we are – aren’t we?’

‘Yes, Mummy, you are.’

Faye threw a smile in Jake’s direction.

Jake joined in the laughter, relieved that all this – the picnic lunch, the magnificent setting on the shore of the loch, and Faye’s new, dry clothes – which she’d insisted she’d pay him back for – would make up for what had happened at the last loch they’d visited.

Faye said, ‘This time, we are keeping you firmly in our sights.’

‘Oh, yes.’ Jake thought that the last thing either of them wanted was a repeat. In fact, Jake was not only going to keep Natty firmly in his sights, but he was going to accompany her near the water, hold her hand tightly, and not turn his back ever again.

Jake inwardly sighed. So much for that earlier conversation with Faye about Natty spreading her wings, when Faye had thanked him for suggesting that Natty could cycle ahead, leading them on the ride, giving her some independence and responsibility.

Faye had said that sometimes she wondered when she’d ever let Natty spread her wings a little.

Jake was quickly changing his mind about letting her go too.

When Natty stood up, a sandwich still in her hand, and took two steps forward, Jake immediately said, ‘Wait! Where are you going?’

‘I just wanted to go to the water’s edge.’

‘Hold on!’ Jake hastily got up.

Faye grabbed Jake’s hand. ‘Let’s all finish lunch.’ She turned to Natty. ‘Together. ’

Natty reluctantly sat down.

‘There’ll be plenty of time to explore once we’ve finished eating. And besides, we don’t get down from the table at home until we’ve finished eating.’

‘But this is a picnic, Mummy. We’re not sitting at a table.’

Jake looked at Faye. She did have a point.

‘Yes, but the same principle applies. And it’s nice to all sit together.’

They finished eating lunch, staring at the spectacular loch.

They didn’t have it to themselves, and didn’t expect to; it was one of the main draws of visiting Glenmore Forest Park.

They were the only ones having a picnic, though.

Jake imagined other people had had lunch at the visitor centre.

It had been busy when he’d nipped in there to buy some clothes.

The food looked very nice, the service was quick, and the little café was brightly lit and welcoming.

But even so, on a glorious day such as this, he couldn’t think of anything nicer than being outside in the spectacular scenery.

He glanced at Natty. As she couldn’t walk down to the water’s edge yet, she’d done the next best thing – actually, Jake thought it was better. She had a pork pie in one hand and the pair of binoculars in the other, and she was looking through the binoculars at the loch. ‘The water looks so green.’

‘Yes, remember what the lady in the shop said about the green algae in the water, and the reflection of the tall pines around the shore?’

Natty looked up at Jake and frowned. ‘Gayle said it’s the home of the fairies.’ Natty went on to explain. ‘Like the lady in the shop, Gayle said it’s a green colour because this is where they do their washing.’

‘Oh, and when did Gayle tell you that story?’ Faye said as she joined them at the edge of the loch.

‘Last night when she knocked on our door to say goodnight. You were in the bathroom. I told her we were going on a bike ride, and she said our journey took us to a magical loch. And here we are. But I haven’t seen any fairies yet.

’ Natty looked through the binoculars again and pouted.

Jake and Faye exchanged a knowing glance. Now they knew why she couldn’t wait to get down to the water’s edge.

Faye said, ‘Why don’t we save the cakes and scones until later?’

Natty jumped to her feet. ‘Does that mean we can go for a walk now?’

Faye looked at Jake. ‘If that’s all right with you.’

‘Of course it is.’ Jake quickly finished his finger sandwich while Faye packed away the plates. They left the hamper on the picnic blanket and walked together down to the loch.

‘Maybe we’ll spot a red squirrel in the trees,’ said Faye.

Natty took hold of Faye’s hand and then Jake’s so that she was walking in the middle. ‘I want to find the fairies.’ She let go of their hands and skipped ahead, following the shoreline.

She was barely a few feet ahead when Jake yelled, ‘Don’t go too far!’

‘I won’t.’

Faye turned to him. ‘Are you okay?’

Jake wouldn’t take his eyes off Natty. ‘I’d prefer it if she’d hold hands.’

‘So would I, but what about letting her spread her wings?’

‘Sod that!’ Jake replied, shaking his head furiously. ‘I’m not taking my eyes off her.’

The next thing he heard was Faye laughing. He did glance at Faye for a millisecond. ‘What’s so funny? ’

‘You. I seem to recall you almost admonishing me when I yelled at her don’t go too far at the last loch, telling me to calm down.’

‘Well, I shouldn’t have.’

Faye took his hand.

As much as he wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her, properly this time, unless they were positioned where he could still keep an eye on Natty, he wouldn’t dream of it. Well, he decided he would dream of it, but that was all.