The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
The fact of the matter is that I’ve got no option but to take sides, or to leave
Rhona looked at Callum. “Callum, did you know that the lifeboat station would have to move?” she asked. Callum ran his hands through his hair. “Would you believe me if I told you that I did, but it didn’t really register? After all, I didn’t come here with the intention of getting involved with the lifeboat.
“My focus was on my plans for my boat-building yard.”
“Perhaps. But now you are involved, your commitment to the lifeboat is obvious,” Rhona said carefully.
“Today’s events proved that. Which leaves you in a difficult position.”
“I know,” he said with a ghost of a smile. “You see, I’m not infallible after all.”
“Will your father change his mind, do you think?” “I wish I could say what you want to hear, but once he has his heart set on something – no, I don’t think so, Rhona.”
“What about the RNLI?”
“I asked about that. He said he had that covered, whatever that means.”
“A large donation, some sponsorship, maybe?”
Underhand
“Perhaps, but it won’t be anything unethical. Dad’s driven but he’s not corrupt. And nor, obviously, is the RNLI.
“They’ll do what’s best for safety at sea. That’s their only priority.”
“I wasn’t implying anything underhand. I just wondered how he can be so certain they’ll rubberstamp his plans.”
“I’d like to know the answer to that myself,” Callum said ruefully. “The fact of the matter is that I’ve got no option but to take sides, or to leave.
“And I’ve decided I like Muir Ferry and its inhabitants. Actually, I could grow to like some of them quite considerably.”
He shouldn’t be looking at her like that and she shouldn’t be standing here looking right back at him. “I have to go,” she said for the third time. “We’re going to pretend it didn’t happen, are we?” “Nothing did happen.”
“So it was wishful thinking on my part, that you wanted to kiss me as much as I wanted to kiss you?” Callum sighed.
“OK. Please, though, let that brother of yours speak for himself. Now, I’d better go and change before I get pneumonia.” “Wait, Callum.”
He’d been honest with her about his feelings. It was time she admitted she had feelings of her own.
“You didn’t imagine it. I did want to kiss you, but it’s not just Rory that stopped me.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with me and Rory, but it’s also all this stuff about the lifeboat, your father’s plans and the implications for Muir Ferry.
“I’m moving into a flat of my own, too, for the first time ever. I feel as if my entire world, the one I thought I knew, has been turned on its head.
“I don’t know who I am or what I want from life any more.
“But, no, you didn’t imagine it. I felt it, too.” “Thank you.” Callum kissed her cheek gently.
Panicked
“Where have you been?” Jill cast aside the cookbook she’d been leafing through before enveloping her daughter in a hug.
“Gordy came back ages ago. I thought you’d be right behind him.”
“He’s home? What did he tell you?”
“That the three lads are safe,” Jill replied. “And that he fell overboard. He leaned too far over the guard rail, and the boat tipped in the swell and threw him in. But you know that; you were there.”
Rhona said nothing and switched the kettle on. “And then Callum went in after him.”
Rhona clutched the teapot to her chest.
“Oh, Mum. I totally panicked, but Callum – he was fantastic!”
“That’s what Gordy said. If you hug that teapot any tighter, love, it’ll crack.”
“Sorry. I’m a wee bit . . .” Rhona put the teapot down. Her hands were shaking.
“Here, sit down, I’ll do that.” Jill ushered her daughter into a chair, then took the seat beside her. “It wasn’t your fault, Rhona.”
“What wasn’t?”
“Gordy. It wasn’t your fault he fell in.”
“But . . .”
“Wheesht. Let me speak. I won’t deny I’ve always been against him enlisting as a volunteer. I’ve been dreading something like this happening.
“Well, it’s happened and he’s come home safe and hopefully he’s learned a valuable lesson.” “That’s exactly what Callum said.”
“Did he? Well, he has a point. Gordy must learn to stand on his own two feet, and you and I must both stop being over-protective of him.
“It wasn’t fair of me to put that burden on you, Rhona. I’m sorry.”
“Mum, how could I blame you, after what happened to Grandpa?”
“It still wasn’t fair. Gordy must grow up, and I must stop worrying.” Jill grimaced.
“At least, I must stop letting my children know I’m worrying. I fret about you just as much as Gordy, you know, every time there’s a shout.
“But I need to learn to deal with it, just like the mother of every other volunteer crew member in the RNLI.”
She pressed Rhona’s hands. “Let me get you that cup of tea, you must be needing it.”
“Thanks, Mum.” Rhona stretched her legs out, and turned over the recipe book. “Mary Berry? Never tell me you’re going to enter the Great Muir Ferry Bake Off?
“No offence, Mum, but the last time you baked ginger snaps, we could have used them to tile the roof!”
Jill chuckled.
“I know. But I thought it would lend an added touch to the contest. You know how there’s always one contestant who is a complete disaster area from the start? Well, I’m perfect for the role!
“Besides,” she added as she set the teapot down on the table, “we can always auction my efforts off as hardcore for the new slipway!”
Morose
Ten days had elapsed since Gordy had made a fool of himself on the lifeboat. Instead of feeling better, he felt more morose with every passing day.
He’d booked three days’ holiday from the garage ages ago, to go to a rock festival. But he’d cancelled, unable to face his mates in case they’d heard the truth about that day.
Muir Ferry was a wee place; word would get around.
He lay on his bed, staring at the posters which covered his walls.
If only he hadn’t been so full of himself, bragging about how important he was and how vital his volunteer role was!
What a ribbing he would get from his mates when they found out the truth.
Groaning, Gordy covered his face with his pillow. Worse than that was the way the rest of the crew had looked at him at the debrief.
None of them would trust him now!
Just thinking about it made his toes curl. He didn’t know how he could ever face them again.
More tomorrow.