A Way Back Home

by Alison Sherlock

  ‘Summer says it gives us more time to find a bigger flat when I head up to Liverpool in February,’ Skye had told him.

  But despite her protestations that it wasn’t anything serious for him to worry about, Will had found that he couldn’t stop thinking about Skye since they had spent the night together. It was as if something had clicked inside his brain and he had trouble focusing on anything else.

  The overriding feeling was relief that she wasn’t leaving. For now, he reminded himself. She had promised to stay until Valentine’s Day. And then Skye would leave forever. The thought absolutely terrified him.

  He swung between extreme gloom whenever he thought of her leaving and the incredible joy of being with her.

  Each day, they would continue as they had before. Skye would work in the sitting room of the main hall, creating designs and decorations for Mick’s wedding. He would continue to decorate and renovate the lodge. But even then he couldn’t stop himself from going in with some lame excuse to see her and stealing a kiss, then two and then a third.

  ‘Stop it,’ she would murmur against his lips, but she didn’t pull away. If anything, she would pull him even closer to her. ‘Someone will see.’

  ‘Let them,’ he would tell her, his lips tracing a line down to her neck.

  ‘You’ll ruin my reputation,’ she would say, holding his head with her hand.

  ‘Mine’s already in tatters,’ he would whisper.

  And the kisses would continue.

  But at night, after dinner with the family, they would go home to the lodge. The journey was usually slow, punctuated by more and more kisses in the woods until they arrived at the lodge breathless and wrapped in each other’s arms. Then he could hold her all night, relishing the warmth of having Skye in his arms. Watching her as she slept. Hating the dawn as it heralded another day in the countdown to her leaving.

  Once Sam and Annie returned from their honeymoon, Will began work on the estate, his skills as project manager now coming to the fore.

  ‘The future’s looking bright,’ said Sam, beaming.

  But Will knew that was going to change when Skye left. He knew he had to let her go. But he didn’t want to. Ever, he realised. But that was selfish of him and he had left that side of him behind. It would be the most selfless act he would ever do. And it would break his heart forever.

  *

  Meanwhile Skye had never felt anything like the love she felt for Will. She longed for his kisses each hour of every day. Each night was spent in the bliss of his arms. But the days were running into each other so quickly and Valentine’s Day was fast approaching.

  Will kept asking her to stay. She wished she could. She had never loved anyone like him. Probably never would do so again in her life. She felt full of confidence, for the first time in years. She wasn’t even embarrassed about the family knowing all about her relationship with Will. She felt as if she was finally living her own life. But her dreams were not to be.

  She could face anything, except losing Will. But it was inevitable.

  She knew he cared for her, deeply, but he would still never commit fully to her. She understood the pain of his past that caused him to be like that. But Skye needed stability. Had to have it. And staying with Will would mean living in uncertainty and she couldn’t face that.

  Once Valentine’s Day was over, she would move on. It would be time to look forward. But she knew that she would leave her heart behind at Willow Tree Hall.

  50

  Will stared across to the white marquee that had been erected two days previously in the front grounds of Willow Tree Hall.

  True to his word, Mick had spared no expense with giving Bronte the wedding of her dreams. He had baulked at holding the wedding inside the Hall, not wanting to intrude on the family’s privacy and so he had forked out for a massive marquee.

  It was a good job that he had also insisted it be heated and fully insulated, thought Will, looking at the glistening frost on the ground. The temperature was barely above freezing.

  He glanced upwards. There wasn’t a cloud in the darkening sky above him. It would be the perfect night for stargazing. Except, for once, the thought of looking at the stars gave him no pleasure. It possibly never would do so again.

  And all because Skye was leaving the following day.

  Where had the past six weeks gone? He could still recall every moment of that kiss at his brother’s wedding. It had been wonderful, one of the best moments of his life. So had all the kisses since. But now, with this next wedding, it felt like one of the worst days of his life.

  ‘Isn’t it marvellous to see Mick’s money finally being spent on something classy?’ said Alex, coming to stand next to Will on the gravel outside the front door. ‘Thank god we can at least give him a tasteful wedding.’

  Will shrugged his shoulders in response, still deep in the gloom that he couldn’t shake off.

  Alex rolled his eyes. ‘Enough already,’ he snapped. ‘I can’t take this moping any more. You’ve been like this for weeks.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’ said Will, turning to walk away.

  But Alex grabbed his arm. ‘You look terrible. When was the last time you got any sleep?’

  Will had spent every night with Skye. She was all he could think about. He didn’t know what on earth was wrong with him. She was only one woman. Admittedly a beautiful one but he’d seen stunning looking women before. Slept with quite a few of them, in fact. But Skye seemed to have burrowed deep inside his heart. But now he had to let her go.

  Will sighed. Alex wouldn’t understand. He wasn’t even sure he himself understood. Why couldn’t he just get over her?

  ‘Amor, tosse e fumo, Malamente si nascondono,’ said Alex, still studying him with his dark brown eyes.

  ‘I’m afraid I left my Italian phrasebook in the bookshop,’ drawled Will.

  ‘It’s an old proverb,’ Alex told him. ‘Roughly translated it means love, smoke and coughs are hard to hide.’

  ‘It’s not love,’ snapped Will. ‘I don’t know what I feel for her, but it’s certainly not that.’

  ‘Well, at least you’ve finally admitted that it’s your gorgeous Skye who’s the cause of your misery,’ said Alex.

  ‘She’s not “my” anything,’ said Will, shrugging off his hand and stalking away. He flung open the front door and stormed across the entrance hall. Yes, there were other women, but none of them were Skye. His Skye. His best friend and, yes, his soulmate.

  He walked down the corridor, not knowing where he was going.

  So why couldn’t he commit to her?

  Because that caused pain and he could never hurt her.

  He loved her too much.

  As he reached the ballroom, he crashed to a halt. He loved her? He loved Skye? When the hell had that happened?

  He had got used to having her around, for sure. But it was more than that. Went way deeper than that. He had tried so hard not to give in to love. But somehow it had crept in somewhere.

  ‘Hey,’ said Sam, who had been in the ballroom. ‘I was just trying to work out…’ But his voice trailed off as he saw the horror on his younger brother’s face. ‘What is it? What’s the matter?’

  Will looked up at him with wide eyes. ‘I can’t stop thinking about her. Was it like this for you with Annie? It’s like she’s put me under some kind of spell. I hear freaking music, for god’s sake! I don’t need this. Do you think she’s some kind of, I don’t know, witch or something? Because I don’t need to be feeling like this. I haven’t got the time. I don’t want to fall in love.’ He finally paused long enough to take a deep breath.

  Sam was staring at him with an open mouth. ‘You’re in love?’ he finally said.

  ‘Shut up. Of course I’m not.’

  A smile played on the corners of Sam’s mouth. ‘Okay, but you just said…’

  ‘No, I didn’t,’ said Will, sharply. ‘I don’t know what I feel, but it’s definitely not love.’ He blinked back to consciousness
and found Sam grinning at him. ‘Just forget about this whole conversation, okay?’ he said, spinning round.

  ‘Wait! Did you just say that you hear music when you’re with her?’ he heard Sam ask.

  ‘No. Of course I didn’t,’ said Will, quickly leaving the room.

  Later on, as he walked around the lodge, he realised that it was finally finished. It was decorated tastefully and was a warm, comfortable, stylish house. But without Skye living there, it would never be a home to him ever again.

  *

  ‘I don’t understand why you’re leaving,’ said Summer, sinking down on the bed.

  Skye looked up from the suitcase that she had just clicked shut. ‘You know why.’

  She glanced around the bedroom of the lodge and gulped away the tears. So many nights with Will. So many happy memories. But it was the right thing to do. All good things must come to an end, right?

  Summer had been invited to come down for the wedding. Then she and Skye would be leaving together the following day to head back to Liverpool. Skye was going to be using Summer’s car to tow the Airstream, having never got round to replacing her beloved Fiesta.

  Summer sighed heavily. ‘Stop trying to control whatever this is.’

  Skye rolled her eyes. ‘I’m trying to control this because I don’t know how else to live. Look, I’m happy, okay?’

  ‘You don’t look it.’ Summer stood up and held her sister by her arms. ‘No sister could have done a better job of bringing me up. I love you so much. But it’s time for your life to begin now.’

  ‘My life is beginning,’ said Skye. ‘Don’t you see? I’ve got big plans for when we get to Liverpool. I’m going to find a job that best suits my talents. I realise that now. I need to use them and I’m good at what I do.’

  ‘But you have a job here,’ said Summer.

  ‘Not really,’ said Skye. ‘I’ve made a few decorations for two weddings. It’s not a big deal.’

  ‘And you have a home here,’ added Summer.

  Skye shook her head. ‘Not any more. The lodge is being rented out after Easter. We’re already getting bookings. It’s amazing. But I won’t have a home any more.’

  ‘What about Willow Tree Hall?’

  ‘That’s Will’s home, not mine,’ said Skye, gently.

  ‘What about Will,’ said Summer. ‘You love him.’

  Skye sank down onto the bed. ‘Yes, I do. I love him a great deal. And he knows that. But I need security. And he can’t give me that.’

  ‘So what happens now?’ asked Summer, looking upset.

  ‘We go to a fabulous rock star’s wedding and enjoy ourselves,’ said Skye, fixing on her brightest, best smile for her sister. ‘I’ve dyed my hair purple again and everything!’

  It would be the last evening that she would spend at Willow Tree Hall. She was determined to enjoy her time with the family before leaving.

  Will had given her as much as he could and for that she was grateful. She just hoped that they could at least have one last dance together before she left.

  51

  The ceiling of the marquee twinkled with fairy lights, reminding Skye of the night stars.

  She looked around at the decorations, realising that even though it was Valentine’s Day and there were no Cupids to be seen, she had still poured her heart and soul into the design. They had used many of the decorations that had been created for Sam and Annie’s wedding. There were the newly sprayed branches from the woods. The vases from the garage. Every one a memory of her time spent with Will.

  She blinked back the tears. Despite her assurances to Summer, she was devastated to be leaving. But it was the right thing to do. She would never force Will to commit to her. That wasn’t right. She would just have to be content with the time that they had shared and the pieces of his heart that he had opened up to her.

  She was interrupted in her reverie by the arrival of the family. The guests had already begun to wander into the marquee. Only the bride, groom and Will were missing.

  Suddenly Will appeared by the entrance, looking so handsome in his suit that it made her catch her breath. He beckoned her over.

  ‘Is everything okay?’ she asked, concerned by the serious look on his face.

  ‘There’s something I need to give you.’

  He took her by the hand and led her away from the marquee and around the side of the house.

  ‘The ceremony’s going to start soon,’ said Skye.

  ‘This won’t take a moment,’ he replied.

  Skye watched as he reached inside his jacket pocket and drew out a cheque. ‘It’s the first payment towards your half share of the lodge,’ he told her.

  She took it from him, staring down at the numbers in a daze, before looking back up at him. ‘Where did you get all this money from?’ she asked, amazed.

  ‘I sold my Rolex,’ he said, before showing her his bare wrist under his suit. ‘I don’t need a fancy watch when I’m fixing people’s guttering. When I receive the first rental payment for the lodge, I’ll send your share of that as well.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she whispered. Then she reached up and kissed him gently on the lips. It wasn’t one of their more passionate kisses but it was filled with love for him.

  They stared at each other for a long time before he took her hand once more. ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘We’d better get back there.’

  So they walked back to the marquee. In one hand, Skye was still clutching the cheque that would begin to bring her the security that she would need for the future. In the other, she held on to Will, wishing that they could be together forever.

  *

  As Will and Skye stepped into the marquee, Mick was gathered nearby with the family.

  ‘You won’t believe it,’ said Sam, looking at them. ‘She’s not coming.’

  Will frowned. ‘Who isn’t coming?’

  ‘Bronte. She says she’s changed her mind.’

  ‘Actually,’ said Annie, checking her mobile, ‘it’s more like that she’s sold her story to the papers and made a fortune from it.’

  ‘Really?’ said Sam, leaning over her shoulder.

  ‘It’s everywhere,’ said Annie. ‘Sorry, Mick.’

  A shocked silence rang out as they all stared at Mick. Slowly, he broke into a grin. ‘That was a lucky escape, eh?’

  ‘You’re okay with this?’ asked Sam, looking concerned.

  ‘You know what, mate, I really am,’ said Mick, beaming. ‘Phew! I’m happy with an uneven three divorces, you know what I mean?’

  They all exchanged shocked looks. ‘So now what?’

  ‘Such a shame when you’ve created such a lovely setting,’ said Rose, giving Skye a squeeze of her shoulders. ‘After all your hard work as well.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Skye, glancing over to where Will stood next to Mick.

  She let go of his hand and he felt as if he had lost everything. Even if the wedding didn’t go ahead, Skye was still leaving the next day.

  As the rest of the family moved away, Will was rooted to the spot. Not knowing what else to do, he looked at Mick who was still smiling.

  ‘Never been stood up before,’ he said, now laughing. ‘Me! Ha! Of all people!’

  ‘You, er, don’t seem too upset,’ Will told him.

  ‘Nah, mate. I mean, if I truly loved her, I’d fight for her, wouldn’t I? I wouldn’t just let her go.’

  Will frowned.

  ‘Can you imagine finding that one amazing woman who you can’t live without?’ carried on Mick, clapping Will on the shoulder. ‘Me neither, mate.’

  Will stood still for a moment before his eyes slowly rose up to find Skye’s.

  In a daze, he walked slowly towards her, not breaking eye contact. Then he took her hand and dragged her away from the family.

  ‘Don’t leave,’ he told her, once they were standing on their own.

  She gave him a sad smile. ‘I won’t leave right now. But I have to go tomorrow, don’t you see?’

  Will shoo
k his head. ‘I thought you loved me.’

  ‘I do,’ she told him gently.

  He shuffled from foot to foot. ‘Look, let me just think this through.’

  ‘Will—’ she began, but he held up his hand to silence her.

  ‘You’re my best friend,’ he said. ‘My soulmate. I can’t live without you.’

  ‘What, even with me towing a trailer again?’ she joked.

  But he wasn’t in the laughing mood. ‘Please don’t give me another reason to love you,’ he groaned.

  ‘You love me?’ she stammered, her eyes wide in shock.

  ‘Yeah. I do. I love you.’ Then he began to shout, making everyone turn to look at them. ‘I love you! I love you!’ He looked back at her shocked face and took it in his hands. ‘You’re my everything, okay? So stay. Stay with me in the lodge.’

  She was still staring up at him, speechless. And then he knew what he could do to prove it to her.

  ‘Let’s get married,’ he said.

  Skye blinked back to life. ‘Married?’ she asked.

  He nodded.

  ‘But you don’t believe in marriage,’ she told him.

  ‘It turns out that I just hadn’t met the right woman until now.’ Then he stepped forward and kissed her with a passion that would hopefully make her believe every word.

  When they broke apart, they found that the whole family were cheering and laughing with happiness.

  He gave them a grin before asking her once more. ‘Marry me. Here. Tonight. And then stay with me forever in our lodge.’

  For a second she stared up at him. Then he watched as she unfolded one of her hands which had been clenched tight holding the cheque he had given her and tore it into a million pieces.

  Finally, she broke into a teary smile. ‘I’d love to’ she told him, laughing as she kissed him once more. ‘But we don’t have a licence.’

  Arthur stepped forward, clearing his throat. ‘Actually, there’s a little known fact that any couple in the United Kingdom can have their wedding performed by an unordained friend or even a family member, provided they then validate the marriage in a registry office at a later date.’