Page 70 of Highland Games
Rory shook his head and swallowed. ‘You know about Lucy, and that I made the bed for her. I was addicted to opiates for a year after an injury in the army. That’s why I don’t drink. I’ve killed men in combat. Lots. And… And it was my mother who told the local businesses not to employ you, who stole your lease, and had you arrested.’
‘I know all this. But why? What the actual fuck have I ever done to her?’
‘Nothing. You’ve done nothing. She’s, she… It’s complicated.’
‘Complicated?’ Zoe shouted. ‘It’s fucked up, that’s what it is. It’s toxic and I don’t want anything to do with it, her or you.’
She could feel her lower jaw trembling. He was everything to her. And now?
‘Zoe, I—’
‘Do you have any idea what yesterday was like for me? What you and your family have done?’ she asked, emotion spilling out.
Rory ran his hands into his hair. ‘Zoe, I’m so sorry. Lying to you was the worst thing I’ve ever done. I’ll never forgive myself.’ His eyes mirrored her pain.
‘Do I embarrass you? Am I not good enough? Are you ashamed to be seen with me?’
‘No! God no. Zoe, I, I—’
‘You know, just leave,’ she interrupted. ‘We’re done.’
She closed the door, walked over to Basil’s cage, gently lifted him out and took him back to the sofa. She stroked his soft warm body as her tears fell, listening to the sound of Rory driving away.
The next morningZoe drove to Fiona’s house and knocked on the door. Fiona opened it, hugged her even harder than Morag had done and whisked her into the kitchen where she was feeding Liam his breakfast in a highchair.
‘Zo, I am so sorry, are you okay? Sit down, this won’t take a min then I’ll get the kettle on. God, I swear, all men are bastards. Apart from Dad, and Dunc and Liam of course.’
Zoe couldn’t help but giggle. ‘What about Jamie?’
Fiona held up her hand, rocking it from side to side as if evaluating her brother. ‘On balance he’s a good one, but give me five minutes in his company he’ll have annoyed me so much I’ll be kicking his shins and flicking his ear.’
‘Oh, Fi, I’ve never been so pleased to see him as I was the other night.’
Fiona sat, her face crumpling with a frown. ‘What. A. Bitch. I can’t believe anyone would behave like that! Jamie said you were arrested for attempted murder! For fuck’s sake. The only people about to commit murder are me and Mum, but we don’t know who to start with, Rory or his bloody mother.’ She finished feeding Liam and began to clean him up. ‘I just can’t believe it. Everyone’s in shock.’
‘Fi,’ Zoe began, embarrassment and hurt fighting inside her. ‘I slept with him.’
Fiona lifted Liam out of his highchair, bouncing him up and down. ‘I did wonder. At that photoshoot you looked so perfect together. I’m so sorry, Zo. What an arsehole.’
Zoe took a key out of her pocket and put it on the table. ‘Would you be able to get this to Rory so he can pick up his tools from the cabin? I’m leaving this morning to go back to Mum and Dad’s.’
Fiona stopped bouncing Liam. ‘But you’ll be back after Christmas, right?’
‘I don’t think so. I think I’m done.’
Rory saton the floor of his workshop by Bandit’s bed, Bandit’s head resting on his thighs. In his palm was a block of wood he was shaping with one of his small carving gouges. He hadn’t spoken to his mother since returning from the police station in Inverness, and was now living in the workshop. Before he left for the station, he’d confronted her. She was unrepentant, thrusting an email at him she’d printed out from Colquhoun Asset Management, informing them they were suing the estate for breach of contract. It was only after he told her he would tell the police she’d lied to them she backed off. Every part of him was full of pain, so he channelled his thoughts into making delicate cuts in the piece of wood he was holding.
There was a knock at the door, and Bandit lifted his head. Rory pocketed the carving. ‘It’s open.’ His voice sounded as rough as he felt.
Fiona poked her head around the door and walked in. She stood above him, holding out a key. ‘Zoe wanted you to have this so you could collect your tools. When you’ve got them you can drop the key back at the post office with Mum.’
‘Why do I need a key? Won’t she be there?’
Fiona huffed. ‘No. She’s leaving.’
Rory jumped up. ‘What do you mean leaving? For Christmas?’
Fiona thrust the key towards him like a knife. He took it. ‘No, Rory. She’s leaving for good.’ She looked furious.
