Page 54 of A Scottish Christmas Hideaway
Joining the queue to pay, she listened in to the shoppers in front chatting excitedly with each other. After navigating the tills she went out the back of the shop and strolled into Princes Square shopping mall. As she looked around, she couldn’t believe how much it had changed. The interior hadn’t changed, but the shops all seemed different to when she was last there and there was a small café to the left which she couldn’t remember having seen before. Unsure where to go next, she paused for a moment by the escalator and, seeing that someone had just stood up and left their table, she quickly decided to grab it. She would stop and have a quick coffee before deciding where to go next.
She smiled as she sat looking over at the carol singers who were gathered in the courtyard below singing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”and soon found herself humming along in time to the music. This was what she used to love about Christmas. The traditions she used to embrace when she was younger and coming in here to listen to the carol singers had been such a part of that. She pulled out her phone to check her messages then saw her email notifications. She hesitated when she saw two from Dana Matthews. She’d really hoped that the conversation theother day had drawn a line under things and that she wouldn’t be back in touch. She opened the first email.
Greetings,
I hope you have a peaceful holiday season and happy new year.
Thanks for your business this past year. I am moving on to pastures new and will no longer be at this email address as of December 20. If you would like to stay in touch do email me for my new contact details.
Season’s Greetings,
Dana
Jessica frowned. It looked as though she had sent it to all her contacts. Maybe she had actually listened to Jessica on the phone the other night. Maybe she was actually going to move on. Then she clicked on the next email.
Dear Jessica,
I wanted to reach out and thank you for taking the time to talk to me the other night. I know Tim’s death hasn’t been easy for you either.
I’ve had some time to process our conversation and wanted to let you know I’m sorry. I’m sorry for taking my anger and grief out on you this past year.
I now finally accept that you didn’t know my husband was married.
I’m moving on to a different chapter in my life, and I hope we can both find peace with what’s happened.
Wishing you all the best,
Dana Matthews
She read the email again and again before deleting it. There was no need for them to keep in touch. Jessica had said all she wanted to and more to the woman this past year. She truly hoped that she found some peace with whatever she chose to do next.
Jessica felt the knot of tension in her chest loosen and as she sipped her latte, she actually felt not just relief but . . . content. Sighing deeply, she had a feeling that everything was going to be okay. Coming home for Christmas had been the best thing she could have done. And telling her brother the whole story about Tim had lifted a huge burden from her shoulders. She just wished she had done it sooner.
‘Well, well, well,’ said a nasally voice behind her. ‘Look who it is. If it isn’t Ms Stewart.’
Jessica didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. It was bloodyZander Harrison. The patronising client from work who Ivan had talked to her about just before she went off on leave. But what on earth was he doing here? In Glasgow? This was the very last place she would have expected to see him. He took a seat across from her.
‘Fancy seeing you here. Mind if I join you?’ he said with a smirk, not letting her answer. ‘I had heard you were on some kind of extended leave of absence.’
‘Hello, Zander,’ she said, through gritted teeth. The man was a complete prick, but she had to remind herself that he was still a work client. ‘What brings you to Glasgow?’ She forced a smile.
‘Business,’ he said with a shudder. ‘Glad to say I’m off to catch the train back to London soon. And it can’t come fast enough. This is a ghastly place.’
She bristled at how rude he was being. ‘Right. Well, don’t let me keep you.’
He glanced at his watch. ‘I’m not in a rush. I’ve time to join you for a drink. Though do you fancy something stronger? Aweenip of whisky perhaps?’
She shook her head. ‘No thanks. I’m fine with my coffee.’ She wanted to throw the rest of it in his lap and now felt herself growing edgy as he continued to leer at her.
‘Well, that’s not very social of you. But I suppose I could have a coffee too.’ He clicked his fingers into the air.
‘It’s self-service,’ she said witheringly.Eejit.
He rolled his eyes in despair and strode over to bark his order at the waitress behind the counter. All too soon he had sat down again. ‘Back at work soon, I hope. I did say to Ivan I’d been missing your company.’
‘I’m sure that you’ve been well looked after by my colleagues,’ she said curtly.
He leaned in towards her. ‘Yes, but they’re not quite like you, are they? You’re a feistyweething.’
