ChapterOne
This had been the best idea Bea Fernsby had had in the last eight years.
She wasn’t known for taking chances but here she was following the mountainous roads up into the Scottish Highlands. According to the satnav she would reach her destination in approximately seven miles. It was the beginning of August and her whole world had come crashing down. The man she’d trusted her future to since the age of fifteen had let her down, again. Her memories had been shattered, her engagement was over and the future was scary.
Bea wasn’t a confident driver – the furthest she’d ever driven was to the nearest town – so she tried to concentrate as the roads became more winding. She shuffled her numb bum in the seat and took a quick glance at the spectacular view out of the window: wall-to-wall mountains under the wide cobalt sky, with a few scattered clouds. Her phone rang, causing her to jump, and when she looked at the flashing screen, she saw it was Emmie. She knew her sister would be worried about her so she picked up the call.
‘Where the hell are you?’
‘The Scottish Highlands,’ replied Bea.
‘Don’t be ridiculous. That’s miles away!’
‘I’m not being ridiculous. I actually am in the Scottish Highlands. I just needed to get away for a couple of weeks.’
‘Look, running away isn’t going to help the situation.’
Bea wanted to be anywhere that didn’t remind her ofhim. She carefully manoeuvred the next twist and turn. ‘I’m not running away. I’m taking time for me.’
‘Yes, he made a mistake, but he’s sorry and wants to put it right.’
Bea sighed heavily. ‘He’s cheated.Again.And this time he had the audacity to blame the death of his father for his lack of self-control. There’s nothing to work out.’ She really didn’t want to talk about this anymore or she’d arrive at the B&B close to tears.
There was a heavy silence.
Bea swallowed and hoped her voice didn’t falter. ‘As hard as it is – because it’s so easy to fall back into the same routine – I know my worth and what I deserve. I’m just thankful we didn’t get married or have children, otherwise this would be a right holy mess.’ All Bea had ever wanted was to settle down with the man of her dreams, have a family and live the fairy tale with the happy-ever-after. But she was beginning to think she wasn’t destined to find the one.
‘And anyway, this might be a good thing for me.’
‘How do you make that out?’
‘It will give me time to breathe. I’ve always been good, dependable Bea. Always putting others first – and where has that got me? What exactly am I doing with my life? Unlike you, I don’t even have a decent job that inspires me to get out of bed in the morning.’ Although at times their relationship was strained, and Emmie’s way was always the right way, Bea admired her sister. Not only did she have a family but she was also a highly successful midwife. ‘I need to figure out what exactly my dream is. I want to make a difference in life and all I’ve been doing is standing still. It’s time for that to change.’
‘But you’re going to be by yourself.’
‘I’ll be fine. I’m wearing my big girl’s pants.’ Beawantedto be by herself. She wanted to take time out where no one knew her or looked at her in that sympathetic way, knowing that she’d been cheated on, and she certainly didn’t want to have to talk about it. ‘Emmie, I need to concentrate. I’m literally driving on a single-lane mountain track and I need to follow the satnav.’
‘Okay, but you call me as soon as you get to… And where exactly are you staying?’
‘A village called Heartcross, and I promise I will.’
As Bea hung up the call, she looked down at her engagement ring and gripped the steering wheel. He was her past and all she could do now was concentrate on the future. She was more than mad at herself for letting him consume her thoughts for even a moment. She needed to think about herself now, not him. She snaked around the coastal path as the satnav led her through a town called Glensheil, which was joined with Heartcross by a bridge. Coming around a corner, Bea got her first glimpse of the River Heart, glistening in the sunlight. Taking a moment, she pulled into a small layby just next to the bridge and, with the engine still running, stepped out of the car and breathed in the fresh Scottish air. She looked down at her finger, pulled off her engagement ring and turned it over in her hand. Damn that man. Bea screamed ‘URGHH’ at the top of her voice, surprising a few passers-by, before hurling the ring into the river. Lowering her arm, she exhaled, smoothed down her top and climbed back into the car.
Feeling better, she began to drive over the bridge then bumped along a gravel track and noticed the sign saying, ‘Welcome to Heartcross’. She was so glad she’d stumbled across this village on social media. ‘Heartcross village is a tranquil place off the beaten track, surrounded by majestic mountains, heather-wreathed glens and beautiful waterfalls – a place untouched by time,’ she’d read.
She decided that the internet had described this place perfectly as she took in the magnificent view and slowed the car, coming to a stop at the bottom of Love Heart Lane, which Bea couldn’t help thinking was an ironic name, given she’d just well and truly had her heart broken.
The whitewashed terrace houses a little further up the narrow lane looked utterly gorgeous with their potted plants guarding the duck-egg-blue front doors with tumbling blooms full of colour. There was a sign for ‘Bonnie’s Teashop’ and Bea smiled at the comical-looking alpacas grazing in a field alongside. To cap it all, a majestic mountain stood tall at the top of the lane, backed by the beautiful blue sky. This was just what Bea needed – a change of scenery to change her life. She checked the piece of paper that was lying on the passenger seat, on which she’d scrawled the address for ‘Julia’s B&B’, and saw that, according to the satnav, it was only a few hundred yards off the main high street. With the hope of a shower and food in the next hour, Bea couldn’t wait to check in and start exploring the village. She began to drive on, still staring up at the mountain, when she heard the screech of tyres followed by the long beep of a horn.
Bea slammed her foot on the brake, her eyes darting over her shoulder. Time slowed and her seatbelt tightened as she watched a Union Jack-roofed Mini mount the kerb and plunge into the hedgerow. She squeezed her eyes shut and felt her chest tighten. Her body trembled as she put the car into neutral, pulled on her handbrake and switched off the engine. Unclipping her seatbelt, she pushed open the car door.
‘Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,’ she shouted, tripping over her own feet as she hurried towards the Mini. The driver’s side door opened and a woman stepped out of the car.
‘I’m really sorry, that was my fault. I wasn’t looking where I was going. Are you okay?’
‘Yes, though a little surprised,’ replied the woman.
Bea was taken in by her appearance. Her hands were wrapped in fingerless gloves, her wrists laced with bangles and her bony fingers stacked with silver rings. Draped around her shoulders was a black shawl and from her tiny waist hung a black skirt with gold crescent moons. Bea knew she was staring, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the woman standing in front of her.
