She pinched the top of her nose as tears began to form.
‘Don’t cry, Morgan. I think it’s for the best that we realise it now rather than after we’re married. And in a strange way, things worked out for the best – your mum got you, you got to be with her right up until the end and that’s something to treasure.’ When she sniffed, he confessed, ‘I almost didn’t come to Scotland, even though we both agreed I should.’
‘Because of me?’
‘Of course because of you.’ The realisation comforted her more than she’d thought it would. Because no matter that they hadn’t lasted long-term; it cemented the fact that what they’d had had been strong and very real once upon a time. ‘But I went not just for the job but because I knew if I was still around, you’d likely be seeing me often and it would mean you might not have that time with your mum, the way you both needed to.’
The tension she’d been holding onto at the start of the call finally give way, although she swiped at another tear that fell. ‘You’re a good man, Ronan.’ She blew out from between her cheeks at the new horizons opening up for the both of them. ‘Coming here changed me, you know.’
‘I noticed.’ He spoke with fondness. ‘And it’s a good thing.’
‘I’m not so sure. I knew what I wanted before.’
He nodded, understanding. ‘Just remember the media company were very interested in you before you said you were staying behind. They were disappointed when you said you couldn’t make the move.’
When Morgan made the decision to return to Little Woodville, she’d emailed the company and explained what was happening in the event they were to offer her the job. She hadn’t thought she’d hear anything from them but they replied and said they understood and that should she ever be in a position to make the move, she should let them know and they could arrange a further interview.
‘Don’t disregard it, Morgan.’ Ronan could read her doubts in her silence. ‘And from what I remember, they had other offices around the country, so you never know. Don’t take the job change off the table completely. It’s something to think about – a great opportunity for you. And if you have to come to Edinburgh for the interview, then you’re always welcome to stay with me any time you need to.’
‘Quit being so nice. We’re ending our relationship and you’re still looking out for me.’
He smiled. ‘It’s a hard habit to break.’
And yet she knew he’d be just fine. They both would. This was for the best.
13
Nate walked to Snowdrop Cottage with his dad. Although he’d passed it enough times and come here to fix the downstairs toilet, today he realised how its frontage and presence could very well be a part of a magazine. It was picture-postcard perfect, depicting the quintessential English village with its thatched roof, ivy creeping up the front walls, the white plaque on the periwinkle-blue gate displaying its name.
Nate closed the little gate positioned between boxed hedges behind them and remembered just in time to duck beneath the pointed roof of the porch that wasn’t the highest when Sebastian welcomed them inside.
In seconds, Trevor became the celebrity of the moment.
‘I heard you’d had a bit of a battle with a frying pan,’ Sebastian started.
Trevor turned to Nate. ‘Word travels fast.’
‘Hey, I only told Morgan… I bumped into her last night.’ He ignored the raised eyebrows he got from his dad.
‘It’s my fault,’ Belle informed them as she came down the stairs. ‘I saw Morgan this morning when I went to get some more milk, she told me. I told Sebastian. How are you?’ She looked at Trevor’s covered wrist, on display given he had a short-sleeved, beige, checked shirt on and it was too warm for another layer.
‘I’m still in one piece,’ Trevor reminded them. ‘They went over the top at the hospital; it’s only a burn and they did so many checks, I thought we’d never get home again.’
‘A check-over is good,’ said Belle. ‘And it sounds as though they were being thorough, doing their job.’
‘Well, I could’ve done without all the fuss. Although I was amused by the looks Nate kept getting.’
Nate explained, ‘One nurse was definitely suspicious, as though I’d pushed Dad or done something equally untoward.’
Trevor began to chuckle.
Nate handed Sebastian the bottle of wine he’d brought. ‘I wasn’t sure whether this was what you did but Dad said it was fine.’
Sebastian wasn’t going to argue. ‘Wine is always welcome and it’s great to have you both here.’
‘It was nice to be invited.’ Already, he could hear that they were either last to arrive or close to being the final ones. ‘And something smells really good.’
‘It’s summer,’ Belle declared. ‘Sebastian has been at the barbecue today so we’ve got everything from sticky chicken wings and drumsticks to lamb burgers and vegetable kebabs.’
