Alpaca love
Life could certainly be strange at times. Some changes took forever and still only scratched the surface, while others happened almost overnight and were profound and long-lasting.
Three weeks after the dramatic night of the thunderstorm, Shona found herself in what used to be the distillery’s malt barn and was now her alpaca stable.
Teary-eyed, she looked into one of the two smaller boxes, where Paula and her newborn baby Stella were housed.
A week ago, an animal welfare organisation from Inverness had contacted Kendrick looking to rehome four alpacas and asking for his help.
Fortunately, he was able to do so right away, as there was plenty of room for more alpacas in Kirkby, thanks to the vastly oversized stable Marlin had since completed.
So Ringo, Georgia, Joanna and Paula had moved into the Golden Alpaca Distillery too.
Paula had given birth to her baby only a day ago, and the little one was developing splendidly.
At this point, Shona was the legal owner of nine alpacas, who would be more than just fluffy mascots for her distillery.
Alpaca walks and hikes were popular, and she would be offering those starting with the next tourist season.
That was what she had agreed upon with Mayor Collum earlier today.
Annabel, the local GP, had also visited her earlier on alpaca business.
She had learned that the trusting little camels were perfectly suited to be trained as therapy animals and was curious to learn more.
The way things were looking, Shona’s small herd would certainly earn their board and lodging.
When Shona thought back to all that had happened these past few months, she couldn’t believe the massive turn her life had taken.
A year ago, she had been living and working in London but starting to enjoy her urban life less and less.
By December, she had returned home to Kirkby with a half-baked plan to open her own distillery.
Now, the business was doing well, mainly due to her Alpaca Thistle gin, which she had initially thought up just as an interim product.
She could only hope that her whisky would be as successful in a few years’ time.
“Come on, you two, we still have to visit Azzedine before we go home,” she said to Orla and Higgins, who were with her today.
Which was no longer the case every day. The wolfhounds had taken to Kendrick – and his comfy sofa!
– as much as to her, and often enough one or both of them trailed along as he visited patients in the area.
Today, however, he had gone to Edinburgh very early in the morning and hadn’t been able to take them.
Shona checked her watch. She had to hurry to be home on time.
Home had been Kendrick’s cottage for three weeks now.
After the stormy night, she had just stayed.
Sure, it was a little crazy, but it felt good and right, and oddly enough, she had a sense that the house had been waiting for her.
She didn’t know what the future would hold and if Kendrick and she would stay together; then again, what was certain in life anyway?
They had decided to commit to each other for as long as it felt right to both of them, and Shona hoped more and more each day that it would be for a very long time. Preferably forever.
Rupert’s stables were still busy. Hailey had just returned from a ride on her spirited mare Airgead, red-cheeked and in high spirits.
“So, you’re still visiting Azzedine?” she asked as she swung out of the saddle.
“Of course I am! I don’t want him to feel left behind now that all the alpacas have moved.” Shona smiled. “I really can’t wait to ride him.”
“He’s making great progress. If you’re up for it, we can give it a try at the weekend,” her cousin replied as she followed Shona inside.
Azzedine had relocated to the busier stable for the riding horses and seemed to enjoy the constant comings and goings.
His box was next to Tilly’s, Colleen’s horse, and he had already made friends with the pretty chestnut mare.
Shona had spent very little time on horseback in recent years.
London was not the best place for it, and she hadn’t missed it much either.
Even after her return to Kirkby, she had rarely taken a horse out.
But since their childhood pony, Spikey, had died, she had felt a renewed desire to ride.
“Azzedine needs a woman to ride him,” Kendrick had told her the day after the thunderstorm.
“And you’d be perfect for him. I knew you were his person before I realised you could be mine too,” he had admitted with the irresistible smile she had seen a lot of for some time now.
It certainly suited him so much better than the grim, stern professional demeanour!
But Shona still had to be patient. Hailey was working with Azzedine to turn the former racehorse into a regular leisure horse.
“Are you going to watch the big show later?” Shona called from the box to Hailey, who was grooming Airgead in her own box across the aisle.
“Of course I am! I’m sure Collum would have put up a big screen at the Old School, but Colleen talked him out of it at the last minute.”
“I can’t wait to see how it turns out. Isla always says she doesn’t care about winning this, but I don’t entirely believe her,” said Shona. She herself was really excited.
“It’s such a big deal that she’s made it all the way to the last round.
Just think about it! The Thistle is now officially one of the top three restaurants in the UK and Ireland.
That’s huge,” Hailey replied. “And I bet that’ll get her a second Michelin star, so I guess it’s really secondary if she wins this or not, isn’t it? ”
Shona shrugged. Hailey was probably right, but she was rooting for Isla to win the bloody cooking show nevertheless.
Her sister definitely deserved it. “Whatever the outcome, when she and Jon get back in two days, we’ll have a spectacular party!
” Shona had already organised it with Colleen, Collum and Kristy.
“I’m sure the entire town will turn up,” Hailey agreed.
“It’s the least we can do,” Shona murmured against Azzedine’s neck and scratched the crest of his mane, one of his favourite spots.
He was such a friendly and trusting horse that her heart melted every time she saw him.
He had settled in so well and was now just as much at home here as the wolfhounds, alpacas – and she herself. What a great feeling!
“I’m glad everything turned out so well,” Hailey said, suddenly right next to her.
“You mean with Azzedine?”
“That, and a lot of other things too. Especially you and Kendrick, and that our friendship hasn’t suffered because of ... you know.”
“How many times do I have to say it? I will be eternally grateful to Kristy and you for setting me straight. It was what I needed. Exactly that day, and exactly that dramatically.” Shona pulled her cousin into a quick hug. “Thank you again, and now I have to get home.”
She said goodbye to Hailey and her horse and walked back to the village with the dogs.
Was Kendrick home yet? He had only sent a short text earlier in the afternoon to say that he was done and on his way.
She hadn’t heard from him since. As they turned into the street of Kendrick’s house – their home!
– the dogs picked up the pace. They were clearly in a hurry to get to their food bowls and the cosy sofa.
The windows were brightly lit, making the sun rise in Shona’s heart as well.
She started to jog because she didn’t want to wait a second longer than necessary to sink into his arms.
Kendrick had apparently seen them, because as they approached, he opened the front door, arms spread wide. Orla and Higgins greeted him first before dashing straight inside, but Shona lingered in his embrace to enjoy his warmth and feel his heartbeat against hers.
“How was it?” she enquired after a while.
“I’ll tell you all about it, but let’s get inside first. Or do you want to spend the evening on our doorstep?” He chuckled and pulled her into the house.
The kitchen smelled deliciously of pasta sauce. “Have I mentioned how much I love you?” she asked as she lifted the lid of the pan and discovered a bubbling tomato sauce.
“Not today you haven’t.”
She turned to him, stood on tiptoe and cupped his face with both hands.
“Well, then I better make it up to you: I love you. I would love you even if you were a rubbish cook like me. But you aren’t, and I might love you just a little more for it.
” She planted a kiss on his lips and immediately pulled away.
“I’m happy to prove how much I love you later, but now, we’ll have to watch the show. I can’t wait to find out if Isla won.”
“And I love you because you’re a woman who has her priorities straight.” He grinned and stirred the sauce. “I just need to cook the pasta and we can eat in ten.”
Shona fed the dogs, washed her hands and took a seat at the kitchen table. There was a thin folder. “Is that the contract?” she wanted to know.
“Aye, we settled all the points that seemed sensible at the moment and agreed to renegotiate if things come up later.”
“I’m very proud of you for making this decision,” she said and rose again to join him at the stove. “I think it’s the right one. Glenna and Davina are going to be great parents.”
“I think so too. Thank you for helping me realise that.” He pulled her close and held her tight. “And I’m going to be the best uncle a child can have.”
“I don’t have the slightest doubt about that,” she replied. “And how was it at the clinic? Do they actually provide porn in the wanking room?”
“Okay, so it’s not called a ‘wanking room’, and it’s a ‘sample extraction’ ...” he began.
“That doesn’t sound any better,” she interrupted, giggling.