Page 60 of On The Edge

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The next morning she was woken by her phone buzzing loudly, Cat patted her bed, squinting in the early morning light, trying to find the unwelcome source. She was greeted by a curt voice on the other end of the line.

“Miss MacGregor, it’s Mrs Grey, at the library. I may have what you’ve been looking for. Please come in today, I’ll be here till 5pm.” Mrs Grey hung up before Cat could get a word in edgeways.

Cat summoned herself out of bed, and put on the thickest jumper she could find, along with jeans, a wooly hat, scarf and pair of gloves. Her house was freezing, but rather than light the fire, she decided just to leave immediately, with all her layers on. The library would be warm anyway.

Cat parked the car outside, feeling nervous and intrigued at the same time. She entered the little room again and found a group of young children and their parents crowded around a lady reading a story. The scene was very heart-warming but did present an obstacle with regards use of the peripheral space. A few older pensioners read newspapers at the only other table, discussing the headlines of the day with one another. Cat looked over to the librarian, who was behind her desk, and waved to get her attention. Mrs Grey wore an aptly-coloured tweed suit, and manoeuvred round children and chairs to hand Cat a sheet of paper.

Cat looked down at the photocopied page, covered neatly with old-fashioned handwriting.

The librarian wore thin spectacles today, and through them looked at Cat with excitement. “It’s a birth certificate.”

“Oh I see.” Cat didn’t see at all, it was still too early in the morning for her without her first cup of coffee.

“Look at the name,” Mrs Grey pointed to the written scroll at the top of the paper, “Sarah Campbell.”

Cat gasped. “It can’t be!” And scanned the words:

Sarah Campbell, born in Kirkwall infirmary 1928.

Mother Mary Campbell

Father Angus Campbell

“I have a friend who is very good at this sort of thing.” The librarian pursed her lips with satisfaction. “Also, I couldn’t help myself. So it looks like this may be who you’re looking for?”

“My grandmother,” Cat breathed out, and touched the name.

Cat met Jess at the gallery to discuss business. The road was now coated in a fine sheet of ice, making the whole island look like a giant frosted fruitcake. Cat’s nose was permanently red, and her hands could never get warm, no matter how thick her gloves were. She drank the hot tea Jess issued to her and savoured the heat as it enveloped her throat. The day was quiet on the street, with only the odd person passing by; each walking as slowly as the next, trying not to slip on the frozen cobbles. Cat also updated Jess with the new details of her grandmother.

“Apparently she left the island when she fell in love with a soldier in the war. They moved to Glasgow, but sadly he passed away shortly after. Then Sarah met and married my grandfather, and had my mum!” Cat thawed her fingers over the small heater that gently rotated side to side in the gallery, making her move with it to get every last bit of heat. “Jesus it’s freezing!”

Jess wore a dark green jumper-dress and fleece-lined boots, and was glowing like a girl in love. “Really?” she sipped her tea and smiled in a daze. “I hadn’t noticed!”

“That’s because you’re high on love drugs!” Cat mocked.

“Maybe you’re right” Jess sighed, “I’m just so happy, I met Andrew’s parents again last night and they are lovely. I feel light and free.” Jess then tucked her blonde hair behind her ears and focused her attention back onto Cat. “I’m sorry Cat. I’ve been a crap friend!”

“No you’ve not, don’t say that. You’re just a little distracted, and happy, I can’t begrudge you that!”

Jess nodded. “Anyway, that’s so crazy that your gran was from here, does that mean you have family here? You know, like, distant relatives?”

“I never thought of that!” Cat couldn’t believe the connection she found with the island. Hidden away for so long, she had had the nagging feeling that something was trying to come to the surface. Like a creature underwater, waiting, something beautiful and filled with opportunity. This was why she had come to the island; not to run away from a failed relationship - her grannie Sarah had been calling her all this time.

Cat’s thoughts, full of newfound family members, suddenly presented her with the fact that she hadn’t seen Alan or Patrick over the last couple of days. “How are things with Alan?” Cat mouthed quietly, unsure if he was cleaning some corner or other quietly in the background, wanting to be unobtrusive herself.

Jess swiped some image or other on her phone absentmindedly. “Oh I gave him the day off, he’s been in constantly until now, and to be honest he’s done everything I could get him to.”

Cat glanced around at the polished wooden floors and sparkling windows. “He has done a good job.”

“Yeah, definitely,” Jess mused. “He even offered again to pay me money for the damage he caused.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

“But I think he’s made amends now. I even taught him a new skill - showing him how to make up framing.”

Cat clenched her teeth; Jess had often tried to teach her the techniques involved in frame-working, but cutting each piece to precision was not Cat’s forte. “And how did he do?”