I folded my arms. “I’ve been understanding up until now because I didn’t want to put Teddy in the middle of all this. Not anymore—”
“She’ll hate you for this, you know.” Spittle coated his lips. “For driving a wedge between us.”
I wasn’t even surprised at how easily he used my worst fear as an emotional whip. “Yeah, maybe she will,” I said, sadly. “And then one day she’ll grow up and thank me because she’ll know I would do absolutely anything for her. Even if that means cutting the rot from her life. It won’t be hard either, given the fact you’ve barely spoken two words to her today.”
Come on, fight for her,I wanted to scream as his cheeks flushed a mottled red.
“I’ve hardly had the time—”
Tired of his excuses, I didn’t think twice about interrupting him. “The first court date is on the letter; I think it’s better if we discuss it there.” I searched his face one last time, looking for any hint of the man who’d made me feel safe –seen– all those years ago. “Despite everything, Cameron, I really do want you to prove me wrong.”
I had nothing left to say on the matter. Alistair started to lead me away, and I caught Annabelle’s eye for the first time. She looked surprised. Embarrassed.
By me or Cameron I didn’t know.
I owed her nothing, but still, I couldn’t help saying with a gentleness I wasn’t sure she deserved, “He’ll do the same to you one day, Annie.”
Her chin lifted defiantly. “You don’t know anything.”
Yes, I do. It was what selfish men like him did.
I said nothing as I walked away, my knees trembling, but the weight of the world had lifted from my shoulders. We’d almost crossed the entire green by the time Alistair knocked his shoulder to mine. “Have I ever told you I want to be you when I grow up?” he said. I smiled, turning into him. “I’m really fucking proud of you.”
“Prouder than the pie contest?”
Instead of answering, his fingers circled my wrist. “Can we get out of here now?”
I swallowed, anticipation dancing in my stomach.
“Let me ask Heather if she can watch Teddy for a few more hours.”
We drove the long way through Kinleith village, the purr of his Land Rover so quiet, it made me miss Daisy’s rumble. Irolled my window down while Alistair turned on the radio. It was on my favourite radio station and Lindsey Buckingham’s textured guitar work caught on the breeze.
“No eighties ballads today?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He grinned, entirely unashamed. “I think they got my point across.”
What point was that? Because it was dawning on me that I’d told him I loved him, and hehadn’t.
Bluebell bunny was on my lap, and I ran her soft ear through my fingers, gathering the strength to be brave one more time. “That you love me?”
Okay, I might not be that brave, because I stared at his impeccably clean cup holders as I said it.
Alistair let out a small grunt, shifting the car up a gear. “You know what’s always driven me crazy about you?”
Well, that didn’t sound good. “That I have over a thousand email notifications?” I suggested.
“A thousand?” His head snapped to me. “What if you miss something important— Actually, never mind. What drives me crazy is that you have no patience.” He hit the indicator and pulled over by a quiet coastal bay with white sand.
“We’re stopping?”
“We are.” He shut off the engine, stared out at the water. “I had this whole big thing planned at home, pizza from Auld Lang Slice, dessert from Brown’s, candles, flowers. Callum and Juniper are setting it up right now.”
“Oh.”
“I love you, and I’ve wanted to tell you that I love you every single second for the past six days. Even before then.” He pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and tapped it on the steering wheel. “Even wrote out a speech, but now . . . I’m kind of pissed off actually.”
My entire body solidified. “Why?”
