I realized with some chagrin that Eilidh was correct. I’d returned to Ardnoch so hell-bent on getting Callie back, I’d come at it from the perspective of what I wanted, not what Callie needed. If I really was determined to play the long game, then I had to court Callie stealthily.
Friends first.
Eighteen
CALLIE
The following Monday, a postcard arrived at my parents’ house for me. It was from an old friend. The postcard had the words “Greetings from London” along with an image of Big Ben on it. On the back was a handwritten message:
Taking some time to see the world. Being here makes me think of you. Maybe I’ll come to Scotland to say hello to ma belle amie. Gabriel.
It was out of the blue. After the way things fizzled out between us, I hadn’t expected to ever hear from Gabriel again. Yet I was glad. It was nice to know he still thought of me and I was relieved to hear he was taking some time for himself. There were many things he didn’t tell me and I think one of them was how stressed his work made him. I didn’t really expect him to travel all the way to Ardnoch to see me, but I appreciated the sentiment and the postcard put a smile on my face. As did the fact Mum and I sold out at the bakery by eleven o’clock that morning. Now that tourists had fully descended on Ardnoch, we were busier than ever. It had been a good morning so far.
I’d been there to see a bride’s face when she saw the wedding cake Mum had made for her. She’d burst into tears of happiness, and I was so freaking proud of Mum for creating such special moments for people.
Then Arro Adair, Lewis’s aunt, had stopped by the bakery before work. Apparently, Mum had told her I was looking for a place to rent. It was true. Although Harry had apologized and I knew he meant it, I still sensed a slight resentment from him that I’d inadvertently made his life so difficult these past few weeks. I thought maybe if I got my own place, it might help ease things between us. And maybe it would shut up all the folks who were saying I was mooching off my parents. My salary from the bakery was decent, enough to get a small flat.
“Our cottage, the one you used to stay in when you first moved here with your mum, is back on the market for rent,” Arro had explained as she bought a couple of pastries. “It’s yours if you want it.”
The two-bedroom cottage Mum and I had lived in before moving into Dad’s bungalow was a quaint period property on Castle Street. Honestly, I loved the cottage. But … “I’m not sure I can afford it.”
Arro had suggested a rental figure that made me gape. “Surely, you can get more than that?”
“Maybe. But I’d rather have you living there because I know you’ll take care of it.”
“Aunt Arro, are you sure?” The aunt part had slipped out because it’s what I started calling her years ago when I was with Lewis.
She’d beamed, her beautiful pale blue eyes lit with delight. “Absolutely. It’s yours.”
I almost burst into tears, but I had too many customers to see to, to indulge in that reaction. Promising to call her later, I shot my mum a giddy smile. She returned it, but I saw a twinge of sadness in hers. I assumed it was because I’d only just returned home and now, I was moving out. And I was sad to do it. Scared, even. But I was twenty-five and I’d lived in Paris on my own for a few years. It was time.
As the ladies cleaned up, I moved across the floor to lock the door just as Carianne waltzed in. She saw the empty counters and sighed. “Darn. I wanted to take some cakes into the salon. Late start this morning.” She tucked a strand of her own perfectly coiffed hair behind her ear.
In comparison to how well put together my friend looked, I had to be a fright. My nape and forehead were damp with sweat and tendrils of my hair escaping my hair tie stuck to my skin. “Sorry.” I gestured around. “Today we were cleaned out by eleven.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Carianne shot Angie and Cathy a look before lowering her voice. “Do you have a minute?”
“Uh, sure.” I gestured for her to follow me behind the counter and into the kitchen.
Mum and Carianne greeted each other.
“We’re just nipping outside for a minute,” I told Mum before leading my friend out back into our private parking area. There was no one about out here, compared to the busy main street on the opposite side of the building. “What’s up?”
Carianne drew her shoulders back. “I want to keep things open and honest between us … so you should know that I asked Lewis out on a date. And he said yes.”
A sudden bout of nausea overwhelmed me, and I turned, in a panic, afraid I was going to be sick. Leaning on the wall, I swallowed frantically, trying to stop the sensation from turning into reality.
“Oh my God, Callie, are you okay?”
Rage thrummed through me, but I stuffed it down, like I always did. I wasn’t afraid of anger, but I’d always been afraid the rare times in my life when I’d felthatefulanger. Because I didn’t want to be like him. Like my real father.
And right now, I fucking hated Carianne.
And Lewis.
He’d come back for me, my arse! It didn’t take him long to change his mind about that.
I waved off my so-called friend, gulping in a lungful of air. “I’m fine. I … uh … I’ve just been feeling a bit sick lately. Maybe coming down with something.”
