Page 50 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

Cal hated that Tara thought he’d thrown away what they had because he’d told her that long-distance relationships didn’t work. He hated even more that she thought she’d meant so little to him that he’d leapt into bed with the first woman who’d batted her eyelashes at him.

Tara deserved to know the truth.

His phone rang, cutting into his thoughts.

‘Hi, Mum.’

‘Hello, my lovely boy. How was your weekend with Bonnie?’

‘Exhausting.’

‘I bet! Did you do anything nice?’

‘We went out with Mack. He had a couple of cancellations.’

‘I bet she enjoyed that. I wouldn’t be surprised if she goes into something to do with wildlife when she’s older.’

‘Or doll’s houses.’ Cal chuckled. ‘One of the studios has been let out to a woman who makes doll’s houses, and Bonnie is fascinated. In fact, Tara came with us on the trip.’

‘Did she now?’ His mum’s tone was full of hope. ‘What’s she like?’

Cal hesitated. How could he describe the woman who held his heart in her hands and didn’t even realise it? There weren’t enough words to do her justice.

‘Cal?’

‘I used to date her. At university.’

Something in his voice must have pinged on his mother’s radar. ‘What aren’t you telling me?’

‘I…’ God, this was hard. ‘I love her. I always have.’

‘I see. That explains why Yvaine is the way she is.’

Did it? Cal couldn’t see how. ‘Yvaine knew I’d dated someone called Tara when I was at uni, but she didn’t know I was in love with her.’

‘Trust me, sweetheart, she knew. If you don’t mind me asking, why did you and Tara break up?’

‘Because of Dad.’

There was a sharp intake of breath, then silence. Finally, she spoke. ‘Who broke up with who?’

‘I broke up with her. She was in Glasgow and I had just landed that job in Inverness, and…’

‘And you weren’t able to tell her why you couldn’t go to Glasgow to see her every weekend, or why she couldn’t visit you,’ his mum finished.

She understood immediately, without him having to explain.

He heard her sigh. ‘I knew something was wrong, but I put it down to all the worry over your father. Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘You had enough to be getting on with.’

She snorted. ‘Liar. It was because you didn’t want me to feel guilty about asking you to keep your dad’s condition quiet.’

‘Yes.’

‘That bloody job of his had a lot to answer for.’ The anger in her voice made him flinch.

It was true, though. His poor dad had been under so much pressure at work that one day he’d snapped. A proud man, he hadn’t wanted his family, friends or colleagues to know the full extent of it. So he’d kept it quiet as much as he had been able to, taking early retirement. Slowly, with his doctor’s help, he’d recovered, but it had been too late for Calan – He was already married to Yvaine.

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