Page 78 of One Night in Edinburgh

‘Good afternoon, ladies,’ a polite man with an Eastern European accent greets us from behind the bar. ‘Would you like to take a seat and I’ll come and take your order? The drinks menus are on the tables.’

‘Perfect.’ Anna flashes him a sparking smile, which is readily returned, and it’s clear the barman is attracted to her, but is also too professional to act on it.

We head outside via the large conservatory and pick a table right at the edge of the stunning gardens. There’s no one else outside, which is an additional bonus because it means we can speak freely.

‘This is what I’m talking about.’ Anna puts on her sunglasses and positions herself so she can make the most of the view and the omnipresent April sunshine that’s been playing peek-a-boo all day with the white fluffy clouds chasing each other across the horizon.

‘It’s definitely good for the soul,’ I agree, making myself comfortable as well, while scanning the drinks menu.

The barman comes out to take our order. I leave Anna to her master-flirt experience, and focus on breathing in big therapeutic doses of the fresh spring air and the scent of the beautiful bright flowers in the garden.

‘He’s cute,’ says Anna, as soon as the barman is out of earshot.

‘I thought you’d like him.’ I tip my sunglasses down and give her an appraising look. ‘I think he likes you, too.’

‘Do you think? He’s very polite. I couldn’t get much out of him.’

‘The good ones often are – especially when they’re working. Maybe he’s just different to your usual type.’

‘Hmm…’ She contemplates this. ‘I guess that could be a challenge. Wonder what it would take to get him to have a snog in the toilets with me.’

‘What are you like?’ I shake my head at her. ‘Do not corrupt that poor bloke, Anna.’

‘OK, but only because you asked so nicely.’ She shoots me a wicked grin.

We sit quietly for a few more minutes until our drinks arrive and the barman leaves looking disappointed that Anna’s turned off the charm. I can’t help feeling a little guilty as I watch him go, but it’ll help him in the long run not to get tangled up in her web of seduction.

‘So, Jamie…’ Anna watches the effervescing bubbles in her Prosecco. ‘Where’s your head at now?’

I take a deep faltering breath, the mere mention of Jamie’s name pulling me back to the brink again. The last couple of hours doing the final checks for the fundraiser have been a welcome distraction, making me realise that keeping my mind on other things is how I’m going to get through this. That said, I also want to talk things through – to understand this whole mystery. Problem is: it’s like trying to playCluedowith half the clues missing.

‘I honestly don’t know,’ I say eventually. ‘I want to hate him, but I don’t even have enough information for that. It’s like a season finale cliff-hanger, but the most painful one I’ve ever experienced – because I know there’s nothing planned as a follow-up. I’m going to be left wondering what happened for the rest of my life.’

‘So, hate him for that then! Hate him because he’s left you in terminal limbo after breaking your heart. That’s a solid love crime all right.’

‘If only it were that simple.’

‘How is it not?’

I exhale heavily. ‘Because I just can’t get my head to a place where he disappeared without a good reason. No matter how hard a try, I can’t see him as a criminal mastermind, or a duplicitous bastard. He’s Jamie. I might not properly know him, but I got enough of a flavour, and he was everything I could want him to be.’

‘Because he made youthinkhe was all that,’ Anna almost cries out in frustration. ‘If he duped you and he was good at it, you’d never know it was all false. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.’

Anna’s words sink in, and with no strength to resist them, I finally see the flaw in my unconditional trust in Jamie. ‘You know, I couldn’t help but wonder how he was still single. He just seemed too good to be true. And if he liked me as much as he claimed, why wouldn’t he share his “situation” with me? Maybe hewasmanipulating me.’

Anna nods, clearly relieved that I’m starting to see things for what they really are. ‘Maybe he was days away from asking you for “a loan” to sort out whatever “personal issue” he was dealing with. That would have left you heartbroken – and cleaned out.’

‘Shit. You’re right.’ My mouth drops open at the enormity of that statement. ‘Stuff like that happens all the time – people get completely sucked in. I’ve been such an idiot. I’ve fallen for the version of him that he wanted me to see. How did I not see that, given all his secrecy?’

Anna shrugs. ‘Love blindfolds us and then kicks us up the arse.’

‘How wise.’ I chuckle with a wobbly lip, then start to cry again, but at least this time I know it’s my one-for-the-road cry.

I’ve been taken for a ride and I need to pick myself up and get over it. I’ll do that and count myself lucky that I’ve lost nothing more than my naivety – and perhaps some of my faith in men.

Chapter 25

By the next day, I’m feeling more positive and am looking forward to the fundraiser that evening. As it’s going to be a very long day and we’ll be semi-working at the event, Lizzie kindly gives us the afternoon off to recharge and get ourselves all glitzed up. So, after a short nap, which was greatly needed after the week I’ve had, I pack an overnight bag and take the bus to Anna’s flat in Newington. As neither of us is taking a plus one, we’ve decided to get ready at hers and take a taxi together. I’m also staying overnight there because she lives closer to the hotel – which is just south of the city.

---