‘It’s fine with a good wetsuit,’he explained. ‘Although climbing is my real passion. And it’s warmer to climb than surf in winter.’
After they’d driven to the lighthouse which stood across a causeway and commanded views over the sound to Northern Ireland, Jamie drove them to the distillery café which looked across the same expanse of water from further up the coast. While they waited for their order to arrive, Alicia scrolled through the photos she had taken. ‘I got some good shots,’ she said. ‘I should be able to start painting as soon as the supplies arrive.’ Jamie had ordered anything she needed to arrive by express post. Tomorrow he would set up a studio for her in a spare room.
After lunch, Jamie got up to pay the bill and chat to a local. Alicia headed out to the car park to get some fresh air as the café was a little over heated. She was standing near the door staring across the water and thinking about how peaceful it all was when a voice cut into her thoughts.
‘Excuse me. Alicia?’
Turning, she saw a man and woman around her own age doing what could only be described as gawking. The man’s brown hair was generously gelled and he wore jeans and a green wax jacket. The woman, with a chic blonde chignon roll, was smart in a tailored tweed coat and casual suede boots. They smiled beseechingly.
‘Alicia Jansen?’ the man asked.
‘Um…yes.’ Alicia shivered in the cold that had moments earlier been a refreshing balm. She should have borne the heat inside with Jamie for a little longer. Then they could have headed quickly to the car. Instead, here she was exposed to all kinds of elements.
‘Tony Gillies, freelance journalist, including theKinshore Chronicle. I have to say it’s not often we get starsof your calibre out here. I wondered if you might have time for a quick interview for the paper?’
Oh great, a journalist. How naïve she’d been to think she could get away from this for more than a few days. The options were walk away or decline an interview, but he would print something about her, anyway. This never went well.
Alicia tried the politely decline approach. ‘I was hoping to vacation alone,’ she said, trying to strike a well-mannered but firm tone.
‘Ah, right,’ said Tony. ‘Shame. It would mean so much to our readers to have a wee piece. Maybe a comment about how good the scones are here, or the soup. Or even a photo for the front page? How’s about it? I don’t have to ask you any personal questions.’
‘Um… I…’ Alicia wondered why she was so bad at defending her own time and privacy. ‘I’m trying to keep a low profile. Hence coming to Kinshore on vacation.’
‘I see.’ Tony curled his lip. ‘Bummer.’
‘Yeah,’ the woman chimed in. She was even more starry-eyed than Tony. ‘We don’t get celebs round here. Could I get a wee selfie?’
‘Um, I’d rather n —’ But before Alicia finished her sentence, the woman had whipped out her phone and, quicker than a flash, swung herself round next to Alicia and taken a photo. Alicia smiled reflexively but weakly. ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘I wasn’t expecting that.’
‘Aye, sorry, but it’s only for my private collection. And compared to you I look terrible so I won’t show it to anyone.’ The woman studied her phone screen.
‘I did say I’d rather not, though,’ Alicia protested.
‘Sorry. Can’t help my wife.’ Tony grinned. ‘She’s a hugefan. But don’t worry, I won’t let that one go in the paper. You said no, after all, and I respect that.’
Alicia bit her tongue, literally, and it hurt. Why did so many people have such a warped idea of respect? But if she pushed this any further, she would end up in the media, and not on her terms. She turned back to the tearoom to go find Jamie.
‘If you’ll excuse me,’ she said to the couple, forcing a polite smile. ‘I’ve left my gloves inside.’ Her heart was hammering, and, despite the cold, her palms were sweaty, such was the conditioned response this scenario threw her into, honed from numerous dramatic encounters with Chad. The countless times drama had erupted in public had trained her to be fearful and to flee whenever she felt scrutinised.
But as she was heading into the café, Jamie emerged.
‘You okay?’ He set a steadying hand on her arm. ‘You look like you’re on the run from a herd of buffalo.’ The analogy captured perfectly Alicia’s state of being.
‘I’m fine. I just––’
But to her disappointment, Jamie was distracted by something. Or rather someone.
‘Oh, hey, there’s Tony and Dawn.’ He waved at the couple Alicia had moments earlier been fleeing from.
‘You know them?’ she asked, uncertain whether to feel relieved or disappointed. The familiarity could mean they might leave her alone, but it also hinted they might expect more.
‘Aye. They’re old friends. Come meet them.’ Jamie guided Alicia towards the couple. He embraced the man with a hearty bear hug and planted a kiss on the woman’s cheek.
‘Tony, Dawn. Feels like ages. Hey, Alicia, this is Dawn and Tony. They live in the next village, so it’s been a while.’
‘Wait…’ Dawn’s mouth fell open as she stared agog from Alicia to Jamie and back, as if watching a tennis match. ‘You’re with Jamie?’
‘Is that so strange?’ Alicia was pretty sure Jamie was feigning insouciance. He knew it was strange, but delight trumped offence.
