Page 18 of Highlands Homecoming

“Thank you so much for all your help, Margaret.”

“It was my pleasure, really. Enjoy!”

As she descended the stairs into the main lobby and out the door, Melissa felt more accomplished than she’d felt in years. She tried to remember the last time she’d felt so strong and independent. Probably college graduation. But even then, she’d been under Dave’s wing or standing in his shadow or … what was the right metaphor for being in a bad relationship and not realizing it?

As she hopped into her little red car—a color she’d chosen on her own—and drove down the winding road toward her home, she sang along with the radio. Dave had always hated when she sang. Or had any fun, to be honest. What a jerk. Dave could keep the squirrel-infested house they had lived in back in Boston. Melissa laughed to herself as she remembered her parting act. Dave had always hated squirrels, so she’d left the hideous nut basket centerpiece his girlfriend had gifted her in the wide-open doorway as she left. He might not deserve a piano falling on his head, but squirrels? Absolutely! Melissa still enjoyed imagining scores of squirrels streaming into the home, eating the nuts, leaving a chaotic mess, and Dave coming home to find it.

Melissa sang loudly to Sinead O’Connor’s “This is the Last Day of Our Acquaintance” as she steered the little red car along the lochside road. She reached a stone wall and a little gate and turned into the driveway. She felt a sense of relief and satisfaction as she knew now the home was officially hers and nothing could take that away. She loved everything about it. On one hand, it was stately enough to have a gate and a name, but really, it was a perfect cozy stone cottage. Far too big for one person, but a great place for parties.

She walked up the stone pathway which had recently been cleared of snow. As she opened the door, she could hear the cheerful bells of her border collie puppy, Jingles, racing toward the door to greet her. As she pet him, she felt a surge of love, hope, and optimism that she hadn’t felt in ages.

Melissa pulledher car up in front of the newly renovated MacAlister Inn, a grand building situated along the tranquil River Ness in Inverness, Scotland. She grabbed her lookbook filled with inspiring decorating ideas and headed inside toward the kitchen.

Lindsay, Colin’s sister and Melissa's friend, was busy chopping onions, leeks, and potatoes for dinner. "Hey there, how’s it going, Chef?” asked Melissa.

"Living the dream," Lindsay replied, pausing to hug her friend.

"I can't wait to show Sydney and Elspeth all of my decorating plans," said Melissa.

Just then, Sydney, the manager of the new inn, strode in. "Can’t wait to see them,” she said as she placed a box of vegetables on the counter. "Smells delicious, Lindsay."

"It's just some cock-a-leekie soup and Balmoral chicken. Drew wanted to test the menu this afternoon."

"Sounds great. And I wanted to catch you two because I had a thought," Sydney began.

"Yes?" said Lindsay as she continued chopping.

"Well, of course we still have a lot of work to do to get the inn itself up and running," Sydney began.

Melissa nodded, "I have a lookbook right here."

"I can't wait to see it. The dining room looks great—they're almost done refinishing the floors, and the tables and chairs are good. All the painting on the first floor is done."

"It's just the upstairs and the guest rooms that are left," Melissa added.

"So I was thinking … a lot of new establishments have a 'soft opening' where they open the doors to a smaller crowd, a trial run of sorts. What if we held a Burns Night event, just to whet the appetite and give the locals a little introduction to what we have to offer?” said Sydney.

“Brilliant,” said Lindsay. “But … wait. That’s coming right up.”

“January 25th.” Sydney studied Lindsay, who appeared to be quickly calculating.

“Well, we’d need to hire some waitstaff,” Lindsay began. “And I’d have to train them. And hire some line cooks. And dishwashers and the like.”

“I’ve already posted some ads, but the great news is that Drew says his inn just doesn’t get the traffic in Drumnadrochit that we’d be getting in Inverness, so he’s willing to send some staff over to help cover.”

“Really? He wouldn’t be short staffed?”

Sydney shook her head. “You know Drew. He doesn’t want anyone out of a job, so he’s had a lot of staff on the payroll just to keep them afloat during the winter months. That’s part of the reason he wanted to get involved with the inn at Inverness. It would actually be more cost-effective if the waitstaff doesn’t mind making the drive.”

“What’s Burns Night?” asked Melissa.

Lindsay and Sydney looked at Melissa in surprise. “You’ve never heard of it?”

Melissa shook her head. “Nope.”

“Well, it’s a uniquely Scottish holiday to honor the poet Robert Burns,” said Lindsay.

“Something like our President’s Day?” asked Melissa.