Surprises on the Scottish Isle (Coorie Castle Crafts #1)

Epilogue

‘My teacher is Mrs Phillips and she’s nice but strict and she’s got a wee dog called Chico. She showed us pictures and says he’s really naughty.’

Bonnie hadn’t stopped talking since Cal had brought her to the castle for her weekend visit. He’d collected her from Yvaine and Lenn’s house in Portree after school today, and he looked somewhat shell-shocked.

Tara guessed he’d already heard it all on the journey and was now getting to hear it all over again because Bonnie wanted to share her news with Tara.

After her flight to the Isle of Wight and Cal’s subsequent proposal, Tara had returned to the castle and had moved back into the boathouse. She may have agreed to marry him, but they hadn’t told Bonnie yet and didn’t intend to for a while. It had been Tara’s suggestion they keep the news under wraps for the time being, to allow Bonnie to get used to her dad having a girlfriend, as well as her move to a new town and new school.

Bonnie hadn’t finished. ‘I sit next to Shannon. She likes caramel ice cream and she lets me borrow her gel pens. Mum said she can come to tea next week and I’m going to invite her to my birthday party. I’m not going to invite Helga because she said my hair is silly. It’s not silly, is it, Dad? Lenn said if I don’t like the colour of my bedroom, I can pick another one. I think I want pink. Or purple. Or gold. What colour would you have, Tara?’

Tara was breathless just listening to her, and was wondering how to respond when Bonnie cried, ‘Can I go see Giselle, Dad? She said I can help her look for sea glass tomorrow.’

‘You most certainly can.’ The relief on Cal’s face made Tara giggle.

Bonnie shot off in a blur of long, thin legs and flying hair, and Cal collapsed onto the sofa.

‘She’s only been here five minutes and I’m worn out already.’ Smiling indulgently, he added in a heartfelt tone, ‘Thank heaven she’s settling into her new school. I was so worried she wouldn’t.’

Tara sat beside him, and his arm automatically draped around her shoulders. ‘I know you were.’

‘I could have cursed Yvaine when she told me she was taking Bonnie to live with Lenn, but I don’t think it’s worked out too badly.’

Autumn term had started five weeks ago, and it was seven weeks since Bonnie had said goodbye to her home in Duncoorie. There had been tears, but not as many as Cal and Tara had anticipated.

‘Would you like to join us for supper?’ Cal asked.

‘Don’t you and Bonnie want to spend some time together?’

‘Bonnie won’t mind if you hang out with us.’

‘Is that what I’m doing?’ she asked, nibbling his ear. ‘Hanging out?’

‘Driving me crazy, that’s what you’re doing,’ he growled. ‘I’ll make you pay for that.’

‘Promise?’

The look he gave her sent delicious shivers down her back. She knew she would have to wait until Bonnie went home on Sunday, but she didn’t mind. The wait would be worth it.

Skye in autumn was beautiful, an isle of mist and golden grass,

russet bracken and navy water.

It was early morning. A clear dove-grey sky, streaked with pale apricot, promised a fine day ahead, perfect for kicking through the recently fallen leaves in the woodland.

Tara made a mug of coffee, and still wearing her pyjamas but with the addition of a padded jacket, she thrust her feet into a pair of trainers and headed to the end of the jetty to drink it.

She wasn’t surprised when she was shortly joined by Cal. He’d also brought a mug with him, and they sat in comfortable silence to enjoy the peace of the morning. A heron moved through the shallows, lifting one foot carefully before slowly placing it down with barely a ripple, its beady-eyed gaze trained on the water. A flashing stab of its beak indicated that it’d caught a fish, and Tara watched in fascination as it ate its breakfast.

‘I love it here,’ she murmured, resting her head on Cal’s shoulder.

‘Skye gets under your skin, doesn’t it?’ There was a smile in his voice.

‘I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.’ Tara absently fingered the gold heart-shaped pendant at her throat, remembering when Cal had given it to her. She’d kept it in her jewellery box, unworn and unloved. It had resurfaced when she’d unpacked the car after she returned from the Isle of Wight, and finding it had seemed prophetic somehow. She’d worn it ever since.

‘So I couldn’t tempt you to leave?’ he teased.

‘Absolutely not!’

‘Not even for a week?’ He smiled down at her.

‘For a holiday? Where do you have in mind?’

‘I think it’s time you met my parents.’

Tara’s eyes widened with mischief. ‘It must be serious if we’re at the meeting the parents stage.’

‘It must be.’ He was grinning, but then he sobered. ‘Mum still feels awful for what happened when we were younger. She blames herself.’

‘What happened, happened.’ Tara was philosophical. ‘At least we found each other again.’

‘And I’m never letting you go,’ he vowed, kissing her deeply.

‘Ew!’

At the sound of Bonnie’s voice, Tara hastily dragged her lips away, mortified. Cal, however, didn’t seem perturbed.

The child sat down on the jetty beside her father, her nose wrinkling. ‘You’re as bad as Mum and Lenn. They’re always kissing. I’m never having a boyfriend if that’s all you do.’

Tara stifled a snigger, and Cal shot her a look. ‘I’ll hold you to that,’ he warned his daughter. ‘No boyfriends ever.’

Bonnie kicked her legs, staring over the water. ‘Helga’s got a boyfriend. His name is Charlie and he’s got a ferret. I like ferrets but I don’t like Charlie. He brought it into school for show-and-tell, and it bit Mrs Phillips. After Giselle has taken me to look for sea glass, can I go see Katie?’

‘You can.’

‘Yay!’ She jumped up and scampered back up the jetty.

Cal met Tara’s eye. ‘I think it’s time I told her we’re getting married,’ he said, scrambling to his feet and jogging after her.

Tara hitched in a breath, then blew it out slowly.

It seemed an age until he returned, but it couldn’t have been more than a few minutes.

‘How did she take it?’ she asked, anxiously.

‘She was fine. Said “OK”, and that was it.’

‘Really?’

He sat beside her. ‘She wasn’t bothered in the slightest. Not even when I told her you would be moving into the cottage.’

‘I am, am I?’

‘Have you got a better suggestion?’

Tara didn’t. Living in Cal’s cottage sounded wonderful.

‘By the way,’ he added, ‘she’ll only let us get married on one condition.’

Tara’s heart sank. She should have guessed there might be something. ‘What is it?’

‘Bonnie insists on being a bridesmaid and she wants to choose her dress.’ Cal looked worried, as though this might be a deal-breaker.

‘Is that all?’ Tara began to giggle. ‘Heck, she can choose mine if it makes her happy.’

‘Yeah, I wouldn’t mention that to her if I were you. She’ll have you walking down the aisle in a mermaid’s outfit.’

‘I don’t care what I wear as long as we get married.’

Cal got to his feet and held out a hand to haul her upright, clasping her to him. ‘I don’t have the words to tell you how happy you make me or how thankful I am that you came back into my life. I love you, Tara, always and forever.’

His eyes brimmed with adoration, and she melted, marvelling at how deeply this wonderful man loved her.

And she loved him. More than he would ever know.