Sally's Destiny - A short story of Love and Romance in the Scottish Highlands (2 page)

“Goodness me,
your
hurt!”
Roberts
mother called out with some alarm in her voice.

“It’s ok mum, it’s just a scratch. We had a little road accident and Sally here ended up in a ditch.”

“Just a wee scratch!
The poor
lass is
bleeding all over the place! Hurry
get
her inside so I can have a look at it.
You poor dear.”
She spoke to Sally who was just a little bemused by the turn of events, but grateful for
the obvious concern
.

“Do come in. My name is Agnes by the way; come and get yourself warm by the fire.”

Sally was ushered into a fairly large open
room, that
hosted a huge wood burning stove as a center-piece. A table was set for two and a big ginger cat lay curled up in a basket next to the fire.

“Have a seat over here my dear. Robert, go and get some warm water and a clean cloth – clean mind!”

Robert and Sally exchanged bemused glances, as he headed off to the kitchen to do his mother’s bidding. 

“Now my dear
..”

“Please call me Sally.”

“Ok, then Sally, now that we are introduced you can tell me what happened.”

“It was stupid really
, I swerved to avoid a big Stag that had jumped onto the road; the car went out of control and I ended up in a ditch. If it hadn’t been for your son, I don’t know what I would have done – he has been very kind to me.”

“Hmm, I’m sure he has Sally; after all you’re not exactly unattractive, and he is not exactly averse to helping an attractive girl in distress!” She smiled mischievously, glancing across to Robert as he approached with the cloth and hot water.

“Mum…I hope you are not filling our guests head with nonsense are you!”

The women exchanged a look that told him everything.

“I might have guessed! Don’t listen to her Sally or she will have you walking down the
aisle
with me by suppertime!”

Sally just burst out laughing, a release of tension that was as spontaneous as it was infectious. She suddenly realised that she had not been as happy as this in years – despite her bleeding head!

“Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad thing!” She blurted it out before she could stop herself, and
blushed
bright red to the roots of her hair.

“Eh…I mean… I must have concussion or something!”

Agnes and Robert laughed aloud at her discomfort; Robert giving her
secret admiring
glances
,
and feeling a
n old familiar longing tugging at his heart.

“Ok my girl,
let’s
get this
wee
injury sorted out; you’re going to have a fair bump on your head that’s for sure
.” Agnes chuckled to herself as she ministered to Sally’s minor head wound, soon having the bleeding under control and covering it with a clean bandage that she wrapped all around her head.

“Thanks Agnes.” Sally said when it was done. “I really appreciate what you’ve done here – though I think a little sticky plaster would have sorted it fine!”

“You can’t be too careful my dear. You can
unwrap
it in the morning and we will see what it’s like then.”

“In the morning? But do you mean you want me to stay?” She looked across at Agnes and Robert – who could not help a grin breaking his face in half.

“Most certainly my dear; no-one is going anywhere in that blizzard tonight. Besides Robert has to arrange to get your car lifted in the morning – isn’t that right son?”

“Yes mum,
your
quite right. Sally you must stay here for the night – you can have the spare room – Meanwhile you can get my mums burnt offering down you, and we can all get cosy by the fire!”

“Never mind the ‘burnt offering’ you cheeky besom! I’ve got some good chicken broth on the stove; just the thing for a cold winters night.”

Robert looked across at the concern of Sally’s face.

“Honestly Sally,
it’s
no use trying to go anywhere tonight; and we’d love you to stay.”

“Thanks,
really
..but
I must phone my friend Elizabeth to let her know what’s happened; then maybe I can settle a bit?”

“That’s no problem; the mobile is useless here but you can use the phone in the hall. By the way did you say your friend is Elizabeth?”

“Yes,
its
Elizabeth
Thompson
. She stays just North of Aviemore with her husband Tom.”

“
Ahh
, that’s unbelievable! I know her and her husband; I work with Tom on the Rothiemurchus estate
, in fact he’s my boss!”

Sally just stared at him.

“Honestly it’s true! Let me get you to the phone and you can give them a call – I even have his number for you!”

Sally walked in a daze to the phone, and called her friend Elizabeth from the number that Robert gave her.

“SALLY!” Her friend cried for the other end of the phone line.

“We’ve been worried sick about you, what’s happened, where are you?” She fired off the questions in quick succession.

“It’s ok Elizabeth, I’ve had a little accident in the car and….”

“An accident!
What kind of accident!”

“It’s nothing honestly, but my car is stuck in a ditch till morning I suspect. Meanwhile I was res
cued by a rather handsome young man,
whom
I believe you might know?”

“What’s his name?” Elizabeth blurted out.

“His name is Robert, and I’m at his house now about to have some chicken broth with him and his mother
..
you
do know him don’t you?”

“Robert! Oh that’s great we both know him well – and his mum makes great chicken broth! He’s an absolute gem Sally; and single – if you get my drift!”

“Enough of that Elizabeth!” She lowered her voice
. “Do you think it would be ok if I stayed the night – in the spare room of
course!
They want me to stay as the roads are impassable, what do you think?”

“Ha ha ha, what do I think? I think fate may have drawn you both together – that’s what I think my friend! Wait till I tell Tom, he’ll be relieved and delighted at the same time!”

“I must be missing something here – what are you not saying Elizabeth?”

“Another time Sally – meanwhile of course you should stay, his mum is an angel and she will look after you just fine.”

“But wait a
minute,
is there something I need to know?”

“Don’t fret Sally, just get your hot broth down your neck and think pleasant thoughts! I’ll call again in the morning to see how you are – and how the weather is!”

“Ok, but you’d better not be hiding something!”

“Would
I !”
Elizabeth said mischievously, and hung up the phone.

******

Sally put down the phone and made her way into the dining room, where Agnes was already serving up the steaming chicken broth.

“Ah, my dear; is everything sorted out? Do tell me you are staying the night – Everything’s all ready for you.”

“Thanks for your kindness Agnes, I would be delighted to stay with you – as long as I’m not in the way that is!
”

“Nothing of the sort Sally, you are more than welcome!”
“Great!
Elizabeth
said she
will call in the morning and we can see what the weather is like
,
and maybe get the car business sorted out
.
”

“That’s just delightful Sally. I must admit I’m more than a bit relieved at your decision to stay; and I’m sure Robert will be also – are you not Robert?”

Sally
looked across at Robert who flushed red at the inference
;
and the cheeky smile on his mother’s face.

“
Ah so that’s where the
mischievous
grin comes from.
” Sally thought to herself.

“Now mother behave yourself, or you might just frighten our guest away!”

“Have no worries
Robert;
I’m a bit harder to scare than that I can assure you; besides I’ve just been told your mother is an angel, so I must be in safe hands!”

“Enough of that Sally, now you will be getting me all embarrassed
. Come sit down and we can eat before the broth gets cold.”

The
Chicken B
roth – as Elizabeth had predicted - was stupendously tasty, with just the right amount of black pepper to give a hot spicy
kick;
Sally made a mental note to
ask for the recipe when they had finished. Agnes had made fresh wholemeal bread which complimented the broth perfectly; and the table was set on a slightly old-fashioned white lace table-cloth which Sally found enchanting.

“Agnes, this broth is fantastic, and I do love your lace table-cloth; where did you get it?”

Robert and his mother exchanged a quick glance, before Agnes replied.

“Oh, it was a present from a very dear friend, Sally. I am a great
admirer
of this kind of lacework and she made it especially for me.”

“Well I think it’s just beautiful
, would she make one for me do you think – I would pay her for it of course!”

Again Sally noticed Robert and his mother exchange glances, and this time Robert had a pained expression that even he could not hide. She realised that she had inadvertently spoken out of turn.

“Oh
..
Please I’m so sorry if I have said something wrong – I really didn’t mean to interfere!”

Robert spoke up.

“No Sally, please don’t concern
yourself
. The fact is that the table-cloth was made by my dear wife, who passed away 5 years ago. You were not to know, so please do not be concerned; I am very pleased that you like the table-cloth, it was a real passion of hers and
I
…..”

He broke off as the emotion overcame him. Sally was mortified, never for a moment suspecting such a deep loss in a man who seemed so in control. Her heart broke for him, and a lump in her throat suddenly threatened to choke her
. She placed the spoon carefully back into
the bowl with
a trembling hand, wishing the Earth would open up and swallow her.

Memories of the loss of her father flooded in, causing the tears to well up and flow unhindered down her cheeks.

“Oh my dear
!
Please don’t upset yourself.” Exclaimed Agnes, as she quickly reached out to comfort Sally.

“Just a minute
..please
” Sally mumbled half sobbing. “I’ll be fine
In
a minute honestly.”

Agnes and
Robert
looked on; shocked at the response from their guest. Robert for one feeling quite guilty, that he was the cause of Sally’s grief.

Sally managed to compose herself, and looked up at their concerned faces.

“I should explain
..”

“No, really you don’t have to explain anything Sally – we can all be upset by another’s grief at times. It just shows that you have a heart”

“
Thanks for your understanding
Agnes.
The fact is however
that I lost my own father just 8
months ago to cancer….I was very close to him and I still can hardly believe he is gone
. He
was always there for me, with a strong arm and good advice – even when I didn’t want it!
Now
I am truly alone in this world. My mother ran off with a car insurance salesman when I was only 4 years old;
no brothers or sisters, just a distant Aunt that I never see. Pathetic I know, but sometimes – like now – it really overwhelms me. I’m so sorry.”

“
Tsshhht
..
You have nothing to be sorry about my dear; isn’t that so Robert!” Robert nodded vigorously.

“Tears are a necessary part of the healing process. They that shed no tears when occasion demands; are only storing
up overwhelming grief for a later date. Tears are a safety valve for the soul – and safety valves are there for your own safety!”

Sally looked up red-eyed and thanked them both for their understanding
, in truth she felt strangely lighter
,
as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

“
Right!
Ok… Sally don’t you concern yourself.
” Agnes broke into the moment with sudden authority.
“
It
seems like we all have reason to mourn our loss
, but it is over now and we must learn to live with the loss. Mhairi – that was
my daughter-in-laws
name; has gone now but her
memory lives on in our hearts; as does your fathers dear, of that I am certain. As King David said over the death of his baby son ‘I will go to him one day, but he cannot come to me now.’ It is good to grieve and to remember our loved ones; but there is a time to
move on from a place of sadness and embrace what we have here and now – while we still have it!
Now
..let’s
eat and enjoy some
lighter
conversation. Robert?”