Highlands Homecoming (A Highlands Christmas Romance #3)

Chapter 4

M elissa called Colin and let him know about the change of plans, then Caitlin drove them to a golf course in Auburndale where they met up with Emma, who was already in line to rent skis.

“So good to see you!” said Melissa as she hugged her older sister. Emma’s bright blue eyes complimented the riot of auburn curls that poked out of her green ski hat.

“I’ve missed you so much. Thomas and I are hoping to visit in the summer when we have more vacation time,” said Emma.

“That would be fantastic! I’d love to show you all around,” said Melissa.

They reached the front of the line. As they filled out the paperwork, they shared updates on Emma’s life and Melissa’s new home, while carefully avoiding the subject of Dave.

Melissa donned her skis. Initially, she felt like a klutz following her sleek, athletic sister and Caitlin, who seemed to be naturally good at everything. First she veered too close to the snow machine, then had trouble following the tracks someone had cut into the snow. Emma pointed toward the woods, and they followed her down a small hill where Melissa finally lost her balance. Emma held out her hand as Melissa looked up at her from the snowy ground. “I’ve got you, sis.”

She hoisted Melissa up, and soon they were back on course with Emma in the lead, Caitlin following, and Melissa marching to the tune of her own drum behind them.

As she zipped and glided through the snow, the exercise did wonders for Melissa’s mental state. She reflected on her encounter with Dave. That was the first time she’d ever stood up to him, and she felt so much better for it. With each zip and zas through the snow, she felt stronger. The bright Boston sun on her face, the clear blue sky, and the shimmer of snow made her feel that anything was possible. And for the first time in her life, she began to realize that anything really was possible. She was strong. Each dig of her ski pole into the ground propelled her further ahead. She reached a bend in the pre-formed track and nearly slid over, but somehow she leaned at the perfect moment and regained her balance. Soon she was gliding onward. It was exhilarating, and exactly what she needed.

When they circled back toward the parking lot, Melissa was confident, rosy cheeked, and relaxed for the first time all afternoon.

“I have to remember that just because it’s winter doesn’t mean I can’t get outside,” said Melissa.

“It must be dark there in the winters,” said Emma.

“Incredibly. I thought it was bad here in Boston when it gets dark at 4:30, but over there …” Her voice trailed off.

“But you like it?” asked Emma.

“I love it. The people there are all so friendly. The homes are cozy. They have a whole thing, coorie —you know that hygge movement you saw on the Internet a while back? That cozy, warm feeling you have when …” Melissa paused, not quite sure how to explain the Danish lifestyle trend of warm blankets, cozy sweaters, tea by the fire, and good company.

“When you’ve just finished skiing and now you’re going to cozy up by the fire?” ventured Emma.

“Exactly. That’s a whole movement in Scotland, and with the weather and darkness, it makes a lot of sense.”

Emma nodded. “It’s on! C’mon, let’s get to my house!”

They peeled off their ski gear, made their returns, and got back into their respective cars. “I’m just about five minutes away, Caitlin. Follow me,” said Emma.

As they drove in Caitlin’s car, Melissa breathed a deep sigh of relief.

“Feeling better?” asked Caitlin.

“So much. There’s nothing quite like a little time in nature to set me straight. I think it’s exactly what I needed.”

“This afternoon must have been worse than you let on.”

Melissa nodded. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Emma’s house was a cozy two-story Cape Cod nestled in the woods, surrounded by pine and maple trees, with an old-school New England stone fence along the driveway.

“What a great place!” said Caitlin, getting out of the car and walking toward the front steps where Emma waited.

“It’s perfect. A fifteen minute drive into Boston, easy access to outstanding museums and restaurants, and yet we’re in the woods,” said Emma.

“Amazing.”

As they strolled up the sidewalk, Colin pulled into the driveway. Melissa ran back to meet him. He was still sitting in the driver’s seat when Melissa opened the car door and planted a warm kiss on his cheek. He laughed and quickly got out of the car to give her a proper kiss.

Hand in hand, they strolled up the driveway to join Caitlin at Emma’s front door.

As Emma opened the door, Melissa felt butterflies in her stomach as she looked between two of the most important people in her life.

“Emma, I’d like to introduce Colin MacGregor. Colin, meet my sister, Emma.”

Colin stuck out his hand for a handshake while Emma leaned in for a hug. They both laughed at the confusion before finally settling on a quick embrace and an awkward handshake.

“We’re a huggy family,” said Melissa with a laugh as she put her arm around Colin.

Thomas, Emma’s husband, arrived at the door and greeted Melissa with a hug, then shook Colin’s hand. “Come on in, Colin, and welcome! Caitlin, good to see you,” Thomas said with a quick embrace.

Inside Emma’s house was just as cozy as the outside. A fire crackled in the fireplace, an inviting sectional couch was covered with handmade throws and pillows, and a gray-and-white kitten snoozed on a braided rug next to the fireplace.

“And who is this?” asked Melissa, getting down on the floor next to the kitten.

“Big Papi,” replied Thomas.

Melissa laughed. “Of course it is. Only the biggest Red Sox fans would name their tiny kitten?—”

“We’re optimistic about this season,” said Thomas.

“And Thomas is a lifelong fan,” said Emma.

“What a lovely home,” said Colin as he looked at the childhood photos of Emma and Melissa by the fireplace.

“Thank you,” said Emma. “It’s a work in progress. I wish I had someone with Melissa’s eye for interior design for the new paint job we need.”

“You know I’ll help with whatever you need, Em,” said Melissa.

“Soup’s on,” said Thomas.

They sat around the dining room table with blue pottery bowls full of steaming, thick clam chowder. Melissa shook a hefty portion of pepper onto hers and dipped a piece of crunchy bread into the creamy soup.

“This is amazing, Thomas. I must have the recipe,” said Melissa.

“It’s easy,” said Thomas with a twinkle in his eye. “My mother’s family secret. Go to the store. Find the frozen section. Get the local bestselling, award-winning chowder. Heat. Impress your friends and family.”

“Well, you did a great job,” Melissa said with a laugh.

“All right, I think we’ve had enough of the pleasantries,” said Emma. “Spill the tea. Tell me what’s going on with you!”

“So much I can’t even decide how to begin,” said Melissa.

“Come on …” Emma said, all but pleading.

“Well, you know Dave surprised me with his request for a divorce right after Thanksgiving. Then there was that letter I received about inheriting a home in Scotland.”

“So you jumped ship immediately?” asked Thomas.

“I’m sure Emma has told you I’m pretty impulsive. But what else was I going to do? Dave was getting the house, and I just … didn’t want to be here. No offense.”

“We totally understand,” said Emma.

“Then I met Colin in line for coffee at the airport.” As Melissa gestured toward Colin, their hands brushed, and she felt gooey inside again. “He had this fantastic accent, and he defended me when the barista messed up my order. So that was nice. But then I kept running into him—at the train station and in Inverness,” Melissa continued.

“When she finally showed up at my dad’s croft for firewood, I started feeling like this wasn’t a coincidence,” said Colin.

“You knew she was stalking you, eh?” said Emma.

“I was not!” said Melissa in mock offense.

“I think it was meant to be,” said Colin, planting a kiss on her cheek. Melissa’s face suddenly felt very warm.

“And then Caitlin set off to ‘rescue me.’ We got separated, and somehow, she found herself snowed in with a handsome musician!” laughed Melissa.

“Do tell,” said Emma.

“His name is Angus. I ended up going off with Melissa’s friend, Lindsay, after Melissa decided to run off with her new boyfriend.”

“I didn’t decide anything! But you might say I fell for him,” said Melissa, taking Colin’s hand.

“We fell for each other,” said Colin, laughing.

“And it landed us in urgent care!” said Melissa.

“So how did you end up with the musician?”

“Long story, but we thought we’d meet up with Melissa and Colin later, so we went sightseeing on Loch Ness.”

“As one does,” joked Emma.

“Well, I do …” said Melissa.

“Of course you do,” teased Emma.

“And we met Angus and Drew, who warned us about the impending storm, and we ended up staying at Drew’s Inn,” finished Caitlin.

“And that’s when she fell for Angus,” said Melissa.

They stayed late into the night, chatting by the fire, catching up. At first, Melissa felt guilty about leaving home for Inverness, but as the evening went on, it became clear that she was only a plane ride or a phone call away. They really had started up right where they’d left off. And with Colin living in Boston, there would be multiple reasons to come back. But … then why live in Scotland? The guilt came flooding back, and she felt the little pit in her stomach again. Or maybe she was just tired?

Caitlin noticed her friend was losing steam. “You must be so jetlagged.”

“I didn’t even think of the time difference,” said Emma.

“It’s all good. But I do think the travel, shopping, and then skiing is beginning to catch up with me. We probably should get going,” Melissa said as she hoisted her sore body from the comfortable chair. “Thanks so much for everything, Em,” said Melissa.

“Thanks to you for coming over, M,” Emma said, getting up to see them all out.

Melissa turned to Colin. “We were M&M in middle school.”

“ Eminem in high school,” laughed Emma.

Melissa gave her sister a long, warm hug. “So good to see you,” said Melissa. “I really hope you can come in the summer. There’s so much I want to show you.”

“I’ll be there with bells on,” said Emma.

“So wonderful to meet you both,” said Colin, shaking hands with Emma and Thomas.

Suddenly, the reality of not seeing her sister other than a few quick visits a year overwhelmed Melissa. “Please don’t forget to call or FaceTime.”

“You know I will,” said Emma.

“You’ll forget?!” asked Melissa.

“I’ll remember, you goof!” said Emma, swatting her sister.

Melissa began to blink back tears, and Emma hugged her again. “Hey, I’m just a phone call away. And I’m not busy. Let’s get together tomorrow, too.”

“Good idea. Somehow this goodbye felt so final.” Melissa fanned her face, hoping the tears gathering in the corners of her eyes wouldn’t fall.

“Mel, I’m right here. Only a phone call away. Just like Caitlin,” Emma said, reassuring Melissa, just like she had been doing since they were young.

Melissa took a deep breath. “You’re right.”

Still a little emotional, Melissa followed Caitlin and Colin down the snowy sidewalk to their cars.

“Maybe we can grab dinner in the North End tomorrow night after work?” asked Colin.

“I’d love to.”

He gently brushed her neck with a kiss, leaving Melissa wishing she could never leave him.

“Why did I get so excited about living in Scotland when everyone I love lives here?” Melissa wondered aloud.

“Everything’s going to be alright,” said Colin. “See you tomorrow?”

She nodded and pulled herself away from him and got into Caitlin’s car.

Melissa could barely speak as Caitlin backed up the car.

It’s one thing to impulsively go after your dreams , Melissa thought to herself as Caitlin drove. But it’s another thing to take time and consider the consequences.