Page 80 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

Not taking her eyes off him, Mhairi rang through for a pot of coffee.

‘What do you want to talk to me about?’ he asked as her stern gaze settled on him once more.

He was anxious to get this impromptu meeting over with so he could lick his wounds in peace. He’d spent the morning avoiding people, only speaking when it was absolutely necessary. Talking was too much of an effort when all he wanted to do was be alone with his thoughts and his broken heart. God knows how Tara must be feeling, and his gut twisted, knowing she must hate him.

He hated himself. But what choice had he had? Tara was the love of his life, but Bonnie was his confused, upset and hurting young daughter. Maybe if Yvaine hadn’t been dragging Bonnie away from her home, her school and her friends, Bonnie would have felt differently about her dad dating.

He would never know.

‘Tara came to see me,’ Mhairi said, when the silence stretched too long.

Cal froze.

‘She wants to relinquish her lease on the studio and the boathouse.’

‘What?She’sleaving?’ His stomach clenched and he thought he might throw up. He’d been dreading having to work and live alongside her and not be able to be with her, but her not being at the castle was worse. Way worse.

Mhairi continued, ‘She told me what happened. I must say, Calan, that you are a total and utter numpty.’

There was no need for her to tell him what he already knew. ‘What did you say?’ he choked out, praying that Mhairi had told her that she was in breach of her contract or something. Anything to prevent her leaving.

‘I asked if she would remain until I found a suitable tenant to replace her. I don’t like seeing empty units. It doesn’t create a good impression and it’s bad for business.’

Calan’s world tilted on its axis. He understood Tara’s reasons perfectly, but the thought of her not being here, even though her presence stabbed him in the heart, made him want to beat his chest and howl. He’d only just found her again, and now she wasleaving?

He knew he was being unrealistic, but subconsciously he’d been harbouring a slim hope that they could continue as friends until he managed to make Bonnie see sense.

‘Calan, what were you thinking? I expected better from you.’

‘I know I should never have mixed business with pleasure,’ he muttered. ‘It won’t happen again.’

Mhairi uttered an exasperated sigh. ‘You really are being dim today. ImeantI expected you to treat Tara better than you have.’

‘I didn’t have a choice.’

‘Everyone has choices. You decided to allow a nine-year-old girl to make yours for you.’

Calan was astounded. ‘You don’t understand. Bonnie said she never wanted to see me again and Yvaine backed her up. She’s stopped me from seeing Bonnie before, and I couldn’t risk it happening again.’

‘It wouldn’t have lasted.’

‘I couldn’t risk it. Bonnie means everything to me.’

Mhairi’s voice softened. ‘I know, but you can’t let a child dictate your life.’

Cal didn’t want to argue with her, but she’d never had children, so he wasn’t convinced she was the best person to give him parental advice. And although he acknowledged there was an element of truth in what she said, he had made another promise to Bonnie and he wasn’t prepared to break this one.

‘Was there anything else?’ he asked, and when Mhairi shook her head he got to his feet.

‘I take it you’re not staying for coffee?’ she observed.

‘No, thanks. I’ll grab one later.’ He felt Mhairi’s eyes on him as he walked out of the room, their weight as heavy as the lump in his chest.

Tara woke up with a start. After meeting with Mhairi this morning,she’d hurried back to the boathouse, locked the door and curled up inbed to cry, but she must have fallen asleep. Having not slept a winklast night, she’d been exhausted. She still was, but suspected itstemmed as much from the heaviness in her soul as the weariness in herbody.

The meeting hadn’t gone as she’d expected. Instead of releasing her from her obligations immediately, which was what Tara wanted, Mhairi managed to persuade her to stay until someone else took over the studio.

As soon as another crafter could be found, Tara would be free to go. She fully appreciated why Mhairi didn’t want an empty studio in the craft centre, but how long would it take to find someone to fill her shoes? And what was she supposed to do in the meantime?

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