“When Dad left, I came down here and I just … I just, like, yelled. I yelled and yelled and yelled.” Quinn rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks turning a bit red. “And I felt better.”
“Really?”
“Aye. Loads better.” He took a step toward me. “You can try it. If you want.”
I wanted to. But embarrassment stopped me.
Quinn stepped toward the water. And then he roared like a lion cub, the sound echoing around the cove.
A giggle of surprise burst out of me.
Quinn glanced back, grinning. “Try it.”
Taking a step toward the water, I tried not to think about the sand that had gotten inside my shoes and was squishing against my socks.
At first, nothing came out but a squeak.
Then I drew in a breath and let out a scream.
It was weird, but it did help. Like I didn’t feel quite so heavy.
So I screamed some more.
I screamed until I was hoarse.
Then I fell on my bum and cried really hard. Like I hadn’t allowed myself to in front of anyone. It felt like every part of me was crying.
To my shock, Quinn sat down next to me and took my hand in his.
We sat there long enough for Laird to come looking for us. He was mad I’d left.
But for once, I didn’t care.
Quinn had made me feel like I wasn’t alone for the first time since Dad died. And that was worth an annoyed big brother and soggy socks.
5.Taran
July, This Year
Istared at Quinn’s daughter, Heather, trying to figure out how to answer her question.
Did I miss Glasgow?
I missed my job and my coworkers. But Glasgow had never felt like home.
Not like here. I couldn’t have borne my grief back in Glasgow. Being here made me feel closer to Mum. And I’d forgotten how much the sea at my door strangely grounded me.
“No, I don’t,” I finally answered.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Quinn stiffen at my answer. Felt his attention intensify.
It was difficult to be here with him and his children, but I found it hard to say no to his daughter’s invitation. Heather’s curiosity made me wonder if she knew more than she let on about my and her dad’s history. If Quinn hadn’t told her, had Kiera? She looked so much like her mother.
And Angus … goodness, when he smiled, it was like revisiting a memory. He was so much like Quinn at that age. It hurt. It hurt so badly because when I was Heather’s age, I thought I’d be sitting here on this beach that meant so much to us … but withourchildren.
Why did it still hurt so much?
Heather cocked her head in thought, as if she could see everything I felt, but I kept my face perfectly blank. “Really?”
