Chapter 24 #3
‘All right…’ Heather opened the envelope and unfolded a couple of pieces of paper. ‘What is this?’ She looked confusedly at the text, not understanding.
‘Mum and I had a little chat the other day, after she had that argument with Violet,’ he began, taking the papers from her. ‘You know. I had to get her out of the dining room before it all kicked off.’
‘Yeah. Tempers were a bit frayed. I thought that you were really cross with me.’
‘No, not at all. I was just really uncomfortable with all the tension, but it wasn’t your fault,’ Matty reassured her. ‘Anyway, I took Mum to the library, and we had an honest chat. I told her that she was being a diva and that she should try to take it down a few notches.’
‘I can only imagine that went down like a cup of cold sick.’
‘Haha. It was not great, but I think I’m the only person she’ll listen to, sometimes. Anyway, when she’d calmed down, I reminded her about my idea for the golf course land.’
‘Which was…?’
‘I’m getting to that. I think you’re right about the environmental impact of the golf course.
I got a couple of consultants that we use sometimes to do a case study on the land Dad bought for development, and they came back with the same conclusion: that a new golf course would be awful for the ecosystems in place, and to speak Mum and Dad’s language, they’d have so much local opposition and such bad PR for the project – without a guaranteed regular membership – that the project represents a very serious financial risk.
Gerald had a look and agreed.’ He paused for a moment.
‘I’m very happy to hear that, but what are these papers about?’ she asked. ‘I’m still in the dark, I’m afraid.’
‘Well, since Dad and Mum agreed that the golf course would be a bad business decision – especially given their current tax fraud investigation, and all that’ – he rolled his eyes – ‘they agreed that I could give the land to you instead.’
‘To me?’ Heather echoed, looking at the papers in Matty’s hand. ‘Land?’
‘Yeah. It’s yours. To do with what you like.
I mean, as soon as I found out about the golf course, months ago, I told Mum and Dad I didn’t think it was a good idea, but they didn’t want to listen.
I thought I could convince them, and then you’d never have to find out.
It’s annoying, because we didn’t have to go through all this drama if they’d just listened to me in the first place.
I actually did all the hard work for this when I was away unexpectedly.
The research, the consultancy. I tried to get them to agree around the time they got here, but they weren’t sure.
I think they still thought the golf course was a good idea, until the protests happened. ’
‘Oh.’ Heather was staring at the papers in her hand. Staring at her name on the top.
‘Yeah. But on the other hand, at least we got to the point where they bought it, so that meant we owned it and now I can give it to you. Ta dah.’ He waved his hands.
‘I hope you like it. And I hope that you can see now that I couldn’t tell you what I was doing before…
but that you could trust me. I know it was shitty of me not to talk to you at all.
And I wouldn’t ever not communicate with you again.
I’d tell you what I was doing. I’ve learned that…
’ He broke off and kissed her. ‘I’ve learned what it is to be a partnership.
I can’t just go off and make executive decisions.
Everything we do from now on will be “we”. Not just me. We’re a team.’
‘Thank you, Matty,’ Heather said quietly. ‘I was trying to explain that. I felt as though I was banging my head against the wall.’
‘I know. I’m sorry it took me this long to get it,’ he said, apologetically.
‘It’s okay.’
‘I wondered whether you might want to make it a nature sanctuary, or begin a rewilding project or something.’ He shrugged.
‘I would also say that there’s room on that land to build a good-sized family home.
I think nature could withstand that, as long as we built something sustainable and eco-friendly.
’ He raised one eyebrow. ‘What do you think?’
‘What do I think about the fact that you’ve… given me several acres of land on Skye?’ Heather stared at Matty, completely unable to take in what he was saying. ‘I’m sorry… so, I own it? The land? The actual land?’
‘You own the actual land,’ Matty replied, seriously. ‘To do with as you will. I mean, I’m trusting you to do something more responsible than my parents were planning to, but yes.’
‘Oh my god, Matty. I think I really did die just now.’ Heather let out a long breath. ‘I can’t believe this is real.’
There’s room on that land to build a good-sized family home. That was what he’d said.
It was her vision, and it was coming true.
A house with a big kitchen, a fireplace, somewhere in the Scottish countryside, with a garden and room for a dog. A home. Two girls and a boy.
‘It is real.’ He kissed her, slowly and with such love that Heather had to fight back tears. ‘I just want you to be happy, my love.’
‘I am happy,’ she whispered. ‘Happier than I’ve ever been.’