Kendric sighed and shook his head. ‘In all honesty, I think the only thing that would help him now would be for Kate to see sense, or for the person that’s been filling her head with lies to come clean and admit what they’ve been doing. But, as neither is likely, I’m at a total loss.’
Juliette’s heart skipped and flipped in her chest. She scrambled through her mind, trying to think of some of the things her counsellor had told her when she hit rock bottom. ‘Can I just talk to him? Even if it’s through the door?’
Kendric closed his eyes and pulled his lips between his teeth. ‘You cantry. But please don’t be upset if he doesn’t respond. Or if he responds negatively.’ He stepped back and let her through.
‘Where’s Evin?’ she asked, worried that he was witnessing his father’s struggles.
‘He’s at Caitlin’s for a sleepover with Grace. They’re camping in the garden, apparently.’
‘Great. Can you point me to Reid’s studio?’
Once she was outside his door, Juliette knocked lightly.
‘Reid. Hi… it’s me, Jules. I called to see how things have gone today, but I gather that maybe they didn’t go quite how you’d hoped.’ Silence. ‘I just want you to know that you don’t have to talk. Not if you don’t want to. I understand. I can only imagine how hard this whole thing is for you. And it’s okay to have days like this. No one is blaming you. I want you to know that there are people here who believe in you. You’re not alone, okay?’ Silence. ‘I won’t stay because I know that sometimes being on your own is what’s needed to make sense of everything. But please, Reid, remember that you can call on me, on Kendric, Caitlin, Morag and countless other people, if you need us. I know I’m not a permanent fixture here, but I’m your friend too. And I care.’ Her voice wavered and she paused to gather herself. ‘I’ve been where you are. The circumstances are different, I know, but I want you to know that youcanget through this. You can fight it. And we’ll all help you as much as we can. Don’t forget that. Keep fighting for Evin. Foryourson. He adores you. And he will always adore you, no matter what.’
The door clicked open and, much to her surprise, Reid appeared. His face was pale and drawn. His hair a mess and his eyes puffy and red. ‘Why are you here, Jules? Haven’t you got abikerto entertain?’ His tone was harsh and he scowled at her. ‘I was walking Chewie early this morning. I saw you launch yourself at him on your doorstep.’
Suddenly the penny dropped as to why he had avoided her earlier. ‘Reid, thatbikeryou saw me with—’
‘What is it about men who ride motorcycles, eh? Why do women go for that? Is it the thrill? God, the way you looked at him when he arrived. It was clear how happy you were to see him. And I wasn’t spying, in case you’re wondering. I hadn’t slept and I thought fresh air might help perk me up. Why didn’t you say you had a boyfriend? I kissed you and you said nothing about him. I wanted to kiss you again the other night, but I thought you weren’t ready to be with someone. Then I realise you’ve been with someone all along. I’ve been… I’ve beenfeelingthings for you, Jules. Letting my guard down. I feel such an idiot. I don’t see why you didn’t just mention him. Or was it the biker thing? Because of Kate? Look, it doesn’t matter, I can do without the drama just now. I’ve enough on my plate, so just go, okay?’
He made an attempt to close the door and she wedged her foot in it, angry at his assumptions. ‘Reid MacKinnon, just stop and listen, will you?’ she snapped through clenched teeth. ‘You’ve jumped to the wrong conclusion about this whole thing. Thatbiker– not that it’s any of your business – is my bigbrother. He’s come for a visit. I’ve missed him. And I can’t be held responsible foryourfeelings. They belong to you. All I’ve ever offered is friendship. It’s not my fault if you’ve misinterpreted that.’ She knew deep down she was hiding the fact that she’d been feeling things too but was certainly not going to admit it; it was too painful.
She turned away but he reached out and grabbed her arm. ‘Oh god, Jules, I’m sorry. Please, forgive me. I’m just so confused and angry and upset abouteverything. I don’t know how to act any more. Who to trust. What to think.’
She turned to face him again and his pleading gaze tugged at her heart. Her voice softened. ‘I know. And that’s why I’m here. That’s why I continue to show up. You can trustme, Reid. All I’ve ever wanted to do is help.’
His chin trembled and he opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t seem to form the necessary words. She gave him the space and, eventually, he said, ‘They came… today. I asked if they were taking him away, but they wouldn’t tell me. They wouldn’t say anything. But they didn’t have to. I just know it. I know they’re taking him, Jules. I can’t put him through it all. I can’t make him feel like he’s choosing between us, so I’m going to step back. She’s won. I’ve made the decision for him,’ he sobbed before slumping into the door frame.
Juliette enveloped him in an embrace and sank to the floor, holding the broken man in her arms. He had made the most selfless decision any parent could make and once again had put Evin’s needs first. His whole world was falling apart around him, so Juliette did the only thing she could do: she held him as he cried.
31
There was a strange atmosphere around Glentorrin for the few days that followed. On the last day of his visit, Dexter went out on his bike to explore the island and buy gifts. On his return, he informed Juliette that aFor Salesign had appeared at the café.
Reid’s café.
So, either Reid had been right, and Katewasautomatically getting full custody of Evin – which she doubted – or Reid had folded and given in to her like he’d said he would, unwilling to put Evin through the stress of a custody battle. That thought angered her. She presumed Reid was selling up to head down south to be nearer to him, just as she’d expected him to. Things didn’t feel right. There was something niggling at the back of her mind. It was all too fast and convenient. She wished she could hunt down the peddler of the lies and stop this horrific situation in its tracks, but she was powerless.
Dexter left to go back home, and the place felt strange without him there. He’d taken Caitlin out on the back of his bike a couple of times and she’d raved about howcoolhe was. Dexter had tried to wheedle information out of Juliette about her, but she’d had to be clear that he was barking up the wrong tree. The daft oaf hadn’t been deterred, however. He’d promised to visit again ‘as friends’ and Caitlin had said he’d be more than welcome. The trouble was, she’d later told Juliette how wonderful it was to have a malefriendwho was just that: afriend,with no extra expectations, no pressure, no sexual attraction to ruin things. Little did Caitlin know…
Reid descended further into the depths of despair, but along with Morag, Kenneth and Caitlin, Juliette made a point of calling round regularly, texting and phoning to check in on him. When she visited, she just sat beside him most of the time. Like Millie had done for her. Just to be there.
Her heart ached for him and although she told herself it was because of similarities in her past situation and his present one, she was beginning to admit to herself that there was more to it. Much more. She wished she could do something – anything – to change things. But the fact was that her tenure at the museum was slipping away and therefore so was her time to tell him how she felt. This simply wasn’t the right time. Despite this, he was on her mind when she went to sleep and again when she awoke. Seeing him in so much emotional pain made her angry and sad simultaneously. He didn’t deserve this. He deserved to be loved and to be allowed to get on with a life with his son.
There had been a few interested parties to visit the museum, but, as no offers had been forthcoming, she presumed that two businesses for sale in the same small village was making potential buyers wonder what was wrong with the place.
Sitting in her pyjamas with a bottle of wine open and Lewis Capaldi singing sad songs in the background, Juliette read the same page of her book over and over again. She figured she might as well go to bed and, as she blew out the candles, someone hammered at the door.
Nervously, she walked towards the pounding to see a slumped figure through the glass. She couldn’t make out if it was Reid or his brother, but she opened the door tentatively to find a swaying Kendric, red-eyed and pale, bottle in hand.
He raised a hand. ‘Hey… I didn’t know who to… I had nowhere to go,’ he slurred.
‘Kendric, you’re pissed. What the hell are you doing here in this state?’ she snapped.
‘I have to tell him, Jules. He’ll find out eventually. Then he’ll hate me. But he’ll hate me even more ifshetells him.’ His eyes were narrow due to the copious amounts of alcohol he’d apparently consumed, and he wobbled on the spot. ‘It’s all ruined. Everything.’ He held up his arms and let them flop down to his sides, the bottle of amber liquid he held sloshing in the process.
‘For goodness sake, come in.’ She angrily tugged on his jacket.
