“Aye, really.”
“I’m off to Glasgow for uni and I can’t wait.”
I glanced at Quinn, unable to help myself. He stared at the sandwich in his hand as if he couldn’t bear to take another bite. This time, the sharp sensation in my chest was for him. Heather leaving for school had to be hard. Maybe even a familiar pain.
“You should go out and see what’s beyond the island,” I told his daughter. “And maybe you’ll prefer life in the lowlands. Maybe you’ll travel beyond even those borders. But it might surprise you how much you’ll miss the sea air. The community. In Glasgow, if my heating was on the blink, I had to wait for days for someone to come out and fix it. Here, there’s always someone to help you. Even if it’s just to offer you a warm place to stay.”
I could feel Quinn staring at me again.
Heather narrowed her eyes. “Is that what you really believe?”
“Aye.”
“Then how come this is the first time you’ve been home since you left?”
“Heather,” Quinn clipped out.
She blanched at his disapproving tone, but I waved my hand. “It’s fine. I … uh … I had a job I loved there,” I hedged.
“I miss it here,” Angus announced after swallowing a massive bite of food.
His sister scowled. “That’s not what you said yesterday.”
“Yesterday I was missing hockey practice with my friends.”
It was then I remembered Quinn’s children no longer lived on the island with him. According to Tierney, they lived with Kiera on the mainland.
I would be lying if I didn’t admit I was rabidly curious to know why their marriage broke down, but it was none of my business.
“Missing one practice isn’t going to ruin you.” Quinn held out another sandwich to his son.
Angus took it with a “Nuh-uh.”
“Oban isn’t exactly the big city, but at least our friends are there. Well, mine are in Paris.” Heather shot her dad a look that could kill.
I instantly surmised she wanted to be in Paris with her friends and not on Glenvulin with her dad.
Poor Quinn.
“I have friends here still.”
“Like who?” his sister practically snarled at her brother.
Oof. Clearly, I’d gotten Heather’s good side. Why were her brother and father getting her bad mood?
“Like Finn.” Angus shrugged. “We’re going to hang out while I’m here. After he gets back from a fishing thing with his dad and Aird.”
“My Finn?” I hadn’t realized my nephew was friends with Angus.
“Oh, aye, right.” Quinn’s son nodded. “Forgot you were his aunt.”
Well, shit. Didn’t that sting?
“You’re just sucking up to Dad now.” Heather huffed. “Yesterday you hated it here. There’s nothing to do.”
“You could help me volunteer at the LSLS.” Quinn gave his daughter a pointed warning look. “Give back a little before you venture off to uni.”
LSLS. The Leth Sholas Lifeboat Service? “Are you volunteering at night?” I asked before Heather could respond. Annie was the full-time volunteer station manager during the day. The community chipped in, taking turns to run the station at night.
