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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

IONA

“Hello, Maw!” I call, letting myself in.

Her front door wasn’t locked, which means she’s about. It’s a sunny, albeit rather chilly, Saturday afternoon, and so I had thought she might be out for a walk. She often enjoys a bit of air in between lunch and dinner service at the restaurant.

I find her in the living room, watching TV.

“Iona! Hello.” She smiles widely, but there’s something off, like she’s trying too hard to sound casual. “Is anything the matter?”

That’s odd too. Why would she assume something is the matter? I’ve not slept over in a while, but I pop in frequently to pick up things from my room. This is the first time that Maw, upon seeing me, has immediately concluded that something is wrong.

“Er, as a matter of fact, the shower in Lewis’s room has stopped working, so I came over here to wash. He was oddly insistent I should do so, even though I don’t normally shower in the middle of the day. I might have been offended had I not immediately guessed he was planning something and wanted me to look my best for it.”

I eye her suspiciously. “Now, though . . . I’m not sure there even was a problem with his shower. He just wanted to get me over here. Whatever is going on, it involves you, doesn’t it?”

She can’t hide the sparkle of mischief that dances across her features. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Iona. But by all means, go upstairs and have a shower. And afterwards, why don’t you put on something nice?”

I place a hand on my hip. “You’re a terrible actor, Maw. But fine. How nice are we talking?”

“Pretty but not ballgown fancy. Oh, and you’ll want to wear boots with it.”

Shaking my head at her complete lack of subtlety, I head upstairs.

A short while later, I come back down wearing a long-sleeved cowl-neck tunic dress patterned with autumn leaves. I’ve paired it with cosy leggings and have brushed my hair out so it flows in a soft cascade over my shoulders.

“Oh, beautiful!” Maw praises. “Funnily enough, there was a delivery for you while you were upstairs.” She hands me a purple paper heart on which a message has been handwritten.

Where the pigs refused to flee,

Your next clue waits for thee.

A small smile tugs at my lips. Is this a treasure hunt, like something out of the Highland Hearts and Hidden Treasures series?

“I suppose I’ll be heading off to Fergus Murray’s farm, then,” I say. That’s where, aged eleven, I opened a gate to free some pigs, only for none of them to move. “Will you be tagging along?”

“No, no. This adventure is for you alone, dear. Although . . . I may see you again at the end of it.” She winks.

“Okay. Love you, Maw.” I give her a kiss on the cheek.

As I head to my car, I wonder what exactly Lewis has planned for me, and just what treasure I might find at the end of this.

At the farm, Fergus, grinning from ear to ear, greets me with a piglet tucked under one arm. “Iona! I’ve got something for you.” He passes me a second purple heart.

Head to the place where our first kiss was shared,

Where dreams and confessions were openly bared.

“You know,” Fergus says, “I’ve never forgotten the way Lewis tried to take the blame when I caught you opening my pigsty gate. Even then, it was plain to see how much he cared for you.”

Thanking Fergus, I give the piglet a wee scratch behind its ears then take my leave and head to Loch Bannock. That’s where Lewis and I shared our first kiss, the night before I left for university.

By the shore, a swing once again hangs from the tree, and on it is Archie, my half-brother, now sixteen years old. He uses one foot to kick off the ground and maintain a slow, steady sway, just as I’d do when I was a teenager. He’s with Da and Da’s new partner, Kirsty. Lewis has really gone to some effort if he’s invited them through from Inverness.

There’s a fourth figure with them—Jamie—and when he spots me, he does a slow-motion run across the pebble beach, his arms spread wide, like something out of a film. “Well done!” he proclaims. “You found me!” Reaching me, he closes his eyes and puckers his lips, ready for a kiss.

I walk right past him and go see my da and his family, who I’m overdue a catch-up with.