He nodded. ‘Completely. I’m loath to admit that I suspected her of having an affair before we got pregnant. But I ignored it. I loved her so much, I swept it under the proverbial rug and carried on. I wasn’t willing to risk losing her. She made me so happy. Or so I thought. But when I look back, I can see that she was manipulative. She used every trick in the book to make sure she got her own way. Right down to keeping the café. It was all about status symbols and money. Stuff like that’s never interested me.’ He tilted his face skyward and sighed a deep, weighty exhale. ‘I feel like an idiot. So bloody gullible. But my dad always said that you shouldn’t give up on marriage. If it’s not working, youmakeit work. Simple as that.’
Juliette knew it was never so simple and clear-cut. The black and white areas were always muddied with grey. ‘What’s happened about the paternity test?’
‘It’s taken care of. I just have to wait for the results. Kate doesn’t know I’ve done it.’
She reached over and grabbed his hand. ‘You must be so worried. How long will it be?’
He glanced at her; his expression pained. ‘It could be weeks. We tried to expedite it, but…’
‘I’ll keep everything crossed for you. And if I can do anything at all… If you need a distraction when Evin’s away…’
Reid nodded; his smile was tinged with sadness. ‘Thank you. I appreciate the offer.’
For a brief moment, she surreptitiously gazed at their hands. The sight of them sitting there, fingers entwined, felt somehow right. But as soon as she allowed the thought to surface, she released her hold on him.
‘Is it me or is time flying by?’ he asked.
‘It’s definitely flying by.’
‘It’s good that you’re here for another month.’ He smiled and a pink flush spread across his cheeks. ‘It’ll be so strange when you’ve gone though. I didn’t exactly make a great first impression thanks to all the shit I was…amgoing through and I’m relieved to have had a chance to make things right. I’m glad… I’m glad we’re friends.’
Her smile widened and something warm bubbled up from deep within, wrapping itself around her heart, slotting more pieces back in place. ‘I’m glad too. Very much.’
And with that, they went back to a companionable silence as the sun began its descent over the horizon, marking the end of another day filled with progress and promise.
28
An open day had been arranged at the museum for potential buyers, so, once again, the place was closed to the public. Juliette spent the morning in a fractured state of concentration. She tried to read, she tried to watch TV and she tried to listen to music. Nothing was able to keep her focused.
At around eleven, there was a knock on the door, and she almost skipped to answer it, looking forward to seeing either Caitlin or Reid. Instead, she opened it to find Kendric standing there, holding out a huge bouquet of fragrant, colourful flowers.
He pointed to the bottom of the bouquet. ‘They have their own little water bulb, so you don’t even need to worry about putting them in a vase,’ he told her proudly.
It was an unexpected visit and she was aware her greeting was less than enthusiastic. ‘Oh, err, that’s really kind of you. Thank you, but you shouldn’t have.’
He took a step closer to the door. ‘I get the feeling you’ve been avoiding me and I felt really guilty about that. I spoke to Caitlin and she told me about your husband. I could kick myself. I’m so sorry. I must have come across like such a giant arse. I felt like I should apologise for being so pushy, so I took the liberty of buying some tasty things from the deli in Kyleakin, some treats from Caitlin’s and I thought we could eat here. Less formal.’ He cringed and closed his eyes. ‘Or is that even more pushy?’ He lowered his gaze to his shoes. ‘Shit, I didn’t think this through, did I?’
Juliette took a deep breath before she spoke. ‘Kendric, this is very kind of you, but, yes, a little pushy too, if I’m honest. And I’m sorry, but you’ve had a wasted journey. I’ve told you I don’t want to do the TV interview. I still don’t. Ican’t. I’m sorry.’ She began to push the door closed, but he stopped its movement.
‘Hey, this isn’t about the TV interview. This is just about me hoping to get to know you a little better. My brother speaks very highly of you and considers you a good friend, and I really like that about you. You’ve helped him so much.’ He shrugged. ‘Look, I know I come across as a bit over the top, and I apologise for that. I blame my career. I’m expected to be this larger-than-life person on screen, and I think I forget how to drop that in my everyday life. If you give me a chance, you’ll see I’m actually a nice guy.’ There was a pleading look in his eyes. ‘Please?’
Reid considers me a good friend…Against her better judgement, Juliette stepped aside and gestured for him to enter.
Kendric grinned. ‘I brought a bottle of Prosecco,’ he announced as he entered the kitchen. It irked her how he was making himself so at home.
‘Look, Kendric, I think we need to talk.’
He pushed on the plastic cork and it flew off with a loud pop. ‘We do?’
‘Like I said, this is all very kind of you, but I need to be honest with you. I don’t wish to lead you on.’
He sighed and lowered his head. ‘I know what you’re going to say. You’re not interested in me, are you?’
Heat flushed her face and she twisted her hands in front of her as she shook her head. ‘No. I’m sorry, I’m not.’
He nodded. ‘Don’t be sorry. It’s fine. I had a feeling your heart might be already taken, but then I found out about your husband and it fell into place. Can’t blame me for trying, eh?’
‘No, no. My heart isn’t…’My heart is so bloody confused it doesn’t know which way is up.‘I’m just not really looking for a relationship.’Well, not with you, I’m afraid. ‘I hope you can understand.’
