Page 51 of The Rescue

“Come on, I need a dram of whisky after that,” I grab our bags.

19

Crystal

After Rabbie’s mum turned up a few days ago,he’s been quiet and sullen. We went to the pub after she left us and he told the group that she’d turned up unexpectedly. Everyone wasn’t pleased that she just sprung on him like that. He told them what I said to her, and they thanked me for being there for him. Cam even gave me the nod of approval which is huge coming from him.

I can’t stop thinking about our hug which seemed so perfect and so right. One of his large hands splayed over the expanse of my lower back, and the other one my upper back drawing soft circular motions. My cheek pressed against his chest, I could hear his thumping heartbeat. I wish I could’ve had the courage to tell him that I felt stupid for the way I reacted that night in the hot tub, I shouldn’t have shied away because I now know he thought that I regretted it, and I didn’t.

“Crystal? Are you okay?” Dylan breaks my thoughts.

I’ve been distracted the last couple of days, my mind constantly on Rabbie. I know we agreed to be friends, and that the weird tension seems to have gone between us. But I still worry about him, he’s retreated into himself and I wish I could make him feel better. I smile at her, and try to focus. I took the day off today because it’s Thanksgiving day in America. Dylan and I are in the village getting groceries for a meal she’s hosting for everyone tonight.

“Yeah, I’m good,” I give her a reassuring smile.

“We need to go to Bits and Bobs and get some more ingredients.” Dylan looks down at her list.

She’s been stressing about hosting this meal. She wants it to be perfect because it’s her and Cam’s first Thanksgiving together.

It’s a beautiful autumn day in Crossmackie, the sky is clear and crisp. The leaves are starting to fall off the trees that line the streets, making the sidewalk a hue of orange and red. The town is busy today with the locals getting ready for their public holiday of St. Andrews day. Dylan is a true local now, she gets smiles and waves from people as we make our way down the main street of Crossmackie.

“Morning, Dylan. Morning Crystal,” a local man greets us as he walks by.

Dylan greets him back as he wanders off down the street. I give him a quick smile, but keep my head down. Dylan turns with a beaming smile on her face, and I eye her with suspicion.

“What?”

“They see you as a local now, how nice.”

I scrunch my nose up and try to look as if that would be the worst thing in the world, but deep down a warmth is spreading through me. This small town and the locals are starting to grow on me. Just a little.

We hurry down the street to Bits and Bobs, when I stop in my tracks. I spot Rabbie’s mum standing across the street from Sweet Treats. What is she doing here again? Red hot rage starts bubbling away inside me. How dare she show her face around here after what she did to Rabbie. People from the town recognise her as they walk past her, all wearing concerned frowns on their faces. Clearly they want to protect Rabbie too.

I look over to Sweet Treats and see Rabbie in the window. He’s unaware that his mum is watching him from across the street. He’s serving a customer with a large smile on his face and it warms me to see him smiling again. The customer leaves the cafe, and that’s when he looks up and spots his mum. His smile fades and a look of worry spreads across his face.

Rabbie’s mum ducks her head and rushes off down the street. I let out a sigh of relief. Dylan watches after her, and scoffs.

“Can she not get the picture?” She snips.

“Clearly not. You go to Bits and Bobs, I’m going to see if he’s okay,” I tell her as I cross the street and enter the cafe.

The bell above the door rings as I step inside, the smell of butter and sugar hits me in the face. Its homely smell is so familiar to me now, it relaxes me straight away. It smells like him.

I scan the cafe for Rabbie, but I don’t find him. Nellie comes rushing over to me with a worried look on her face.

“Hey, Nellie. Is Rabbie in the kitchen?” I ask, looking over her shoulder.

“Erm, No. He said he was going out the back for a minute. I saw his mum across the road. I can’t believe she turned up out of the blue after all these years. Poor Rabbie, doesn’t need the stress especially with how busy he is.”

“I know, you’re a good friend Nellie.” I smile at her.

“Thanks, we all just want him to be happy,” she smiles back at me.

She wanders off to the counter to serve a customer and I head out the back to find Rabbie. I find him sitting on the back step of the kitchen door. His head is in his hand and his shoulders are hunched up over his ears. I place my hand on his broad back, and he tenses under my touch. I sink down next to him and sigh. I hate to see him like this, he’s such a happy, bubbly person but his mum has put a damper on that.

“Hey,” I nudged his shoulder.

“Hi, mo beag,” he looks up at me. His jade green eyes are lacking that sparkle and he looks tired.

---