“Did Lulu paint this?” At my nod, she whistles. “Wow. It’s incredible. So intense. You know Mum has some of her father’s work in the hallway upstairs at home, don’t you?”
It takes me a minute to register what she’s said. Finally, I connect some of the dots. Mum is an avid art collector. If she knows of Lulu’s father, perhaps she would know where to find him. I hear myself actually growl. It’s beyond frustrating I can’t ask her because that information could lead me to Lulu so much faster.
“I don’t suppose you have any idea what his name is or where he lives, do you?”
“No, I don’t. But I’d bet Mum does. You know how she fangirls over her favourite artists.”
“Right. But there’s no way I want to speak to Mum. So how do I get that information out of her without tipping her off as to who I’m involved with? I don’t want to risk any more interference from Meddling Mary.”
Claire’s expression takes on an evil gleam I’m familiar with from our childhood. “Hmm. Well, leave this to me. I’ll squeeze it out of her without her even realising it.”
I wrap my arms around my sister, grateful beyond words.
“Claire. I love you. You’re a lifesaver. But right now, I have to go. I have a flight to catch.”
“You do indeed.” She swings her keys in the air. “Would you like a lift to the airport?”
As I’m disembarking in Glasgow, I get a message from Claire. I don’t know what she said or how she did it, but she’s pretty confident Duncan MacLeod lives in the Highlands, somewhere near Inverness, and Meddling Mary is none the wiser as to where I’ve gone. I shoot a message to Mandy with the new information so she can pass it on to Steve.
I decide to take a chance and get straight on a connecting flight to Inverness. By the time I exit the airport, with no real plan other than to find Lulu, I’m exhausted, rumpled and smell like airline food. Business class may give you more legroom, but nothing can save you on the long haul from Australia. I book into a hotel, order room service, take a long shower and fall face first on the enormous bed.
I’d like to say the sun is shining and the birds are chirping when I wake, but this is Scotland. The clouds have gathered, and a freezing rain is falling. Still, I’m a man on a mission and like the American postman and Santa, neither rain nor snow nor heat nor gloom are going to stop me.
Powering up my laptop, I google art galleries in Inverness. There are a quite a few, but only eight look likely to house the type of work Duncan MacLeod creates. I fire off an email to Mandy to let her know my plans, slide into my coat, stuff my hat, gloves and scarf into my pocket and head out.
All the galleries are familiar with Duncan MacLeod. Some even have his work on display. It’s hauntingly beautiful, although not at all like Lulu’s work. None of them will give up his address or even a hint of where he might live. It’s three o’clock and almost dark already by the time I start to make my way back to the hotel. Down but not out.
Standing at a crossing, waiting for the lights to change, I find myself face to face with a jewellery shop window. It occurs to me to wonder what I’m going to say to Lulu when—not if,when—I find her. Of their own volition, my feet take me into the welcome warmth of the little shop.
“Gude afterrrnoooon.” The tiny man behind the counter greets me with almost unintelligible English, putting far more letters into the words than they require. “How caan I help yeee today?”
“I need a ring,” I blurt. This blurting is becoming a habit, and not a good one.
“A ring, yee say?” he asks, rolling the r for what seems like a full minute.
“Yes. A ring. An engagement ring.” I need to show Lulu I am serious about a relationship with her. Even though I have no real idea what her feelings on the matter are, I need to put myself out there. If she says no, well, I’ll work out my next move then. But as Will would say, go hard or go home.
The little man looks me up and down, then holding up a finger to indicate I should wait, disappears behind a curtained doorway, returning moments later with a black velvet tray glittering with stars.
“This is our special selection. I don’t keep them on display because they’re no’ for the faint of heart. But you look like this ring is serious business, so here we are.” He reverently slides the tray onto the glass counter in front of me. There are only a dozen or so rings, all of them enormous. I scan them quickly, and right away, I know the ring for her. It’s not the biggest, but it is by far the most beautiful. Heavy and worked in white and yellow gold, it has an almost medieval feel. A dark oval sapphire sits in the centre, with a diamond and a ruby on either side. The jeweller sees where my gaze has stopped.
“I see ye have excellent taste, lad. That there is an Australian sapphire. Best in the world they are. Diamonds there beside, and a little cabochon ruby to finish it off. Of course, should it no’ fit, we’ll be happy to resize it at no charge.”
Moments later, I walk out of the shop with a ring I hope to have on Lulu’s finger within days.
As I cross the hotel lobby, my phone chimes with a message from Mandy:
We’ve found him.
And attached is a Google Maps link. I reverse my steps and head to the reception desk.
“I’d like to book a rental car for tomorrow, please.”
“Certainly. For how long, sir?”
“Honestly? I have no idea. I’m hoping for the rest of my life.”
The girl behind the counter smiles. “I see. Well, how about we start with a week?”
