Page 68 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

Between them, she and Cal had made a right hash of their respective marriages, and she just hoped Dougie and Yvaine would find happiness with their new partners.

Cal hadn’t expected to see Yvaine quite so soon. She’d just dropped Bonnie off for the weekend, and he’d been supervising his daughter’s unpacking of her overnight bag when Yvaine phoned him and demanded he come to the car park.

Assuming Bonnie had forgotten something and Yvaine couldn’t be bothered to drive back down the lane, he left Bonnie to put everything away. Goodness knows what she might have brought with her. One time she had sneaked her mum’s make-up into her case, and needless to say, Yvaine hadn’t been pleased.

She didn’t look pleased now either, Cal thought when he spotted her leaning against her car. Her arms were folded and she had a face like thunder.

‘When were you going to tell me that the Tara Bonnie has been wittering on about for weeks is the same Tara you dated in university?’ she demanded as soon as he was within earshot.

Damn, he was hoping she wouldn’t join the dots for a while. ‘I didn’t think it relevant,’ he said.

‘I’ll be the judge of that,’ Yvaine snapped.

‘What difference does it make?’

She shook her head, her eyes narrowed. ‘You’ve always held a torch for her, and here she is, living in the boathouse and working at the craft centre. How convenient. I suppose you arranged it?’

‘You suppose wrong. I didn’t know she was here until Bonnie and I came back from visiting my parents. Mhairi sorted it out when I was in Inverness.’

‘I don’t believe you.’

‘I’m sorry you don’t, but it’s the truth. Can we not have this discussion here?’ He saw Jinny get out of her car and he smiled stiffly when she gave them a curious look.

‘Scared your girlfriend will overhear?’

‘She’s not my girlfriend.’

‘You could have fooled me.’

‘It looks like I did.’ Cal hated lying, but if he told Yvaine the truth she would mention it to Bonnie, and he didn’t want his daughter to know about him and Tara yet. Anyway,hewanted to be the one to tell her, not Yvaine, and that wouldn’t happen until Bonnie was settled in her new house and her new school. If that took a few months, then so be it. Tara understood why he didn’t want details of their relationship bandied about, so not telling Yvaine was a necessary evil.

He stepped away as Yvaine got into her car, and it was with sadness and regret that he watched her drive away. He felt guilty for having hurt her so badly, and knew he never should have married her, despite the pregnancy. Trying to do the right thing hadn’t been the right thing at all, for either of them – or for Bonnie. But he’d been determined to make it work, and God knows he’d tried his best.

It had proved impossible to force love though, and Yvaine must have sensed she didn’t have his heart. His mum was right – Yvainehadsuspected all along who did.

His heart went out to his ex-wife. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, but he had anyway by not loving her the way he should have loved her. He hoped Lenn was that man, and she could find the happiness she deserved.

All morning Tara kept a weather eye out for Calan, but she didn’t catch sight of him. She guessed he wasn’t aware that she’d had a visitor this morning, and as it wasn’t something she wanted to tell him via a message, she decided to wait until she saw him before she told him about her encounter with his ex-wife. So it was a surprise when Jinny messaged her to ask if Cal was OK.

He’s fine. Why?was her puzzled response.

He and Yvaine were having a barney in the car park earlier.

Was that before or after Yvaine had been to see her, Tara wondered. She didn’t bother replying, locking up and hurrying to the gift shop instead.

‘What were they arguing about?’ she asked Jinny, as soon as she’d made certain their conversation couldn’t be overheard. Thankfully, the only people in the shop were customers, as Fiona, who was the other staff member onsite today, had gone on her lunch. As long as Tara and Jinny kept their voices down, no one would take any notice.

‘You,’ Jinny replied.

Tara stiffened. ‘What did they say?’ she asked cautiously.

‘I didn’t hear all of it, you understand. But I did hear Yvaine accusing Cal of arranging for you to be here, and him saying that he didn’t know anything about you being at the castle until he came back to work after his holiday.’ Jinny was eyeing her speculatively. ‘I know that’s true, but even if it wasn’t, what would it matter? Several of the studios have been rented out because one of the crafters knew someone who might fit the bill.’

‘Did she say anything else?’

‘She seems to think you’re his girlfriend, but Cal said not. He is, though, isn’t he? Or is he just a friend with benefits?’

‘No! It’s not like that. We’re kind of seeing each other. How do you know anyway?’

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