Chapter Twenty-Eight

Colin, Margaret, and my sister along with Brandon stayed with me all day. I was glad for the company but it made it hard to think through how to go about talking to Lachlan. Elise and Brandon left right after dinner to go back and stay at my apartment, followed shortly after by Colin and Margaret.

Colin hung at the door patiently, as I chatted about books with Margaret. Then I stopped abruptly remembering the next day was my work day.

“Colin,” I started. “Would you be ok if I worked for you remotely till you found a replacement?”

He gave me a big smile. “I will miss you but I am glad to hear you are going back to writing.”

I frowned. “I didn’t say I was going back to writing.”

“So why do you want to work remotely?” he asked curiously with an ever knowing look in his eyes.

I sighed. “I want to try and focus back on writing.”

He gave me a big smile as Margaret squealed. Now I knew where Ainslee got it from.

“Lass, I’m going to miss you but yes, you can quit on the spot and help me out remotely.” Colin was way too nice.

Margaret gave me a big hug as she was leaving. “Don’t forget darling, McLarens give their heart only once.” She kissed me on the cheek and left me looking pensively after her.

After they both drove off and I no longer could see their car, I turned around and went back into an empty castle. I wanted to go after Lachlan but didn’t think he’d want to talk to me right now.

I went upstairs into our bedroom, his belongings everywhere I looked. I stripped my clothes off, pulled on his shirt that hung down almost to my knees, and went to sit on the windowsill.

I really managed to make a mess of things. Hearing that message from Layla really set me off. I should have just called him out on it and told him about Layla’s message when I phoned him. For someone that wrote romance novels, I really had no clue what to do when I was in love.

I’m in love with him.The thought shook me to the core, the intense feeling warming my body with pleasure.

“I am totally in love with him,” I whispered to myself. “I’m in love with my husband.”

I got up off the windowsill, grabbed my notebook, and I started writing, words pouring out of me. I knew exactly what my story was. I stayed up writing all night, lost in my mind and the world I started creating word by word.

The sun was rising when I finally went to bed exhausted. As I crawled into bed, I could still smell Lachlan on the sheets and my heart twisted in pain as I buried my nose into his pillow and hugged it tight to me.

The next day, Elise and Brandon came by to say goodbye before their flight. I kept assuring her I was fine and there was no need to worry. Brandon practically had to pull her off me.

“Elise,” I told her. “Seriously, I am fine. I’ll work it out, all of it. You need to stop worrying about me. I love you, but now it is time you look after you.”

She stared at me. “Who are you and what have you done to my sister?”

I laughed. “I should have said that a long time ago, and you know it.” I hugged her tight. “You and Brandon have been there for me since I can remember. Now it is your time. I should start fussing over both of you.”

“You’ll always be my little sister,” he murmured softly. I swore Elise and Brandon were the nicest people in the world.

“Yes, your little sister,” I confirmed. “But not your kid or your responsibility. Ok?”

She nodded and we hugged one more time before Brandon tore her away from me. I hugged Brandon and they both left.

I forced myself to wait three days and three nights before I took a cab to Edinburgh. I filled my days and nights with writing and jogging. Each time I returned from my morning jog, I almost expected to see Lachlan leaning on the terrace, waiting for me with his hands tucked in his pockets.

On the third day, I felt nervous and jittery as I dressed to go see Lachlan. I didn’t want to overdress but wanted to look nice and after the multiple change of clothes, I finally just gave up and pulled on a pair of jeans and a pink blouse with long sleeves and a cardigan sweater jacket. Days were already getting chillier in Scotland even though it was only mid September.

I glanced at my old necklace that sat on the counter along with Lachlan’s expensive watches. I took it off the night he left and hadn’t even glanced at it since. The only thing that mattered now were mine and Lachlan’s wedding rings and our wedding vows.

Two hours later, I stood in front of his fancy penthouse building by the river trying to decide what was the best way to go about this. Maybe I should call him on his cell phone first? Or maybe I should just go up and ring the doorbell? I was so nervous because there was something I wanted more than anything else within my reach, and I was scared I was going to lose it.

Thoughts of our wedding day came to my mind. The wedding that happened so fast but now I wanted our marriage and commitment more than anything else. I could show him that I have moved on, left my past behind because of him. Thanks to him. He pulled me out and showed me what I was missing. He was the missing puzzle piece to my happiness.