‘Alas, the cottage is more eau de damp, and Prom isn’t necessarily the most fragrant puss on the planet.’
As if wounded by the words, Prom strutted off.
Beth slumped on the sofa. ‘What’s on the menu?’
Kieran looked sheepish. ‘Mince and tatties.’
‘A true Scottish classic.’ Beth’s stomach growled. ‘Sorry, forgot to have lunch. Or breakfast.’
Seated at the tiny table in Kieran’s kitchen, Beth’s mouth watered at the steaming pan of seasoned mince, topped with fluffy dumplings and awaiting a side of buttery mash.
‘If Rose ever gets sick, you can stand in,’ she said when Kieran served up the food.
Kieran topped up her glass of red. ‘This is one of three recipes my mum taught me. The other two are spaghetti bolognese and beef stew. So I’m glad you’re not vegetarian.’
They chatted easily. About Kieran’s app, Beth’s best friend Diana, Charlie’s daily message updates on baby Ellie.
‘He sends pictures,’ said Kieran. ‘Gross ones. Poop and stuff. Oh, sorry – probably not the best dinner-table conversation.’
Beth steadied her breath. Talk of babies wouldn’t freak her out. She inhaled her new-found courage and embraced the here and now. With Kieran, in his cottage, which…
‘Doesn’t your cottage have a name?’
‘Is it illegal not to?’
Beth laughed. ‘No, but a place like this deserves a name. Not a number.’
‘Won’t that confuse the postman or woman? If I go from being number six toThe Wee Scruffy Hoose?’
‘My place was – is – called Bilberry Cottage.’
‘Nice name. Although I have no idea what bilberries are. Would you like to name this place?’
Beth pretended to ponder the question. Then she leant in for a kiss. A mince-and-tatties flavoured kiss. ‘Let me think about it.’
Kieran cleared up, shooing Beth into the living room with a mug of coffee and a box of chocolates. She nudged a snoozing Prom to one side, and he crept onto her lap.
Cottage names ran through her head. She leaned back, feeling cosy and safe. Where she wanted to be, with someone who made her feel … what?
Don’t over analyse, Bethikins.
‘I’m not,’ she murmured sleepily.
Prom purred. Beth drifted off, into that state between wakefulness and sleep. Until…
Kieran’s voice. In the kitchen, talking low, as if he was on the phone and didn’t want to disturb her. ‘I don’t want to mess it up this time.’
She leaned forward and picked up the cooling mug.
‘No, not like with Lisa. I just… I know what I want more now.’
A faint murmur from the other voice, too quiet for her to make out.
‘I want something steady. Not chaos, not drama. I want a proper life, mate. Like you.’
Beth sensed rather than knew he was talking to Charlie. She didn’t want to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t help herself.
‘A home. A future. I want kids one day, a proper life … a family. But it’s complicated.’
