The Skye Collection, page 28
She turned away but he reached out and grabbed her arm. ‘Oh god, Jules, I’m sorry. Please, forgive me. I’m just so confused and angry and upset about everything. I don’t know how to act any more. Who to trust. What to think.’
She turned to face him again and his pleading gaze tugged at her heart. Her voice softened. ‘I know. And that’s why I’m here. That’s why I continue to show up. You can trust me, Reid. All I’ve ever wanted to do is help.’
His chin trembled and he opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t seem to form the necessary words. She gave him the space and, eventually, he said, ‘They came… today. I asked if they were taking him away, but they wouldn’t tell me. They wouldn’t say anything. But they didn’t have to. I just know it. I know they’re taking him, Jules. I can’t put him through it all. I can’t make him feel like he’s choosing between us, so I’m going to step back. She’s won. I’ve made the decision for him,’ he sobbed before slumping into the door frame.
Juliette enveloped him in an embrace and sank to the floor, holding the broken man in her arms. He had made the most selfless decision any parent could make and once again had put Evin’s needs first. His whole world was falling apart around him, so Juliette did the only thing she could do: she held him as he cried.
31
There was a strange atmosphere around Glentorrin for the few days that followed. On the last day of his visit, Dexter went out on his bike to explore the island and buy gifts. On his return, he informed Juliette that a For Sale sign had appeared at the café.
Reid’s café.
So, either Reid had been right, and Kate was automatically getting full custody of Evin – which she doubted – or Reid had folded and given in to her like he’d said he would, unwilling to put Evin through the stress of a custody battle. That thought angered her. She presumed Reid was selling up to head down south to be nearer to him, just as she’d expected him to. Things didn’t feel right. There was something niggling at the back of her mind. It was all too fast and convenient. She wished she could hunt down the peddler of the lies and stop this horrific situation in its tracks, but she was powerless.
Dexter left to go back home, and the place felt strange without him there. He’d taken Caitlin out on the back of his bike a couple of times and she’d raved about how cool he was. Dexter had tried to wheedle information out of Juliette about her, but she’d had to be clear that he was barking up the wrong tree. The daft oaf hadn’t been deterred, however. He’d promised to visit again ‘as friends’ and Caitlin had said he’d be more than welcome. The trouble was, she’d later told Juliette how wonderful it was to have a male friend who was just that: a friend, with no extra expectations, no pressure, no sexual attraction to ruin things. Little did Caitlin know…
Reid descended further into the depths of despair, but along with Morag, Kenneth and Caitlin, Juliette made a point of calling round regularly, texting and phoning to check in on him. When she visited, she just sat beside him most of the time. Like Millie had done for her. Just to be there.
Her heart ached for him and although she told herself it was because of similarities in her past situation and his present one, she was beginning to admit to herself that there was more to it. Much more. She wished she could do something – anything – to change things. But the fact was that her tenure at the museum was slipping away and therefore so was her time to tell him how she felt. This simply wasn’t the right time. Despite this, he was on her mind when she went to sleep and again when she awoke. Seeing him in so much emotional pain made her angry and sad simultaneously. He didn’t deserve this. He deserved to be loved and to be allowed to get on with a life with his son.
There had been a few interested parties to visit the museum, but, as no offers had been forthcoming, she presumed that two businesses for sale in the same small village was making potential buyers wonder what was wrong with the place.
Sitting in her pyjamas with a bottle of wine open and Lewis Capaldi singing sad songs in the background, Juliette read the same page of her book over and over again. She figured she might as well go to bed and, as she blew out the candles, someone hammered at the door.
Nervously, she walked towards the pounding to see a slumped figure through the glass. She couldn’t make out if it was Reid or his brother, but she opened the door tentatively to find a swaying Kendric, red-eyed and pale, bottle in hand.
He raised a hand. ‘Hey… I didn’t know who to… I had nowhere to go,’ he slurred.
‘Kendric, you’re pissed. What the hell are you doing here in this state?’ she snapped.
‘I have to tell him, Jules. He’ll find out eventually. Then he’ll hate me. But he’ll hate me even more if she tells him.’ His eyes were narrow due to the copious amounts of alcohol he’d apparently consumed, and he wobbled on the spot. ‘It’s all ruined. Everything.’ He held up his arms and let them flop down to his sides, the bottle of amber liquid he held sloshing in the process.
‘For goodness sake, come in.’ She angrily tugged on his jacket.
He staggered into the doorway and ended up in a crumpled heap on the floor.
She didn’t offer to help him up and instead growled, ‘Go and sit in the lounge, Kendric. I’m making you some strong coffee.’
Once she’d made a pot of fresh coffee, she walked back to the living room to find Kendric slumped on the sofa.
She thrust a mug in his direction, angry at what she was being dragged into. ‘Drink this.’
He took the drink. ‘I had no one else in the village to turn to,’ he told her by way of explanation. ‘Everyone thinks of me as an outsider since I left. And those who don’t think that are too star-struck by me to want to listen to the fact I have issues too. But you… you’re an outsider too.’
‘You hardly know me. I don’t know why you felt it was okay to come here.’
He scowled up at her where she stood, arms folded defensively across her chest. He opened his mouth and gawped for a moment. ‘Wait, why are you mad? You don’t even know—’
‘That you slept with your brother’s wife and may be Evin’s father? Let’s say I had a hunch.’
His eyes widened and he covered his mouth with one hand. ‘Shit! How did you…? When did you…?’
‘I saw how you talked about her, about Kate. The insults you doled out about her. It didn’t take a genius, Kendric.’ Anger spiked within her and she clenched her fists. ‘I just don’t know how the hell you could do something like that to your own brother!’
Suddenly, he seemed sober and lucid. He stared at the rug, a look of desolation in his eyes. ‘I wanted him to know what she was really like. How she was using him and manipulating him, cheating on him with anyone and everyone.’
‘So, you slept with your own brother’s bloody wife? Oh yeah, you showed him all right! Good for you!’ she shouted; her whole body shook with fury as she paced up and down.
He put his mug down and sighed deeply, rubbing his hands over his face as his eyes welled with unshed tears. ‘I know how it makes me look.’
‘Like a total bastard? Like a man who shags his brother’s wife to prove a point?’
‘Jules! Please!’ he shouted. ‘I didn’t do it out of malice. I had no feelings for her. I never meant to hurt him. You have to believe me when I say that. I love him. I’d never hurt him intentionally.’
Her nostrils flared and she clenched her jaw. ‘But you never told him. So how did you prove anything?’
‘I couldn’t. I was ashamed when I realised how stupid I’d been. So, I took the coward’s way out and moved away.’
‘What a waste of a brother’s trust. Was it worth it?’
‘Of course not. I was drunk when it happened. We were at a party, but Reid had gone home early due to a migraine. I promised to get Kate back safely. In my own twisted, alcohol-addled brain, I was helping. I know that sounds crazy. But I knew she wasn’t right for him. I wanted him to realise. But I screwed up. I’ve never been able to tell him and then… Then, she started talking about paternity… I thought he’d just know. But he doesn’t have a clue.’ A sob escaped his chest. ‘I know I have to tell him. I just don’t know how.’
Juliette sighed and ran her fingers through her already messed up hair. ‘You do know you’ll lose him, don’t you?’
He nodded and his chin trembled. ‘I know. And I know I don’t deserve him.’
‘And if Evin turns out to be yours?’
Kendric lifted his chin; tears escaped his pained eyes. ‘I have no idea.’
Juliette’s head was pounding from all the unwanted information she had acquired the night before. The aspirin hadn’t kicked in yet and she was already checking the clock for when she could take the next dose. She wondered what was going on back in Mistford, where life had been so simple; where she wasn’t dragged into family dramas that were nothing at all to do with her.
The museum was as busy as usual, and Hamish’s latest visit had made her want to cry. ‘I can’t believe it’s closing,’ he’d said, the heartbreak evident in his eyes. ‘I can’t believe my darling will be forgotten.’ His voice had broken, and she’d had to swallow the lump of emotion in her throat before she could speak.
She’d reached across the countertop and taken his hand. ‘She won’t be forgotten, Hamish. She’ll always be in your heart.’
He’d smiled, but his words had pierced her heart. ‘But I won’t be here forever. Then, who’ll remember her? She deserves to be remembered. Just as your Laurie deserves to be remembered.’ Once he’d gone, Juliette had closed the museum temporarily and returned to the house to compose herself.
Just after lunch, Caitlin burst into the museum, panting, out of breath. ‘You’ll never believe what’s happened!’
‘Good grief, Caitlin, are you okay?’
Caitlin waved both hands dismissively. ‘Yes, yes, I’m fine but… the café. It’s sold,’ she said as she bent double, resting her hands on her knees.
Juliette raised her eyebrows. ‘Sold? That’s happened quickly.’
‘Yes, but it’s who’s bought it that’s the big news!’
‘Why? Who’s bought it?’
‘Bloody Donny McNair!’
Juliette scowled in disbelief. ‘Leanna’s Donny? What the hell does he want with a café?’
‘Bought it for his princess,’ Caitlin replied in a mocking tone.
‘Oh, right.’
‘There’s something fishy going on. Have you seen Reid lately? He’s not answering my messages or calls. Is he okay?’
Juliette sighed as the weight of his reality pressed her down. ‘I’ve not seen much of him, no. I think I’ll head round again tonight to check on him.’ Kendric’s admission rattled around her head and made her stomach knot. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to walk into the firing line.
‘Good idea. He needs all the friends he can get just now. He shouldn’t be leaving. None of this should be happening.’ Caitlin was right, even if she didn’t know the half of it.
Juliette ate dinner quickly and picked up her phone to video-call her parents. Safe in the knowledge that they were well, and that Dexter had arrived with them, she said her goodbyes and ended the call. Her mind was filled with mixed feelings about Reid. She’d started simply wanting to help him in his time of need – the commonality of depression drawing her to him in her desire to stop anyone from going what she went through after losing Laurie. But things had changed. What had once been simply a kinship had, for her, become more. She didn’t want to feel that way. There were so many reasons why she shouldn’t. Laurie being the main one. But spending time with Reid had meant she’d grown closer to him. His smile warmed her, and his laugh – as infrequently as it happened – was music to her ears. She never expected to feel this way, especially so soon after losing Laurie. But she couldn’t seem to stop the way her stomach flipped when they made eye contact. Or the way she smiled when she thought about him.
Then, there was the news about Kendric and Kate and the fact that she’d been almost made complicit in their dark deeds. Juliette couldn’t tell Reid, but she couldn’t expect him to understand if he found out that she knew. She was utterly conflicted and hated that Kendric had put her in this position. The only saving grace was that she would be returning home soon and Reid would be moving on with his life too; athough that fact didn’t fill her with the relief she expected.
Right now, Juliette needed to hear the voice of reason – well, actually, she simply needed to see Millie’s face.
‘Hey, honey! So good to see you,’ Millie beamed into the camera. ‘How are things on the wild isle of Skye?’
Juliette let out a sigh of relief at the familiarity of her friend’s smile and happy tone. ‘The place is wonderful, and I feel… I feel at home here in a strange way. I know it’s silly and I’m heading home soon, but I really will be sad to leave.’ Knowing Reid was leaving, however, did mean the place wouldn’t be quite the same if she were, in fact, staying.
‘Aww, sweetie. When you get back, me and Harry are coming up to take you out and cheer you up. How is that hunky chap with all the crap going on?’
‘Reid? He’s dealing with such a lot. And it’s only getting worse,’ she mumbled. ‘I’m trying to spend time with him to encourage him. Like you did for me, when… you know.’
‘Well, he’s a very lucky man. But… You seem a little bit down. What’s wrong?’
Juliette wanted to tell her everything she was feeling and everything that was going on but was scared to admit it all out loud. ‘I’m just… I don’t know… Reid is… I feel… Ugh!’
There was a pause before Millie spoke. ‘Right… so I’m going to read between those incomplete sentences and interpret what I think you want to tell me, okay? Correct me if I’m wrong.’ Another pause. ‘You like him. But you like him more than a simple friendship. You’re attracted to him and you’re scared that people will judge you for that, seeing as Laurie was the love of your life and he’s only been gone two years. Am I close?’
Juliette’s eyes pricked with tears. ‘Scarily so.’
Millie’s expression softened as did her voice. ‘I had a feeling this was going to happen. As soon as you told me about him, something in your voice told me it was more than just you helping someone in need. Oh, honey. I wish I could hug you.’
‘What do I do, Millie? I’m leaving soon and I’m guessing I’ll never see him again unless I do something about this. I don’t know how I feel about that. I get the feeling he likes me too. But… he’s going through so much, and things just keep happening to make his situation worse. I don’t want to make a colossal mistake or end up being one for him. This is the last thing either of us need. And the guilt… I feel like such a traitor. I never expected to be attracted to anyone ever again. Especially not so soon. It’s such a betrayal of Laurie’s memory.’
Millie frowned. ‘Hey, stop that. Remember what Laurie said? Remember how he said you had to move on and let yourself love again? Well, he meant every word. He wouldn’t want you to go through life alone.’
‘I know he said those things, but I never expected I’d need to think about them. And what if… what if this is just a lust thing? What if it’s just curiosity and some deep-seated need to feel wanted again? How can I drag someone else down that path? Especially someone who’s been hurt so much.’
‘Look, honey, all you can do is go with the flow. Don’t push things, but don’t fight them off either. If it isn’t meant to be, you’ll both get over it. But don’t avoid the possibility of being happy.’
Juliette managed to smile. ‘Spoken like a woman in love.’
‘Absolutely. I never expected to meet Harry when I did. And I certainly never expected things to go the way they have as quickly as they have, but I’m happy, Jules. So happy. And I want the same for you. It’s what you deserve.’
‘I’m so glad you’re happy, my lovely. It’s about time.’
‘It bloody is!’ She laughed. ‘Now, chill out and enjoy the last few days you have there. Let the breeze take you where it will.’
32
Later that evening, Juliette sat beside Reid on his sofa tapping her foot to ‘Payphone’ by Maroon 5 playing in the background, Millie’s encouraging words ringing in her mind. Kendric was nowhere to be seen and, judging by Reid’s state of mind, nothing had been said. Reid had showered, eaten and looked a little brighter. His whole demeanour was more positive, and it was encouraging to see. A few days earlier, she’d taken him a couple of books to read – comedies that had made her laugh out loud and that she felt perhaps he might like too. She’d been right.
‘That one about the doctor, good grief, I almost needed stitches I laughed so much. It felt really good.’
She loved to see him smiling. ‘I’m so glad you liked it. I know some parts were a bit gory, but the laughs outweigh the yukky stuff.’
‘Oh, absolutely. It really cheered me up.’ He nudged her with his shoulder. ‘You have a real talent for that too, cheering me up.’
She picked at an invisible thread on her sleeve and shrugged. She also had a talent for keeping secrets that would crush him. ‘Oh, I wouldn’t call it that. I just know books worked for me.’
‘It is a talent though, Jules. You read people so well. You read me so well.’
His comments gave her a warm and fuzzy feeling; a feeling she hadn’t felt in too long. He was quite chatty and was evidently having a much better day despite the café being sold. Although she did wonder if that’s why he was so relaxed. Perhaps it was because he could now close that chapter of his life and move on.
