‘Look at that,’ he said, pointing to islands ahead. ‘Pladda and Ailsa Craig. Is that right?’
She nodded.
‘Wow,’ he said, ‘and is there anything on them?’
Rosie shook her head. ‘Not a lot other than birds and, of course, the lighthouse on Pladda. Though there was some chat about developing holiday lodges there too. But who knows.’
‘It is really stunning,’ said Luke thoughtfully.
‘I think so,’ said Rosie. ‘And another random piece of information is that curling stones are made from the granite that is harvested from Ailsa Craig.’
‘This is like having my own personal tourist guide,’ murmured Luke, who was just glad that they could now relax in each other’s company again after being a bit awkward at the start.
In that instance, he was transported back to a Sydney bar and she was laughing loudly at something he had said. Then he had leaned forward and kissed her. A memory floated through his mind of them lying together in his hotel room cocooned from the rest of the world. He gave her a sideways glance. If only he had known then what he knew now. How different might his life have been? He and Rosie obviously weren’t meant to be together back then. They were too young and neither ready to settle down. But what if hehadsettled down with her? Or what if he had met someone else who wasn’t Cindy? What would his life have been like if Rosie hadn’t met her husband? But then that would have meant he wouldn’t have his boys and Rosie wouldn’t have Ben. He knew that neither of them would have been without their kids. Life had a way of unfolding as it should.
‘What have you been up to?’ said Rosie with a smile, nudging him.
‘I was out walking. It helps me think,’ said Luke, rubbing a hand over his jaw which was now covered in stubble.
‘About?’
‘About how much I love it here. How wonderful it has been to have space and not be surrounded by people. It made me realise how much I appreciate the countryside and the sea — and this.’
She looked at him. ‘Who would have thought that a summer on Arran would have transformed you like this?’
Luke knew it wasn’t just the place that had done that and he turned to look at her. ‘How amazing it has been to reconnect with you after all these years. Do you remember the Q bar?’
Rosie nodded. It was the Sydney bar they had met in all those years ago. She nodded and looked at him curiously. ‘Especially the sticky floor.’
He laughed and reached for her hand. ‘All this time alone writing and walking and thinking means I have been doing a lot of soul searching, Rosie. And remembering things from way back.’
‘What sort of things?’ said Rosie gently.
‘That night when we met at the bar. I’d never laid eyes on such a stunning girl.’
Rosie stared straight ahead, her cheeks burning red and he wondered if she was remembering it too.
‘The thing is I did recognise you when I saw you here that night I arrived with Bella. But everything was so out of context. It just took me a while to piece things together.’
Rosie shrugged. ‘That’s okay.’
Luke took a deep breath then exhaled a long sigh. ‘I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m sorry. For being young and stupid and for disappearing. But most of all, I’m sorry for ever letting you go.’
‘Well, I have to say that I do now see you in a different light.’
‘Oh,’ he said hopefully.
Rosie glanced at him. ‘Yes, I no longer think you’re the selfish and self-absorbed prick that you were in your twenties.’
‘Ooft. I suppose I deserved that,’ he said. ‘And now?’
‘Now, I see the real you. I feel like over the summer I’ve got to know the real Luke who is kind and compassionate and funny . . .’
Luke waited for her to finish. ‘And . . .’
Rosie laughed. ‘And you’re not bad looking either, given your age.’
Luke felt a surge of excitement in his stomach and tried to shrug casually. ‘You’re not too bad yourself.’
