Page 29 of The Scottish Island Wedding

‘Oh, yeah. This is standard.’ Annie looked up. ‘Unfortunately, since the family are very much in the public eye, it means that they attract the attention of the crazies. Sorry, that’s not very sensitive. I mean, the reality-challenged. Or something.’

‘No, that’s okay. I know what you mean. Do you think that’s what this is? Just a random crackpot?’

‘Yeah. Sadly, I do. They’ll have read that piece about you and Matty’s engagement, and sent this to you at the castle. In a way, it’s good – they didn’t send it to you at the Inn, right? So, they weren’t bright enough to notice where you actually lived.’

‘I guess so. That’s a good point. Ask Elizabeth about Drumchapel, though. What does that mean?’

‘I have no idea. Just random, I expect. Maybe Mum went there once, I don’t know.’ Annie shrugged. ‘Drumchapel’s a pretty rough Glasgow suburb. I can’t imagine why she’d go there. Must have been something charitable.’

‘Hm. Well, in a strange way, I guess I feel better about getting that, if it’s a really common occurrence.’ Heather steered the Range Rover around a long corner; she was being careful, because the temperature seemed to be dropping, and the roads could easily get icy. ‘Also… I feel strange for saying this, but… there’s something else odd about your mum.’

‘Oh, no. What else has she done?’

‘Well, nothing, per se. But I saw her have this quite secret-looking meeting with a man in a car. They argued. It looked like she gave him an envelope… like there was something in it. They had an argument. I wasn’t spying… I… well, I suppose I was, a bit. I didn’t mean to.’

‘Oh. Well, that sounds like Mother: it’s probably part of her web of control, somewhere along the line. Absolutely please don’t pay it any attention, Heather. Or the letter.’ Annie nodded. ‘I’m afraid it’s all par for the course, being a Campbell. You can show Matty the letter if you want, but he’ll tell you the same.’

‘No, I won’t worry him with it.’ Heather let out a long sigh. ‘There’s enough going on. So, you think… that meeting… I know it’s not my business…’ Heather trailed off.

‘Weddings are insane, babe. I’m amazed you haven’t become a bridezilla yet,’ Annie chuckled. ‘I would advise, just ignore Mother as much as you can, and let the rest wash over you. She’s like a hippo, and I wouldn’t want her to… what do they do? Swim under boats and capsize them. Okay?’

‘Okay.’ Heather smiled at her sister-in-law-to-be.

‘So, the castle’s never been the family home, then?’

‘No, actually. My uncle’s the laird; my dad is his cousin. So, he’s not strictly my uncle; we just say that because it’s easier. My mum and dad run the Balhennie Inn. It’s part of the family estate, but there was some agreement, a few generations back, that Uncle James’s bit of the family would look after the castle and hold the lairdship, and Dad’s side of the family would get the Inn. Dad’s obsessed about the lairdship, mind you. He thinks he should be laird.’

‘Oh, haha. Family drama. I’m no stranger to it. The Campbells have hundreds of years of in-fighting.’ Annie made a face. ‘What does your uncle think about it all?’

‘Oh, he’s pretty chill about Dad, for the most part. I think Dad knows, underneath all the bluster, that running a castle is really hard. Mum wouldn’t want to do it. They both love the Inn. But, yeah, Dad won’t leave it alone. We all wish he would.’

‘Parents are hard work.’ Annie nodded. ‘I get on with my dad okay, but Mum is… well, you’ve met my mother.’

‘Ah… yeah.’ Heather laughed nervously. ‘Does she ever… calm down? Like, is she ever… relaxed about anything?’

‘Not really, no.’ Annie looked pensive for a moment. ‘I mean, don’t get me wrong, she has some good qualities. She’s protective of her family. Her and Matty are super close, though they don’t always see each other. But I know that they talk a lot, and they’ve always had that close bond. He’s the youngest boy. Her baby. Matty’s always got away with so much more than the rest of us.’

‘He hasn’t really talked about her much,’ Heather said. ‘I mean, I knew he had a mother, but he hadn’t mentioned her at all.’

‘Hm. That’s tough. They haven’t cut me off, financially. I’m lucky, in that way. But as far as I’m concerned, Mother just can’t deal with the fact that I’m a beatnik – her words – and I live on a canal boat. I’m not invited to their family getaways and what have you. They think I’ll show them up in front of their friends. Which, I would, quite honestly.’

‘I worry that she thinks the same about me. About my family,’ Heather confessed. ‘I don’t fit into her idea of what a perfect wife should be, and I don’t know what to do about that. I can’t make myself into something I’m not. I’m wondering, from what you’re saying, whether it’s the fact that Matty’s her favourite. You know, no one would ever be good enough.’

Heather looked out at the road as she drove. Icicles clung to the bare branches of the trees and the sky was a slate grey. She’d woken up that morning to a heavy haar coming in off the loch, and it was still foggy. Yet, within the fog, slivers of winter sunshine lighted on the icicles, making them glitter.

‘Oh, god, no! Please don’t change!’ Annie cried. ‘I can’t tell you how grateful I am that Matthew’s marrying a nice, normal girl! I think you’re awesome. If Mother has something like that in her mind, then it might be affecting her behaviour, sure. But when she gets to know you, she’ll realise you’re a darling and that Matty’s lucky to have you. He adores you, you know.’

‘Thank you. That’s so sweet! I’m glad you’re here.’ Heather chuckled. ‘I adore him too, but he’s really wound me up over the past few days. Maybe this is giving me a taste of married life.’

‘Haha. Right. I’ve heard that. The sound of someone’s chewing makes you want to murder them after a certain number of years.’

‘Well, I guess it’s all part of accepting the other person’s flaws. I’ve been thinking of it like, we’re perfectly imperfect for each other. And all this is definitely showing us our imperfections.’

‘That is a nice way to look at things. Goodness, Heather. Matty did well finding you!’ Annie tapped her future sister-in-law on the arm.

‘Oh, thank you. That’s kind.’ Heather beamed at Annie. ‘I have to say, with your family being here, I was beginning to feel like an alien at the castle. You know when you start to second-guess yourself?’

‘Heather. Please do not second-guess yourself. You are perfect. I love my family, underneath it all, but they can be so elitist. I could never get on board with all that crap. Don’t pay attention to it. It’s not real. Clara and Estella have got sucked into it. The designer clothes, skiing, whatever.’