The Road to Gilmour Falls by Jean Gillespie

Karen lingered over a second cup of coffee in the cafe of her Edinburgh hotel. Her last meeting was this morning. She couldn’t make up her mind whether to spend the weekend in the capital, head home to London, or pay a long overdue visit to her hometown near Glasgow.

It had been years since Karen’s family left Gilmour Falls and settled south of the border. Karen had been a teenager, a rather love- struck one at that. She had been madly in love with Neil Cameron, a local lad two years her senior. Karen was thrilled when they met up again at St. Andrew’s but was shattered when Neil abandoned her for the freewheeling love ‘em and leave ‘em life style favored by most of his fellow undergraduates. To add insult to injury, Neil rarely gave her as much as a nod of recognition when their paths did cross. He graduated at the end of Karen’s first year and announced to one and all that he was leaving Scotland.

“Where is he going?” a teary- eyed Karen asked his younger brother, Fergus.

“Greener pastures I imagine. Forget Neil, Karen. He’s not looking for a permanent relationship. Not our Neil.”

“Forget him?” sighed Karen. That was easier said than done. But over the years she had been able to push Neil to the back of her mind. The only time she ever thought of him now was on her yearly visit to Edinburgh. She was nearly thirty. Had never been able to settle into a permanent relationship although she’d certainly had her chances.

Where was Neil at this very moment? she wondered. She hoped he was back in Gilmour Falls running his father’s real estate office.

There’s only one way to find out, you little coward. Go to Gilmour Falls. Find out for yourself.

Karen went back to her room and packed her bag. As soon as her morning meeting ended, she’d drive to Gilmour Falls. She knew she had to find out the whereabouts of Neil Cameron once and for all.

The traffic heading out of Edinburgh was bumper to bumper, but it thinned out once away from the city limits. Karen followed the new motor-way to Gilmour Falls. The forty-five minute drive gave her time to think.

What if he’s married with a family? What if he has a partner? Then again, what if he’s single? She smiled at herself in the rear view mirror. “That’s the spirit, Karen. Keep it positive,” she said aloud.

The town center wasn’t very busy. A parking spot was easy to find. It was a beautiful warm September afternoon, so she strolled around the town center while she tried to figure out the easiest way to find out about Neil. Within minutes she found herself standing outside the Cameron real estate offices. She spent several minutes looking at photographs of houses for sale. Then, before her courage failed her, she walked into the estate office.

“May I help you?” asked the receptionist.

“You certainly may,” replied Karen. “I’d like to find out………..” But she couldn’t get the words out. She couldn’t make herself say, “I’d like to find out if Mr. Cameron is working here,” so she blurted out the first thing that came into her head. “I’d like to know if that house on Hamilton Road is still available.”

The receptionist picked up the phone and dialed a number.

“Mr. Cameron, there’s a lady asking about the house on Hamilton Road. Can you speak to her? Okay,” she said replacing the receiver.

“He’ll be a few minutes. Says I’m to entertain you. That means tea or coffee. Which will it be?”

“Tea, please.”

“Are you moving to Gilmour Falls?” asked the receptionist while she busied herself getting the tea.

“Perhaps,” lied Karen. “It looks like a nice place.”

“If you’re only passing through,” laughed the girl. “It’s actually dead boring here.”

“I heard that, Christine,” came a familiar male voice from an open office door. “Are you scaring off clients again? Sit tight whoever you are. Don’t believe a word she says. I’ll be with you in a moment.”

Karen’s hand was shaking so badly at the sound of Neil Cameron’s voice that she almost spilled her tea.

“Let me get a napkin for you,” said Christine, looking at the tea sloshing around in the saucer.

Karen placed the cup and saucer on a table just as the man behind the voice walked out of his office and stared at her in disbelief. Karen hoped the disappointment didn’t show on her face. It wasn’t Neil. It was his younger brother, Fergus.

“Karen Russell. I can’t believe it. I haven’t seen you in years. What brings you to the darker side of our hallowed country?”

Before Karen could think of an answer, Christine came to the rescue.

“She wants to know if the house on Hamilton Road is still available.”

“It is. It is. Big home that one. You must be married with a family. And here was I thinking you might have come back to claim me. I guess I was too slow on the uptake.”

“Not at all, Fergus. I’m not married, but I’ve been thinking about buying something in Gilmour Falls for a long time,” Karen lied, convincingly, she prayed.

“What would you do here?”

“Work from home. Teleconference when necessary.” As Karen spoke, the more plausible her story was beginning to appear to her. A place of her own in Gilmour Falls might be a real possibility.

Fergus drove her to the house on Hamilton Road. It was lovely but clearly too large for one person.

“Tell you what,” said Fergus. “There’s a lovely cottage up the Lethame. But I can’t show it until Monday morning. The owner won’t be out until Sunday.”

“Too bad,” said Karen, breathing a sigh of relief that she’d found a way out of her dilemma. “I’ve got to be in my office in London on Monday.”

“That is too bad. Where are you staying tonight?”

Karen had actually thought she’d drive into Glasgow and check in at the Central Hotel, but, once again, she lied. “I thought I’d spend the night in the Park Hotel right here in Gilmour Falls.”

“Good. Let’s have dinner together this evening. The old Cabin restaurant has been refurbished. It’s first rate. Does Gilmour Falls proud. What do you say? You’ve got to eat somewhere.”

“Sounds great, Fergus.”

“Meet me there at seven. I’ll make the reservations. It’s quite a temptation having a first class restaurant across the street from the office.”

“Now that’s the advantage of living in the city. I work out at a gym and swim twice a week.”

“So do I, Miss Smarty Pants. There’s a fitness center around the corner and an Olympic-size pool up at the Academy. You city slickers aren’t the only ones with mod cons. And I’ll bet our facilities aren’t nearly as crowded.”

Karen drove to the Park Hotel. Now that the summer crowd had disappeared for another year, the hotel staff was clearly relieved to have a visitor. Karen put her bag in her room and took a walk around the park. She’d spent hours, entire days, in that park as a child. Her father had taught her the correct way to hold a golf club on the putting green. She’d learned to skate on the frozen boating pond in winter. It had been a long time since she had felt so relaxed and happy.

Fergus was in the middle of an animated conversation with the Cabin’s manager when she arrived promptly at seven.

“Here she is. Do you remember Stewart, Karen?”

“Of course. How could I forget the class clown?”

“Not too loud,” laughed Stewart. “I have my reputation to protect.”

Karen couldn’t believe the Victorian opulence of the newly renovated restaurant.

“It’s certainly not the shabby old Cabin anymore. It’s gorgeous.”

“Wait till you see the menu,” said Fergus.

“And taste the food,” added Stewart as he accompanied them to their table. “They were about to tear this place down. I couldn’t stand the thought of an empty space here. So this is my tribute to our childhood memories.”

Over drinks the conversation began to lag. Fergus reached across the table and grabbed Karen’s hand.

“Neil isn’t in Gilmour Falls, Karen.”

“Where is he?” asked Karen, her face turning beet red.

“Who knows? The last we heard, he was in Australia. Mum only hears when he needs money.”

“Is he married?”

“Twice so far. He was working on bride number three the last time we heard. He’s a bit of a nut case. Forget him, Karen. He’s not worth it.”

“Is Neil the reason you never left Gilmour Falls? You had to stay here to run the business?”

“No. I always wanted to run the business. I love this wee place. I do travel, but I’m perfectly content to live here.”

“Why aren’t you married?”

“Never met the right girl. Mum says my standards are too high. I want a modern, well- educated woman who will love living in Gilmour Falls.”

“That doesn’t sound like such a tall order.”

“Taller than you would imagine. The type of women I lust after want Edinburgh or London, not Gilmour Falls.”

“How did you know I’d come back here to find out about Neil?”

“You were always crazy about him. I used to pretend it was really me you were in love with and that one day you’d come back and admit it.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. I’m glad to see you now, but I almost wish you hadn’t come back. You’ll be gone again tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry, Fergus. I can’t help my feelings.”

“I know,” said Fergus, releasing his tight grasp on her hand. The arrival of the waitress with their dinners helped lighten the atmosphere. They’d both ordered lamb.

“Smells delicious, Maddy,” said Fergus. “Let’s hope it tastes as good.”

“Is he trying to coax you into marrying him and moving to Gilmour Falls?” teased the waitress.

“I hope so,” replied Karen, getting caught up in the humor that was so much a part of Scottish village life.

“Don’t let her get away, Fergus. You’re getting a wee bit too long in the tooth to play hard to get,” laughed Maddy.

“Would anyone be upset if I ran off with you, Maddy?”

“Only my husband,” laughed Maddy as she headed back to the kitchen.

Karen couldn’t remember when she’d enjoyed a meal more or had so much fun.

“I’d forgotten how much I missed our Scottish humor.”

“Buy the cottage up the Lethame. Move to Gilmour Falls. You can enjoy our Scottish wit every day.”

Fergus drove Karen back to the hotel.

“Thanks for a wonderful evening, Fergus. I do wish I could stay to look at the cottage on Monday, but I’ve got to drive back to London tomorrow.”

“I know. Thanks for tonight. It was great.”

Fergus reached over to kiss her goodnight before she got out of the car. Their eyes met. Before Karen knew what was happening, she felt Fergus’s arms go around her. They kissed passionately.

“I’d better go,” said Karen pulling away.

“Are you sorry I’m not Neil?”

“Of course not. This has all happened so fast. I need time to think.”

“Me too. But promise to keep in touch. Don’t be shy about dialing the number on this card,” he said, pulling a business card out of a holder on the dash and slipping it into her hand.

“I promise. I will keep in touch. Tell your mum I said hello.”

Karen stood at the garden gate of the small hotel and watched Fergus’s car vanish into the mist. She realized that Fergus was right. He was the Cameron she had wanted all along.

After breakfast the next morning, Karen paid her bill and prepared to leave Gilmour Falls. She stopped at the cash machine outside one of the banks to withdraw some money for the journey. As instructed, she inserted her card in the slot. But the minute it disappeared, a message stating that the machine was out of order flashed on the screen.

“Oh God,” said Karen out loud. “What am I going to do?”

“You’ll have to wait till the bank opens on Monday morning,” said a woman’s voice behind her. “Can I help you out till then? “Thanks, but I’ll be all right,” said Karen, turning to look at the stranger behind her.

“Are you sure?” asked the woman.

“Absolutely. But thanks for the offer.”

“I guess I’ll go over to the other bank,” said the woman.

“I can’t believe you actually offered to loan me some money until Monday. I don’t even live here.”

“You don’t? Funny. You just look like you belong here. See you around.”

“Right,’ said Karen. And you may be doing just that in the near future.

Since she needed to stay in Gilmour Falls to retrieve her bank card on Monday, Karen drove back to the Park Hotel.

“Couldn’t stay away, could you?” laughed the receptionist when she checked Karen in for two more nights. “Does Fergus Cameron have anything to do with this decision? You two looked pretty cozy last night.”

Karen didn’t answer. She walked over to the public phone and dialed Fergus’s number.

“Fergus Cameron here.”

“Karen Russell here.”

“What can I do for you?”

“Do you think you could show me that cottage on Monday morning?”

“Only if you promise to have dinner with me again this evening.”

“It’s a deal. I’ll meet you at the Cabin at seven.”

“People will start to talk.”

“They already have,” laughed Karen.

Half way up the stairs with her overnight bag, Karen looked over her shoulder and winked at the desk clerk who was grinning from ear to ear.

Mystery writer Jean Gillespie alternates the settings of her novels between her current home in northern West Virginia and her native Scotland. Her first novel, A DEATH ON FACULTY ROW is set in West Virginia while SECRETS OF THE POWMILLON, takes place in a fictionalized version of her Scottish hometown. She is currently hard at work on her second West Virginia novel, THE SCHOOL ON THE HILL. Jean is also an avid short story writer. She lives outside Wheeling, West Virginia with her husband, Frank, a retired college administrator, and Angus, a Scottish deerhound which she fondly refers to as the great hairy beast. Four adult children have fled the nest and live in terror of being mentioned in their mother’s literary endeavors.