Epilogue
Sixteen months later
Alicia locked the door of the small art gallery and turned to face Kinshore High Street.
Then she swung back and looked at the gallery again.
Her art gallery. When would this feel real?
She was the owner of a tiny little shop where she could sell her own art and that of other local artists.
She could make connections, make customers happy and give to the Kintyre community – the community that had given so much to her.
The sound of another door being locked drew Alicia’s attention. A familiar figure was shutting up shop a couple of units down.
‘Hey, Katie.’ Alicia waved. ‘How are you settling back into work? How’s little Reuben?’
‘Oh, hi, Alicia. It’s been a mainly smooth transition, thanks. And he’s great. I’m off to pick him up from the childminder, then it’s home for the big event.’
‘You and Micky will be watching it too?’ Alicia was so pleased Katie had found a new partner in, and happiness with, the local butcher. Their blended family of Katie’s baby son, Reuben, and Micky’s daughter, Elspeth, was adorable. Frank still saw his son, but Katie’s heart was with Micky.
‘Of course,’ said Katie. ‘I wouldn’t miss it for anything. It’s so exciting. Like Hollywood coming to Kinshore.’
Alicia supposed it was. She was so glad that Katie didn’t consider Alicia living here as ‘Hollywood coming to Kinshore’. She was part of the furniture now, and that was how she liked it.
The spring wind buffeted Alicia as she strode to the beach, but there was still a subtle balm in the evening air from the April sun.
This weather was perfect. And what warmed Alicia far more than any sunshine was the nature here: both the landscape and the character of the people.
Who needs scorching heat when Kinshore brings light to your heart and soul?
Walking to the beach and sitting for a short time each evening had become part of Alicia’s routine, a pattern in her tapestry.
She unrolled a small blanket and placed it on the sand, wrapped her chunky cardigan tight around her waist, sat and looked out to sea.
The waves were pounding into shore, showing who was really in charge in Kintyre.
Alicia’s bag vibrated. She pulled out her phone to read a message from Della, her actress friend, who now rented Alicia’s LA home.
Hey Alicia. Got the job, so going to be out of town in October. Larry lemon tree might need some TLC for a month.
That was good news for Della and for her and Jamie. She texted back.
Congrats on the job, you star! Thanks for letting me know. Jamie and I might come and hang with Larry for a bit.
Jamie could work remotely, if need be, and she could take the time to paint, as well as catch up with Sunni and family. It was great having such a flexible arrangement for her apartment.
Alicia heard the rhythmic puff of Jamie’s breath before she saw him jogging towards her. Never would this man fail to make her gawp like a lovesick teen.
He reached her and leaned on his knees, respiring heavily after his run from the distillery.
‘Kiss for your fiancé?’ she asked.
‘I’m all sweaty,’ Jamie panted, looking as if it still baffled him that Alicia would want him like this.
‘I think we’ve established numerous times that I don’t mind. At all.’
‘Mmm, okay. I’m not fighting it.’ Jamie leaned in and planted a sweet Kinshore-daytime-kiss on Alicia’s lips, which did after-dark things to her. When would she stop being affected by his kisses this way? Hopefully never.
‘Can’t wait to see these legs in a kilt in the LA sunshine.’ She rubbed her hand down Jamie’s calf. ‘Oh, and how was your day, dear?’
Jamie tilted his head in amusement before plonking down on the sand beside her.
‘It was fine, thanks. Still bossing it like the boss that I am.’ He chuckled.
As Jimmy had finally retired, without selling a stake in the company, Jamie was now the CEO of Butler’s Whisky.
‘You been wedding planning today or just fantasising?’
‘A healthy balance of both. A woman fantasising about her future husband is part of the planning process. You want a good wedding night, right?’
‘Aye. No arguments there. Happy with all the planning for that, so far.’
‘Me too, honey. So, if you want the other planning stuff, we are good to go with my folks’ place as the venue. And Sunni is confirmed as chief bridesmaid. Not that she was ever going to be allowed to say no. And I am still marrying the best-looking man in Scotland. What else needs organised?’
Jamie laughed. ‘Sounds fine to me. I mean, some women might be thinking about flowers and napkins, but if you’re focusing on the bigger picture, who am I to argue? You’ll get your husband in his kilt twice. Once with the palm trees in the background––‘
‘And the aviators.’
‘And the aviators. If that’s what you want. And the other here with the ceilidh and all the other Scottish shenanigans.’
‘I’m such a lucky lass.’ Alicia knew that she was. Not everyone could afford to have two wedding events like she and Jamie could: an actual ceremony and reception in LA and a function at the distillery in Kinshore.
‘And dare I ask about the documentary?’ Jamie tucked tendrils of Alicia’s blonde hair behind her ear. ‘What’s happening there?’
After many years of talking about it, Alicia’s family had finally got around to producing a Donoghue documentary and the question was how involved Alicia wanted to be.
Lucas had asked if she would be prepared to have cameras at her wedding and she’d said she would think about it.
And boy, had she thought about it. Day and night.
Sometimes waking up Jamie at 3 am as she padded downstairs to paint and settle her mind.
‘I’ve said no,’ she revealed. ‘I wanted to say yes, for Luc and Jack and Con, but in my gut, there was a barrier. I think I might have turned a corner here.’
‘Well, that’s great, Leesh. Those sessions with the therapist must be helping.’
Alicia had been talking to her therapist, Dr Arnstein, for many months now.
Accepting that she was worthy of love and not defined by Chad’s actions – or anyone’s thoughts about her – was an ongoing journey.
Gradually, though, she was coming to believe that Alicia was defined by Alicia.
The people who loved her were the ones who mattered, and they would always love her.
She didn’t have to make decisions to please them.
‘Our wedding is our wedding, no one else’s,’ she added. ‘I want the family to be happy, but I’m not masochistic enough to put myself in the firing line for more abuse. I won’t let my day be tarnished like that.’
‘Hey.’ Jamie swung his arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. ‘I’m proud of you for going with what you need for your own wellbeing.’
‘It was tempting to say yes to show Chad he hadn’t got one over on me, but I’d be doing that to prove something to him and still letting him affect my life. Being true to me means keeping things simple. Oh, and I don’t want your family getting hassled either.’
‘Och, I think we’re fine.’ Jamie wriggled his trainers into the sand. ‘Maybe it’s the practice I had when Frank was being a knob, but I’m not concerned. If the paps were going to be here, they’d be here by now, what with Connor being in and out of town.’
Jamie was referring to Alicia’s brother, who was filming nearby and who often popped down for a drink in the local pub or went shopping in the village, causing quite a stir.
Connor was also going to be closer to home tonight with a visit to Jamie and Alicia’s home for the premiere of the new Butler’s whisky commercial, of which he was the star.
‘Speaking of Con, we should get back.’ Alicia stood up and wiped sand from her clothes. ‘We’ve snacks to prepare and drams to pour. Not to mention, I need you naked, Mr Butler.’
‘What? You didn’t say anything about a naked waiter.’
‘Ha, no, it’s only for me. I’m sure we’ve time for a quick sauna before everyone descends, right?’ She pressed herself up against Jamie, loving the solid feel of him through his damp t-shirt.
‘I’ll take your word for it. I’d have to be an idiot to turn down sauna sex with my wife.’
‘Your wife? By my calculations, I won’t be your wife for another twelve months.’
‘Ach, I know, but that’s too long to wait. Do you mind if I start calling you my wife now? Only in private.’
‘I think that should be fine, provided I get to call you husband.’
‘Call me husband any damn time you like, Leesh. I will always respond if it’s coming from you.’
‘Well, husband, if you’ve time to get in that kilt and those aviators before the sauna, you would make your wife very happy indeed.’ Alicia trailed her fingers across Jamie’s chest.
Jamie laughed. ‘If this is a sign of how demanding you’re going to be when we are married, then bring it on, wifey. I’m your husband already, twenty-four-seven.’