Page 46 of The Scottish Island Wedding

‘I can’t do that, Heather. I love you, but I can’t cut off my whole family like that. I just can’t. And I don’t think you should, either. It would break your mother’s heart not to see you get married,’ Matty said, slowly. ‘I may not love the fame and all the machinations, but I love Mum, and I love my family. I want them to be there when we get married.’

‘I know. It’s all just a lot harder than I thought it would be.’ Heather let go of his face and leaned her head on his shoulder.

‘I know it is, honey. You’re doing a great job, and I know that we can get through it all, together. We’re a team now, right?’

‘Yes,’ she sighed. ‘We’re a team.’

‘Isn’t that what you told me off about, before? For not acting like we were?’

‘Yes,’ Heather admitted. ‘I see the irony.’

‘It’s not irony, babe, it’s just me stepping up. I hope.’ He stroked her hair thoughtfully. ‘Listen. I know it’s not fair to ask you to be the bigger person here. But unfortunately, that is what I need you to do,’ Matty said, gently. ‘I know Mum’s tough. I don’t want this wedding to split everything apart. I’m going to talk to her again about being more reasonable, but I just need you to be patient with her too. And I’ll try to make sure that I support you more, around her. Deal?’

‘Deal.’ Heather buried her face in Matty’s chest. ‘Look at us, being grown-ups.’

‘I know. You know that I’d much rather ride off into the sunset, just like one of your fairy tales, right? I’m romantic too.’ He chuckled. ‘I just think that with the right combination of romance and resilience, we can still make this wedding – and our life after – as beautiful as we both want it to be.’

TWENTY-ONE

WEDNESDAY 22 DECEMBER

‘Oh, my goodness… This is a much bigger crowd than I expected.’ Heather got out of the car and looked around her in amazement.

When she’d driven past the site of the proposed golf course before, it had just been open land with a sign stuck incongruously at the edge. There had been no one around apart from her and Blossom in the car; now, the moorland on both sides of the road was thronged with people. They carried hand-painted protest signs in all shapes and colours: NO GOLF COURSE ON SKYE. DEVELOPERS STAY OUT. WE DON’T NEED YOUR ELITE PLAYGROUNDS.

It was a cold day to be protesting: frost clung to the bare trees and the mountains beyond were topped with snow. On the drive over, Heather had marvelled at the bejewelled glittering of frost on the heather; here and there, streams had iced over and there was the smell of woodsmoke in the air. She’d wondered how many people would really turn out to protest a golf course on such a cold day.

Yet now that the sisters were here, Heather could see that the crowds had prepared for the cold – everyone was wrapped up in scarves, thick coats, boots, knitted hats. They were serious, and the cold wasn’t going to put them off.

‘Yeah. It got really big, really quickly,’ Bluebell said from the back seat.

‘I can see that,’ Heather said, shaking her head in wonder.

That morning, she’d got an email from one of her work colleagues at the animal charity, saying that they knew Heather was on leave for the wedding, but that she might want to know about the protest. Her colleagues were planning on attending later that day.

The email had panicked her. On one hand, she disapproved of the golf course development. On the other, the demonstration made her nervous because the golf course development was a Campbell business enterprise. Matty had helped his father with the legalities, so he said. Did that make Heather an accessory to the whole thing?

It’s not like it’s a murder, she chastened herself. Not an accessory to, as much as she was involved in the golf course plan, even if it was unintentionally. The thought that she was involved, now, like it or not, made her feel really uncomfortable.

She hadn’t seen Matty that morning at breakfast; he’d texted her saying that he was busy with work. Elizabeth hadn’t come down for dinner at all, and the other Campbells had seemed subdued, apart from Arthur. He had chatted merrily to James and Evelinda about old times; Heather got the impression that Arthur lived in his own world and did what he liked, not worrying too much about the dramas his family was embroiled in.

She’d texted Matty before she went to bed last night.

Could we have some ‘us’ time? I could do with a cuddle. I love you.

I love you too, baby. I’ve got to be up into the night working though. Sleep tight. I’ll see you tomorrow, he’d replied.

This morning, she’d texted Matty to tell him where she was going. He’d replied with a worried face emoji.

Pointedly, she’d replied, I love you! Three days until our wedding x

He’d hearted her reply.

Bluebell, Primrose and Violet had come with her to check out the demonstration.

‘And this is a Campbell project, then?’ Violet said, getting out of the car and staring at the crowd.

‘Mm. Yes. They own a number of golf courses around Scotland, and for some reason, they want one here.’ Heather pulled on a pair of mittens and a knitted hat; her teeth chattered as soon as she got out of the car.