‘No,’ Claire said from the sofa. ‘I want to know she’s ok too.’
‘We’ve got a while yet. And we’re all worried.’ Moira gave his arm a light squeeze and nodded towards the seat beside Claire. ‘How can we not be? Sit for a minute. You’re pacing holes in the floor.’
He sank down, elbows on his knees, rubbing a hand through his hair. ‘I know I’m probably overreacting. It’s just… I’m worried, and that call didn’t help.’
‘That’s because you care,’ his mum said simply. ‘About everyone. And believe me, I know how you feel.’
He put his arm around her, knowing she too was remembering the night they lost Dad.
The shrill ring of his phone made him jump. His heart leapt into his throat. He fumbled the phone from his pocket, almost dropping it in his haste. ‘It’s her.’ He jabbed at the green button. ‘Clara? Are you ok?’
‘I’m fine,’ came her voice – slightly breathless, but alive. ‘Well, I’m utterly soaked and freezing, but I’m ok. I’ve been helping a lady who fell. The ambulance just arrived, and she’s getting in.’
Relief punched through him so hard it made him dizzy. He was already on his feet. ‘Where are you?’
‘At the bridge in the woods.’
‘I’ll drive down and meet you.’
‘You can’t bring the car in. It was hard enough getting the ambulance in.’
‘I can park at the entrance. I’ll meet you there.’
He ended the call before she could argue, bounding up the stairs two at a time. He grabbed a backpack and stuffed it with a towel, a blanket, and an old t-shirt; his fingers were clumsy, his pulse roaring in his ears.
When he thudded back down, his mum, Claire, and Kaleb were waiting by the door.
‘What’s happened?’ Claire asked, her eyes wide.
‘She’s soaked and cold. I’m going to get her.’
‘Is it Clara?’ Kaleb asked.
‘Yes.’ Sam gave him a quick hug. ‘I’ll be back soon.’
‘Be careful, love,’ Moira called after him, but he was already halfway out the door.
Rain hit him full in the face as he sprinted to the car. His trainers splashed through puddles, jacket flapping, breath burning in his throat. He needed to get to Clara. Nothing else seemed to matter, except holding her and telling her just how much she meant to him.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Clara
Clara lifted Skye, holding her close as the ambulance wound its way slowly down the track through the woods towards Glenbriar. Initially, they’d tried to get in from the Clachnabronnachan side, but it was too narrow. Clara and the woman had huddled together until it had wound its way up from the Glenbriar end.
The flashing lights still glowed faintly against the rain-streaked trees before vanishing around the bend. Hopefully the woman would be all right now. The paramedics thought it was only a sprain, but they were taking her for x-rays to be sure, and her husband and baby were going to meet her at the hospital.
Clara turned back and started on her way up the hill towards Clachnabronnachan, her legs trembling with cold. Rain poured through the branches overhead, rivulets of icy water running down her hair and collar. Her dress clung to her skin, heavy and sodden. The woman had given her coat back, but it was just as soaked, hanging limp and useless over her arm.
‘Oh, my baby,’ she murmured, pressing Skye close. The poodle gave a damp shake, spraying droplets over Clara’s chin, then tucked her head under Clara’s jaw as if to share what little warmth she had left.
The woods were deserted, just the rhythmic roar of the swollen stream behind her, and the splatter of rain through the trees. She slouched forward, each step a wet squelch from her trainers, but inside her chest something small and bright burned through the chill. A decision.
She was going to tell Sam everything – how she felt, what she wanted, the truth she’d been dancing around for weeks. No more holding back. Even if she looked like a drowned rat, she would tell him. He deserved to know.
Her teeth chattered as she rounded a curve in the path. The main road still seemed a mile away, even though the rain didn’t feel so heavy now she was deeper under the trees. The cold bit deep into her bones, and she spotted movement ahead. She blinked through the water droplets.
A figure had appeared in the distance, running towards her.
