It was a windy day up on Gyle Head, and Deb tucked a shawl around Janice’s shoulders.
‘You’re sure you’re warm enough?’ she asked her mother, who was sitting in a wheelchair next to her, but Janice gave her that familiar frown that Deb knew meantdon’t fuss.
‘I’m fine, for goodness’ sake, Deborah. It’s June,’ Janice hissed.
Some things never change, Deb thought, as she stood up.
Kyle stood at the centre of the gathering, looking uncharacteristically nervous. Hal Cameron stood next to Deb and Janice, who had been persuaded to be pushed up to Gyle Head in a wheelchair. Zelda, looking characteristically glamorous with her sleek black ponytail – even in jeans and mud-covered wellies – held his hand.
Next to Hal, the crochet coven was in attendance, along with Fiona, Dotty and Eric from the Inn, and a variety of other locals.
‘Thanks, everyone, for coming today.’ Kyle raised his voice over the wind. ‘I thought it was important to explain exactly what’s been going on up at the development, and answer some of your concerns. I’m sorry that I haven’t done so until now.’ He took a breath, and Deb caught his eye and smiled.
‘I know that many of you – rightly – had concerns about the building work, and how it was going to impact on the wildlife up here. I did consult with the environment agency before I began work, about the capercaillie and the red squirrel habitats on Gyle Head. We’ve been working hard to rehome the resident populations in the nearby forest, and you’ll see from the handouts I’ve given you that we’ve been very successful. That’s the environment agency report, saying that they’re happy we’ve provided alternative arrangements and put a variety of structures and techniques in place to protect the local wildlife, going forward.’
Deb looked over at Mina, who was leafing through the handout she’d been given, an unreadable expression on her face. The crochet coven had got what they wanted. Deb wondered if a little bit of Mina was sad to have lost an adversary, but she was glad that the antagonism could be over now.
‘And, I’d like to add, on a personal note.’ Kyle cleared his throat. ‘I know that I haven’t been the easiest person to deal with over the past few months, and I apologise for that. Someone here made me see that diplomacy and communication wins the day, and not always brute force and obstinacy.’ He smiled ruefully, meeting Deb’s gaze. ‘Thank you, Deb. You improve me, and I’m so grateful to have you in my life.’
Deb blushed as everyone turned to look at her. She was mortified at the attention, but her heart felt full.
It had been just a few weeks since the May Day party when Kyle had shared his feelings for her, and since then, she’d made some big decisions. That job was over, but Deb had known for a while that she wasn’t going back to live with Dan. She was a free agent, and working freelance meant that she could live anywhere.
For the moment, she’d agreed with Hal that she’d stay at the cottage and rent it for six months, and then see where shewas. She and Kyle were taking things slowly, but she was feeling happier than she had for a long time.
She had almost gone back to Glasgow. It was very tempting to want to go back and look after Janice, but her mother had persuaded her out of it. They’d come to a compromise: Janice’s carer came in twice a day and could take her to hospital appointments. Deb would go back and visit often, and if she wanted to, she could stay with Janice in the flat for a few days if she thought her mum needed it. But Janice was doing much better now that she had someone looking after her every day, and Deb felt more at peace about the situation. It might change – it would, at some stage – but for now, it was okay. It was doable.
‘As you know, there’s also a history on Gyle Head that some families were unfairly evicted from their homes here, many years ago,’ Kyle continued. ‘I’d like to invite Hal Cameron to talk for a moment about that. Hal?’
‘Right, yes.’ Hal moved forward so that he was in the centre of the space with Kyle. ‘So, as some of ye might remember from the party, we did discover that there was a terrible scandal here, years ago, where four families were evicted from their cottages because the previous laird – my ancestor, Duncan Cameron – wanted tae build the auld folly up here an’ have the land for his parties an’ what have ye. Now, as it turns out, one o’ those families were the Sutherlands, which Deborah is actually a direct descendant of. An’ her mother, Janice, who’s here today. I believe that it was Janice’s mother, Elsie? Who was evicted from here as a child.’
‘Elise,’ Janice corrected Hal, making Deb smile. ‘Her name was Elise. Her, and her brother Tom, and their parents, my grandparents. My mother lost her home and then her parents and her brother when she was young. It changed her life. Not in a good way, I’m afraid.’
‘I’m so sorry. And on behalf o’ the Cameron clan, though it can never make up for your loss, I propose that I’ll fund a community hub on Gyle Head as reparation. I’ve included some plans in your handouts here, and Kyle’s company website has the details online. But you’ll see that we’re planning a state-of-the-art playground, a café, toilets an’ baby change facilities, an’ a swimming pool. With yer permission, Janice, it’ll be called the Elise Sutherland Centre.’
Janice looked up at Deb, and then at Kyle and Hal.
‘Are you serious?’ she asked, her voice wavering. Tears were in her eyes. Deb squeezed her mother’s hand, feeling the same rush of grief as Janice was. Standing there on Gyle Head, on the land that her family had once lived on, Deb felt the terrible sadness of being ripped from it with no warning. Now, she understood – viscerally, in her heart and soul and in the fibre of her being – why she had felt so connected to this place.
‘Totally.’ Hal stepped forward, knelt down and took Janice’s hand. ‘I’m so sorry that your mother lost her home, and her family, as a result. Deborah, I’m sorry that my family hurt yours in such a deep and essential way as takin’ away their home. As a chieftain of these lands, I take ma responsibility to all of ma tenants incredibly seriously. I would never, ever do such a thing.’ Hal took Deb’s hand in his.
‘Thank you,’ Deb whispered as she dashed away tears with the back of her other hand. ‘This means so much, Hal. Thank you from both of us.’
‘It can never change what happened. But in some small way, I can make reparations. It’s something I have tae do more than you’d think. Bein’ a landowner, in a family that’s owned land fer generations – it has repercussions,’ Hal continued as he stood up. ‘Land is never truly owned by anyone. It can’t be. By God, maybe.’ He smiled wryly. ‘The king granted the Camerons this land hundreds of years ago. Was it his to give? Arguably, not. DoI have more right tae make decisions about this land than any of you, that also live here and care for it? I don’t think I do. Which is why I try tae work in partnership with the community as much as I can.’
‘So, as well as the community hub, Hal has also agreed to subsidise the sale of over half of the houses I’m building up here. Homes that are environmentally sustainable, with solar power and sedge roofs, by the way. Those houses will be available at well below the market rate and will be sold only to families that need them. I’m not going to let middle class commuters, or holiday letting companies, swoop in and buy them.’ Kyle took over for a moment.
Deb felt a rush of pride in him. She knew how hard he’d worked on this project, and what a difference it would make to local families who would have no chance of having such a nice home otherwise. She was learning that this was how Kyle showed love: in acts of service. And he had managed to make his work – a huge house building project – into an act of service for the whole community, as well as actively persuade Hal Cameron to help heal the wound in Deb’s past.
That was the biggest loving gift that Deb had ever received, and it continued to blow her away every time she thought about it.
‘So, that’s pretty much it. Any questions, we’re here – and I believe that Sheila’s organised teas and coffees, and a celebratory cake.’ Hal pointed to a trestle table that had been set up nearby. The crowd started to disperse, chattering animatedly.
Deb looked down at Janice, who was wiping her eyes with the cuff of her sweatshirt.
‘Are you all right, Mum?’ she asked.
‘I just can’t believe it.’ Janice blinked and cleared her throat. ‘Yes, I’m okay, love. It’s just very emotional, to be here, whereMum was. You know? We might be standing in her footsteps right here. Sitting, in my case.’
