Chapter Twenty-Three #2
Sam’s deep chuckle resonated beside Clara. ‘It’s Scottish weather you have to watch out for,’ he told his sister. ‘Four seasons in one day, though it’s lovely today.’
‘Don’t jinx it.’ Claire eyeballed him.
They talked long and enjoyed the sunshine that didn’t seem in any danger of vanishing despite Sam’s warnings. Much later, as the sun began its descent, Clara realised with a start that it must be after nine.
‘I think I should head home,’ she said. ‘It’s late.’
‘Can’t you stay?’ Moira asked.
Sam nodded. ‘You’re welcome to.’
‘I have nothing with me.’
Moira patted her arm. ‘Well, I hope we’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘You will.’
Sam walked out to her car with her and Skye, and Clara glanced towards the house, ensuring they were alone, before stepping closer to him.
‘Thank you for being here today. My family adore you… and Skye.’
Clara laughed. ‘Yes, she’s a big hit.’
Sam cupped her cheek in his hand. ‘I wish things could be different… in so many ways.’
‘Me too.’ She slipped her hand around his cheek, and his hands found her waist, pulling her gently towards him. He leaned down, his lips meeting hers. The soft bristles of his beard tickled her, and she smiled into a lingering kiss that left her weak at the knees.
‘See you tomorrow,’ he murmured.
The following morning, Clara applied a light touch of makeup before she was due to head back to Sam’s house for an outing with his family. At her door, she stood for a few moments. Should she take an overnight bag? Was that necessary? It wasn’t that far… but…
‘Oh god,’ she moaned to Skye. ‘I’m overthinking this, and I don’t know what I should do.’
Well, if she took the bag, at least that option was there. So she packed it in the car and headed to Clachnabronnachan.
When she arrived at Sam’s, Kaleb and Jacob were there already, and Clara was met by a whirlwind of greetings. Skye sniffed around the various feet in the hallway.
‘Hey Clara,’ Kaleb said.
‘Hi. How are you?’
‘Fine.’ He pulled a little shrug to accompany his grin.
Jacob rushed up to Skye with Alisha and Mina. ‘Is Skye coming with us?’ he asked.
‘Definitely. She’s all ready.’
He and the girls fell to their knees to fuss over the dog, who rolled onto her back.
Sam appeared from the kitchen, looking handsome in a short-sleeved Henley shirt – with the buttons undone – and jeans. His eyes met Clara’s, and a smile spread across his face. ‘Morning.’ He waved to her across the gaggle of kids in the hallway.
‘Hi.’ She waved back, unable to move very far as the kids were on the floor in front of her.
Moira and Claire came down the stairs, chatting.
‘Goodness me.’ Moira shook her head at the chaos. ‘I think you should all get your shoes on, and we’ll head out now Clara and Skye are here.’
‘Skye’s so cute.’ Mina ruffled her fur and kissed her on the nose.
‘Yeah, come on, kiddos.’ Sam clapped his hands together. ‘Grandma’s right.’
‘As I always am.’ Moira winked at Clara.
The kids moved off in a flurry of activity as they grabbed shoes and hauled them on. Sam dumped a backpack in the hall.
‘Are you ok?’ He smiled at Clara, finally able to reach her.
‘Yeah.’
‘You can come with me and the boys, if you like,’ Sam said to Clara. ‘We’ll take Skye too. That’ll save you having to bring your car.’
‘Perfect.’
‘Aw, but I wanted to go with Skye,’ Alisha said.
‘You’ll have plenty of time with her when we get there.’ Claire took her hand.
When they got into the car, Kaleb and Jacob immediately started fussing over Skye, and Clara clipped her into the backseat. Skye’s tail was working overtime.
‘Seat belts, boys.’ Sam adjusted his rear-view mirror.
‘Yes, Dad, we know.’
Claire followed in her car as Sam drove off. His strong hands gripped the steering wheel, and Clara admired the flexing muscles in his forearms.
As they drove down the winding country road, the first few houses in Glenbriar came into view next to the edge of the Briar Woods.
Sam headed into the town and turned back towards the loch where Clara had just come from, but he turned down the road that led to Heather Glen Campsite and the south side of the loch.
They passed the Loch View Hotel, and Kaleb and Jacob giggled at it.
‘Why is it pink?’ Jacob asked.
‘I’m not actually sure,’ Sam said. ‘Do you know?’ he asked Clara.
‘No, I don’t.’
Some miles down, they turned into a car park at the side of the road bearing a sign for the Falls of Briar. Everyone piled out of the cars, stretching and chattering.
Clara lifted Skye out, and the kids fussed about her some more.
‘This is beautiful.’ Moira looked around at the surrounding forest. ‘Such gorgeous trees and look at the lichen on them. It’s incredible.’ She smiled at Clara. ‘It means the air up here is very clean.’
‘Does it?’
‘Yes, oh, just look at how much of it there is.’
‘I can’t say I’ve ever noticed it before. It’s just something that’s always there.’
‘Mum loves her lichen.’ Sam patted her shoulder, smiling at her. ‘That’s why we lichen thee to a summer’s day.’
Clara half closed her eyes and groaned.
‘Oh dear.’ Moira chuckled. ‘Your jokes don’t get any better, do they?’
‘What? You didn’t lichen it?’
Clara looked at Moira, and they both shook their heads.
Laughing to himself, Sam closed the car doors, and they all set off down a well-kept path, flanked by trees on either side, Skye trotting ahead, her nose to the ground, sniffing everything. Kaleb, Jacob, Alisha, and Mina ran with her, racing each other in short bursts.
Clara fell into step beside Moira, while Sam was a little ahead with Claire.
‘It’s so lovely to have you with us, Clara.’ Moira gave her a pat on the arm.
Clara smiled back at her. ‘You’re a lovely family to be with.’
‘Bless you for saying so.’
A thunderous rushing increased as they made their way down.
‘What about your family?’ Moira asked. ‘Do your parents live nearby?’
‘Not too far away,’ Clara answered. ‘Just south of Perth, and my sister lives close by as well, with her husband and their daughter.’
‘Oh, how wonderful,’ Moira said. ‘It must be nice to have family so close. That’s what my lovely Sam misses. I know he’d be happier if we all lived closer. Still, it’s good that he has a lovely friend like you. You know, it would be lovely to meet your family one day.’
Clara swallowed. ‘Yeah, I’d like that… though I’m not sure when, especially if Sam is moving—’
‘Check this out!’ Kaleb yelled from ahead. The roaring of the water was almost deafening now.
They emerged from the trees, and a huge waterfall cascaded down, clear and sparkling in the sunlight.
‘Stunning,’ Moira said. ‘What a beautiful place.’
Clara’s breath caught in her throat at the sight. The waterfall tumbled down moss-covered rocks, creating a misty veil that sparkled in the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy.
‘It’s magical.’
Clara held Skye’s lead tightly as they got closer to the rail around the large, paved viewing area. Spray leapt up and hit her face, and Skye quivered slightly. Clara crouched down and cuddled her.
‘Is she ok?’ Sam bent down next to them.
‘This is quite scary for her.’
‘Shall I take her on? You stay for a bit and get some pictures.’
‘Aw, thank you.’
Sam took Skye, who trotted off happily with him, and Clara joined Moira and Claire in getting out her phone and snapping photos of the waterfall. Moira got the kids to pose in front of it, and they had fun pulling silly faces.
Once they’d snapped their fill, they began to walk again, Claire and Moira on either side of Clara.
‘Sam told me Olive is possibly moving on again,’ Moira said. ‘Is that what you were going to say before?’
‘Yes.’
‘So annoying,’ Claire said.
‘It’s very distressing for him.’ Moira shook her head with a long sigh. ‘Especially when he’s made such lovely friends here. I hope you’ll stay in touch with him if he has to leave. I know you’re very important to him.’
‘Of course I will.’ Clara gave her a reassuring pat on the arm.
Though staying in touch would never be the same as seeing him every day.
Her heart was at breaking point. She didn’t want to fall too hard.
She let out a little sigh. It was too late for that.
This could be Kerr all over again, but much, much worse.
Her love for Kerr had been one-sided, but this time…
Her eyes met Sam’s, and warmth radiated from him. This definitely wasn’t one sided, but the happy days were running out, and she needed to prepare herself.