Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98697 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“Hello.”
“Deja, this is Finlay Black. I need ya to get dressed and come out to the kitchen, love?”
“Uncle Finlay?”
“Aye, love. I’m here at the house for ye. I need to get ye to Scotland,” he says.
“Huh, I don’t understand,” I say and get to my feet.
“Come on out and we’ll talk. I need to talk to ye face to face.”
I’m numb. Something isn’t right. I get the feeling Jameson is only the start of bad news today. I nod as if Uncle Finlay can see me, as my mind begins to spin.
Uncle Finlay Black isn’t my real uncle. He’s Kate and Cole’s uncle. Their mum’s brother.
I’ve known him since I was a little girl. My mum once told me that if anything happened to her, she would send Ian or Finlay Black to come protect me.
Ian Black is gone. However, if Finlay Black is here for me, something is wrong. I begin to shake, is that why Mum sounded off yesterday?
“What’s going on? Where’s Mum and Da?”
“Och, come to the kitchen, love. Not over the phone. I have something from her for ye. I’ll give it to ye once we’re on the road. Hold tight, love.”
“Okay, I’m on my way out.”
He hangs up and I’m left standing in the middle of Kate’s room, scared and confused. Jameson is dead, something has happened to Mum, and Finlay Black is here to take me to Scotland.
My grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-uncles live in Scotland. Not my real grandmothers and great-uncles, but my grandmothers and great-uncles through Angus. They’re the only family I’ve ever known.
In a daze, I turn to head out to the kitchen. My stomach twists into more knots with each step. Something about the house feels too still.
It no longer feels like the safe, warm place I’ve always known it to be. There is a chill in the air I can’t seem to shake off.
There are no voices coming from the kitchen as there had been before my shower. However, the scent of coffee is in the air. When I enter the kitchen, I find Uncle Dougie sitting at the table with another man.
I know right away from the broad shoulders and the call that it’s Uncle Finlay. He turns and gives me a warm smile. When he stands and opens his arms, I rush into his embrace, feeling like I’m going to need it after whatever he’s going to say.
“What’s going on?” I choke out.
“Yer mum asked me to come for ye. There has been an accident and ye can’t return to the house.”
“Where is she? Is she okay?”
“Yer mum is fine, but Angus is gone, love.”
“What do you mean gone?” I ask as tears burn my eyes.
“Finlay, ye should go. It isn’t safe here,” Dougie grumbles.
“Aye, he’s right. We need to go. My car is outside waiting.”
I nod. “I need to get my things.”
“Go on. I’ll get yer bags and bring them out. Leave yer mobile on the table. Fin has a burner for ya,” Dougie says and pulls me into a hug.
I try not to sob as I follow my best friend’s uncle out of the house. As my mind spins with questions and disbelief, Finlay leads me to a black SUV with tinted windows. Nothing makes sense as I climb into the passenger seat.
Finlay climbs in behind the wheel as Dougie rushes out with my softball bag and my backpack, placing them into the back seat. My heart begins to ache.
My da is gone? What does that mean? I look to Finlay to ask for answers and freeze.
Finlay Black looks so much like his sister and brother, so of course, my mind goes right to Cole. I wish he were here with me to tell me everything is going to be okay.
If I’m going to Scotland, will I ever see him again? His grandfather is gone. It seems like America has become his home from now on.
I can’t help but feel like I’m losing everyone I care about. I think I’m in shock because I still can’t wrap my mind around the fact that my da is gone.
“Buckle up, love. We need to go,” Finlay commands, pulling me from my thoughts.
I reach for my seat belt and click it into place. Dougie stands outside the vehicle, looking somber. I can’t help but wonder if he knew all this last night when he sent us to bed. Dougie raps the bonnet of the SUV with his knuckles right before Finlay peels off as soon as I’m settled.
Looking out the windshield, I notice smoke rising in the distance. I knit my brows as I realize that’s the direction of my home.
I blink a few times as the thick black smoke brings with it the heavy reality that I might never see my home again. My heart begins to race. I look to Finlay, but he’s keeping his eyes straight ahead.