Here With Me (Adair Family 1)

There hadn’t been any new creepy incidents, but I think it was probably the long day I’d spent on a solo photography adventure that pushed me to exhaustion. I walked around Inverness in the morning, taking artistic shots of Old Town. Then I crossed the river to photograph the castle and made a note to return at sunset to get more atmospheric images of the proud, turreted structure. It made me question if Lachlan might let me photograph Ardnoch, but I shivered just thinking his name, so I shoved him right back out of my head.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t successful in locking him out entirely. Throughout the day, as I drove toward Aviemore, he entered my thoughts, memories of two nights before eliciting a heated physical response. Only the majestic peaks and valleys of the Cairngorms National Park could distract me. The reflection of the trees and cloudless sky across the lochs was mesmerizing and soothing.

Dressed in hiking boots I’d bought from Zuzanna and Prentice, I’d decided to head into the park for the stunning photo opportunities Wang had promised. When I mentioned his recommendation to Arrochar during the ceilidh, she’d told me there was a place called Lochan Uaine, a so-called fairy glen situated within the park. Despite being fairly tipsy, I remembered our conversation and looked it up, along with information on the best spots within the lochs and Munros of the Cairngorms. After a morning in Inverness, I ventured forth.

It was a good two-hour drive from Scotland’s most northerly city. Well, it was for a person driving below the speed limit as she tried to navigate south on the left side of the road. Following the A9 road was fine-ish. It was a perfectly normal road.

But soon, I was driving along roads much like I’d discovered north of Ardnoch. They were single track with little bump-outs here and there called passing places. Afraid of meeting someone head on, I took it much slower than the cars I came upon while trying to get to the fairy glen.

It was worth it, though. The scenery was breathtaking.

Lochan Uaine was picture perfect. The tree-dotted mountains swept dramatically down toward the water, and the loch itself was green, a stunning emerald green that turned jade as the sun moved across its tranquil waters. Arrochar told me it was that spectacular green most likely due to the reflected light of the surrounding trees. That was the logical answer.

Legend had it, however, that Lochan Uaine was that color because fairies washed their clothes in it.

As I balanced on my haunches capturing images of one of the most beautiful places I’d ever had the privilege of seeing, I decided I liked the legend best. Honestly, the glen had something about it, something magical and ancient.

Feeling brave, I’d driven around, stopping when I found a lot to park in so I could follow the hiking trails. Sometimes I came across hikers who would give me the heads-up for places in the park that were particularly beautiful. It was all stunning—a smorgasbord of natural beauty that seduced me for hours.

I took so many photos and couldn’t wait to upload them to my laptop. And I didn’t miss a thing behind my camera. I knew when to lower the piece of equipment and just experience where I was. I sat my ass down on the rocky shore of a loch, the spring breeze whispering over my skin, as I processed the surrounding majesty.

A sense of peace that was difficult to explain wrapped around me in those moments.

I had no idea a place could do that—bring such a sense of serenity that all my worries, no matter how big, were forgotten. Even Lachlan.

Though he eventually bulldozed his way into my thoughts on the almost three-hour drive back to Ardnoch. Despite my confusion over the man, by the time I’d returned to the trailer that evening, I was physically exhausted in the best way. My phone showed missed calls from my mom, Seth, and Mac. I texted Mac and promised I’d see him in the morning.

And that was the plan. After waking up refreshed post adventure, I showered and changed into workout gear to meet Eredine and Lucy at the studio. However, as I was leaving the trailer, my cell rang in my hand. It was Seth.

Frowning in concern because it was pretty early in the morning back home, I answered. “Is everything okay?”

Seth exhaled. “Thank God. We were worried when you didn’t answer your phone yesterday.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t have a great signal where I was, and by the time I got home, I was exhausted. Is everything okay?”

“Got home?”

“What?”

“You said ‘by the time I got home’?”

Did I? I shrugged it off. “It’s just a turn of phrase. Is everything okay?”

“Why aren’t you answering your mother’s calls or emails?”

My stomach lurched as I yanked open the door to my SUV and got in. As I switched on the engine, my phone connected to the vehicle. “I’ve been busy.”