Page 35 of Dreaming Under An Island Skye
Juliette cringed and waved a dismissive hand. ‘Oh, it’s nothing. Ignore me.’
‘No, no, if there’s something awry, I’d rather know.’
‘It’s just that… Reid was here earlier. He walked in and I tried to engage him in a conversation. Just to tell him Evin had been in. But he was acting a bit odd and he blurted out an awkward monologue about upsetting me in your shop and putting his foot in it. It was a bit confusing. I know he and I didn’t get off to the best start, but after the whole Chewie thing, I thought we’d turned a corner. I hope he doesn’t think I’ve been telling tales like some sulky schoolgirl.’
Morag rolled her eyes. ‘Ah… I might be at fault there. Kenneth told me how abrupt Reid was with you in the shop, so I may have told him he owes you an apology. He’s not the best at explaining how he feels. He’s a grumpy erse and can be stubborn with it, but there’s no real harm in him. I’m sorry about my interference, hen. Look, why don’t you pop round once you’re closed up, and I’ll make us a pot of tea? I’ve been to Caitlin’s and nabbed the last of her shortbread rounds. If that doesn’t tempt you, nothing will.’
Whilst the thought of the Scottish confection was so tempting, Juliette didn’t want to create the wrong impression. ‘Honestly, it’s fine. I wish I hadn’t said anything. I must sound like a real busybody.’
‘Not at all. And I insist. Kenneth will be there too.’
‘Ooh, well, I hope he’s forgiven me for the pancakes.’ Juliette laughed.
Morag grinned. ‘We’ll soon find out, eh? See you in a wee while.’
‘See you soon!’
Juliette stood for a moment looking out at the view. She pondered Morag’s comment about Reid being unable to express himself and hoped that was all it was. She didn’t want to appear to be a gossip. But one thing was clear, conversation seemed to be something he preferred to avoid. She glanced up at the clock and couldn’t quite believe how fast the day had gone.
Once she had run the end-of-day reports and completed the logbook with the figures, she locked up the shop and headed along the road.
She knocked on the back door at Thistle House and Morag greeted her, wiping her hands on a pristine white and blue gingham tea towel. ‘Ah, you made it. Come away in.’
Juliette cringed as she glanced at her own empty hands. ‘Thank you. I’m afraid I haven’t brought anything.’
‘That’s just as well. You didn’t need to. Come on to the kitchen. Kenneth has got the kettle on the stove.’
‘Afternoon, Jules. Good first day?’ he asked when they both sat at the table.
‘Great, Kenneth, thanks. Can’t wait to do it all again tomorrow.’
‘Grand.’ He leaned in and lowered his voice. ‘Although let’s have no more of my pancakes going missing, eh?’ He winked.
Juliette scrunched her face and shook her head. ‘Oh dear, I’m afraid I won’t make a promise I can’t keep.’
Kenneth burst out laughing and wagged a finger at her as he glanced at his wife. ‘Oh, I like this one. She’s feisty, just like you, darlin’, eh?’
Morag whacked him playfully. ‘And don’t you forget it,darlin’.’
‘I see we’ve some of Caitlin’s shortbread,’ Kenneth said as he eyed the sugar covered rounds. ‘You do know that with my wife’s baking and Caitlin’s cakes you’ve no chance of staying so slim, Jules.’
‘Och, away and boil your heid, you dafty,’ Morag laughed.
Juliette loved the banter between the married couple. There was such affection between them, and she wondered if perhaps she might get a second chance at love someday.
* * *
Juliette chatted to Morag and Kenneth for around half an hour before Kenneth announced that he was going to watch his favourite quiz show.
Once he had gone, Morag squeezed her arm. ‘Are you okay now, hen?’
‘I’m fine, honestly. I shouldn’t have taken Reid’s behaviour so personally.’ She tried to shrug it off.
‘Aye, but he shouldn’t feel it’s okay to be so damned crabbit the whole time. He’s been like it for so long now that I think he’s forgotten how to smile.’
‘What was it that happened? I mean, obviously I don’t want to gossip, but maybe it would help me to understand.’
‘Well… His ex-wife was…isan English lassie, from the Midlands somewhere. He met her when they were teenagers and her folks brought her to Skye on holiday. He followed her back there and they were married. They moved up here when the wean was a bairn. Evin, you know?’ Morag’s mouth took a downward turn. ‘He didn’t deserve that one for a mother. She had an affair with a chap who used to come up on holiday on his motorbike. He used to go into her café, you see. The one across the way. Reid owns it, and his mother before him. He moved back here to take over when his mother passed away. Anyway, that’s beside the point. So, his wife, Kate, had this affair and then one day upped and left on the back of the man’s motorbike. Left Evin behind too. He was only three at the time, the poor wee lamb. She divorced Reid and married the biker man. She comes up to see the laddie every few months, but it’s not natural. She cannae have had any maternal instinct in her. Dipping in and out of his life whenever she sees fit.’ Morag scoffed. ‘And Reid has never got over it. He’s a wonderful father, but he’s built up walls, you see. So much so that he can’t even see fit to make friends or make time for the ones he already has.’
