Finding Hope at the Loch (Loch Lannick Book 7)

by Hannah Ellis

  “What about something old?” Isla asked.

  “I can’t remember. I think Mum’s pearls were old so they doubled up.”

  Isla lifted the order of service from the box and looked through the cream pages at the psalms they’d sung and the bible verses that had been read.

  “It must have been a fantastic day,” Isla said.

  “Best day of my life,” Sherry said proudly, then frowned at Isla. “You are getting married today, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. I’d have thought that was obvious from the way I’m dressed.” She looked down at the veil in her hands. “Can I try this on?”

  “Yes. Have you got one? I don’t think people are as bothered about these things as they used to be.”

  “I haven’t got one. I didn’t think I wanted one.” Moving to the middle of the room, she looked at herself in the mirror above the fireplace and fixed the delicate hair comb in place. The gauze of the veil fell neatly down her back.

  “Oh, you look radiant,” Sherry said. “You can wear it today if you want.”

  “Really?” Isla beamed at her reflection, loving the effect of the veil.

  “I’d love you to wear it.”

  “Thank you. That’s something old and borrowed.” She ran a hand over the front of her dress. “The dress is new … now I just need something blue.”

  “Here,” Sherry said, holding out the ribbon.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Take it. Do you need a safety pin to fasten it inside your dress?”

  “I think I’ll tie it on my wrist. Then everyone can see it. It’s so pretty.” She held her arm out for Sherry to tie it for her.

  “I still think it’s crazy that you’re here with me on your wedding day,” Sherry said. “It’s nice to see you, though.” She stroked Jasper’s face when he leaned onto her leg. “Both of you!”

  “It’s also crazy that none of my family have called looking for me.” Isla picked her phone up. There were no messages or missed calls. “I suppose I should call them.” She was about to call Leana when the phone vibrated with an incoming call. “About time,” she grumbled as she answered the call from Logan.

  “Don’t panic,” he said in a rush. “There are two really small problems, but everything will be fine.” His voice was upbeat enough that she wasn’t worried it was anything serious. The flowers had probably started to wilt or something.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “Erm … I might be a tiny bit late.”

  “What?” She frowned in confusion. “Late to the wedding?”

  “Possibly. Hopefully, I’ll still make it on time. I have to do something. But I also don’t want to tell you what it is, so can you not ask?”

  “Logan! It’s our wedding day! You can’t turn up late.”

  “I’ll try not to. Just don’t stress if you get there before me. I’ve not stood you up.”

  She sighed heavily. “You said there were two problems. What’s the other?”

  “Don’t freak out, but Jasper’s gone missing.”

  “Jasper’s missing?” she asked, her eyes on the dog who was looking affectionately at Sherry.

  “Yes. But everyone’s out looking. I’m sure he’ll turn up. Do you remember the time he chased a squirrel into the woods and was gone for a few hours?”

  “Everyone’s looking for the dog?” she asked slowly.

  “Yes. You sound weird. Are you okay?”

  “I’m just wondering why everyone’s out looking for the lost dog, but no one’s concerned about the lost bride?”

  There was a short pause. “What?”

  “Is no one looking for me? Where does everyone think I am?”

  “Elspeth said you were working. They didn’t want to disturb you and stress you out. Aren’t you at home?”

  “No. I’m in Fort William. Jasper’s with me, so you can call off the search party.”

  “Are you with Sherry?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “Yes. She’s fine.”

  “Thank goodness. I won’t be late then. Are you going to make it on time?”

  “Yes. I’ll leave soon. Were you on your way to check on Sherry?”

  “Aye. I got a message from the supervisor of the flats saying she was ill. Then she didn’t answer her phone so I thought I’d drive down quickly and check on her. I didn’t want to worry you, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to relax until I knew she was okay.”

  “I was the same,” Isla said, smiling at Sherry. “I’ll tell her you said hello.”

  “Tell him I’ll see him in a bit,” Sherry said loudly.

  Isla stared at her. “What?”

  “I’m coming with you. No way I’m missing the fun.”

  “You’re not well,” Isla said with the phone at her shoulder.

  “I’m fine. Forgot my tablets that’s all. It was a fuss about nothing.”

  “Okay.” Isla put the phone back to her cheek. “Looks like I’m bringing Sherry too.”

  “Great. Should I mention how utterly pointless it was for you to invite Nick’s parents to the wedding?”

  “It wasn’t pointless at all,” she said. “It’s something we’ll laugh about for years to come.”

  “Aye. I suppose so.”

  Isla unplugged the phone from the charger and moved to the kitchen. “I’m really excited about today,” she said quietly.

  “Good,” Logan said. “It’s your wedding day. It’d be worrying if you weren’t.”

  “I know, but I didn’t really want the wedding at the castle,” she said, staring out of the window to the car park and small patch of grass beside it.

  “What?”

  “You asked if you’d steamrollered me into it and I lied and said I wanted the big wedding too, but I didn’t, not really. I just said that so you wouldn’t be upset.”

  “Right. And you couldn’t have mentioned this before now? It’s a bit late to change your mind three hours before the wedding.”

  “It’s not,” she insisted. “Because I want it now. And I’m really happy you went to so much effort to make it so memorable.”

  “Why the change of heart?” he asked.

  “Talking to Sherry made me rethink things.”

  “I’m glad. Now I need to call off the search party and finish getting ready.”

  “I can’t believe they noticed Jasper was missing but not me. Why didn’t they go into my workroom to ask me where he was?”

  “Possibly because of that offensive ‘do not disturb’ sign you hung on the door.”

  She snorted a laugh. “That’s only really aimed at you.”

  “Thanks! Are you going straight to the castle?”

  Isla checked the time. “Yeah, I guess so.”

  “Is Sherry really okay?”

  “Seems to be.”

  “I’ll see you both soon then.”

  After ending the call, Isla went back to Sherry. “Are you sure you’re up to coming?”

  “You’ll have to tie me down to stop me. Do you think your friends will be happy to drive me back with them?”

  “I’m sure they will, but why don’t you pack a bag and stay with my parents tonight? Someone will drive you home tomorrow.”

  “Now it sounds like a real adventure!” Sherry rose slowly from the chair. Once she was up, she seemed to loosen up and walked steadily to her bedroom.

  “Just don’t forget to pack your pills!” Isla called after her.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  There were only a few cars in the car park at Eilean Donan Castle when Isla and Sherry arrived, her mum’s being the only one she recognised. They were early, but it made no sense to go back home beforehand.

  “You picked a great place to get married,” Sherry said as they stepped out of the car. Jasper immediately went to Sherry’s side and stuck by her as they set off across the car park.

  “It was Logan’s idea,” Isla said. “He thought the photos would look amazing with the ca
stle and the loch in the background.”

  “He was right about that,” Sherry said. “It’s breath-taking.”

  Logan had been worried about the weather, but the skies were absolutely clear. Around the loch, the leaves on the trees were a mix of gold, orange and reds, and the warm autumn colours reflected on the glasslike surface of the water.

  A stone footbridge led the way to the small island that housed Eilean Donan Castle. Isla and Sherry were walking across it when Isla caught sight of Elspeth crouching at the main entrance to the castle. She was arranging something on the steps but they were too far away to make out what. The photographer, Nelly, stepped out through the door and immediately raised her camera to her face when she saw Isla arriving.

  “You’ll feel like a celebrity today,” Sherry said. “Everyone will be taking photos of you. I bet your cheeks will ache from smiling at the end of the day.”

  “I think they will,” Isla agreed. “I’m going to have the biggest wedding album, with hundreds of photos.”

  “That was a gorgeous shot of you walking across the bridge,” Nelly said as they approached her. “We missed out on the photos of you getting ready, but I went and got some of the men instead.”

  “Perfect,” Isla said. “Thanks.”

  “I’ve been getting some pictures around the castle while it’s all quiet. I’m going to get a few more and then I’ll take some of the guests arriving.”

  After Nelly disappeared back into the castle, Sherry greeted Elspeth then headed for the door to the castle. “I’m going to explore,” she said with a gleam in her eyes.

  Isla scratched at Jasper’s head. “You look after her,” she told him. He trotted happily after Sherry.

  “You look stunning,” Elspeth said, when she and Isla were left alone.

  “This old thing?” Isla said jokily, swinging her hips and making the bottom of the dress sashay around her ankles. “What are those?” she asked, gesturing towards the decorations that Elspeth had been arranging on the steps. “Is that sea glass?”

  “Yeah.” Elspeth picked one up to show her. “Logan knew you didn’t want lots of flowers for decorations so he’s had everyone collecting jars to make these. They’re really pretty with the candles inside.”

  Isla bit her lip as a rush of emotion caught her off guard. “They’re gorgeous,” she said, then giggled. “Were Nick and Lexie collecting jars too by any chance?”

  “They were keeping them hidden at their place. I think they ended up with the job of sticking the sea glass onto the jars.”

  “That explains Nick’s sudden jam obsession then. No wonder he was so jumpy when I wanted to take the jars.”

  Isla thought back to how strangely Nick had been acting. With hindsight, it was very amusing. Elspeth didn’t seem to share her amusement. She’d drifted into a daydream.

  “Are you okay?” Isla asked, noticing how pale and fragile she looked.

  Elspeth nodded too vigorously and made a fuss about putting the candle back in the exact spot on the steps. When she finally met Isla’s gaze, her bottom lip twitched.

  “I have a confession to make,” she said.

  At the sound of people chatting, Isla glanced around. Guests were starting to arrive. “We need to find somewhere to hide until everyone’s here. Follow me.” She held the door for Elspeth then slipped across the castle’s inner courtyard to the steps beyond. Briefly, she paused to take in the trail of candle-filled jars around the floor of the courtyard before hurrying up the stone steps that took them to the walkway around the top of the castle.

  “You know your way around,” Elspeth remarked when they stopped by the battlements.

  “Logan and I have been here a fair few times over the years. This spot has the best view.” She gazed out over the loch to the mountains beyond. The sun hung low, bathing everything in a glorious orange glow. On a flagpole nearby, the St Andrew’s flag flapped in the breeze.

  Snatches of voices drifted on the wind, drawing Isla’s attention towards the car park. “Look at that!” she said, pointing. Logan and her dad strode confidently across the long footbridge. Gary, Alasdair and Rory were with them, while Arran ran ahead, chasing a leaf that fluttered on the wind. They all looked to be in high spirits as they chatted. Dressed in their kilts, they were quite eye-catching.

  “The black shirts were a good choice,” Isla said, unable to take her eyes off them. “I hope Nelly’s getting lots of photos. I thought she was just trying to get more money out of us when she suggested we might need two photographers, but I can see her point now. Oh, she’s down there. That’s going to be a fantastic photo of the men, isn’t it?” When Elspeth didn’t reply, Isla turned and caught the worry in her features.

  “I didn’t make the cake you wanted,” she said in a rush.

  “What?”

  “I’m sorry. Don’t be angry with me.”

  Isla hated how nervous Elspeth looked and felt bad for how uptight she’d been about Elspeth making the cake. “Is it like the one you made for Lexie and Nick?” she asked.

  “Yes.” Tears swelled in Elspeth’s eyes. “Don’t be angry with me, please.”

  “I’m not.” Isla was surprised to see Elspeth so emotional and took her hand. “It’s exactly the cake I wanted. I loved Lexie’s cake. After all the fuss I made, I didn’t dare tell you I’d changed my mind. I’m so glad you did your own thing. I can’t wait to see it.”

  “I was sure you’d love it when you saw it, then today I kept thinking you were going to be annoyed with me.”

  “Stop crying,” Isla said gently. “You’re going to set me off and I don’t have any tissues.” She wrapped Elspeth in a hug and felt a pang of worry when her sister sobbed on her shoulder. “What’s going on?” Isla asked, drawing away from her.

  “Sorry.” Elspeth took a deep breath. “I’m being ridiculous. I’ve hardly slept for a week because I was panicking I’d mess up the cake.” She smiled through her tears. “Then this morning Arran plucked all the edible sea glass from the cake to give to you. He pulled off chunks of icing with it so I had to work like crazy to fix it.” She paused. “It’s all fixed by the way. Practically as good as new.”

  “There’s edible sea glass on the cake?” Isla asked.

  “Yes. I made it myself. Arran brought it over to you this morning. He thought it was normal sea glass.”

  Isla dragged her teeth across her lower lip. “That stuff was edible?”

  “Aye.”

  “Wow!” Isla grinned. “I had no idea. I thought it was sticky, but Arran’s always a bit sticky so I didn’t think much about it. Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked. Elspeth’s eyes glimmered with tears and she looked exhausted.

  “Yes. I’m not sure I’m cut out for the speciality cake business.”

  Isla shook her head. “As far as customers go, I’m probably the worst you’re going to get so I’d say you’re doing great.”

  “You’ve not seen the cake yet,” Elspeth said, wiping at her cheeks again.

  “If it’s got edible sea glass on it, I think it’s going to be pretty amazing. Has it got marzipan figures that actually look like Logan and me?”

  Elspeth nodded happily.

  “Can we sneak down to the kitchen so I can see it?”

  “No. You have to wait until after you’re married.”

  “Spoilsport!”

  They were interrupted by Leana appearing at the top of the steps, holding up a bottle of champagne. Their mum followed behind her with glasses.

  “This is where you’re hiding!” Leana said brightly.

  Christine shot Isla a look and shook her head. “What in heaven’s name were you thinking running off to Fort William on your wedding day?”

  “I had to check on Sherry. It would’ve been nice if I’d been missed. My phone battery died and I was panicking that you were all going to be out searching for me. I should’ve known better.”

  “We thought you were working,” Leana said.

  “On my wedding day?�
��

  “You do work a lot,” Christine said. “It’s a good thing none of us checked. I’d have been beside myself.”

  “I like to think so,” Isla said.

  “Sherry’s looking well anyway,” Christine said. “I just saw her downstairs. She’s excited about staying with us tonight.”

  “You don’t mind, do you?” Isla asked, realising she’d forgotten to run it by her mum.

  “Of course not. Me and your dad will have a day out tomorrow to drive her home.”

  “Who wants a drink?” Leana asked, popping the champagne cork. “This is a fantastic spot,” she remarked as she poured drinks for them all.

  “It’s great,” Isla said. “We get to spy on the guests arriving and no one has any clue they’re being watched. Look, there’s Nick and Lexie.” They were halfway across the bridge with both sets of parents following them.

  After a moment, Lexie glanced up and waved at them, then Nick did the same.

  “Not quite as well hidden as you thought,” Leana said as she waved back.

  “Your dress isn’t exactly great for camouflage,” Elspeth pointed out.

  “True.” Isla swished the hem again, loving the feel of the silky material against her legs. “We should get Lexie to come up here too.”

  “Do you think she’ll hear if I shout?” Leana held the champagne bottle up and waved again. “Get up here!” she called out.

  “Great.” Isla rolled her eyes. “Nick probably thinks he’s included in that invitation.”

  “Just Lexie!” Leana shouted at the top of her lungs. Nick raised a hand and gave them a thumbs up and Lexie did the same. “See, it worked. Oh, my goodness! Is that Kyle in a kilt?” Laughing, she raised her arms over her head to wave at him as he walked across the bridge hand in hand with Justin. He waved back excitedly and appeared to quicken his pace.

  Five minutes later, Lexie walked up the stairs looking a little out of breath. She greeted them all with hugs.

  “I didn’t know if you’d be able to hear me from up here,” Leana said.

  “We couldn’t hear a thing,” Lexie said. “It just looked as though you were waving a bottle of something so I thought I better come and see if you needed help drinking it. Your dress is stunning,” she said to Isla.