When she saw an empty table outside the café, she decided to grab it. Sitting down, she sent a text to her mum to let her know she was outside waiting. Then she placed her phone on thetable and closed her eyes for a moment, to allow the sunshine to bathe her face.
‘Bella,’ called Isobel, in a sing-song voice.
Bella opened her eyes and looked up. She jumped up smiling and gave her mum and then Rosie a hug. ‘Hello,’ she said merrily. ‘Oh, I thought you might have brought Luke?’ Then Bella noticed Rosie’s knowing smile over her shoulder and turned round to see who she was smiling at.
‘Ben,’ said Bella, shocked. ‘Ben,’ she repeated, this time a bit more incredulously. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Hey, Bella,’ said Ben, beaming. ‘Surprise, eh?’ He reached over to hug her.
She hugged him tightly and then took a step back to look at him. ‘It certainly is. When did you get here? Why . . . how?’ She was breathless as she looked at him and could feel herself blushing.
‘You two sit down and have a quick debrief,’ said Rosie in an excited voice. ‘Your mum and I will go and get the coffees. Just the usual? And don’t worry, we will get scones too.’
Bella and Ben managed a nod before Rosie and Isobel disappeared inside the café. Ben sat down on the chair next to her. ‘I still can’t believe you’re here.’ Her heart was now racing and she felt slightly giddy with excitement, which she could pretend was down to her not eating breakfast. However, Ben really did look as good in the flesh as he did in his pictures, which had more to do with it. His piercing blue eyes lingered on her face and she felt her body stiffen when his arm brushed hers. ‘This is wild.’ She shook her head, unable to pull her eyes from his face. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
Ben raised an eyebrow. ‘That’s a first. You’ve usually got plenty to say about things . . .’
She nudged him and tutted. ‘Right, hang on a minute and start from the beginning. What has happened and when did you get back?’
Ben gave her a potted version of wanting to come home to see his mum. ‘She’s doing surprisingly well,’ said Ben, sitting back in his chair, ‘which is great but . . . she looks fantastic and seems really happy so perhaps the single life is suiting her.’
Ah right, thought Bella. Rosie obviously hadn’t told him about Luke yet so she reminded herself not to put her foot in it. Just then, Rosie and Isobel arrived back at the table.
‘Cano will bring the stuff out in a minute,’ Rosie said.
‘Isn’t this amazing to have you both here like this?’ said Isobel, chatting quickly. ‘Who would have thought you would both be on Arran like this and working nearby?’
Bella felt as though her jaw was about to hit the ground for the second time in ten minutes. ‘Working?’ she said to Ben in surprise.
He looked sheepish. ‘That was going to be my next piece of news. I’ve been offered a job round at the distillery in Brodick. They’re short-staffed and I can start straightaway.’ He glanced over at his mum. ‘James also said that if I want, I can use his flat. He lives with his girlfriend now and it’s empty apart from when his friend is over doing walking tours. Is that okay?’
Bella watched Rosie’s face. Did she notice a look of relief pass over it?
‘Yes, of course, that’s great, Ben. Makes sense for you to be nearer work and there’s more happening for you young things in Brodick.’ She looked up and thanked Cano for bringing out their coffees and scones. ‘I’m just going to go inside and get some napkins,’ she said. ‘Back in a moment.’
Ben frowned. ‘That went better than expected. I thought she would be wanting me at Creel Cottage with her.’
Bella looked at her mum as she raised an eyebrow and they both quickly took a sip of coffee.
‘Um, well, I’m sure it will all work out, what with Ash arriving soon as well.’
‘Of course,’ said Ben, steepling his hands together. ‘Things might have been a bit cosy anyway if I had stayed. I’m not sure Ash would be happy to share a room with any of us. Or vice versa.’
Isobel grinned. ‘I know. Ash tends to be a tad messy.’
‘By the way. I don’t want you to think I’m being a total stalker or anything like that – with the job in Brodick.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s just that I spent all my savings on the flight home and I need to save up now before I go back.’
This piqued Bella’s interest. ‘Don’t be daft. I am just still fairly gobsmacked that you are here at all. But won’t your friends miss you?’ She did of course meanMabelin particular.
‘Nah,’ he said, taking a sip of his coffee. ‘They’re all away now anyway. People are always moving. It’s fine.’ He looked at her meaningfully. ‘It’s good to be back.’
She smiled at him, feeling her cheeks flush again. Now she was starting to understand what her mum was talking about when she spoke about hot flushes and why they annoyed her so much.
‘Here we are,’ said Rosie, arriving back with a pile of napkins.
‘Hey, there’s Fergus,’ said Ben pointing to the café entrance. ‘Let me run over and say hello.’
Bella watched him as he lightly jogged over to a man who had just come out the café. They hugged.
