With Bella’s sudden departure for the mainland, Rosie was trying to do her best to persuade Isobel to come on the walk with her and Luke. They were sitting on the squishy sofa both still in their pyjamas and enjoying an early cup of tea.
‘No danger,’ Isobel said. ‘I’m not being the third wheel.’
‘Will you be quiet,’ said Rosie. ‘It’s not like that.’
‘Rosie, if you’re trying to tell me to button it, then you should know better than now that I won’t. All I’m saying is that I am not up for playing gooseberry. Especially on a romantic walk through the woods. Which is, by the way, the perfect place to have your wicked way with him.’
Rosie winced.
‘Honestly, I’ll be quite happy having some time to myself. Especially after everything that has happened since I arrived. I could do with some solo time. I’ve already had a look at the buses and I’m going to go into Brodick to do some shopping. There are a few wee gift shops I want to check out and I want to go to Home Farm to get some of that cheese and maybe some new perfume too.’
‘But I feel awful,’ wailed Rosie. ‘You’re supposed to be here to see me and I’ve dumped you for a random bloke.’
Isobel shrugged. ‘It doesn’t matter at all. We weren’t expecting Bella to arrive and to bring an unexpected guest . . . and then we weren’t planning on her making such a hasty exit. It’s not quite been the holiday either of us expected. And that’s okay. Keeps us on our toes. Anyway, the reason I wanted to come and see you was to cheer my supposedly broken-hearted friend up. But it would seem someone else is doing amore effectivejob. And that makes me happy.’
Rosie threw a cushion at her and snorted. ‘Will you stop that! We are just friends. In fact, not even that. I’m his teacher and he is my student.’
Isobel smirked. ‘If that’s what you want to call him.’
‘Listen, about when Ash comes . . .’ said Rosie.
‘Stop trying to change the conversation,’ said Isobel, who had evidently read her thoughts. ‘I know what you’re going to say.’
‘Do you?’ Rosie had tried to broach the subject a few times during the week already and Isobel had either changed the topic of conversation or Bella had walked into the room.
Isobel nodded grimly. ‘Yes. I know it’s something that I need to deal with. I’m not convinced that will be the end of it for Bella. But you’re right. I think it’s worth discussing when the three of us are together.’
‘I think that’s a good idea.’ said Rosie glancing over at Coisty who was sitting on the rug staring at Isobel. ‘But I also think that you’re overanalysing things and worrying too much. It will all fizzle out. Especially when Bella starts her new job. She will forget all about it.’
‘Mm,’ said Isobel non-committedly and patted Coisty’s head. He had now jumped up beside her on the sofa and sat as close to her as he could. Isobel’s fitness watch buzzed. ‘That’s my sign to move, Coisty. I’ve been sitting down for too long.’ She stood up, stretching.
Coisty slinked over to sit next to Rosie, who knew that the conversation was over for now. ‘Right boy, come on, we’d better go and get ready for our walk too.’
‘I’m already looking forward to our debrief later,’ said Isobel with a wink.
Rosie shook her head in exasperation. ‘Well, you will most likely be disappointed.’
* * *
A couple of hours later, Rosie and Luke were making their way through the forest and up towards the falls of Eas Mor. It was a walk that Rosie hadn’t done for ages and she thought that Luke might like to explore and see it. Especially as there was a café there too. She hadn’t told Luke where they were headed as she wanted to surprise him. Her only instructions had been to wear comfy shoes as they would be walking for a while. When he indicated that might be a problem as he only had his smart trainers and golf shoes, she had rummaged in the hall cupboard and loaned him a pair of Ben’s. As they made their way through the lower forest walk, with Coisty running ahead in his element with the smorgasbord of new smells, Rosie inhaled the scent of pine.
Luke was wearing navy shorts and a grey t-shirt, with a sweatshirt tied round his waist. He took off his baseball cap and ran his hands through his hair, shaking his head in awe. Rosie couldn’t help but smile at his appreciation of being outdoors.
‘Yes, it’s the simple things in life that are the best,’ she said with a sigh.
‘Are you going to tell me where we are headed then?’ he asked with a quizzical smile.
‘Nope. You’ll soon see, when you spot the sign,’ she said, and jerked her thumb in the direction ahead. ‘Come on. Let’s keep going.’
‘It’s just as well I trust you,’ he said. ‘It’s not everyone who would feel safe being led deep into the forest like this.’
Rosie grinned. ‘True. Who knows where I might take you. Come on,’ she said sternly. ‘Let’s keep moving.’
‘You’re quite militant,’ said Luke with a chuckle. ‘I’m sure you’d give that Tartan Wanderer guy a run for his money.’
Rosie was puzzled for a minute as she wondered who he was talking about. The Tartan Wanderer? ‘Ah, you mean Logan?’
‘Is that his name? Yes, I saw some of his leaflets in the cottage and I burst out laughing when I saw he was known as the Tartan Wanderer. What a brilliant name.’
