Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
IONA
Now
It’s late—long past time I should have left the surgery and headed home—but I’m still here. I’ve been analysing blood samples from a few ewes who were displaying signs of lethargy and poor appetite. The results from the haematology analyser indicate an infection, so I ring the farmer to let him know and to discuss next steps.
I’m just finishing up the call when Donald, the senior vet, peeks his head around the door. “We’re not working you too hard, are we?” he asks after I hang up. “That’s me off now, and I hope you’re not staying much longer. A good work-life balance is important, Iona.”
I smile. “I’ll only be a few more minutes. And don’t worry—I love this job.”
“All right, well, I’ll leave you to lock up. Have a good night.”
After he leaves, my smile fades slightly. I do love the job—it’s the “life” part where I’m having some issues. I’m not exactly in a rush to head back to Maw’s.
What I’d really like to do is to vent about a few things—get them off my chest—but I can’t chat with Maw or Richard about them because... they’re at the heart of the problem. Donald is nice, but I’m not about to off-load my personal problems on a colleague, so... who can I talk to?
For my last few years in Glasgow, I shared a flat with Cat McIntyre. We told each other everything—well, except for what happened between me and her brother Lewis. I kept that to myself. Otherwise, though, if something was bothering me, talking it over with her always helped. I decide to give her a ring.
“Hello, stranger!” Her voice is lively and cheerful, as usual.
“Hey, you. How are things going in Wick?”
Like me, Cat has returned to the Highlands, in her case to do her probationary year as a high school English teacher. She was hoping to be posted in Bannock or at least somewhere nearby, but instead ended up a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of here, almost at the very tip of the British mainland.
“It’s a nice enough place, and the kids are all right, but man, I used to think Bannock was remote. I was so naive! You can get from Bannock to Inverness in forty minutes, but up here there’s nothing but quiet hamlets, tiny villages, and very occasionally a small town. Mostly, though, it’s just miles and miles and miles of rugged landscape.”
I can see the problem there. I know Cat, and that doesn’t sound like her scene at all. She liked to hit the clubs when she was in Glasgow.
“Next year you’ll have a bit more control over where you work,” I offer. “Hopefully, you can come back to Bannock. I miss having you around.”
“I miss you too—and my stupid brothers. Anyway, how are you getting on?”
“Well . . .” I hesitate, unsure how to begin.
“Shit, that doesn’t sound good. Tell me everything—I need some news to help me feel connected to the world.”
“The job is going well,” I say, “but... living at Maw’s isn’t easy.”
“Oh? Is she making you too much food? I love Elspeth, but if I moved in with her, my waistline would never forgive me.”
“That is a bit of an issue, but... it’s not Maw who’s the main problem.”
“Oh crap, it’s Richard? What’s up?”
“Well . . .”
Richard and I actually had a disagreement within days of arriving, when I admitted to him that Lewis and I were once more than friends. He wasn’t too keen on the idea of living opposite Lewis after learning that, nor was he best pleased when I asked him to keep the details to himself. He felt that amounted to defending Lewis, something he doesn’t think Lewis deserves.
With hindsight, of course, I should have made my admission about Lewis before Richard and I moved to Bannock. I messed up, but to be fair to Richard, he came around, and I have to give him credit for that. And yet... since we got over that initial wobble, other issues have cropped up.
“You know how, when we were in Glasgow, I’d spent a few nights at Richard’s each week, or he’d spend a few nights at our flat? That worked really well. It turns out living with him seven days a week is a little more... challenging.”
“Ah.”
“Sometimes, after work, all I want to do is curl up with a romance book and lose myself in the story. But Richard... I don’t know, it’s almost like he isn’t capable of entertaining himself. He always wants to do things together, and maybe that’s sweet—maybe I shouldn’t be complaining—but I find it a bit... draining. It’s like he’s used to weekend me and is expecting me to be the same person on a weeknight, but I’m just not. After a day at work, I don’t always have a lot left in the tank. Plus, while I’m glad he’s enjoying his new job, I’ve already heard more than enough about wind turbines for a lifetime.”
Cat laughs at this. “So you’re saying you’d rather spend time with your latest book boyfriend than listen to Richard prattle on about renewable energy? I’m not sure that’s a big issue, Iona.”
Isn’t it? I’m literally admitting I prefer the company of fictional men to that of my actual boyfriend. Then again, I suppose a lot of women enjoy romance books, so maybe Cat is right and it isn’t something to worry about. But if that’s the case, then why do I have this nagging feeling in my gut?
“Here’s what I think,” Cat says. “Even though your issue isn’t with your maw, living with her will be putting a strain on your and Richard’s relationship. That’s not a dig at Elspeth—you know I love her—but Richard probably feels he has to be on his best behaviour all the time. Maybe all he wants to do is lounge around in his underwear, watching football and drinking beer, but he can’t because your maw is in the living room. So he’s hanging out with you instead.”
That is a good point. Life will be different once we have our own place—I have to remember that. Then again, Wednesday through to Sunday, Maw works at the restaurant, so it’s not as if Richard and I haven’t been getting any time to ourselves. But today is Monday, so Maw will be there when I get back, and maybe that is contributing to my sense of dread.
“Perhaps you and Richard just need an evening away from each other,” Cat adds. “Yes, you want to read your romance stories, but perhaps what you really need is a girls’ night out. Why don’t you organise something and have a bit of fun?”
“Er, this is awkward, but... why do you think I’m on the phone to you, Cat? I’ve been away for nine years. I don’t have any girlfriends in Bannock.”
“Bollocks! What about Emily and Grace? They may not have grown up in Bannock, but they’re Bannock girls now.”
“They’re both great,” I concede, “but... they have their babies, plus their relationships seem so perfect. I’m not sure a night out with them would make me feel any better about myself.”
“Good point. It is a little sickening how head over heels they are about their men. We grew up with Ally and Aidan—we remember how daft they once were. Okay, let me have a think. Hmm, right, this is why you shouldn’t have spent your entire childhood hanging out with Lewis. If you’d thrown your net a bit wider back then, you’d have more options now. Oh, wait! How about Maisie in the Pheasant? She’s a laugh, plus she’s single so there’s no risk of her banging on and on about how wonderful her man is.”
Maisie was in the year below me at school and now works at the local pub, the Pheasant. She’s really friendly.
“I do like Maisie. I actually bumped into her a few days ago—we chatted for a few minutes and then went on our way again. How do I... sorry, I realise how pathetic this question sounds, but... how do I go from that to having a night out with her?”
“Er, you ask her if she wants to grab a drink and have a chat?”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“Because it is?”
“Isn’t there something a little tragic about begging her to hang out with me because I don’t have any other single friends in Bannock?”
“Hmm... oh, crap, something has just come up. Is it all right if I call you back?”
“Sure, no prob—” The call cuts off before I can finish.
Weird. I wonder what could have “just come up” in Wick that demanded Cat’s immediate attention. But then my phone pings, and a notification informs me that Cat has created a group called “Bannock Babes”. To it, she’s added herself, me, and Maisie.
Ah. She’s always been impulsive—never one to hum and haw. Instead of wasting time trying to convince me to get in touch with Maisie, she’s taking matters into her own hands. This is why she ended the call.
The first message comes in.
Cat
Hey, Maisie! *waving-hand emoji* I was just chatting with Iona. She’s been pretty lonely since she moved back to Bannock and needs some girl time. Fancy meeting up with her for a drink or two?
Oh dear. I realise Cat is being nice, but it does come across as a bit tragic. “Pretty lonely”? I only wanted to vent to someone—that’s all.
I’m wondering whether to call Cat and ask her to delete the group when I see the words Maisie is typing...
Too late. She’s already seen it.
Maisie
Hey, Cat and Iona! Sure. Tonight isn’t great for me, but things should be quieter in the Pheasant tomorrow evening, if that suits? If you come along, I can take a break from the bar for a while to sit down for a chat. Sound good?
Iona
That’d be brilliant, but please don’t feel you have to adopt me as a friend!!! I’m sorry about pouncing on you like this. *face-with-peeking-eye emoji*
Maisie
LOL, don’t be silly, it’ll be fun. Shall we say eight?
Iona
*thumbs-up emoji*
Maisie
Great. Now, Cat: can you really call yourself a “Bannock Babe” when you live in Wick?
Cat
Excuse me? I’ll always be a Bannock Babe at heart. But if you’re going to be pedantic...
A message pops up: the group’s name is now “Scottish Sirens”.
Cat
Sorted! All right, Iona, you’ve got something to look forward to tomorrow, but what about tonight? I think you could do with some me-time. How about a swim and sauna at the Glen Garve Resort?
Maisie
Good idea, or you could pump some iron at the gym. *person-lifting-weights emoji*
Cat
Ha, having lived with Iona for a few years, I’m pretty sure my suggestion is more up her street.
Cat is right, of course, but it’s not like I never go to the gym. I just don’t go very often. And because of that, I normally end up cancelling my membership, which means...
Okay, fine, I never go to the gym. But maybe now I’m back in Bannock, it’s time to turn over a new leaf. Perhaps it’s what I’m missing in my life. Exercise is important—for the mind and the body. It’d be healthy to work off a few frustrations.
Iona
Cat, you don’t know me as well as you think. Thanks for the suggestion, Maisie. I’m going to go get my sweat on.