Page 116 of Some Like It Scot
“Hello, Graeme.”
I gave my head a shake and looked past her to see a silver Kia Sportage in the drive.
“Allison? What are you doing here?”
She pulled her suit jacket closer around her slim body, her smile hesitant. “I was at Craighill working on dress designs and thought I should take the opportunity to... see you.”
Designs? Lennox had hired Allison to design the gowns?
“Before you ask, I used your name to get the job. When I heard someone was looking for designers for the Edwardian Experience, I jumped at the chance. Mrs. Lennox had gotten down to three choices, so I”—she looked away—“I mentioned knowing you to see if it would help me get the upper hand.” She raised her gaze again, chin high. “I’m not proud of it, but I needed this job in my portfolio, so I thought I’d better clear the air on that before you heard it elsewhere.”
She looked good. Great, even. My attention swung back to her face. She’d cut her hair shorter, shoulder length, but the style looked good on her. Every bit the elegant woman I’d known and loved in the past, with a little extra class in her wardrobe. She’d even worn heels. To my house. And a picture of Katie stumbling into the same door drenched, muddy, while supporting a limping Lachlan almost inspired my grin.
Her confession only dug the truth deeper.
The heartbreak of nearly two years ago actually turned for my good in the long run. Her goals hadn’t changed. Neither had mine.
But I had. I knew better what I wanted and how to compromise.
“I hoped to have some time to speak with you.” Her gaze implored. “To... apologize and, perhaps, I don’t know... sort out things in a better way than we did two years ago.”
I hesitated. Katie was due to arrive in a half hour, and I still had to sort out my arguments for how we could stay together. Whatever they were. Whatever she’d be willing to sacrifice for me and Lachlan.
But it shouldn’t take long. And maybe I needed this too.
I stepped back and welcomed her in, gesturing toward the living room.
“It’s not changed at all, has it?” She chuckled, glancing around the room before dusting off one of the chairs with her palm to take a seat. “I suppose that answers one of my questions.”
“You had a question about my furnishings?” I kept my stance at a distance.
“Not your furnishings, but they do reflect one of the things that pushed us apart, I think.”
Lachlan came down the stairs, his expression slow to register recognition.
Allison stood. “Oh, well, but you’ve changed.”
“Lachlan, you remember Allison?” I offered, watching the lad slowly comprehend. His frown deepened, especially when Allison stood and offered her hand to him.
“You’ve grown three inches or more.”
“Aye.” The boy looked to me and, with my encouraging nod, took her hand in a brief and awkward hold.
“Why don’t you and Wedge take a wee dauner until Katie comes.”
Lachlan sent Allison another look and then headed for the door, his sharp whistle calling Wedge to follow.
“I thought perhaps you may have given him over to your parents to raise.” She sat back down, smoothing her palms over her skirt. “To have two parents for him.”
Interesting assessment. “They’re well in his life still, but I gave my word to Greer. Besides, I love the lad like he was my own.”
She nodded, the previous smile not as warm. What had she been thinking?
“I shouldn’t have left the way I did.” Her declaration came slowly, soft. “I’m ashamed of leaving when I did.”
“Thank ye for that.” I rounded the couch and sat down across from her. “I can be a very thrawn person, especially when I have a hard time dealing with changes. So much of my world had been turned on its head.”
“I was stubborn too. I know it.” She raised those green eyes to mine. “But you weren’t willing to compromise. On anything. And I felt suffocated.”
