Page 76 of Highland Stars
There are places Mai and I had planned to visit while we were here, that I haven’t. The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye, and Balmoral Castle, a residence of the British Royal Family. The issue is, those places are two hours plus from here, and when I think of going that far, it’s as if I’m attached to Malcolm by a string that won’t stretch.
For now, I’m ignoring the fact that the string will have to be cut in four days.
I’m getting out of Malcolm’s car—his friend Rory picked him up for work so I could use it—when my phone rings.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, baby. How are you?”
“I’m good.” I close the car door outside the Inverness Botanic Gardens, then spot a sign for a café and decide to grab a drink while I talk with my mom. “Just falling in love with Malcolm. Waiting on him to get off work.”
“Oh, honey.”
“Yeah … hang on a sec. I’m gonna order a drink.” I press my phone to my chest and look at the kind-looking older woman behind the counter. “I’d like a vanilla latte, please.”
“Ah, good choice. That one’s a favourite around here.”
I smile, pay, and bring my phone back to my ear. “I’m back. So how are you? Anything new?”
“Same ole, same ole. Though, I did have a patient ask me out yesterday, so that felt pretty good.”
“Mom! Really?”
“Yep. He was eighty-five, but still.”
I snort a laugh, and the woman behind the counter looks up at me and smiles. “Do you think you’ll ever date again?” Mom stayed single while I was young, afraid to introduce anyone into our lives. She dated a couple of guys when I was in high school, but not since.
“I don’t know. Maybe I need a Scottish man.”
I laugh and look up to find the woman extending my drink. “Thank you.” I take a seat in an areaoverlooking the gardens. It’s absolutely beautiful. Tropical-looking plants make me imagine coming here on a cold day and feeling like I’ve escaped to the Caribbean.
“They’re great, but they certainly complicate things.”
“Do you know that I could work in Scotland? There are steps to go through, and tests to pass, but I could. I looked into it.”
“You looked into working here? Like moving here?”
“You know me. I’m always up for adventure. And sure, this would be a bit more than an adventure, but what’s holding us back?”
I straighten in my seat. “You’re serious? You’d move here?”
“If you don’t mind. I have extravagant plans for spoiling my grandchildren, and it would be hard to accomplish them all from across the Atlantic.”
“I’ve not even told you that Malcolm has feelings for me.”
“Of course he does. Doesn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“And I thought … he’s got that big family there. It just makes sense. But only if it’s what you want, of course. And, I mean, I’m not sure we should move right when you get home, but if it gets to that point, all I’m saying is I’m willing and able.”
“Mom. I … wow.” I feel like my world has turned upside-down in the best possible way. “That’s good to know. I’m not sure, obviously I’ve not even known him for two weeks, but it feels like we could be heading that way.”
“I’m happy for you, honey. And I’ll support you in any way I can.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I hadn’t planned to cry at the botanic gardens today.
“Of course. Just keep an eye out for a man in his early fifties, just in case.”
