‘I must be getting rusty or something. I swear my radar is usually spot-on with guys,’ Aila said, shaking her head. ‘Boy, did I read that wrong.’

‘Oh well, it’s probably for the best.’ Elle grinned. ‘I try not to date men who are prettier than me.’ Which sent them both into hysterical laughter once more.

‘But how hot were they?’ Aila said, almost wistfully as the cousins walked arm in arm back to the car.

Never in a million years would Elle have approached a pair of strangers like that. But Aila was a force to be reckoned with. She was so outgoing and confident, and why wouldn’t she be? She was beautiful. Her bubbly, outgoing personality was infectious, drawing people to her like a moth to light and Elle had simply tagged along for the ride. But oh, what a ride. She couldn’t remember when she’d last had this much fun.

Later that evening, tucked up in bed, Elle’s thoughts once again turned to her gran.

‘Gran?’ she said into the darkness. ‘Are you okay? What happened at Culloden today?’

I’m okay, dear. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you worry.

‘Is that what you are, Gran? Trapped here?’ The thought had been playing on her mind.

No, I don’t think so. At least not in the same way the men I saw today were. That was different. They were so bereft … so sorrowful. It was truly awful, Elspeth. But that’s not how I feel. I’m here because I want to be. There is something that is holding me here, though, but I’m not quite sure what it is.

‘Is it me? Am I holding you here?’ What if her grief was somehow causing Gran to stay? What if Gran ended up like those lost souls she spoke about at Culloden? Elle couldn’t bear to think of Gran wandering around miserable and lonely forever.

No, my darling, it’s not you. I’m glad you’re enjoying your time with Aila—she’s a feisty one, that girl. I like her. She’ll be good for you.

‘Gran, please tell me what happened with Moira,’ Elle said, feeling suddenly frustrated by the lingering feeling that persisted. ‘Maybe that’s got something to do with why you’re here?’

Her question was greeted only with silence.

Elle let out a frustrated growl and stamped her foot like a two-year-old throwing a tantrum. ‘This disappearing-whenever-you-don’t-want-to-talk thing is getting really old, Gran,’ she said to the roof. Then hoped no one was passing outside the door who might wonder who she was yelling at.

Why would Gran not have wanted to be part of these people’s lives? They were her family. It just didn’t make any sense.

THIRTEEN

Thirteen

The next day, Aila had to work, but Alice and Peter happily offered to take Elle for a drive to do some more sightseeing.