Page 107 of Love Thief

He laughs. “I have to sit out and coach. I must say, I enjoy shouting the orders out. It’s great fun making people do what you want.”

“I thought that was your job full stop as Clan Chief?” I heckle him.

“No, I'm just the mouthpiece for the community because I can shout the loudest.” I can feel him grinning down the phone. “Anyway, the point of this call is to ask you to pop up and have a look at some of the work I’ve completed and see if you think we can improve it.”

“Erm, yes, but just so you know, I’m thirty weeks pregnant, Tarron. Due on the sixth at thirty-seven weeks. So I wouldn’t want to stay too long, just in case. You are very off the beaten track up there.”

“Ock, it’ll be grand. It’s just a wee peep and then you can give us the go ahead. And I did hear via Marshall that you’ve had a bit of hassle in the town with paparazzi and what not. They’d not follow you here. And if they did, we can deal with them.”

I mull that over. He is right. I am concerned about it. “Okay, yes, I’ll get sorted today and try to get off tomorrow. Sooner there and back, the better. I don’t fancy giving birth in that Loch.”

He peals with laughter, “You wouldn’t be the first woman to do that now.”

“I was kidding, Tarron. I’ll keep you posted on my journey. Tommy will definitely come. One of my brothers may, but possibly not. Everyone is very busy at the moment. I’ll text you times, and see you tomorrow.”

No one is happy with me. I feel very ganged up on and take myself off to bed, having listened to lectures from everyone. They express their concerns in a nice way, but all the same message—don’t go, it's too far and you’re too near.

I should have at least two weeks, I think, minimum. My babies don’t feel like they’re going anywhere, they’ve not dropped yet. Even though at my last scan they were both behaving and were head down the right way. The doctor did say they have time to move though, and the drop may be very quick. Two weeks, I pray. Just give me that.

I stop via Yorkshire on my way up to Scotland and pick up Eamonn Purcell. He’s handed to me at York Train Station like a little parcel of loveliness. The boy is my brightness on very dark days. We play cards. I teach him how to cheat, as every good Aunty should. And how to keep a poker face whilst he’s doing it.

I’m thrown back to memories of teaching James when he was young, all the tricks. He’s put them to good use over the years. Jonno took over training at ten.

I rest my hand on my belly. Mmm, better maybe not do that with these two. We’ll be a gang of criminals rather than just Jonno and James at this rate.

We reach Barclay house tired, in great spirits, and full of sweets (Eamonn). He falls into bed, mine. He likes to get in with me when we’re in Devon, so thinks he can wherever we are. I don’t mind, he’s a solid little boy, and he likes to cuddle. But he does chat on, especially to the babies. They are a captive audience at present. I sort him out and he hardly says any words, falling fast on recharging for the day tomorrow.

Tommy and I chat with Tarron, who’s brought extra ladies in from the village to cater to his every whim. Tarron is surprised by my size, and I tell him I can’t go out in the Land Rover, it will send me into early labour. I’ll stick to the buildings near the house, mainly the Fairy House and buildings. We’re fed, watered, and pushed off to bed, ready for the morning.

The weather is kind for the end of October, and as we tick past the weekend, I find myself enjoying the work. I can direct the workforce, so skilled they’re able to just get on with it, working in perfect harmony. Tarron is up and around on sticks and, as I’m also very slow, we spend time sauntering around the top grounds of the house, looking at areas that could be utilised.

The Fairy House and buildings are not the only potentially habitable buildings on this side of the property, there’s also a gatehouse that is tired, but so pretty. I stand with Tarron at the bottom of the drive one morning looking at it. Going inside, I’m surprised to see it’s one room and a bit of a mezzanine at the top.

“Wow, we could use it as a cottage for two people. Maybe four if a sofa bed was added down here, there’s enough room. We could use the outbuilding as a boot room and storage, so the only thing in here is a kitchenette, living space, and bedroom upstairs.”

I’m inspecting the brickwork when I hear the door open.

Tarron shouts out, “Xander, you didn’t have to come, I told you I was fine,” and I turn to see Tarron hugging his son. He’s not seen me yet, and I’m standing stock still, staring at him.

He smiles at his father, and touches his leg. “You’re still on sticks. You should have told me how bad it was sooner. Bill shouldn’t have had to call,” he scolds Tarron. He looks so good, black hair flopping around his tanned face, making the blue of his eyes spark out even more in the Scottish light.

I move my foot slightly and it clips a stone, making a noise. He spins around and looks at me, gasping out, “Evie, what are you doing here?” He looks down to my stomach, which is protruding a lot today, and stares at it in wonder before looking up at my face.

And, oh god, I start to cry again. My tears don’t stop. I put my head down and go to move out of the door. This is pathetic. If I cry at every meeting, I’m literally going to be the most blotchy person ever.

I move my finger in the direction I’m going, but can’t get my words out.

He moves fast. Well, faster than me. But these days, that’s not hard.

“No, please don’t, I need to see you.” He touches my face as Tarron makes an excuse to go and leave us.

“Xan, I—” I close my eyes and I shrug, shaking my head.

“I know, Kitten, I know. I missed you so much, but he needed me more. You had people who loved you, he didn’t.”

He pulls me into his arms and hugs me, stroking my hair as I cry into his shoulder.

“Why did you not call?” I sob out. I think my heart is going to stop beating.

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