Page 8 of Summer in the Scottish Highlands (The Scottish Highlands #5)

‘Did you all have a good time in Aviemore?’ Gayle asked, stepping aside as her three guests trooped into the guesthouse, along with one Old English Sheepdog.

Gayle’s gaze dropped to Olive, who had sat down by her feet. ‘Oh … I thought you were dropping her off at the shop?’

Jake said, ‘We did. Well, Faye and Natty dropped her off.’

‘Ah, I can see that’s where you’ve been.’

Everyone looked at the multicoloured ribbons in Olive’s fur.

‘I bought some ribbons,’ said Natty. ‘Evie was there with her mum, minding the shop, so Evie helped me put the ribbons in Olive’s hair.’

‘Fur,’ corrected Faye.

‘Fur,’ Natty repeated.

‘Well, she looks very pretty,’ said Gayle.

‘Yes, then we left her there for a bit, and collected her on the way back,’ said Natty, patting Olive’s head.

‘What else did you all get up to?’ Gayle asked as they walked down the hallway together.

‘We went on a steam train!’ said Natty.

‘Really?’

‘Oh, yes,’ replied Natty. ‘And we had afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, and cakes and scones. It was amazing.’

Faye put an arm around Natty’s shoulder. ‘And the scenery was stunning too,’ Faye added.

Gayle smiled down at Natty. ‘Did you see some deer, and a hare or two?’

Natty frowned. ‘I wanted to see a red squirrel and a wildcat.’

‘Well we’ve got all week, so you never know,’ said Faye. ‘But it really was a trip to remember – wasn’t it, Natty?’

‘Oh, yes.’

Jake smiled at the two of them as he followed them down the hallway. It was a perfect start to the holiday. He just hoped every day proved as successful and memorable as this one.

Natty took Olive’s collar. ‘Come on, let’s play!’ Natty told Olive to sit. ‘Good girl!’ She got out some more ribbons from her pocket and started to tie another one in Olive’s fur. The dog didn’t seem to mind. She loved the attention.

Gayle glanced at Olive, then turned her attention to Jake as they trooped into the kitchen. ‘I didn’t know you’d planned to do a train journey today.’

‘I hadn’t. It was pure fluke that after I visited the tourist information, while Natty and Faye were shopping in Aviemore, I turned up at the station to ask about the steam train, and they had two free tickets. They squeezed Natty in because she’s a child.’

‘Two free tickets.’ Gayle looked at him in surprise. ‘I’d say that’s quite unheard of at such short notice. Must have been your lucky day.’

Jake exchanged a glance with Faye. ‘Well, as it happens, two people cancelled.’

‘It was Bonnie and David – wasn’t it?’ said Gayle .

Jake nodded. ‘They were going with their friends, Rose and George. They couldn’t make it to the party last night, so they’d bought tickets for Bonnie and David to join them on the steam train today.’

‘I heard. I didn’t realise Bonnie had cancelled, although I’m not surprised after all she went through yesterday.’

‘No, me neither.’

‘You saw Rose and George then?’

‘Actually, it was George I asked about some tickets. He was volunteering at the station before his trip on the steam train with Rose, and he sorted out the tickets. We sat with them.’

‘They’re such a lovely couple,’ said Faye. ‘At first I didn’t think Rose was too keen on us joining them.’

‘Yeah,’ Jake agreed. ‘I didn’t blame her. George did kind of spring it on her, strangers joining their table for the trip.’

Faye said, ‘I was worried about Natty. How Rose would feel about having a child at the table too.’

‘Oh, Rose and George would have loved to take their grandchildren when they were young, but it wasn’t to be.’

Faye nodded. ‘Yes, Rose mentioned that.’

‘I bet Rose and George enjoyed having a little one join them,’ said Gayle. ‘And not to mention a Ross too.’ Gayle smiled knowingly at Jake.

Jake returned her smile. ‘Yes, Rose was rather surprised when she found out who I was.’

‘And a bit awe-struck to meet a Ross,’ added Faye.

‘Just a bit?’ Jake joked.

‘I’ll bet,’ said Gaye. ‘One thing I will say about your family, Jake – William Ross was always so generous, donating to worthy causes in the community, especially at Christmas, but it would have been lovely to see the Ross family out and about, and meet them … you.’

Jake knew what she was getting at. ‘Yes, we did keep ourselves to ourselves when we holidayed here. In hindsight, it’s something I regret.’

‘You’re making up for that now. And to think, if Robyn, I mean Bonnie, hadn’t started redecorating The Lake House, I expect you would have returned there instead.’

Jake looked at Gayle. That wasn’t strictly true.

She’d only brought in painting materials, and wallpaper, leaving them in the rooms she was about to start work on.

The house was big enough to have still stayed there himself with Natty and Faye, avoiding the rooms that had been prepped for redecoration. But he still didn’t want to stay there.

Something Rose had said about The Lake House came to mind.

I can just imagine, after all these years, it could do with a remodel.

I bet the place will look unrecognisable, in a good way.

But would it erase the ghosts from his past – the memories?

He doubted it. So make new ones there. Jake raised his eyebrows at that thought, along with Rose’s final comment on the matter – have you thought about starting a new life here, with Faye and Natty?

‘I’m glad we’re staying here,’ said Faye.

‘Me too!’ shouted Natty from the hallway, clearly listening in on the adults’ conversation.

Jake had met some lovely people while staying at the guesthouse – Marty, Nick, David, and of course Gayle and her mum, Doris.

He felt part of a little community there – a family of sorts.

Jake realised it was what he needed. He smiled at Faye as he said as much to Gayle.

‘I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s great staying at your guesthouse. ’

‘Shame you can’t, you know, stay on,’ commented Gayle as she flicked the kettle on. Jake and Faye took a seat at the kitchen table.

Jake looked about him. ‘Here, like your two permanent lodgers?’ He thought it a strange question.

‘No, I meant in Aviemore.’

‘Ah.’ Jake glanced at Faye. ‘My life is in London.’

Gayle’s gaze shifted to Faye. ‘I understand. Shame, though. The Lake House standing empty. Would make a lovely family home.’

There was an awkward silence. Jake saw Gayle raising an eyebrow knowingly.

He knew she meant well. She was thinking it would make a lovely home for him, Faye and Natty.

He imagined she would like her new friends to become her new neighbours, which they would if they moved into The Lake House, which backed on to her property.

But he couldn’t possibly ask Faye and Natty to drop their lives in London to move there, with him, even if he wanted to.

Besides, he and Faye, they weren’t a couple – yet.

He was working on it though. He knew she felt something for him that was more than friendship.

But could she trust opening her heart to another man?

And did she want a new daddy for Natty? Those were the questions he hoped might be answered over the course of the holiday.