Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
IONA
Age fifteen
Sunlight breaks through the clouds and dances on the surface of Loch Bannock. Lewis sends another stone skipping across the water while I sway gently back and forth on the old tree swing. It’s just the two of us—no one else as far as the eye can see—and that’s exactly what I need today. I’ve had it up to here with other people, with their pitying looks and whispered gossip.
“Oh, wow, did you see that?” Lewis grins at me, brimming with pride. “Seven bounces!”
I manage a weak smile. “Nice one.”
“All right, the new target is eight.” He hunts for another stone, determined to beat his record.
This last week he’s been amazing. He hasn’t pried or pushed me to chat about things. There’s been no judgement in his gaze, only steady support. Any time I’ve needed him, he’s been there for me, even if just to hang out together in friendly silence. His patience has meant the world to me, but... maybe it is time we talked.
I kick at the ground, sending a small cloud of dust into the air. “What would you do if you found out your da had another woman?” I say. “And not only that, but another child—a four-year-old half-brother you knew nothing about?”
Lewis pauses mid-throw and considers my question. “Honestly? I’d be a mess. It amazes me you’re managing to keep it together.” With that, he flings the stone. This one skips six times.
“I don’t feel like I’m keeping it together,” I admit.
“Aye, well, you’re entitled to be upset and confused. The news stunned us all. I’m not going to pretend I know what you’re going through—he’s your da—but... I have known him my whole life. Hell, when I was little, I called him Uncle Ewan because your maw and da are practically like an aunt and uncle to me. So maybe I understand the tiniest fraction of what you’re experiencing, and... it’s shit.” He shrugs. “It really is just shit.”
I swallow and nod. “It is.”
He selects another stone, tosses it up in the air, and catches it. “Your turn.”
“I’ve never been able to skip stones.”
“I know, and it’s time we sorted that. C’mon!”
Reluctantly I slide off the swing and onto the pebbled shore then take the stone from him. With a quick flick of my wrist, I send it flying, but instead of elegantly skimming across the water, it plunges straight in with a splash. I watch the ripples spread, wishing my troubles could sink just as easily. If only life were that simple.
“Er, not a bad attempt, but that was more of a plop than a skip.” Lewis chuckles softly. “Want to try again? I can help you with your form if you’d like.”
“Nah. I’m not really in the mood.”
“Fair enough.” He walks over to his backpack and unzips it. “In that case, how about this?” He pulls out a round biscuit tin and whips off the lid.
Inside is a rich, golden-yellow cake, its top dusted with icing sugar. Jam and cream ooze out from between the layers.
“Victoria sponge!” My chest tightens with a sudden rush of emotion that catches me off-guard. Grateful beyond words for having such a thoughtful friend, I fling my arms around him—only to send the tin tumbling from his hands.
“Crap!”
We both watch as it falls, time seeming to slow down. Lewis instinctively reaches for it, but it’s no good: his fingers barely graze the side. A disastrous splat seems a certainty but... it lands the right way up. The top layer of sponge slides off slightly, leaving the cake looking a little lopsided, but otherwise—miraculously—it’s unscathed.
For a moment, neither of us speaks. We stand frozen in amazement.
Lewis is the first to break the silence with a disbelieving laugh. “Wow, I thought for sure that was going to flip over and splatter everywhere. See? Things don’t always go wrong.”
“Aye, I suppose you’re right.” I chuckle, the heavy weight that’s been dragging me down all week lifting just a little. “Now, did you bring a knife or do I have to judo-chop myself a piece?”
With a wink Lewis produces a plastic knife then cuts us each a slice. No sooner has he done so than I grab one, shove it in my mouth, and groan.
“Oh! Fluffy perfection!” I mumble mid-chew. “So... good.”
“Er, I actually brought paper plates and forks too, but your way does look more fun.” Sitting on a root, Lewis copies my method.
“Cake makes everything better,” I say, returning to the swing. “By the way, you can squeeze on here with me if you want.”
“Nah, it might be a tad tight. I know we both fitted when we were younger, but I think we’re a bit big for it now.”
“Are you saying I’ve got fat?”
His eyes widen in horror. “No!” When he realises I’m just messing with him, he breaks into a grin and flexes his muscles. “It’s because I’m bulking up so much. Becoming a man, you know?”
He has broadened out—he’s no longer the skinny little boy he used to be—and he’s finally shot past me in height. His voice has deepened too, and I’ve got to admit, I like how he sounds.
“I suppose those biceps do need space to breathe,” I agree. “The next time we go to the cinema, you’ll need to book an extra seat for them.”
“Are you kidding? I’ll need a whole row for these.” Lewis strikes a classic bodybuilder pose and plants a kiss on his arm. “I’m becoming a total beast.”
He’s no longer as scrawny as he once was, but “beast” is a ridiculous exaggeration, and for some reason this sends me into stitches. It’s not even that funny—I think this is just all the bottled-up tension I’ve been carrying around finally bursting out.
“Aye, laugh it up. I get it—I’m still a bit of a beanpole.” Lewis pretends to sulk, sticking out his lower lip, before joining in with the laughter. He isn’t offended in the slightest about being the butt of the joke. I think he’s just happy to see me in good spirits.
“Okay, enough talk about muscles,” I say once I’ve caught my breath. “I’m far more interested in unhealthy things, like cake.” I polish off my slice then hop down from the swing and hold out my hand for him to shake. “You definitely deserve this.”
Lewis was inspired to get into baking by The Great British Bake-off , which we watch together religiously. In the show, judge Paul Hollywood rewards bakers who impress him with a coveted “Hollywood handshake”. As Lewis’s chief taste tester, I’ve adopted this tradition, and I give him my own version—the “Stewart handshake”—whenever he bakes something that wows me.
Lewis glances at my fingers, observes the cream and crumbs on them, and arches an eyebrow. “Your hand is pretty minging, so I’ll pass, but... thanks?”
“Hey, you can’t turn down a Stewart handshake!” I move closer to him, reach out, and boop his nose, leaving a blob of cream there.
He doesn’t immediately wipe it away but instead frowns and tries to look at it, going cross-eyed in the process. I don’t know why, but... his expression is adorably cute.
“Iona, there’s something I need to whisper into your ear,” he says. “Come here a moment.”
“Nope!” Laughing, I retreat a few steps.
He narrows his eyes then lunges forward. Squealing, I dodge him then try to flee, but he catches me easily and lifts me off the ground. Wow, clearly he is getting stronger. He carries me over to a patch of grass, lays me down, then leans over me and rubs his nose against my cheek.
“Ew, that’s gross!” I protest, half cringing, half laughing.
When he pulls back, he’s grinning mischievously, but then our gazes lock, our faces only inches apart. A moment passes. Then another. Lewis’s playful demeanour shifts, his expression growing more serious. There’s an intensity in his deep-brown eyes I’ve never seen before. Then...
He rolls off me and sprawls beside me on the grass, bursting into laughter and shattering the awkward tension.
But my heart is racing. What just happened between us?
Get a grip, Iona. It was just Lewis being silly.
“Really? Rubbing your nose on me?” I say. “How old are you?”
“Aye, well, putting cream on my nose—how old are you ?”
Our familiar rapport helps restore our usual vibe. I stare up at the sky, cool blades of grass tickling the back of my neck. Overhead, clouds drift lazily, and for a while I allow myself to get lost in their shapes.
“When we finish school, I’m out of here,” I announce abruptly, cutting through the tranquil silence. “Bannock is too... suffocating.”
I hadn’t felt that way about my hometown a week ago, but I do now.
“Of course you’ll leave,” Lewis agrees. “I’ve always known you would.”
The certainty in his voice takes me by surprise, and I prop myself up on one elbow to get a better view of him. “You have?”
“Just look at your grades! Bannock is too small for you. You’ll go off to university somewhere fancy then fly high in the world.”
“Well, you’ll have to come too. I’m not going anywhere without you.”
He smirks up at me, the sun highlighting reddish strands in his chestnut hair. “My grades aren’t anything to brag about. Besides, I really like the hotel.” He shrugs. “Maybe I’ll run it someday, when Maw and Da are old and grey. First, though, I’ve been thinking about helping out in the kitchen. Perhaps your maw could take me under her wing? I already pester her with questions while she cooks.”
He’s chatting about this like it isn’t a big deal, but the thought of being separated from him hits me hard. It’s not as if I haven’t considered it before, but I’ve always shoved it to the back of my mind. He’s right, though: I am a bit of a geek, and if I want to keep studying after school, I’ll have to move away.
“Maw doesn’t think you’re a bother,” I say softly. “She’s forever saying how helpful you are, whether you’re chopping vegetables or serving dishes. And you’re a hit with guests too—especially the ones from abroad.”
“Aye, well, who could resist me?”
I give him a playful shove, but there’s truth in what he just said. If he’d leaned in to kiss me earlier, I think I’d have let him.