Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
“Oh my God, am I the consequence of a bad one-night stand?”
Shit.
Maybe there was such a thing as being too honest. “Heather, you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I promise you that.” I leaned into her, holding her gaze. “I’d do everything the exact same way if it meant it led to you.”
Sensing my sincerity, her eyes brightened with fresh tears. She sucked in a shaky breath and released it. “But that means … did Taran find out?”
I nodded.
Heather winced. “Was it bad?”
I nodded again.
My daughter tilted her head in thought. “But Dad, she’s back. And she’s single. And I knew there was something seriously up between you because you could cut the tension with a knife.” She slapped my leg. “You have to win her back, Dad!”
“Heather.” I snatched her hand in mine and squeezed. “My point of telling you was to be honest with you but also to let you know what you can lose if you’re not honest with the people you love. Tell Hazel how you’re feeling.”
“Fine. I will call Hazel tomorrow, but you … you have to tell Taran you still have feelings for her.”
My heart jolted at the thought. “She’s not interested, flower.”
“Uh, trust me, I can tell she’s interested. Plus, Dad, like … she’s a total face card.”
“What on earth is a face card?”
She snort-laughed. “You’re so old. It just means she’s an absolute snack.”
“She’s attractive?”
“Uh, aye. Hot. She’s hot. If you don’t take a chance with her, a much smarter man than you will come along and waste no time snapping her up.”
Jesus. First Cammie. Then Ramsay. Now my own daughter was pushing me to pursue Taran.
“And Dad …” Heather’s lips curled at the corners, her eyes kind. “I get why you wanted to be this perfect human for me and Angus, but we don’t need you to be perfect. We need you to teach us that it’s okay to be imperfect.”
My throat constricted with emotion. “I think I did all right if I raised a kid as wise as you. But I hear you. I’ll do better.”
“I know you will. Good talk, Dad.” Heather leaned over and smacked her lips against my cheek, hitting my beard. “I feel loads better, and I love you tons, but I really am at a good bit in my book.”
Chuckling, I pushed up to my feet, but I pulled her into my arms again. “I love you more than anything, flower. More than anything.”
“I know, Dad,” she whispered. “I’m sorry for pushing you away. I won’t do it again.”
“Good.” I kissed her temple and released her. “Now don’t stay up too late reading.”
She grinned. “I won’t if you won’t.”
As I moved to pull the door closed, she called out, “Dad.”
“Aye?”
“Is it … would it be too late for you to build me some bookshelves for my room? I know I’ll be at uni, but they’re just lying in piles at Mum’s, and I thought maybe I could keep them in my bedroom here. I think I’ll like coming home to the island on my uni breaks.”
I swear my fucking heart swelled two times its size. “I’ll start building them this weekend.”
“Love you, Dad.”
“Love you too.”
9. Taran
Main Street was bustling. The horn from a ferry pulling into port sounded and I turned to watch the tourists on board, camera phones up as they snapped photos of the colorful harbor front.
It was a busy time to leave the store in Ewan’s and Martha’s hands, but this month there was never not a busy time, and I was on a mission.
One of the things that had taken getting used to again was the fishy scent that mingled with the sea air. Since it was a working harbor, fishing crews unloading their catch was a familiar sight and smell. I preferred the singular salty sea air on any other part of the coast, but I found my olfactory senses had finally gotten used to it again. I didn’t even notice it now unless my gaze landed on the fishermen.
It did right then because my brother, Laird, was on this crew. He threw me a distracted wave as the boat came into anchor; he and his crew had already started the unloading process. Salmon fishing was a big business in this part of the world. Peak season was June to September, though the crews were out February through November. Laird’s friend and fellow pipe band member Murray Shaw owned the fishing company Laird worked for. You’d never think it looking at Shaw, but the divorcé was a wealthy man and owned one of the biggest houses on the island.
I waved to my big brother as I headed toward the Fisherman’s Lantern, the most prominent, popular hotel and pub on Glenvulin. Tourists and locals alike loved its atmosphere and food.