“I was the operational director for the largest food charity in the country. Food4Everyone.”
“Impressive. Why do I need to know that?”
“Leth Sholas needs funds for the lifeboat service. And not just a temporary donation here and there. You’ve already laid a great foundation by registering it as a charity. However, to be frank, we as a community have relied heavily on one member to keep this thing afloat.”
“Everyone has chipped in to volunteer at night. And there’s more to it than Annie retiring. Funding has never been lower.”
“Aye, because Annie has been running the show for years, including obtaining funding. Now we need to be proactive or we’re going to lose it.”
“What do you suggest?”
“We could open a store dedicated to the lifeboat service where the majority of its earnings fund full-time station management and perhaps even a full-time service member.”
“And how do you propose we do that?”
“Check your community council email.” I smiled. “I’ve sent over a business proposal.”
Aodhan considered me, seeming exhausted but also somewhat curious. “Give me the shorthand. I will read it, but give me the shorthand.”
“First of all, there are government grants we can apply for to help set up the store. I can apply to the emergency planning department in the Argyll & Bute Council for funding since it’s an emergency service we’re providing. There are government grant registers I can look into, not to mention nongovernment grants I know we’d be eligible for. As for the store itself, there is an empty lot of land right at the end of Main Street that I know you own, Aodhan. We put up a kit-built structure that’s quick to assemble, and voilà—we have the LSLS Charity Gift Shop for tourists right where they can’t miss it. Along with secondhand items donated by our own community, we also prevail upon all the islands’ craftspeople and businesses. We ask them to donate a tiny percentage of their products to the store every month. I’ve also suggested the option of a small monthly subscription donation we can market to all the islands and the mainland. Leth Sholas Lifeboat Service provides emergency rescue across the entire west coast, which means we’re in the position to ask those communities for help too.”
Aodhan had a gleam in his eyes I didn’t quite know how to read. “And who is organizing all this? Taran, you do know the Highland Games take place here in a matter of weeks. I’m run off my feet with it. That out there is the first break I’ve had in days, and you just interrupted it.”
I winced because I could only imagine how busy Aodhan was. All across the Highlands and Islands, communities held their own version of the Highland Games, which were a bit like a Celtic Olympics. Glenvulin held the games here every second year in Leth Sholas. The events spanned an entire week, and people from all over came to participate and spectate.
“I know you’re very busy, so it’ll be me, of course. I understand the legal and practical requirements and so I make the most sense to run it.”
“And who is paying you?”
“I have the income from the coffee shop and bookstore. My staff can manage there while I manage the charity.”
“So, you’ll run an entire charity for free?” He quirked an eyebrow.
“Aye.” I swallowed hard. “I … I need something I’m passionate about to focus on.”
Sympathy softened his expression and Aodhan nodded. “Fine. I’ll read your proposal. But in exchange, you’ll volunteer at the lifeboat station tomorrow evening to man the radio.”
I chuckled because he was such a businessman. “It’s a deal.”
10.Taran
Strolling down Main Street, I nodded to locals I passed coming out of the Lantern and looked out across the harbor to the beautiful view of the water and the coastline of mainland Scotland in the distance. It was just before nine, and I was due at the station to do the night shift. They always had someone there to man the radio, plus at least one volunteer crew member who could start the boat launch while the other volunteers were called in. I knew from my research that the LSLS had their volunteers sign up to a rotation schedule, but I’d never actually worked there before, so I was hoping whoever was crew would show me the ropes on how to work the radio.
In all honesty, I was absolutely exhausted, but the bracing sea air helped. As did the sight of the slowly setting sun casting beams of pink and gold across the Sound of Glenvulin.
I slowed as my attention snagged on a very tall, broad-shouldered man who had his arms wrapped around a blond woman. Her head reached his shoulders. Her back was to his chest, and she leaned against him as they both looked out over the water. At their side was a stunning Alaskan malamute who rested her head between her paws.
Ramsay and Tierney were facing in the opposite direction, so they didn’t see me. I could have called out, but I didn’t want to interrupt their moment. Since both were fairly new additions to the island, I didn’t know Ramsay as well as I knew Tierney. He was a very gruff, rugged carpenter who played the bagpipes and didn’t say much. However, he had these piercing gray eyes that seemed to look right into my soul. I could absolutely see the attraction. And he was different with Tierney. Slightly softer, more affectionate.
Like now as he bent his head to murmur in her ear, his arms visibly tightening around her.
An ache scored across my chest as I sharply looked away and hurried on past.
When my fiancé, Frank, and I broke up, I was relieved because I just wanted to grieve my mother without the pressure of dealing with someone else’s feelings. As selfish as that sounded, that’s what I needed.
And while ultimately, I knew Frank wasn’t “the one,” I missed the companionship. I missed the cuddles. It was great having London as a roommate, to not have to come home to an empty house filled with Mum’s things. But when I closed my bedroom door at night and turned to the empty bed, I couldn’t shake the hollow sadness inside me.
I told myself I was just stressed.
