‘Aye, well, go jumping into ice-cold water to save a dog and your reputation spreads like wildfire. Things have a way of happening like that around here,’ Caitlin informed her.
Juliette wasn’t sure whether she should be worried at being so high on a pedestal. ‘I can assure you it’s not something I generally make a habit of. Freezing my bum off out there isn’t something I plan on repeating.’
‘Aye, well, the fact you did it at all has tongues wagging. Although certain tongues need bloody chopping off,’ she sneered.
This startled Juliette a little and her stomach knotted. ‘Oh? Has somethingbadbeen said about me?’
Caitlin huffed. ‘Nothing that anyone is listening to, so don’t worry. It’s justdarlingLeanna sharpening her claws.’
Juliette rolled her eyes. ‘Oh God, what’s she been saying now?’
Caitlin laughed. ‘Just that you almost mowed Reid down on your arrival in the village and then planned the whole dramatic rescue to try and get back in his good books.’ She laughed as she spoke. ‘Bloody delusional, I’m not kidding.’
Juliette’s cheeks flamed with heat and she covered her face. ‘Good grief. If people believe her, they’ll think I’m some kind of nutcase.’
Caitlin waved a dismissive hand. ‘Don’t be daft. Like I said, no one takes her seriously these days. And as for Reid, his head’s up his erse. Miserable pig that he is. Honestly, if youhadmowed him down, it might have knocked some personality back into him.’
‘Caitlin!’ Juliette gasped but laughed along.
‘Well… Honestly, ever since Kate left, he’s forgotten how to be kind. He’s changed so much. And some weeks it feels like he’s disappeared off the face of the earth. You don’t see him for ages and then, when you do, he jumps down your throat or blatantly ignores you. Sometimes he looks like he’s been dragged through a hedge backwards and I have no idea why, he’s a stay-at-home dad, for goodness sake. I mean, yes, he paints when Evin is at school so it’s not like he’s sitting around, but… he used to be so well put together. Handsome, smart, toned. Now he makes no effort most of the time. And he acts like he thinkseveryoneis out to get him. Like he thought we all knew what she was up to.’
A twinge of pity tugged at Juliette’s insides and she thought back to the similarities of her depression and how Reid was behaving. He didn’t strike Juliette as a wallowing kind of man. Terse and mercurial yes, but not one who indulged in self-pity. She wondered if there may be more to his situation. ‘Butno oneknew? About Kate, I mean.’
Caitlin shook her head. ‘Na. Not a thing. It was a huge shock when she upped and left with that biker.’
‘What was he like… you know… before?’ Caitlin’s story made a lot of sense, although Juliette wondered why he’d chosen to be so up and down with her. She could’ve received whiplash from his sudden changes in mood.
Caitlin rested her chin on her hand and her elbow on the table. ‘Oh, he was the life and soul.’ Juliette’s disbelief must have been evident in her expression as Caitlin continued, ‘Seriously! He was the first to suggest fancy-dress parties and anything that involved laughter. He used to play the guitar and would always get up on stage at the talent show as the compère, and he’d sing a few songs too. And I’m telling you he has the most handsome smile you’ve ever bloody seen. And his body…’ She widened her eyes and proceeded to fan herself. ‘He always used to set up the marquees for the event and he used to do it shirtless. There wasn’t a woman who could keep her tongue in her mouth! These days, he might as well wear a sack cloth and a sign that says, “Females need not approach”.’
‘Blimey, so he reallyhaschanged then?’
‘Sadly, aye. Such a bloody waste of a good man. I doubt he’ll ever trust another woman as long as there’s breath in his squidgy body.’ She grinned. ‘His loss though, eh? We’re not all cheating bitches.’
Juliette shook her head as she sat opposite Caitlin at the kitchen table. ‘No, we’re certainly not.’
‘So, what’s your story? I see a wedding band but no man in tow.’
Juliette glanced at the white gold band set with diamonds on her ring finger. ‘My husband died two years ago. I’ve had my shot at love, so I’m happy to be single these days. I don’t need a man in my life. Well, not one that isn’t Laurie, anyway. It may sound corny but he was my soulmate.’
‘Oh, you’re preaching to the choir, sister. I’ve yet to meet a man worthy of commitment myself.’ Caitlin reached across the table and squeezed her arm. ‘It must’ve been hard for you, though. I can’t begin to imagine what it must be like to meet your soulmate, let alone to lose him too.’
‘Thank you.’
‘So, what made you come up here then? People trying to match you up on blind dates?’
‘There was a bit of that, yes. All good-natured though. I had a bit of a disastrous date and that’s what triggered this trip. It turned out he was almost a carbon copy of Laurie and I’d been oblivious to the fact until I sat across from him in a restaurant. I had a kind of panic attack and made a hasty retreat.’
‘Shit! How awful. You poor lass.’
’Hmm. It wasn’t my finest moment. But also it’s the pitiful looks and the “Are you sure you’re okay by yourself, Jules?” that I’m asked over and over. I know people mean well. And my best friend and my brother haven’t been deliberately like that, but others have.’
‘So, you’ve come up here to prove to them, and to yourself, that your life can go on?’
Juliette smiled. ‘Something like that.’
‘Well, I say bloody good on you. And I think you’re very brave coming here.’
Juliette crumpled her brow. ‘Brave?’
