Before he could stop himself, he’d picked up his phone and dialled the number. It was answered on the third ring.
‘Hello?’
‘Hi, Zara? This is Aiden Gregg. You sent me a Facebook message about—’
‘Eeeeeeek! Holy shit! I mean, yes. I did. And you called back. Wow. Thank you. Unless you’re calling to have me arrested for stalking. Are you?’
The Scottish accent, so like his mum’s, the humour in her voice, the enthusiasm, this was the distraction that he hadn’t even realised that he needed.
‘Well, I’m a lawyer, and I have taken photographic evidence of this…’
A pause.
‘You know I’m kidding, right?’
‘Oh thank God, because I’ve seen those American TV shows, and I don’t have bail money.’
That made him laugh. ‘So tell me… your message…’ he prompted.
There was a pause, then, ‘Right! Of course. Sorry. Hang on and let me switch offStrictly. Actually, you’ll have no idea what that is. It’s a dancing show.’
‘LikeDancing With the Stars?’ Layla loved that show.
‘Exactly! I think.’ The music in the background subsided. ‘Aaaaw, bugger!’
He recoiled, before she explained.
‘Sorry, tripped over the coffee table. Stubbed my toe. Anyway, thank you, again, for getting back to me. As I said in my message, it’s my parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary, and we’ve planned this trip as a complete surprise. The only images I have of their trip is one of them kissing in front of Elvis at the wedding ceremony and this one. And am I right in saying that’s your father? Please say yes.’
‘It sure is.’
‘Amazing! Sorry, my voice went really high-pitched there. It does that when I’m excited. I hope you don’t have a dog that can hear me because I’ve probably killed it.’
Aiden was laughing again. ‘I don’t, but my neighbour does. I’ll check in on it when I hang up.’
This might be the strangest and most amusing call of his life.
‘So, the thing is, I know it’s a terrible imposition, especially since I’ve now checked and seen that you’re in Charleston and that’s the opposite side of the country from Vegas, but do you think that there’s any way at all that you might join us there? Just saying that out loud, I can hear how crazy it is. Please feel free to say no and tell me I’m deluded.’
His first thought was… well, it was to say no. But then, there was another thought right behind it. Why not? He’d booked time off for his honeymoon and then not taken it, so he had vacation time and a relatively light schedule this month. And he hadn’t spent one-on-one time with his dad in years. It would be great for them. And for him too. Get his mind off the missing wife and his chafed heart.
‘You know, crazy as it sounds, I could ask him. He hasn’t been in Scotland in at least thirty years and I’m sure he’d love to meet an old buddy.’
‘Yaasssss! That’s brilliant.’
Another thought was coming together too. ‘Although, my mom—’
‘Of course! Bring your mum too. She’d be so welcome. I’m sure my parents would love to meet her.’
That confused him, until he realised his mom hadn’t been part of the discussion yet. ‘That’s the thing – they’ve already met her. My mom is in that photo too. She’s the lady on the opposite side.’
A gasp. ‘You. Are. Kidding. Me.’
‘Not kidding.’
‘You. Are. Bloody. Marvellous.’
‘Definitely that, though,’ he chuckled.
