Weighed down with bags, Rocco returned to the car, intending to drive back to the castle, but after he’d placed everything in the boot, he changed his mind, deciding to have a look around the town. A coffee and a bite to eat wouldn’t go amiss, either.
Walking to the end of the main street, he caught a glimpse of the sea, and it drew him like a magnet. When he saw a sign for the harbour, he couldn’t resist.
The aptly named Quay Street led him down a steep hill to a waterfront lined with brightly painted buildings that looked out onto a sheltered bay dotted with small boats.
The smell of frying fish from a chip shop made him smile as he thought of the fish supper he’d eaten with Giselle the other evening.
Strolling down the road a short way, he stopped to peer over the railings and down at the water. A pebble-and-rock-strewn beach caught his eye;Will there be any sea glass on it?he wondered. He was tempted to go looking, but he wasn’t dressed for it, which was ironic since he had half a shop’s worth of suitable footwear and clothing in the boot of his hire car.
Retracing his steps, he was soon facing the main street again, but instead of turning onto it, he carried on up the hill, past a small supermarket, a wine bar, a guest house or two, and then the road levelled off and he paused to take in the view. From up here, the row of pretty painted houses lining the quay was strung out before him, and he did the tourist thing and took out his phone.
A photo or two later, he headed back down, aiming for one of the many cafes he’d seen. Diving into the first one he came to, Rocco felt as though he was playing truant from school or throwing a sickie to have an illicit day off work. By rights, he shouldn’t be here, but he was enjoying himself too much to care. When was the last time he’d explored a strange place on his own? Venice, maybe, before a certain silver-haired sprite had knocked his table over, and then they’d explored the city together – and it had been much more fun with Giselle.
Abruptly, he wished she was with him now, insisting on paying for his late lunch with a few notes wrestled from her bra.
As he ate, he wondered how she would react to his return to Coorie Castle. Would she even react at all? Maybe there’d be some mild surprise on seeing him again, and perhaps some smug satisfaction that her beloved isle had dug its claws into him and wasn’t letting go easily. But nothing more. And why did that bother him?
He was just finishing a second cup of delicious coffee when his phone rang.
Scrambling to answer it so as not to disturb the cafe’s other customers, Rocco’s heart sank when he saw his mother’s name on the screen.
‘Hello, Beverly,’ he said warily.
‘Nora tells me you’re not on the flight.’
‘Er, no.’ Damn. He should have phoned his mother when he’d thought about it, and he guessed he’d need to apologise to his PA since Beverly had probably given her a grilling as to his whereabouts and intentions.
‘Would you care to explain?’
‘Give me a moment.’ He pushed his chair away from the table and got to his feet.
‘I don’t want to give you a moment. I want an explanationnow.’ Her anger was clear, despite her voice not being raised.
‘Wait until I’m outside.’
‘Where are you?’
‘In a cafe.’
‘Where is the cafe?’
‘Portree. It’s the largest— Never mind. Thanks,’ he said to the woman at the till as he paid for his food, then hurried out of the door. ‘Right, you can shout at me all you like now.’
‘I never shout.’ It was true, she didn’t: her frosty tone and icy glare were usually enough to show her displeasure. ‘What’s going on, Rocco?’
‘There’s nothing to worry about. I just fancied a break.’ He began walking, dodging around pedestrians as he headed for the car.
‘InScotland?’ Her tone was scathing.
‘I may as well, since I own a place here.’
‘Not for long, hopefully.’
A pang caught him unawares. ‘Which is why I thought I’d make the most of it.’
‘And what most is there to make? Is there something you’re not telling me?’
‘I saw a fox this morning,’ he blurted, without thinking.
