Page 44 of Summer in the Scottish Highlands (The Scottish Highlands #5)

‘He doesn’t know. Somebody dug them out of the snow and called emergency services. It’s like the last piece of the puzzle.’

‘But that’s a good thing – right? If he can find them?’

Faye pursed her lips. ‘I’m not so sure.’

‘Why are you not so sure?’

‘They didn’t come forward – did they?’

Gayle regarded her a long moment before she said, ‘Look, not everybody wants their five minutes of fame. Whoever it was, he did a good deed, a bloody good deed saving them, but he obviously wants to remain anonymous.’

‘That’s what I told him.’ Faye breathed a heavy sigh .

‘So, what’s the problem?’

‘I just hope that the anonymous person who saved them isn’t somehow connected to the dead guy.’

Gayle looked at her wide-eyed. ‘What dead guy?’

‘They found him in the spring when the snow thawed. Mr Gillespie … Duncan … told me. The man took his own life on that mountain on Christmas Day. When the rifle went off, the sound may have dislodged some snow and started that avalanche that buried them.’

‘How do they know that?’

‘It’s just a theory. I don’t know if it did cause the avalanche. That’s what Duncan said, anyway.’

‘No, I meant how do they know with certainty that he was up there on Christmas Day?’

‘He put a parking ticket in his car with the date, and the time.’

‘Doesn’t sound like someone who wanted to kill themselves.’

‘But he had a shotgun. What else would he have been doing up there, off-piste, with a gun?’

Gayle shrugged. ‘Who was he anyway?’

‘A former employee of the Ross Corporation. He’d been sacked on Christmas Eve. He shot himself in the head.’

‘Did he now?’

Faye looked at her.

Gayle narrowed her eyes.

‘What are you thinking, Gayle?’

‘So, let me get this straight,’ said Gayle, scratching her chin as she thought aloud. ‘He travelled from London, which is presumably where he worked before he was sacked, all the way to Scotland, where presumably he knew the Rosses had a holiday home, to end his life?’

Gayle and Faye stared at each other. The second round of sausages and bacon, all but forgotten, were charring nicely in the frying pan.

Gayle said, ‘Does Jake know about the employee?’

‘He knows there were two men up there, but Duncan hadn’t found out who the dead man was when he spoke to Jake about it.’

‘So, Duncan told you.’

‘Yes. Like I said, I was in his shop. I don’t think Jake has visited Mr Gillespie’s … Duncan’s store, since he’s been back here with us.’

‘So, you haven’t told him the identity of the dead man yet – have you?’

Faye shook her head, fingering the ribbon on her finger. ‘I don’t see what good it would do – do you? It won’t change anything. It won’t bring her back – not the Eleanor he was married to.’

‘I realise that, Faye, but it might bring him some closure.’

‘Or it might open up a whole world of hurt that Jake is not prepared for if he finds out it wasn’t an accident.’

Gayle said, ‘You’re thinking that the person who didn’t come forward to take the credit for digging them out of the snow and calling mountain rescue might have saved them from more than an avalanche?’

‘It’s the parking ticket that bothers me,’ said Faye.

‘You’re wondering about the true intentions of the man found dead with a gun.’

Faye nodded. ‘What if he followed them with that shotgun?’

They fell silent, staring at one another, until Gayle said, ‘You mean he was after revenge for being sacked?’

‘Maybe. But the fact is that whatever he set out to do, he didn’t do it – did he? He shot himself instead.’ Faye shook her head. ‘I can’t believe I’m having this conversation.’

They were interrupted by Faye’s phone buzzing. She looked at the message. Faye, change of plan. Meet me at The Lake House.

‘What is it?’ Gayle asked.

‘He wants to meet at The Lake House.’

‘You have to tell him, Faye.’

‘Why? It won’t bring anybody back. Besides, I can’t.’

Gayle folded her arms. ‘You mean, you won’t.’

‘Gayle, don’t you see? He’s finally moving on from what happened last Christmas.’

‘But he said that he still wanted to find the anonymous hero who saved them.’

‘I’m going to do my best to make him forget he said that.’

‘How are you going to do that?’

Faye held up her finger with the purple ribbon. ‘By making sure he focuses on the future with me and Natty.’

Gayle mumbled something under her breath.

‘Did you say something, Gayle?’

‘I said best-laid plans – and all that.’

Faye frowned at her. ‘What does that mean?’

‘It means that when it comes to making plans, something quite unforeseen may come along that stops things from working out as you expected.’

They both turned to look out of the kitchen window, up at the mountains. Gayle turned to Faye. ‘Do you want a piece of advice?’

Faye wasn’t so sure she did. But she nodded anyway. Gayle was her friend, and she was interested in what she had to say.

‘Who knows what’s waiting in the wings. Why don’t you just make the most of your summer here?’

Faye agreed she would make the most of the summer, especially if they were moving into Jake’s gorgeous house.

She just wished Gayle hadn’t mentioned best-laid plans – and all that .

The trouble was that Faye didn’t need Gayle to have said that; she already had a sense of foreboding she was trying to quell.

Gayle continued, ‘Whatever really happened up there, it will be a step in the right direction if you can persuade Jake to accompany you and see that there is really nothing to be afraid of – not anymore. The worst has happened – he lost his young wife. But now, if you’re all going to enjoy The Lake House, you can’t spend your summer in the shadow of that mountain. ’

‘You’re not talking literally, are you? Because The Lake House is kind of in the shadow of that mountain.’

‘No, I mean figuratively. Every time he looks at that mountain, I bet he’s thinking of one thing.’

‘I wouldn’t be surprised,’ said Faye sadly.

‘So, he needs to make new memories on that mountain – happy, fun memories.’

Faye frowned. ‘It won’t erase what happened.’

‘Of course not, but something needs to change so that every time he sees that mountain, he isn’t thinking of Eleanor.’

‘Yes, especially if we move here permanently.’

‘Pardon me?’ Gayle’s mouth dropped open. ‘Did you just say you were moving here perma—’

‘Oh, I … I was just thinking out loud.’

‘You’re really thinking of moving here?’

‘Yes … no. Oh, I don’t know.’

‘But it has crossed your mind.’

‘There are things I love about here ... for me … for Natty, that ju st don’t exist in our lives back in London.

I’ve made more friends in the handful of days I’ve been here than in all the years I’ve lived in London.

There’s a real sense of community that I never realised was missing from my life until I experienced it first-hand.

I found out through a group of mums at a café in Aviemore that there’s a headship coming up in a local school. ’

‘You’re thinking of applying? Have you told Jake?’

‘No. He’d have to be on board too,’ said Faye.

‘Of course.’ Gayle nodded. ‘Perhaps spending the summer here will make up both your minds what you want for your future. I’m biased, so you won’t get any balanced feedback from me, especially as I’d love to have you both as my neighbours.’

‘Oh, you mean us living at The Lake House?’

‘Yes – what else?’

‘Oh, I’m not sure that would happen.’

‘Why not? I bet you didn’t think Jake would have you and Natty stay in The Lake House for the summer.’

‘What about your warning around best-laid plans?’

‘I know I said that when it comes to making plans, something quite unforeseen may come along that stops things from working out as you expected.’

Faye frowned. She really didn’t need to be reminded verbatim – she wished she hadn’t asked.

‘But here’s the thing, Faye. Things might not work out as you expect, but I didn’t say it would necessarily be in a bad way – did I? Staying in The Lake House is a case in point.’

Faye grinned. ‘I suppose it is.’ She liked her thinking – very much.