Anita wasn't supposed to be vacationing alone. The trip to Scotland had been planned for months, a fifth anniversary trip, and her husband was supposed to be there. Three months before the trip he transformed from her "husband" into a "low-life, cradle-snatching, liar-cheater, asshole". Whilst not an unknown transformation in the human species, this was a painful shock to her.
For weeks after she found out about the affair with his eighteen year-old blonde Personal Assistant, Anita figured it would be best if she canceled the trip but eventually decided to go on her own. At the very least, she could prevent her sleazebag soon-to-be-ex from getting his share of the money back.
The choice of Scotland had been a joint one; somewhere they'd never been that would be quiet, romantic, and scenic. They wanted to walk in the hills, breathe the clear air, and spend a day fishing on a quiet lake, or "loch" as they were called in Scotland. That vision looked inviting and very real as her driver picked her up from the airport and they made the three-hour drive north, up into the green and gray landscape of the Scottish Highlands' mountains and forests.
By the time she arrived at Monroe House Anita was so tired she could barely focus. She had been awake for twenty hours and traveling for most of them. She checked in, made it to her room, and fell onto the bed exhausted. It was still only eight o'clock local time and her last thought before losing consciousness was that she could check the rest of the hotel out in the morning.
*****
In the light of the new morning her room was a disappointment. Sure, the view was spectacular but the furnishings were ancient, rickety, and worn. The mattress was saggy and she had woken with an aching back. The bathroom, which was at least en-suite, was clean, but hardly luxurious, with its heavy white porcelain fixtures and worn brass fittings. Anxious to shower and wash away the last of her travel staleness, the shower took forever to warm up and lacked enough pressure to invigorate her.
Before heading down for breakfast Anita pulled out the brochure she'd been sent that advertised Monroe House as "a luxurious jewel in the Highlands." The glossy paper spoke about golf, fishing, walking, and scenic tours to distilleries and other places. She read about the fitness room in the hotel, the sauna, and the pool... wondering where they might be and how luxurious they actually were. "Whatever," she shrugged off her negative thoughts, "it's better than working."
Breakfast helped with her impression of the hotel but did nothing for her cholesterol. Skipping dinner the previous night had given her a huge appetite, and she easily polished off a large plate of fried food. She was contemplating what to do with her day when a large man in his mid-fifties ambled up to her table with a friendly smile.
"Good morning, Miss." She vaguely recognized the man as the hotel's owner, Angus, who had checked her in the night before. "And juss how does this fine Tuesday morning find you?"
He spoke with a soft whispering lilt that was soothing and almost musical. "I'm fine thank you. I was just wondering how I should spend my first day here. I thought maybe I'll just have a look at the local scenery, chill out a bit."
"Aye," Angus nodded in agreement, "It'll be good to ease yourself into things. I think you'll find we haff a very relaxing place here for you. I hope you haff a very pleasurable stay with us."
Anita smiled, wondering how you "eased into" anything around here, the pace of life was so much slower than she was used to.
"If you'd like," he started to clear her table, "ah can haff my son drive you around a little. He hass to go into town anyway, and ah'am sure you'd love the drive over the hills and the view of the loch. It's a beautiful day."
She listened to his brogue and delighted in the unhurried way he delivered his words. Despite her disappointment in the accommodation, Angus's pleasant manner and ever-present smile made it difficult to dislike the place.
"You know," she dabbed at her lips with a napkin, "I think I'd like that very much."
"Ha fine idea indeed," Angus almost congratulated himself, "Ah'll haff Alex meet you in reception at say... ten?"
*****
Alex was a younger and slimmer version of his father. At almost six feet tall with broad rustic shoulders, short thick black hair, and a naturally innocent face, Anita's first impression of him was favorable as he walked up to her and announced himself. "Ah'm Alex." His voice was almost identical to his father's. "Ah'll show you around if you're ready?"
As they drove around, Alex pointed out many of the local landmarks for her, stopping the ancient Land Rover at the side of the road frequently so she could take photographs. He showed no sign of impatience as she snapped away and enthused about the views. Quite suddenly, Anita was excited, relaxed, and a million miles from the recent turbulence in her life. Around every corner there was another calendar-quality view to enthrall her.
"Aye, it's a nice wee loch," he said of one deep blue lake as she lined up her camera, "but the fishin's much better at the one over the hill. It's a fair hike to get there, but the view's easily the best around here. Ah could show you later if you like, if y'er game for a walk."
Anita, city girl that she was, felt a challenge in his words and off-handedly agreed to the deal. She could make any hike around here easily. All those mornings in the gym were not for nothing.
*****
They met again mid-afternoon. Alex was still in his jeans and beat-up trainers, and Anita had changed to some new hiking boots and shorts. He looked at her with a wry smile and a nod. "Aye, you'll be lookin' juss fine for the walk up the brae."
He drove them a few miles from the hotel and parked at the head of a well-worn trail. On the drive Anita chatted more than she had in the morning and found out that he was about to start his second year of university in Edinburgh. He helped his father around the hotel in the summer and was studying architecture.
"Do you have a girlfriend Alex?" she asked as they started up the steep trail.
"Och no," he dismissed without embarrassment. "No one special anyway. Ah see some of the girls around here, but ah'm no gittin' married anytime soon."