Page 72 of The Scottish Island Inn

However, when it was Primrose’s turn, Violet – who had been stonily silent since her outburst on arrival – took one look at her sister when she walked out a little self-consciously from the dressing room and started laughing.

‘Prim. You look like a sausage wrapped up in a leaf.’ She chortled.

Primrose blushed. ‘Thanks,’ she muttered, tugging at the skirt. ‘Appreciate it.’

Primrose generally wore jeans, trainers and T-shirts. She’d never been a very girly girl, and Sorrel could imagine that she probably wasn’t enjoying having to wear a dress, especially one that she didn’t like.

‘I think it looks nice.’ Sorrel could see that her sister was uncomfortable. ‘Anyway, it’s hard to get a dress that looks good on everyone,’ she said, trying to be helpful.

‘I don’t even know why you’re here.’ Violet turned to Sorrel, eyebrow raised. ‘Shouldn’t you have disappeared by now? Back to London?’

‘Um. No,’ Sorrel replied, slightly taken aback. ‘I’m staying for now.’

‘Oh. For now. Good.’ Violet nodded, an exaggeratedly wise expression on her face. ‘We’ll just all be here, on the edge of our seats.’

‘There’s no need to be so mean, Vi.’ Sorrel sighed. ‘Can we just put all this behind us? I’ve said I’m sorry about being away. I’d do anything to make it up with all of you, and I’ve started to repair my relationship with Mum. But maybe we should stop bitching at each other and be here for Heather. This is about her wedding.’

‘Well, I guess you feel like you can take the high road now.’ Violet sniffed. ‘But I’m still angry with you, and I’m angry with Mum and Dad for lying to us for all that time.’

‘I know that. But she’s admitted it was a mistake, and I know that I shouldn’t have disappeared for as long as I did. I was hurting and so was she.’

‘Well, I just feel like now you two have made it up, we’re all supposed to get back on board,’ Violet continued. ‘Maybe I don’t want to get back on board.’

‘Then you don’t have to.’ Sorrel let out a long breath. ‘I’d like us all to be sisters again, and I’d like to try to get close to you all again. It’s been hard for me too – to feel like I belong, when I know that I’m the odd one out. That’s my challenge to work on. But. I guess what I’m saying is that I’m here now, and even if I don’t end up living on Skye – I don’t know what I’m going to do yet. But wherever I go, I’ll be your sister. I’ll be there.’

Violet looked at her hands.

‘Okay,’ she said, in a small voice, very different to her tone before. ‘That’s okay with me. But you need to make it right with Bluebell. Because she’s the one who missed you the most. And she’s the one that it’s breaking my heart to see so sad.’

They all looked over at Bluebell, who sat alone at the end of one of the pink sofas, listlessly holding onto a glass of lemonade.

‘Blue… Can you ever forgive me?’ Sorrel smiled bravely, even though she felt terrible. ‘I really am so sorry I left you. I’ll never leave you again. And I did miss you. I missed our stories. I was so glad that you wrote to me. It made me feel less alone, being without you.’

Sorrel walked over to where Bluebell sat, and knelt in front of her. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the drawing of the robin that her sister had thrust into her hands days before.

‘I made up a story about this little guy,’ she said, softly. ‘But I need your help to finish it. Do you think you could help me?’

‘Okay.’ Bluebell smiled, a tear running down her cheek. Sorrel’s heart was overwhelmed with a sudden rush of relief and love. ‘I’ll help you, Sorrel.’

EPILOGUE

A MONTH LATER

‘I’d like to begin by saying how lovely it is to have all of the Princesses of Balhennie present for the unveiling of this wonderful addition to our display, and our family heritage.’

James Balhennie stood at the front of the crowd of local people who had clustered into the library at Balhennie Castle. He wore a smart dark grey suit with a tie in the Balhennie tartan and a pocket square of the same fabric.

All of the Balhennie sisters were present, even Violet, who had come back for a few days before jetting off to Barcelona to a launch party for a new moisturiser. Sorrel looked at all of them: Primrose, the teacher, who had cut her hair again and worn cargo trousers and a fleece to the castle, even though Catriona had told everyone to dress up for the occasion; Bluebell stood next to Sorrel, her arm through her older sister’s; Heather who wore a floral, floaty dress, her hair in careful ringlets; Blossom, there with Tom and their children, who Sorrel was just beginning to get to know; and Violet, in a dress that looked simple but draped across her body beautifully and was probably incredibly exclusive.

Catriona and Angus stood next to the sisters. Angus wore the traditional Balhennie tartan kilt – a dark green with a red and black stripe – with a smart jacket, white shirt, tie, and grey socks. Catriona wore a pencil dress in the same tartan.

Sorrel cast her eye over the crowd and thought how crazy it seemed now, to have once thought that she would cut herself off from her sisters forever. From her parents, who loved her.

She knew that now. She’d always known it, but her anger had got in the way. The hurt that she’d felt – understandable, reasonable hurt, that had injured her heart – was valid, but it wasn’t running the show any more.

As part of their effort to repair their relationship with Sorrel, Catriona and Angus had presented her with a proposition. If she wanted to stay on Skye, she could live at the Inn – at least for a while, until she found something else – and, if she wanted to, she could become a formal part of the business. You’re the oldest child. It makes sense, Angus had begun, the week before, as they’d sat down for a cup of tea at the Inn’s kitchen table. We’re no’ gettin’ any younger, an’ you’ve been a godsend during all this trouble. Plus, we want tae make a gesture tae make you know how much we value you… How much we need you, Sorrel.

Your mother an’ I would like tae make you the Inn’s director. The CEO. Whatever you want tae call it, hen. We’ll manage the Inn like we always have, but you’ll have the strategy. The oversight. We can grow the business. You can think of all the improvements, get the word out about us more, make us go stratospheric if you like. But we just want you tae know that we trust you, and we love you.