Sally's Destiny - A short story of Love and Romance in the Scottish Highlands (4 page)

“Ah well, I suppose a girl just can’t have any fun these days!” She saw the shocked look on Roberts face.

“Ha ha, got you! Yes I’m joking. There is one thing
however,
could you perhaps bring in my case from the car? I’ll need a change of clothes and stuff for the morning.

“Yes, no problem.” He said recovering from his embarrassment.

“Did you remember and pack your sexy nighty?”

“Actually Mr
Smartie
; no I didn’t….I don’t wear anything in bed.” She emphasised it just a bit more. “I sleep naked!”

“Enough! Now your messing with my
head
..
I’ll
go get your case before I get into more trouble!”

He spun around laughing and headed for the door to
brave the elements and collect
the case f
rom
the car
.

“
Definitely enough of this wine.”
She thought to herself
while he was g
one; her mind nevertheless wandering through the realms of tempting possibilities.
It seemed however that for all the bravado, when it came to girls Robert was one of the shy ones – which was something she found incredibly alluring in an otherwise strong man.

Robert soon returned with the case and the news that the snow seemed to be easing a little, much to their relief.

They both chatted a while longer then set of for their separate bedrooms.
They reached Sally’s door first and
both stood a little awkwardly
,
before Sally reached up and planted a kiss on his cheek, hesitating for just a moment before opening her bedroom door and stepping inside.

“Good night Robert
.” She said with just the hint of an invitation as she gazed into his grey eyes.

“Ah, yes…goodnight Sally. I’ll catch you at breakfast then.” Then he was away down the short hall, and into his room.

Sally slowly closed shut her door.
“It was for the best”
, she reasoned to herself. Nevertheless she lay awake in bed for a long time, in the half-hope that he would sneak back to her room; wondering just how much of a resistance she would put up if things got ‘up close and personal.’
“Probably not very much at all.
”
Was her last thought before drifting off into a deep sleep under the eider-down
duvet.

******

She awoke
to the slight sound of a bedroom door closing just down the
hall,
from Roberts room she was sure. A glance at the luminous dial of her watch told her it was only 6am, and the sound of footsteps told her that Robert was heading towards her bedroom. She could hear his footsteps slowing down as he approached the door, then from the light that shone underneath she could see that he had stopped outside.

With her heart racing in anticipation, she waited for the handle to
turn,
mind conflicted over how she would react, but already considering the idea of just throwing back the duvet and drawing him into her embrace. Suddenly there was a sound of a quiet voice that she strained to hear.

“You stupid idiot!
Give the girl some peace will you.”
Robert spoke this to himself.
She heard
a frust
rated sigh as he continued
the walk down the short hall and into the kitchen.

Sally
stifled moan of longing a
s she
buried
her
head under the pillow and tried
to get some sleep.

Some time
later she is awoken by a gentle tap on the bedroom door.

“Sally dear, breakfast is ready if
your
awake.”

She quickly looked at her watch and realised that she had slept in; it was almost 9am!

“Ok, Agnes – I’ll be right out thanks.”

She quickly dived into the en-suite shower, quite surprised that the spare room had one at all,
then
got dressed in some warm clothes before heading to the kitchen for breakfast.

“Good morning Agnes, I
can ‘t
believe I slept so late. I’m usually up by 6.30!”

“Good morning to you dear. Well it’s no wonder; you had quite a day yesterday after all.
How is your head?
”

“Oh, that’s just fine, the swellings gone down a lot anyway.”

“That’s good. Now sit yourself down and help yourself to a cup of tea while I finish cooking this little lot.”

Sally took a seat by the table as Agnes prepared to serve breakfast – a typical fry-up of bacon, eggs,
beans
sliced haggis and sausage.

“I take it we are not on the healthy option this morning then!” Sally piped up with a laugh.

“Certainly not!
This cold weather calls for some real food…you’re not a vegetarian are you!”

“Ha
ha
, only when occasion demands – like a cabbage soup diet for instance!”

They
had a laugh to themselves, before Sally asked the question that was really on her mind.

“Um…is Robert not joining us for breakfast then?” She asked innocently.

Agnes turned around from the cooker with a pan full of goodies, and looked slyly at Sally before answering.

“Well now, would you be disappointed to know that he won’t be joining us?”

Sally blushed scarlet.

“
Mercy,
is it that obvious!” She blurted out.

“Only to an old hand like myself!
Don’t you worry
dear,
I could see that he is more than a little interested in you also. Do you believe in fate at all?”

“Yes, in fact I think I do.” Sally answered.

“In that case I dare to believe that maybe fate – or the Good Lord Himself – has lent a hand here to bring you young people together
.” She
looked up sharply. “I hope you
don’t mind me saying so dear?”

“Certainly not Agnes – already I feel I should be calling you mum!”

Agnes laughed delightedly to herself as she served up the breakfast.

“
I would be delighted if you did!
Oh, have you tried the haggis at all my dear?”

“Oh yes
..
It was one of the first things Elizabeth made for me when I came to her house. I thought it was
delicious
– but must admit I nearly threw it back up when she told me what it was! Chopped up offal
, onions,
spices and oatmeal, sewn up in a sheep’s stomach hardly
sounds
appetizing after all!”

“He
he
, yes it does sound a bit grim when you put it like that I suppose!”

“Never mind though – I’m over the shock, and now I love it! It always reminds me that I am truly in Scotland again.”

Agnes served up a couple of slices of the haggis along with the rest of the ‘heart attack’ breakfast; before Sally asked a little more directly where Robert was that he would not be joining them.

“Oh, don’t you worry dear, he is actually away with Tom to collect your car out of the snow-drift and bring it back here to have a good look at the damage.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful – I’ve been worrying about it I must confess. I was actually going to call the breakdown service or something to collect it.”

“Well I think my son is possibly anxious to impress – if you get my meaning?” She gave Sally a sly conspirato
rial
look.

“Agnes, you’re terrible – I’m sure you should be trying to protect him from women like me! What happened to the over-protective mums we hear about?”

“Ha, the Lord
forbid
that I should become one of them! No, the fact is that I would like to see my son happy again. Last night was the first time in all these years, that I witnessed a spark in his eyes I haven’t seen since poor Mhairi passed away – and it’s all thanks to you Sally!”

“Oh, please…you’ll have me blushing again!”

“Ach, thing nothing of it Sally – the ramblings of an old woman!”

“Now you’re putting yourself down!  Since you brought up the subject
however
, I will confess that considering we’ve just met, I like Robert a great deal – I’m even glad I had that accident; as it
is responsible for introducing me to a rather handsome young man – and for meeting yourself of course
!”
She added.

Agnes beamed unashamedly
at Sally, as a small tear fell onto her cheek. Sally jumped up from the table and hugged her with all her strength.

“My dear, you do not realise just how much that means to me.” Agnes said between sniffles. “As you have just said – I thank God for the accident that brought us all together.
” She pause
d a moment to blow her nose, and collected herself before stating firmly.
“
Now
..let’s
have this breakfast before it gets cold shall we?”

******

The sound of engines as they finished their
breakfast,
alerted them to the fact the Robert and Tom had arrived back at the house.

Sally peered out through the misted up window, to see Tom getting out of a Range Rover with her little Vauxhall
hire car
in tow
. She made her way to the front door just in time to meet Robert on his way in.

“Oh, hi Sally – did you sleep well?”

“Yes I did Robert, thanks. I see you have managed to get the car ok, I’m
owe
you one!”

“Well…we’ll see how you can repay me later shall we!” He said winking lasciviously at her.

“Oh
ho
..well-spoken
my brave hero – now you have Tom and Mummy here to protect you!”

The sound of laughter caused them to turn around to witness Tom leaning on the door frame, his body shaking with mirth.

“Ha
ha
, she’s sussed you out Robert – you’re a fraud!”

He said this while making his way to Sally and wrapping his bear-like arms around her, to give her a huge hug.

“Tom! You’re going to crush me to death you great bear!”

“Sally! It’s fantastic to see you again – Elizabeth was worried sick
till you called last night.”

Sally extricated herself breathlessly from his embrace, before giving him a peck on the cheek.

“Well I’m absolutely fine Tom, thanks to Robert and his mum. I just can’t believe you all know one another – it’s totally weird, and yet wonderful at the same time.

“Ach, it’s not weird at all really – we had the accident all arranged so you would meet up that’s all!”

Sally stepped back and looked at Tom – she never could work out when he was just winding her up or not.

Tom suddenly burst out laughing again.

“Of course I’m winding you up Sally – honestly you Americans are so naive sometimes!”

Sally thumped him on the arm.

“One of these days Tom!”

“Ha
ha
, you’ve never changed Sal
ly
– except now you’ve got a few more wrinkles maybe!”

“Tom!” Agnes spoke up. “That’s a terrible thing to say to such an attractive lass – you apologise right now!”

“Oche Agnes, she knows I was only kidding her on – don’t you Sally.”

“Indeed I do Tom, your tact has never improved over the years – I don’t know why poor Elizabeth puts up with you!”

“That’s easy.” Tom replied. “I’ve made myself in-expendable. She just couldn’t live without me!”

“Honestly Tom, your incorrigible!” Said Agnes
,
trying her best to be stern. Come away in
,
and you can give us the news regarding the car, and never mind the nonsense!”

They all made their way into the lounge area as Tom and Robert explained that the car was mostly undamaged apart from a dent in the front wing, where it has went over into a slight ditch – and of course the ruined windshield.

“It turned out that the windshield was shattered and pushed out by a tree branch.”
Explained Robert.
“You were very
fortunate that it went through the passenger side of the screen – or you would have been speared through!”

“Ha, so driving on the wrong side has some advantages after all!” Sally piped up, to the agreement of all.

“So what do we do now then, sho
uld I phone the hire company
?”