Page 83 of Chasing a Highland Dream

It had been a long four months for Isla, going through physio and all the discomfort that came with it and then her best friend moving away. Bella had found it amusing sitting on an evening in the apartment and listening to one side of the conversation between Isla and Maeve, who was happily ensconced in her new home on Skye. They were like a pair of teenagers gossiping. Bella was excited to see the two friends reunited again.

‘Did you see that article in the newspaper yesterday about the murder writer? His wife did a full exposé on him!’

‘I did. I felt so bad for her, but she has a beautiful new baby to care for now, she’s well rid of him.’ Seeing the article hadn’t really surprised Bella. It had only been a matter of time.

‘I’m going to drop you and Beau off with your things so you can get settled, then I’ll come back later with Harris, okay?’

Isla feigned hurt. ‘It’s fine,’ she sighed, ‘go abandon your poor old granny so you can go and see your fancy man.’

‘Yep, that about sums it up,’ Bella said, laughing.

‘Charming.’

As they passed through Glentorrin, Bella’s heart skipped as she looked out of Isla’s window to see if Harris was on walkabout. He wasn’t but she did spot Evin, the young Han Solo, and his dog Chewie, whom she had met again the last time she’d visited. Harris had taken her to the Coxswain pub then, too, where a bearded man called Greg something or other had been playing guitar and singing. The locals had been so warm and welcoming. And she had been looking forward to visiting again and getting to know everyone a little better.

It had been hard to be away from Harris, but it had only made their bond stronger. She had fallen deeper in love with her police sergeant-turned-inspector each time she had seen him. And it was evident the feeling was mutual. Last time she had left, they had both been emotional and leaving him had been heart-wrenching. She had cried for a solid hour as she drove Fifi away and back to Inverness.

Harris still wanted her to come and live with him, but she hadn’t wanted to let Olivia down, and her parents were still in Inverness. She was doing really well on her interior design course and had been overjoyed to get full marks on all but one assignment so far and had even begun to make preparations to set up her own business with the money her granny had insisted on giving her. Her website was ready to go and the business cards were printed. She would soon have her dream within her grasp. How things were changing.

Bella parked up outside Pabay View Retirement Home and walked around to help Isla out of the car. She was still walking with a stick but had come such a long way on her recovery journey.

The manager, Dorothy Lyndhurst, met them at the door. She was an English woman who had grown up in London and had relocated to Scotland when she had met her partner. It was amazing what Isla could wheedle out of people.

‘Ah, Mrs Douglas, it’s good to see you again. You’re looking well. And you’re lots more mobile since your last visit. And this little chap must be Beau. I can see where the name came from, he’s very bonny. Come on, I’ve got the keys to your flat.’

They walked along a covered corridor past a courtyard garden and to a door at the corner of the L-shaped section. ‘Here we go. This is the unit with the largest garden, so Beau should be happy. But of course there’s the shingle beach across the road. And you can always walk along to the post office and have a cuppa at the café next door. It’s dog friendly.’

‘That’s grand,’ Isla replied. ‘Can I go inside?’ she asked Dorothy eagerly.

‘Of course you can, it’s your home now. I’ll leave you to it. There’s a buzzer by the door in case of emergencies or you can telephone reception by pressing one on the phone’s keypad.’

‘Thank you, bye for now,’ Isla said.

She turned the key in the lock and opened the door, but before she could enter, a voice called from next door. ‘Hello, neighbour! Welcome to Pabay.’

Bella and Isla turned to see a dapper elderly gentleman wearing smart grey trousers, a blue shirt and a navy-blue and white spotted dickie bow.

‘Oh, hi there, I’m Bella and this is my granny, Isla Douglas.’

‘Lovely to meet you, Mrs Douglas,’ he said as he sauntered over to them. ‘I’m Tam Guthrie.’

‘Lovely to meet you, Mr Guthrie, but please call me Isla.’

He held out his hand. ‘Then you must call me Tam,’ he said with a bow of his head. Isla shook his hand.

Bella noticed her granny’s cheeks turn a little pink and she smiled, she was going to have to keep an eye on this situation.

Once Isla’s bags were unloaded, Isla patted Bella’s arm. ‘Go on, get to your Harris, I know you’re desperate to see him. I’m going to drop a message to Maeve on the WhatsUp and invite her to my swanky new pad for a cuppa,’ she said with a little giddy jiggle. It was so good to see her happy.

Bella left and climbed back into Fifi. She clicked her favourite song back to the start again and sang along with Florence at the top of her lungs right the way back to Glentorrin.

She stopped in the small car park in front of the police station and climbed out of the car. Birdsong was the only audible sound and she closed her eyes and tilted her face skyward for a moment, inhaling the clean, salty air.

She was nervous and excited in equal measure as she pushed through the police station doors. Harris was on the phone with his back to her when she walked in.

‘Aye, that’s no bother, Dex, I appreciate you sorting that out, pal. I’ll collect the bike tomorrow then if that’s okay. Cheers, buddy. Bye.’ He hung up his call.

‘I’ve come to hand myself in, inspector,’ Bella said in as sultry a voice as she could muster when her heartrate was almost through the roof.