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“Mum,” I say carefully, “I appreciate the apology. But you’re right: you do have to let me make my own decisions. I can’t go through the rest of my life with you believing you know better than I do what’s best for me. I don’t want to hear that I could have done ‘more’ than become a yoga instructor or that I should be with this partner rather than that partner. Why can’t you love me for who I am instead of trying to mould me into who you’d like me to be?”
Mum’s voice breaks. “Oh, Grace, but I do love you for who you are. I . . . I can only apologise again. I’ll try harder. I promise I will.”
I nod, then I stand, as does she, and we hug. I hold her for a long time. I’m about to become a mother myself and have a daughter of my own—I don’t want to lose Mum’s support in my life. Sometimes a little shake-up is exactly what a relationship needs to grow stronger. Hopefully, that’s what happens here.
When I finally let her go, we return to our seats, and she shifts her focus back to Aidan.
“I’m afraid I’ve driven a wedge between us that may be difficult to remove. I don’t suppose you’ll be able to forgive me?”
Aidan scratches his head. “Well, I’m only just beginning to mend my relationship with my da, which was strained for too long, so . . . I’m in no rush to fall out with anybody else. Aye, I can forgive you.”
Mum’s face brightens, but Aidan holds up a hand to show he’s not done.
“I need you to understand, though, that I’m in love with your daughter, and I’m going to love our bairn just as fiercely. I won’t tolerate anyone trying to put themselves between me and my girls. I’m willing to give you a second chance, but not a third.”
It’s a threat—something I’m not used to hearing from Aidan’s lips—but strangely, a look of respect crosses Mum’s face.
“I understand.”
“Then let’s say nothing more about it.” Just like that, Aidan’s serious expression morphs into his usual boyish grin. “You timed things well, Viola—I was in the midst of rustling up some breakfast. Why don’t you and Grace move over to the table, and I’ll put on some extra? Can I get you a tea or a coffee?”
EPILOGUE
AIDAN
“Och, just look at the pair of us, Aidan,” Maw says with a laugh. “Me with Ru, you with Callie. We’re a fine sight, aren’t we?”
We’re in the snug of the Bannock Hotel, sitting around a table with Jamie and Grace. My daughter, Callie, is peacefully snuggled up against me, fast asleep. Maw, meanwhile, is gently bouncing Ally and Emily’s wee one, Ruairidh, who shows his appreciation with a gummy smile. Both bairns are now a little over three months.
“Your son suits having a baby in his arms,” Grace comments to Maw. “When I first met him, I never would have imagined I’d one day say that about him.”
Maw’s laughter fills the small room. “Until you came into his life, I’d never pictured Aidan as a father, but I’m so proud of the man he’s becoming thanks to your influence.” She beams at Grace then gives Ru an extra-big bounce, producing a delighted gurgle.
I’ll concede he’s a pretty cute baby, even if he’s no patch on my daughter, of course. He’s in a onesie featuring Roo, his namesake character from Winnie the Pooh.
Ally and Emily are off on a walk, enjoying a bit of child-free time. Viola, David, and Johnny, meanwhile, are away on a day trip to the Black Isle. Despite its name, it’s not an island but a peninsula. It’s a great place to see dolphins—especially at Chanonry Point—and David is hoping to spot some.
At every opportunity, I’ve been keeping the promise I made to Grace at Christmas to show her around the Highlands. We were planning to join the others today, but Grace suggested we have a chill day instead, and that was a great call. It’s been exactly what we both needed after some interrupted nights and a busy period at Bannock Adventures.
We’ve been lucky to have had a lot of help from Viola and Maw, and we’re so grateful for it. Viola has been travelling up regularly and utterly dotes on her granddaughter. Her treatment has, thankfully, been a success. She’s been talking about going part time at her job—not that she needs to for health reasons, but so she can come up even more often. That’s fine by me. After a rocky start, she and I have been getting on well.
Across the table, Jamie lowers his face so it’s the same height as Ru’s. Picking up a muslin cloth, he hides himself with it. “Where did Uncle Jamie go?” He lets the cloth drop. “Here I am. Boo!”
Ru’s eyes widen, and he giggles joyfully.
Jamie smirks. “Even wee Ru knows I’m the funniest guy around here.” He pats his nephew’s head. “Good lad.”
“Mate, that boy chuckles at anything,” I object. “My Callie, though? She’s got a sophisticated sense of humour. She prefers the funny faces her daddy pulls.”
I gaze down at her in her Paddington onesie and can’t resist brushing a finger across her adorably chubby cheek. She’s angelic when she’s asleep, although I am slightly disappointed she’s not awake—I’d quite like to show off the incredible laughs I’ve been getting out of her lately.
She stirs, her mouth opening in a sleepy yawn, and my heart melts. She’s already got me wrapped around her little finger. I’d do anything for her.
I steal a quick glance at Grace, and we share a smile. She’s the most amazing mother to our wee lass, as I knew she would be, and seeing her care for Callie has only deepened my love for her. Our journey here may not have been the most traditional way of starting a family, but I can honestly say that if I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change anything. Grace’s unexpected pregnancy turned out to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
“Oh, it’s lovely to see the Bannock Hotel with young ones in it again,” Maw says. “I’ve so many fond memories of when Aidan and Iona ran around here with Ally, Lewis, Jamie, and Cat. Talking of Iona, isn’t it just wonderful that she’s moving back up to Bannock?”
Behind the bar, something smashes—a bottle of wine, I think.
