As she was about to head to bed, her phone pinged with a message.
Campbell Duff.Jesus Christ.
Or so helikes to think.
CAMPBELL: Cherry, hey. Long time, no see. How are you? I’ve been invited to your pro-am poker tourney in Kinshore via Connor Donoghue (his sister is shacked up with your husband’s brother or something). I hear you live there now. I’ve been filming up near Dornoch, but have a gap in my schedule if you fancy a wee dram? C x
What? Did she fancy a ‘wee dram’ with her ex from ten years ago? The short answer was no. The more considered response was: say yes, clear the air before the tourney and ask the question that had been bugging her of late.
CHERRY: Hey, Campbell. It has been a long time. I’m good, thanks. It’ll be great to see you at the tourney. My schedule is a bit busy before then, but a coffee would be fab when you’re here.
That stalled the problem for a while. Bought some preparation time. She would tell Sean when he got back.
The following morning, Cherry headed back to the garden centre to pick up the forgotten items.
‘How’s the garden shaping up?’ Summer asked.
‘Cherry tucked a bird feeder under her arm. ‘I’m happy with progress so far. I just have to work super hard today to make sure it gets done by the time Sean comes home from London tomorrow.’
‘Listen, I’ll tell you what…’ Summer spoke in her bright, sing-song lilt. ‘I could come over this afternoon and help you, if you like. There’s folk here who can mind the shop. I could even bring homemade ginger wine for when we’re done. Or for while we’re doing.’ She wiggled her eyebrows.
‘Seriously? Help would be amazing, and I’m not going to say no to ginger wine. Thank you so much, Summer.’
Summer grinned and clapped. ‘Amazing! I love a good garden project. Can’t wait!’
As Cherry was toiling in the midday sun, the doorbell signalled the arrival of Summer. She was effortlessly vibrant in her green overalls, carrying the promised bottle of ginger wine. Two grab bags of crisps spilled out of her overflowing tote bag.
‘I’ve brought snacks.’ Summer put the crisps down on the counter, followed by dips and biscuits. ‘These can go in the fridge.’
‘You didn’t have to do that, but thank you.’ Cherry was blown away by this generosity. Life really was different in small-town Scotland. For every busybody in the local store, there were five people who excelled in loveliness.
And Summer was so easy to talk to. No sooner had they pulled on their gloves and begun tugging out the last of the weeds than they were chatting away like they’d known each other forever.
‘I’ve never met anyone who got married after two days,’ Summer said as they raked back the soil in the flowerbeds. ‘What’s that like?’
Cherry leaned on her rake. ‘Honestly, it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made.Theeasiest. From the moment I saw him, I was gone. We have this mad connection,you know?’ This was all true; it was what came after that crazy connection that was difficult.
‘If you know, you know, I guess,’ said Summer. ‘Sean is a kind of a fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants type of guy, so it doesn’t surprise me he got married quickly.’
She must have seen some hesitation on Cherry’s face.
‘I mean, he makes decisions fast, but he’s not rash,’ she added, hurriedly. ‘It’s like his operating system is built of faster RAM or something. He knows what he wants, and he doesn’t waste time deliberating over things – or regretting them afterwards. Not that everyone believes that about him.’
‘I guess you’ve known him a long time.’
‘Since he was a teenager, but it doesn’t feel like that much has changed. He’s still handsome, still the life and soul, with a reputation as “boyfriend material”. Although he doesn’t always get the girl. I think what’s changed is his decisions don’t land him in hot water like they once did. Take this house – when he bought it, it was a shell and people thought he’d made a huge mistake, but they’re eating their words now.’
‘The house is incredible,’ Cherry agreed. What Sean had done here was impressive. ‘He does work super hard and put his whole heart into things.’
‘And it’s a huge heart,’ Summer added.‘Sean is a smart guy, just not in a conventional package. He’s unique.’
Cherry wouldn’t argue with that. How funny that the love of her life lived here, on this little village in this remote peninsula in Scotland, and she’d met him in New York. If fate was something she believed in, she might say it was lending a hand.
‘Are you and Nate an item then?’Cherry asked a little later, pushing the familiarity but acting on a hunch.
Summer began to dig holes in soil rather more busily than before. ‘Er…no, we’re close but just friends.’
‘Okay. Sorry, that was rude of me.’
