Page 63 of Chasing a Highland Dream

‘Ooh, going anywhere interesting?’ Bella asked as she cut a sliver of the moist cake and placed it in her mouth.

Harris sipped on his coffee but still didn’t meet her gaze. ‘Aye, Glentorrin on the Isle of Skye.’

Bella had never visited Glentorrin but had seen photos of Skye when she was small and remembered the jagged rocks of the Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr and how scary and otherworldly they seemed to her at the tender age of five, like something out of a sci-fi movie. Plus with her procuring Reid Mackinnon’s artwork, she felt like she knew the place.

‘You’re kidding, aren’t you? That’s where the artist lives whose paintings I acquired for the apartments!’

‘Small world, eh?’

‘It really is.’ Something felt strangely serendipitous about the situation, but she wasn’t sure why. ‘It will be lovely. Is your mum going with you?’

‘Ah, no. It’s not a holiday, it’s… it’s actually a work thing.’

Bella was surprised to hear the Inverness and Skye police needed to work together and wondered why. ‘Oh gosh, that’s a long way to go for a collaboration.’

He reached up and scratched at his chin. ‘It’s for an interview, actually. The area’s current inspector is retiring early due to ill health and the position is open so I thought I’d apply. That was a couple of months ago now and my next in-person interview is tomorrow. I’ve already had several phone calls, an online interview via Teams, passed the necessary tests and done all the other bits and bobs of paperwork, checks and such I need to do. Tomorrow is mainly about meeting the chief from Portree there and getting to see the station and visit the area. I didn’t expect to get this far, to be honest.’

Bella wasn’t sure what to say or how to feel for that matter. ‘Oh… wow… That’s…’

Harris smiled. ‘Daunting? Aye, it is. I’m not prepared to leave Mum, so I’m taking some time out to look at accommodation for her while I’m there, you know, just in case. She’s all for it, she says, so long as she goes into something similar to Sunnyside. She reckons she’ll have company that way. I can see her point, but I still felt a bit guilty at first. She seems to have gotten quite keen on the idea, though.’

For some strange reason, Bella’s heart sank and a wave of sadness washed over her. ‘Gosh… It’s a big step.’

‘It is. I’ve not made up my mind yet whether I’ll take the job even if they offer it to me. But I’ve nothing really keeping me here, so…’ He glanced up at her, as if assessing her reaction, but she was too stunned to find the right words.

A strange, heavy atmosphere came over them and Bella lost her appetite. ‘Well, good luck, if it’s something you really want to do.’

‘It’d be a step up for me career-wise. There’s a house that comes with the job too. It’s on the outskirts of the village in a little old bothy that’s been renovated and become the new police station, and the house has been built beside it. It’s not massive but it’ll be fine for me. The pictures look good; the house is what you’d call a blank slate. It’s funny but it’s the dream job I never realised I wanted. And Skye is so beautiful. Great roads for the bike. Have you ever been to Skye?’

Bella shook her head. ‘No. It looks beautiful from the pictures I’ve seen, though.’

‘It’s absolutely stunning. You should visit there sometime.’

‘Yes, maybe I should. What will you do with your family home, though? I’m surprised you’d want to leave that behind.’

He nodded. ‘Aye, it will be hard, but I’ve decided I won’t sell it. I’ll rent it out, you know, if I go. But I haven’t got the job yet.’

Why did he keep reiterating that fact? ‘I don’t think you have anything to worry about on that score,’ Bella replied, knowing full well they would snatch him up, quick smart.

After they had finished their coffee and cake, Harris walked Bella back to her car. ‘It’s been good to see you again, Bella.’ His cheeks flushed and he gave a small smile. ‘I sound like a broken record, don’t I?’

She couldn’t help smiling too. ‘At least you’re consistent. Anyway, good luck with your interview. I’m sure you’ll nail it. Although… I have to say I’ll miss you if you do go. I’ve enjoyed our coffee meet-ups.’ She tried to be as light-hearted as possible, even though she felt the absolute opposite.

‘Aye, me too. We have the beginnings of a good friendship, eh? But you’ll have to come and visit, bring Aiden, maybe?’

Bella was shocked when her eyes began to sting, and she knew she needed to leave as soon as possible. It had taken until now, the completely inappropriate time, to realise her feelings for Harris had been growing. Even though he hadn’t been offered the job, she knew deep down it was only a matter of time. Why wouldn’t they want him? He was good at his job, he was great with people, he was smart, funny, professional, reliable, trustworthy. What more could they possibly want?

He cleared his throat. ‘Well, I’ll see you Saturday. I presume Isla’s going to the day centre tea dance?’

This was news to Bella but, then again, she hadn’t really spoken at length to her granny since Aiden came for movie night. ‘She hasn’t mentioned it, actually, but no doubt she’ll be going. She loves a good boogie.’

‘Right, well, I might see you after if you’d like me to bring her home.’

She smiled and gave a nod. ‘That would be really helpful, thank you. And good luck.’ Before she could stop herself, she stepped forward and hugged him. He smelled clean and fresh like the air of the Inverness-shire outdoors. He wrapped his arms around her and the sinking feeling she had experienced earlier came back with a vengeance.

He pulled away and fixed his gaze on hers. ‘See you soon, Bella,’ he said, his voice almost a whisper. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, lingering a little longer than she expected. She closed her eyes and relished the closeness. But it was too late. She couldn’t say anything now, not now his dream job was on the horizon.

When he had gone, Bella climbed into the car and started the engine. As she pulled out of the car park, Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Heading West’ came on the radio. ‘Oh god, Radio Highland, you’re killing me,’ she said to thin air. And as she listened to the lyrics, she fought back the tears over something she didn’t realise she wanted until it was potentially too late to do anything about it.