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Ally looks set to burst. “You’ve spent the last four years doing a degree, and now you’re telling me you can’t get a job with it?”
“Ally, chill! If I do a postgrad, I’ll be able to teach English at a secondary school. That’s a job—and one with pretty good holidays. It’s only one more year of uni, although I’ve heard it’s pretty intense, so I won’t be able to work part-time while doing it. That’s all right, though, isn’t it?” She gives her biggest brother a doe-eyed look.
Ally takes several deep breaths then wipes his hand across his face. I squeeze his thigh under the table, letting him know I’m here for him.
“Fuck it,” he says eventually. “All right, one more year, but that’s it, do you hear me? I can’t go on supporting you indefinitely.”
Cat beams. “Thanks, Ally! You’re the best.”
Jamie emerges from the kitchen carrying a tray of cups and saucers, which is a welcome interruption. He hands them out while Lewis brings through milk and a plate of cube-shaped treats that look similar to, but not quite like, fudge. The boys then each fetch a vacuum jug and go around everyone, asking us whether we want tea or coffee.
“What’s this?” Grace picks up one of the cubes and inspects it.
“Tablet,” Lewis says.
“He made it himself,” Elspeth comments proudly. “It’s a traditional Scottish treat.”
I grab a piece and pop it in my mouth. Oh, wow! After barely containing a moan when I tasted the haggis, this time I can’t stop a groan from escaping my lips. The tablet has a coarse, gritty texture, but it melts in the mouth. It has hints of vanilla and is unbelievably buttery and sweet. I take a sip of coffee then another bite. The combination of bitterness and sweetness sends my senses in a spin.
“Delicious!” I announce.
Lewis’s face lights up with a broad, satisfied smile.
“Now, Emily”—Elspeth turns to me—“I’ve been meaning to say for a while what a fine young woman you are.”
The compliment comes out of nowhere and takes me by surprise.
“Oh?”
“She’s blushing!” Jamie points at me. “Look!”
“I’m being serious,” Elspeth insists. “Ally hasn’t been happy for quite some time, but since you got here, well, the change in him has been extraordinary. He goes about with a grin now, and every so often, I’ll catch him and Aidan nattering excitedly about their new business. It’s a fine thing! You only get one life, so it’s important to spend it doing something you love, and thanks to you, Ally has finally realised that. And with the two of them working together on this, Aidan’s also planting roots here in Bannock after years of travelling, so thanks for that too!”
She smiles and adds, “Ally’s a fine lad, always has been, but I’ve often thought he needed a strong woman to guide him right.”
After this speech, all eyes turn to me.
Jamie sniggers. “She’s turned as red as a traffic light! Elspeth, I think that’s her body’s way of telling you to stop.”
Elspeth does stop, but Ally speaks up instead.
“Elspeth’s right. Emily has opened my eyes to a lot of things. I really appreciate it.” He squeezes my hand, and the sincerity in his voice catches me off-guard.
Despite his sweet words, doubt creeps into my thoughts. What if this is all too much too soon? Having thrown himself into the hotel these last five years, at the exclusion of everything else life has to offer, it seems Ally’s now ready for a serious relationship. But am I? I certainly don’t feel ready to gush about him in front of everyone the same way he and Elspeth just gushed about me.
I catch Grace’s eye and can practically hear her telling me this is all going too fast.
“That’s so sweet!” Cat squeals. “Ally never says stuff like that. You really have tamed him, Emily!”
I force myself to smile.
“How did you and Ally get together?” Iona asks me.
My eyes widen, and I glance at Ally. “Er . . .”
How do I answer that? We were climbing when it began to rain, so we ran to a ruined castle, and one thing led to another? No, I’m not saying that.
Thankfully, Ally speaks for both of us. “Your brother convinced me to brush up on my instructor skills with a willing volunteer. It worked out well.”
