Page 25 of Heirs and Graces at Highland Hall
It wasn’t that she expected Duncan to call them again. They’d said it themselves – he’d ghosted them. But would he have done that if she hadn’t shown up? And did she want him to, if it was stopping him from moving on, when they both so desperately needed to?
‘Are you sure you don’t want a lift?’ Lorna asked as Bex pulled on her gloves. ‘I really don’t mind. I’m working the late shift at the café today.’
‘Honestly, enjoy a lazy morning,’ Bex said. ‘I’ll catch you later.’
‘Well, don’t be late,’ Lorna reminded her. ‘We need to see Moira. Remember.’
‘I remember.’ How the heck she thought she could forget, given the number of times Lorna had reminded her, was amystery, but she didn’t say as much. Instead, Bex wrapped her scarf tightly around her and headed outside. There was a nice coffee machine at the castle now, a gift Duncan had bought her before they were even together, which she’d left there for Fergus after they’d broken up. For Fergus, and because she didn’t want to be reminded of just how sweet Duncan could be. Even now, when she looked at it, she would remember those early days. Moments like their first kiss, which had made her entire body melt.
As such, a desire for a takeaway coffee – rather than using the machine – was calling her. A hot drink would certainly warm her hands as she walked towards the castle. Not to mention delay how long it took to get there. Today, they really needed to start looking elsewhere in the house, and Bex wasn’t sure if Gordon had approached Kieron about it yet. Part of her was happy to turn up a little later than usual, just so she wasn’t there for the awkwardness of the conversation. But as she turned the corner to the café, she stopped.
Every muscle in her body begged her to turn around, but her feet were frozen. Bex had known that seeing Duncan would be hard, but now she realised there were going to be two other people even harder to face. Two people she had hoped, perhaps even prayed, that she wouldn’t bump into, despite knowing the unlikeliness of that happening, given that she was staying at Lorna’s. But by some miracle, she had managed it so far, and the lack of sightings had lulled her into complacency.
But there was no avoiding it now.
‘Bex?’ the woman said, her face breaking into a wide smile as she strode towards her. ‘I’m so glad I got to see you. Heard you were back.’
‘Carrie,’ Bex said, an uncomfortable knot forming in her stomach as the woman engulfed her in a deep hug. Bex steeledherself for whatever was about to come. Like it or not, it was time she faced Duncan’s stepmum.
21
Duncan’s own mother had passed away when he was still very young, and Carrie and he were as close as Bex had ever seen a stepmother and son. Carrie thought of him as her own and saw all his qualities, not to mention all his faults. And she loved him unconditionally.
Like most people close to Duncan, she had been a bit wary when he had started a relationship with Bex, because of the issue of distance. But it hadn’t taken her long at all to see that it was real love, and she had embraced Bex as part of the family. More than once, Bex had found herself thinking how Carrie and Duncan’s dad, Keith, would’ve made perfect in-laws. And she was pretty sure they had thought the feeling was mutual.
As Carrie finally released Bex from a hug, she kept her hands on Bex’s face and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
‘Look at you. It feels like it’s been forever,’ she said.
‘It’s been a little while,’ Bex admitted.
‘How are you doing, darlin’? I’m guessing this hasn’t been easy on you either. Have you been eating properly? You look like you’ve lost weight.’
‘I’m doing all right,’ Bex said, before reciting the words she must’ve said hundreds of times already. ‘And it was for the best in the long run. You know, the distance and everything.’
Carrie’s lips twisted, as if she could see through Bex with perfect clarity.
‘Well, I’m sure the decision couldn’t have been easy on either of you. And I know you two wouldn’t have made it if you hadn’t thought there was no other option.’
Bex smiled gratefully. It felt like the first time somebody had said that to her. Everybody else had just insisted on telling her how wrong she was. Or assumed it was all on her. Carrie hadn’t done that.
‘Getting a coffee?’ Carrie asked, gesturing towards the café.
‘Just before I walk down to the castle.’
Carrie nodded. ‘I heard. Lots of hush-hush business going on there.’
Bex’s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t realised people thought what she was doing was secretive. Even though it was.
‘Don’t worry, I’m pals with Gordon’s wife, Cary. I know she doesn’t know what’s going on either, so I’m not going to press you for any answers. You and Gordon’ll let people know when you can. But I’d like to buy you a drink, for old times’ sake, if that’s all right?’
‘That sounds lovely. Thank you.’
For the next ten minutes, Bex and Carrie skirted around the issue of her and Duncan’s relationship and kept the conversation on far more neutral matters. How the village was coping with Fergus’s death. When the funeral was likely to be. Not to mention Lorna, with her never-ending plans, and not quite living up to her potential. That kind of thing.
When Carrie had paid for both their drinks, they headed towards the door, but as Bex went to open it, she felt a handon her arm. When she turned around, Carrie was looking at her with an expression of concern crinkling her face.
‘You know, if you ever need me, as a friend, or as… I don’t know what exactly,’ Carrie said, ‘but I’m always here to talk to you. You know that Keith and I thought the world of you, and that doesn’t change just because you and Duncan didn’t work out the way we all hoped.’
