Page 67 of The Scottish Island Inn

‘No. Not at all. Simon came up to try and make it up with me. I refused.’ That was the extremely short and uncomplicated version, Sorrel thought.

‘Oh. That’s not what Tam thinks is going on.’

‘What does Tam think is going on?’ Sorrel asked, tension starting to gather in her stomach. ‘I mean, I have to say he’s been really horrible to me. I’ve tried to talk to him; I’ve tried to tell him what’s going on between me and Simon, but he’s completely withdrawn. He won’t let me. In the end, I just got really cross with him.’ She sighed.

‘He said he saw you and Simon kissing in a car, outside the castle. I’m sorry that he’s been rude to you, but I fear that’s Tam protecting his heart.’

‘Protecting his heart? Do you know what happened between us?!’ Sorrel leaned across the table. ‘We… we were intimate together. And then, the next day, he completely blanked me. He wouldn’t even drive me back from where we were. Just gave me the keys to his truck and told me to get on with it. I tried to talk to him, about Simon, but he wouldn’t have it. And Simon and I weren’t kissing at the castle. I didn’t even want him to be there, but he sweet-talked me into having a conversation about getting back together. I told him no. At the point where Tam thinks we kissed, I was actually fighting him off. He was being really creepy. Tam thinks we’re back together?’

Briony nodded. ‘I have to say, I thought it all sounded very romantic, the B&B. But no. He certainly doesn’t realise that, Sorrel. Are you okay?’

‘Yeah. It was just a timely reminder of why I shouldn’t be with Simon.’ Sorrel closed her eyes. ‘And yeah, it was romantic. It felt…’ She paused, thinking. ‘It felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be, you know? It was so right. So… beautiful. That sounds corny.’ Sorrel sighed, and held up her hands in mock defence. ‘I know. I know. It’s stupid. But yes. The chemistry between us has always been off the charts, and we… gave in to it. Now, I wish we hadn’t.’

‘Oh, Sorrel. I could knock your heads together, really, I could.’ Briony rolled her eyes. ‘He was cold with you, yes. But that’s because you’d just had this amazing night together and then your ex texted – while you were literally lying there in bed, is what he told me – and you ran off to be with him. He was heartbroken. And then he saw you kissing and he thought that was it. It was over. Again.’

‘Oh, no.’ Sorrel covered her eyes with both hands. ‘That’s really not what happened! I was just in a panic because Simon called when he was already on the road. He was on his way, and I didn’t want him to get to the Inn and introduce himself to my parents without me being there! That was all it was. I desperately wanted to talk to Tam, but he didn’t give me a chance.’

‘You need to tell him, then. He’s on his way to Edinburgh. He has a friend over there he’s arranged to stay with, while he looks for a job, or takes his business over there, anyway. He’s handed the renovations at the Inn over to a colleague, and he’s leaving. I thought he would have at least told you that.’

‘No! He didn’t say anything!’ Sorrel jumped up. ‘Why? Why would he go? When is he leaving?’

‘Because he can’t bear to be around you if you’re here, and with Simon. It’s bringing it all back for him, when you left. I’ve never seen anyone so sad, apart from when he lost Beth, and when I lost Brian. We were both a mess because of those things. But he really never did get over you leaving. He used to go on these long walks, all around the island, trying to process it. He’d ring me up sometimes in the middle of the night, telling me how much he missed you. All of these big emotions and he just didn’t know where to put them, you know?’

‘Oh, my… I need to stop him. Help me.’ Sorrel pulled on the jacket that she’d just taken off. ‘Please, Briony!’

‘Okay, okay!’ Briony got up and took a couple of big gulps from her drink. ‘Where d’you think we’re going at this time of night, though?’

‘I don’t know. I have to find him!’ Sorrel was in a panic. All of a sudden, she knew, deep in her bones, that she couldn’t let Tam Blackwood go a second time. ‘Can you call him?’

‘Okay. I’m calling now.’ Briony handed some money to a waitress as they made their way hurriedly out of the bar. She got her phone out of her bag and pressed a picture of Tam’s face.

They stood on the street, the rain patterning the street around them.

‘No answer.’ Briony looked at the phone screen. ‘What now?’

‘We’ll go to his house. He might not have left yet. When did he say he was going?’ Sorrel started striding along the small high street, then stopped. ‘Where does he live? I don’t know where he lives. I am literally the worst.’

‘You aren’t the worst. You two just have… I don’t know. Terrible love karma, or something. It’s not far from here. We can walk,’ Briony said, kindly. ‘Come on.’

They walked away from the high street and up a residential street that was populated with three whitewashed bungalows. Briony turned left at the top of the street and followed it along a lane. The houses started to thin out; Sorrel could see a field with a couple of horses to her right. She was reasonably familiar with Portree; she’d had friends who had lived here in the past. But she’d forgotten a lot: the names of the streets, the directions from here to there.

‘I thought the two of you might be an item. Why did you never get together?’ Sorrel asked as they walked. It continued to rain; her hair was getting wet, and a trickle of water rolled from her scalp down her cheek.

‘Tam and I are really good friends.’ Briony’s expression was earnest. ‘When Brian died, he was amazing. He listened to me cry. Looked after Alex when I needed a break. Took me out for coffee. But it’s never been anything other than friendship.’

‘Why not? You obviously like each other. I can’t see why you wouldn’t… you know,’ Sorrel said. ‘I know you’re friends. Tam explained it to me. But, still.’

‘Look, Tam’s a great-looking guy. And he’s kind, and he’s a great friend.’ Briony shook her head. ‘But I just can’t think of him in that way, somehow. And anyway, even if I did, he doesn’t fancy me. I’m not his type.’

Sorrel frowned. She didn’t remember Tam having a particular ‘type’ at all.

‘He has one type, Sorrel,’ Briony said, slowly, as if she was speaking to someone who couldn’t hear very well. ‘And it’s you.’

‘What?’ Sorrel glanced at her friend.

‘I don’t know how to say it in any clearer way.’ Briony shrugged. ‘I thought you knew.’

‘How would I know that?’ Sorrel’s voice got louder in indignation.