I go to the window and peer out. His lights are still off. No van.
Where the hell is he?
Eventually, restless and irritated with myself, I call Mum.
“Hi, love,” she says. “Everything okay? Lily’s fine. She’s just brushing her teeth.”
“Can I say goodnight to her?”
A shuffle, then Lily’s voice, bright and chatty despite the late hour: “Mummy! Granny let me have extra bubbles in my bath!”
“Did she now? That sounds lovely, baby. You be good for Granny and Grandpa, okay? I love you.”
“Love you too, Mummy. Night night!”
More shuffling, then Mum’s back. “She’s off to bed now. Your da’s going to read her a story—one-handed, bless him.”
“Thanks, Mum. For having her.”
“Of course.” A pause. Then, with that annoying maternal instinct: “Was there anything else you were calling about?”
I take a breath. “I’ve been thinking,” I say slowly, “about what you said earlier. About Struan.”
I can practicallyhearher perking up on the other end.
“And I’ve been thinking... maybe Ishouldgive him a chance.”
“Oh, Ainsley!” At the joy in her voice, I half expect confetti to burst out of my phone speaker. “That’s wonderful! I knew you’d come round. I just knew it.”
“Mum—”
“Sorry, sorry. Not meddling. I’ll behave. Go on.”
“The thing is, I went to speak to him but he’s not in. I messaged him and he’s not replying. And I know there’s nothing I can do about that, but now that I’ve decided I want to talk to him, I feel all restless and I can’t focus on anything else.”
“Give me a few minutes,” Mum says. “I’ll see if I can help.”
She hangs up before I can protest.
I pace the living room. Check my phone. Pace some more.
When it rings again, I answer before the first ring finishes.
“Had a word with Helen,” Mum says. “Seems he’s gone out for dinner. To a place called the Glen Garve Resort. Heard of it?”
My stomach drops.
The Glen Garve Resort.
That’s where Struan was supposed to takeme. On the date we never made it to.
“Ainsley? You still there?”
“Yes,” I manage, my voice coming out strange. “Thanks, Mum. I’ll... I’ll sort it from here.”
I hang up before she can ask questions.
He’s at the Glen Garve Resort. For dinner.
