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)
I sigh as my laughter dies down, and we arrive at the castle. “I know he means well. Maybe the two of ye can make him understand I’m not interested in finding a husband.”
“We love ye, Deja. Ye know ye could come out and tell us if ye seek a female’s companionship instead,” Uncle Ewan murmurs as he blushes.
I burst into more laughter. This time, I’m wiping at tears as I hold my stomach. I’ve never seen the brooding man look cuter.
“I assure ya I’m into the lads. I just … the one I had my heart set on when I finally did begin to think about boys … he disappointed me.
“Then I came here. After all this time, he’s probably forgotten all about me. I’m sure he’s married with bairns of his own.
“I’m not marrying anyone until I find that spark again. Maybe it is time I leave to see the world. My lad might not be here in Scotland,” I say as I muse.
Since my uncle has been trying to set me up, I have been thinking a lot about what I plan to do once my grandmother is gone. It’s not looking too good. I don’t know how much more time she has.
It’s been breaking my heart to see her like this. Eleven years ago, she was as fit and fierce as she was when I was little. In the last few years, I’ve been watching her health slowly decline with her age.
Orla McDougal is a fighter though. I know she will fight until the very end. However, I don’t know what that end looks like for me.
I have no idea if it’s safe to leave Scotland now after all these years. I haven’t heard from my mum after that recording that day, eleven years ago. I’ve come to grips with the fact that my mother is never coming back for me.
I had held out hope for the first four or five years. I never asked for answers because I didn’t think anyone around me had them. Even if they did, I didn’t know who I could trust to ask.
“We would miss ye if ye left. I think Duncan is trying to find a way to keep ye here in his own way,” Uncle Ken says.
“I would miss ye guys too. I think that’s why, for now, ye be stuck with me.”
I don’t mention that once my great-grandmother is gone, I believe I will be too. I’ve been watching videos to learn fashion and to learn to hide my accent. This is nothing new.
I’ve been doing it since I was sixteen, when Kate and I used to talk about visiting her brothers in America. However, in the last eleven years, I’ve learned to style my own hair, and I’ve watched a ton of videos about New York City.
The dream is to one day see the place for myself. When Gran Orla is gone, I don’t think I’ll be able to live in that house in the village all by myself. I do get lonely sometimes.
“Well, ye don’t have to make any decisions today. Ye be safe and take care of the auld dear,” Uncle Ken says as he opens my car door for me.
“See ya,” I sing as I hug him.
“See ye later, love.”
“Come here,” Uncle Ewan croons. He tugs me into his embrace then whispers into my ear. “Ye are welcome here in Scotland for as long as ye want. When Mum is gone, that doesn’t mean ye have to leave.”
“I know,” I reply as I give him a squeeze.
Releasing him, I then turn and climb into my car to head home. I need a shower and something to eat. I’m sure Rhona is ready to get home to her family.
I appreciate that she comes to sit with Gran while I come to the castle to train. She’s the daughter of Gran’s old best friend. They were really close and now that her mother has passed, she comes by to help Gran whenever she can.
As I drive home, my mind goes to all the people here I would be leaving behind if I did take off for America. I will miss them all, but I want to go. It feels like there’s something there waiting for me. I’ve given up on my daydreams of that being Cole.
I’m sure he’s forgotten all about me. I can’t help but wonder if Kate ever made her way there. I miss her often.
I’m lost in my rambling thoughts as I turn onto the road that leads to Gran’s house. We don’t live far from the village, but we’re not in the center of it either.
No one comes out here much, so imagine my surprise as a fancy car comes into view in front of the cottage. A fancy car with a tall figure standing beside it.