Page 27 of Summer in the Scottish Highlands (The Scottish Highlands #5)

As the car approached Braemar Castle through the quaint village, the freshly restored fortress came into view. Surrounded by manicured lawns and backed by the rolling hills, the castle looked both imposing and inviting.

‘Wow! Is that the castle? Natty said excitedly. ‘It looks different to the photos in the brochure.’ She looked at the picture again on the front cover.

‘I think it has had a lot of restoration work done recently and was closed for a time, so we’re really lucky that it’s open for us to visit today,’ Jake said, pulling the car into a space in the car park.

‘It looks like the Disneyland Palace we visited with Grandad, doesn’t it, Mum?’ Natty said, gathering up her summer jacket and backpack.

Jake was about to get out of the car. ‘You took Natty to Disneyland?’

Faye paused before she got out of the car too. ‘Yeah – in Paris. Natty has got a long memory. She must have been three.’

Jake imagined a trip like that would stay in Natty’s memory no matter how old she’d been. He hoped this trip, in fact her whole first holiday in Scotland, would be something that stayed with her, and she looked back on it fondly in years to come.

‘We went with Yousaf and Patrick before … well, before things went wrong.’

They both got out of the car. Faye said to her daughter, ‘This is nothing like Disneyland. This is a real castle.’

‘I’ve never been to a real castle before.’

Jake smiled when he heard that comment – her first trip to a castle. He was so glad he’d chosen one of the best ones in the Highlands.

‘Brilliant! Come on, you two slow coaches – let’s explore the castle!’ Natty said, climbing out of the car and hopping impatiently from one foot to the other as Jake and Faye gathered their coats and bags together.

They started walking towards the entrance. Natty suddenly stopped. ‘I forgot the guidebook.’

‘That might be a little outdated now, Natty. Let’s buy a new one and then you can keep it as a souvenir of your holiday.’

Jake and Faye paused to marvel at the towering stone fortress, its turrets and battlements standing proudly against the backdrop of the rugged Cairngorms.

‘It was well worth the drive here, wasn’t it?’ Faye commented.

‘Oh, yes. The photos in the guidebook don’t quite do it justice, do they?’

Faye readily agreed.

Natty had been running ahead. She stopped and ran back with her phone to hand. ‘I want to take a photo of you.’

‘All right,’ said Faye. ‘Do you want to take the photo here?’

Natty nodded. She ran behind them. ‘Turn around. I want a photo of you and Jake with the castle.’

Faye and Jake stood awkwardly together. It was a silly thought, but Jake wasn’t quite sure of the etiquette, standing with Faye, for the photo.

They were going out on a date tonight. Did that mean they were officially dating?

For a second time, they had nearly kissed.

Even so, he was undecided. Should he put an arm around her shoulder, like last time, or hold her hand, or wait to see how things panned out this evening?

‘Closer, closer,’ Natty said, waving a hand at them.

Jake caught her looking at a family – a couple and two children.

The chap was standing with an arm around the woman he was with, presumably his wife or partner, as he took a selfie of his family using an extendable stick.

Jake hadn’t thought to buy one of those so that he could take photos of the three of them together.

Natty shouted, ‘Jake, put your arm around Mummy.’

Jake was only too happy to comply. However, he did look at Faye first. ‘Is it all right if I—’

‘You know it is,’ said Faye.

Jake put a gentle arm around her shoulders, stepping closer and giving her a hug. He suddenly felt Faye’s arm behind him, circling his waist.

‘Say cheese!’

‘Cheese!’ Faye and Jake replied.

‘Excuse me,’ the young man who’d just taken a selfie had walked over. ‘Would you like a photo of the family?’

The family. Is that what they looked like – a family? Jake grinned at the young man, who would probably be quite surprised that the couple he was photographing hadn’t even kissed and were going on their first date that evening.

Jake got out his phone and handed it over. He got back in position, with his arm around Faye’s shoulders, noticing that she hadn’t corrected the young man regarding that comment about the family either.

Natty stood in front of Jake. He rested an affectionate hand on her shoulder.

The guy took the photo and handed Jake his phone. He’d just thanked the young man and watched him stride back to his family when someone called out, ‘Would you like a picture of the three of you together?’

An older gentleman with a volunteer name badge pinned to his shirt walked towards them.

Jake and Faye exchanged a glance, thinking the same thing – the volunteer had just missed the young man taking a photo for them. Jake was about to tell him this, when Faye said, ‘Yes, please. Here – take my phone.’

‘But Mummy—’

‘Shush! Mummy wants a photo on her phone too.’

Jake grinned at Faye. They stayed in position. The older guy took a lot longer to take the photo. Natty started to fidget.

‘There – all done,’ he said finally. ‘I took several. Hope that’s okay.’

Faye took her phone and looked at the photos. ‘Oh, they’re perfect – thank you.’

Jake glanced at the photos. The first one was the same as the one on his phone – Jake and Faye together, Natty in front. In the next one, a fidgety Natty had moved to stand between them, holding hands with her mum and Jake. The final one had Natty pulling a silly face.

‘Have you just arrived?’ the man asked Faye as she smiled at the photos.

‘Yes, we haven’t been in the castle yet.’

‘I’m sure you and your family are going to enjoy touring the castle.’

There was that word again – family . Jake looked at Faye. Once again, she did not correct the use of the word.

‘My name is Angus, and I’m a volunteer at the castle three days a week.

So, if you ask for Angus once you’ve bought your tickets, you can join my tour of some of the main rooms if you wish.

It starts just after ten when the castle opens and lasts around forty-five minutes.

We meet by the spiral staircase in the great hall.

You can’t miss it. Let me show you to the ticket office. ’

When he’d said you can’t miss it , had he meant the spiral staircase or the tour? Jake wasn’t sure.

‘It’s so kind of you to let us know. We’d love to join the tour,’ Faye replied as they followed Angus to the castle entrance.

‘Oh, and in case you didn’t know, the castle doesn’t have a restaurant, so if you need a bite to eat afterwards, there are some really nice cafés in the village,’ Angus continued.

‘I usually make my way into the village after I’ve finished my morning here for a cuppa and a teacake.

If you’re around later, you might find me in a little café opposite the gallery. ’

‘Now that sounds like a plan,’ Jake replied.

He just hoped they found a table in one of the busy cafés for lunch.

That day, Jake had declined Gayle’s exceedingly kind offer to make them up another picnic hamper.

He’d thought that there would be a café on site near the castle, but hadn’t checked.

‘I’d like a chance to see the village while we’re here. ’