Page 36 of From Scotland with Love

Callum appeared at the door, bleary-eyed and yawned his way to the nearest cupboard, grabbing a bowl and cereal box. “OK: it’s just us today. Auntie Betty is away sorting out something or other with deliveries. So…” he moved his head around surreptitiously to glance at Lori sideways. “Let’s have a wee explore shall we?”

“What - around some more machinery? or maybe to the shops that sell some of this fabric? I could chat to -” Lori looked over her notes, excited at the prospect of more research.

“No, I think you’ve seen enough machines, and enough material! It’s my turn for my end of the bargain.” He leaned against the sink eating a bowl of coco pops.

“Sure - where were you thinking of kayaking?” She put her pen down and stretched out in her chair. She had to admit it, she had made good progress already and a little time away wouldn’t hurt.

“Actually, no. Not kayaking. It’s a surprise.” He raised his eyes in a question, and Lori groaned inside.

“What is the surprise Callum?”

“Well it wouldn’t be a surprise if you knew!” He shook his head quietly and munched happily on his cereal. Lori resigned herself to his mystery activity, but her stomach knotted thinking of all the various extreme ideas Callum might have indulged in.

Callum drove the van across the island until they reached a glen where the road gradually began to rise higher and higher. They slowly made their way up the steep gradient, winding around corners, all the while Lori gazed out onto the glen, with its small loch at the bottom, surrounded by hills, heather, and sparkling ferns. It was so magnificent that she remained in complete silence as Callum concentrated on getting the slow van up the hill, but absentmindedly switched on the radio. It buzzed loudly, the signal coming in waves, then through the crackling frequency, notes of a piano came on air, a pretty piece of traditional music that made Lori turn up the volume. As more instruments joined in she could hear it more clearly, she knew the music, but how? The music accompanied them uphill, with Callum gently humming along. It was only then that it hit her; the song held history between them. She had sang it as a girl, and once Callum had played it on guitar for her years ago on the beach in Arlochy. He had learnt the chords especially, and had proudly strummed the guitar to her utter surprise and delight. The night flooded back to her instantly. They had had a small gathering of friends on the beach by the harbour, with her sisters included, to celebrate her last day of high school. A fire had been made on the shores, and many gallons of cider consumed. Callum had brought out the guitar, and there in front of all their friends, played Lori’s favourite piece of music. Whistles and shouts from the crowd had not distracted him as he watched Lori’s face light up, then her sisters had begun to sing – standing and swaying near Callum - it had all been planned. He had wanted to give Lori something special to remember her last day as a high-schooler, and he certainly had.

Callum’s eyes remained on the road ahead, gently tapping the steering wheel in time with the rhythm. That sensation in her body occurred, a tingling and fluttering like butterfly wings beating against her skin. So glorious were her feelings, that she wanted Callum to know they were there, even if it was all over now between them..

“OK, we’re here!” Callum announced and Lori bit her tongue at whatever had been about to pour out of her. What was she thinking? Did she imagine such things could be openly said without any ramifications? She realised they were at the top of the glen, parked off-road next to some other cars. Once she stepped outside, the wind was so wild that Lori felt it would blow her away if she didn’t hold onto something. Callum winked at her, but abruptly walked away to speak to some people on the other side of the hill.

“What the hell is going on?” Lori muttered to herself, watching him shake hands with a few men hovering around together, waiting for something, but waiting for what?

Callum laughed, clearly joking with the men, and patted one of them on the back. They walked off further across the hill until Lori couldn’t quite see them anymore, as the hill dipped down into the skyline. Callum came back rubbing his hands together playfully.

“It’s a bit cold, so make sure you wear a fleece under your jacket.” He looked up, squinting at the sun glaring angrily behind thick clouds. “It shouldn’t rain, I just wish it wasn’t so gloomy-looking!” He opened the van’s sliding door, and threw one of his fleeces to a startled Lori, who remained stuck to the spot.

“Callum, aren’t you going to tell me what’s going on?”

Callum put on an extra layer, then rummaged in the back of the van again until he pulled out two helmets. “Try this one on, let me know if it fits.” He looked at her expectantly. “Come on Lori, we need to be there already!”

Lori, still in a state of unease, put the helmet on. “It fits, so... what are we doing Callum?”

Callum smiled and held out his hand. “Everything will be explained once we walk down there.”

Lori hesitated, with her helmet on and her fleece half-zipped up, she looked over the hill, but nothing could be seen from the van. Without further protest, she placed her hand in his and slowly walked on ahead. They moved in silence, accompanied only by the sound of the rising wind and the harks of a buzzard overhead. Lori didn’t know what to expect, but she was very aware of Callum’s warm hand folded around hers, which tightened just as they reached the dip in the hill, over which Lori could now see what was happening beyond. Someone saluted Callum and he waved back, but the person was holding down what looked like a tent, observed a bemused Lori. There was also a handful of tents on the hill by the cliff edge. Two people, further down the hill suddenly detached themselves from the rest, and still attached to their own strange-looking tent, casually walked right off the edge of the cliff. Lori gasped in horror, and her hands went to her face.

“Hey hey,” Callum said in soothing tones, gently bringing her hands away from her eyes. “Look, they are fine. It’s just a bit of hang-gliding.”

Lori saw that the people who she had been sure would fall to their death, were soaring through the air, away from the cliff edge, and heading further out, gently gliding over the glen. The next couple were behind them, and this time Lori could see the process more fully. They were harnessed together, underneath the hang-glider. Lori stood in awe as they took a run together, then launched themselves off the cliff, dipping gently off the hill and gliding through the air like a pair of kites.

“What do you think?” Callum grinned at her.

“Why didn’t you tell me!” Lori couldn’t control the sudden rage inside her, she didn’t want to do this, not one part of her. Callum was trapping her into it and he knew it.

Callum pressed his lips together like an unapologetic naughty school child. “I knew if I told you, you would refuse! Come on Lori, it’s safe – I do this when I come here, I’ve got a licence and everything.” He reassured her, holding her hand still as she continued watching the next couple walk off the cliff edge.

Madness, pure madness! She shook her head, not looking at Callum.

“Look, I know you’ll love this. It’s a feeling that no one knows until they are up in the air. Trust me Lori. This is something you’ll always remember, don’t you want to experience more than just your bog-standard nine to five?” Lori bristled at this, which Callum noticed immediately. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean that. I just thought this would be nice to do together. I will take care of you Lori, you don’t need to worry. You’re in safe hands.” He tightened his grip once again. “Trust me?”

Lori shook her head again, and gave a shaky sigh. “Just let’s get this over with, OK?”

Callum quickly led her over to their hang-glider, and the man who was keeping watch on them nodded to Callum, and gave Lori a thumbs up. Lori stared in horror at the flimsy-looking device that would be the only thing holding them aloft, and felt her stomach lurch. They were the last couple on the hilltop to launch, and Lori felt her whole body shake as Callum fastened a harness over them both. Ordinarily Lori would have secretly enjoyed how close he was, adjusting her belts and loops, making sure she was secure. But not today. He laughed aloud at her expression.

“Lori it’s fine, I’ve done this a lot. Just breathe, try to relax your body. It’ll be over sooner than you think – and you'll wish it wasn't!” He placed his hands on her shoulders, waiting for her approval, but all Lori could do was give a brief nod. Following Callum’s lead, they retreated back up the gentle incline, turned back to face the cliff ahead, and paused for some moments while Callum looked out to the distance, pondering some unknown factors on which Lori hoped he was an expert. They took large steps at first, which eventually broke into a run, Lori keeping her steps in line with his as if they were tied in a potato sack race at a Highland games. Then they were off the cliff, Lori still running as the sensation of being in the air took over. She kept her eyes firmly shut, not daring to look at where they were, then quickly and seamlessly Callum manoeuvred the harness and a pole slid out of nowhere for Lori and himself to place their feet on. Their bodies tilted horizontally as the glider took them over the edge. Carried by a gust of air that caught the glider at just the right moment, they soared together like a bird. Lori opened her eyes and gasped at their height, the glen below vast and still like an epic painting, with the odd tiny car driving up the winding road underneath them. She could see past the glen and further out to the sea ahead; the view was spectacular. The perspective they had up there, almost a part of the clouds and moving with the sharp icy currents was unlike anything Lori had ever known. She felt free, gliding up high above the world, just her and Callum soaring through the sky. Callum nudged her and she laughed as the wind blew her hair over her face momentarily obscuring the magnificent scene below. He steered them towards the sea, and a beach appeared, stretching out for miles all along the coastline. Lori realised that this was the spot they were going to land. Callum gently spiralled them down towards a field next to the first dunes. They skimmed on their bellies and gently greeted the grass, lying face down together, recovering from the high of their few moments in the air.

“Good work Lori!” Callum congratulated her as applause from the other participants sounded out around them.

“I didn’t do anything; you did all the work!” Lori slowly got up, with a helping hand from Callum.