“I’m still attracted to him.” I shrugged with more than a hint of bitterness. “I think I’ll always have those feelings for Quinn. There’s so much history between us. Yet he devastated me once, and I know he could do it again if I let him get too close. So I’m in a quandary. Do I find out what I need to know? Or do I take the safe road and forget our past and move on with clear boundaries between us?”
London considered my question, taking her time before she responded. “I think … there will never be clear boundaries between you until you have all the information, Taran. If Quinn says there is a part of the story you’re missing … I think you need to hear it and make up your mind then.”
Strangely, her words lifted a heaviness from my shoulders. “Thank you.”
“Thankyou.” She let out a shaky wee laugh. “What would we do without each other now?”
“I hope we never have to find out.”
“I’ve only got a year left on this work visa.” Her tone was teasing, but I saw the glimmer of worry there.
“Well, you’ll get an extension. And then maybe you’ll feel ready to date again and marry a handsome Scotsman so you never have to leave.”
London laughed for real now. “The pool here is kind of shallow. Plus, I’m not ready yet.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I think I’ve sworn off men for good. Hey, you could marrymefor a visa,” I joked.
She snort-laughed. “We’ll see about the whole swearing off men thing first, Taran Macbeth. We’ll see.”
“I’ll make us more tea.” I stood up to change the subject and strolled out of the room. I spotted the mail on the side table in the hall. “Hey, when did this arrive?”
“What?”
“The mail.”
“Oh, the mailwoman saw me on the street and just handed it to me. It’s all for you.”
My attention snagged on the small envelope with the National Health Service stamp on it. I paused to open it quickly, and as my eyes washed over the letter, I felt shivery with fear.
“Everything okay?”
It was a referral letter to the genetic specialist, inviting me to undergo testing to see if I’d inherited the altered genes that made me high risk for breast cancer.
I shoved the letter into the back of the sideboard drawer. “Just junk mail,” I lied and hurried into the kitchen.
20.Taran
“Tierney needs a manager, pronto,” Cammie grumbled as we strolled through the crowd of tourists and locals who had gathered for today’s games.
While London and I were able to join our friend, Tierney couldn’t leave the B and B unmanned, so it was just the three of us this morning.
“I’ve told her the same,” London agreed. “But she wants to make sure she’s in the black before she takes on a big expense like that. She’s already paying me as the chef, and she’s paying a part-time housekeeper.”
“I know. I just wish she were here.” Cammie’s face lit up. “There’s Mum and Greg. Come on!”
“Uh …” Instant nerves hit me at the thought of seeing Quinn and Cammie’s mum again. Once I got older and was like a second daughter to her, she’d insisted I call her Janice.
I’d seen Janice in passing because it was difficult not to in a tiny place like Leth Sholas, but I got the distinct impression she was avoiding me. Janice and Greg owned a small farm and farm shop twenty minutes south of Leth Sholas, so they weren’t in town as often. The last time we’d spoken was a few months after mum’s funeral. I’d still been in a fog of grief, and Janice broughtback bittersweet memories. I hadn’t been particularly warm or friendly toward her, which was probably why she’d avoided me since.
“You’re coming.” Cammie looped her arm through mine and practically dragged me to her parents.
Along with the usual competitions—caber tossing, hammer throwing, shot put, tug-of-war, racing, haggis hurling, sword dancing, Highland dancing, pipe band, and bagpiping—produce makers from all over the islands set up stalls at the Highland Games’ market. Janice and Greg had set up their own.
“That looks fun.” London gestured toward the Highland dancers mid-competition. “Did you guys ever try it?”
“Aye, I was shite. Taran was a natural but hated being the center of attention, so she quit,” Cammie explained.
I shrugged because it was true. The dancing part was fun. Theeveryone staring at me while I did itpart was awful.
