Juliette hadn’t heard from Reid for a couple of days and she tried to convince herself it was a good thing. That way, she could pretend that she wasn’t feeling anything for him. That he wasn’t a continuous thought rumbling in the back of her mind. That it didn’t feel like a missed chance for something. There was news that an offer had come in for the museum, so that too was the end of her dream. Not that it was ever something she knew she wanted, nor even was it an attainable thing – not really. She found herself daydreaming in between visitors. Pretending itwashers and that this was now her home. Then she remembered she would be going back to her real home very soon and the ache in her chest worsened.
She wandered around gazing at the exhibitions , but her mind was too distracted and she ended up looking online for a gift for Evin to take away with him to his mum’s and remind him of Chewie. She found a cute little ornament of a Hungarian Vizsla that was stocked locally just across in the mainland. She thought it was probably the type of thing old ladies collected, but she felt sure Evin would love it regardless. She paid extra for next-day delivery and hoped it would reach her in time.
At the end of the day, she made her way up towards Morag’s shop to find something for dinner, even though her appetite was pretty much non-existent. As she walked, inhaling the salty air and admiring the vivid blue of the sky, Juliette spotted Reid by the bench that overlooked the inlet – the place of their first argument. He was staring out at the water, watching Gus the fisherman preparing his boat. He looked a little lost and she was almost taken over by the urge to talk to him; to comfort him. She was fighting it but knew she was losing miserably.
Acquiescing to her inner voice, she began to walk towards Reid but stopped in her tracks when Leanna appeared from the direction of the café. She couldn’t hear what was being said, but she could see the woman was upset; her flailing arms were a dead giveaway, and she was clinging to Reid’s coat as he tried to walk away from her.
Juliette looked on; the vignette was like something from a silent movie, all that was missing was the hurried and overly dramatic piano music. Reid tried to pull away again, but Leanna was clearly begging him not to. He tried in vain to release her hand from his coat, she screamed at him to stop. It was pitiful. Ridiculously theatrical and clearly in emotional overdrive, Leanna launched herself at Reid and tried to kiss him.
Juliette gasped, held her breath and covered her mouth with her hand. She was rigidly glued to the spot. If she moved, they’d notice her, so she was frozen in place, statue-like, trying to be invisible; it all felt voyeuristic and wrong. She waited for Reid’s reaction, which seemed to happen in slow motion. He jerked his head away and held her at arm’s length and Juliette could’ve sworn she heard him yell, ‘What the hell are you doing?’
Suddenly, Donny appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Leanna. She screamed as he flung her out of the way, and she dramatically fell against the sea wall. Donny’s fist flew at Reid’s face, connecting with a force that caused the victim’s head to ricochet backwards. Reid staggered and tripped, causing Leanna to scream again, only this time it was a bloodcurdling cry, akin to something from a horror movie.
Juliette couldn’t stand by any longer. She had to do something, although she had no idea what. As if fuelled by adrenaline alone, she ran towards the fracas. ‘No! Stop! Donny, stop!’ she screamed at the top of her voice.
Donny ignored her and continued to pummel his fists into Reid’s body, spitting out expletives as he did so.
Reid held up his own fists to guard his face. ‘You’ve got it wrong, Donny! You know you have. She kissed me and I pushed her away!’ But Donny, enraged and unwilling to listen to reason, was undeterred.
Thankfully, Archie and Kenneth appeared and made a grab for Donny and managed to manhandle him away.
Donny growled in anger, with an edge of violence Juliette had never witnessed before. ‘You bastard! She’smywife! You can’t just leave her alone, can you? You fucking bastard! And then, people wonder why your boy’s being taken! I’m so fucking glad you got what you deserved there. I’m glad I told Kate. She needed to know what a liar you are. Maybe now you’ll keep your hands off my fucking wife!’
Juliette grabbed the angry man’s coat. ‘Donny, stop it! That’s enough!’ she yelled and tugged at him without considering the consequences.
He turned his wide, manic eyes to her. ‘What’s it got to do with you, eh? Still can’t make your mind up which one of the brothers you want, is that it?’ Saliva foamed at the corners of his mouth, giving him the appearance of a rabid dog, and in that moment, she realised she was out of her depth.
Reid scrambled forward, blood dripping from his nose and a cut above his eye. He was clutching his body around his ribs, yet he grabbed Donny by the shirt collar. ‘Leave her out of this, Don, it’s me you’re angry with,’ he said breathlessly. ‘And what do you mean you’re glad you told Kate? Told herwhat?’ he shouted through gritted teeth.
Donny grinned maliciously. ‘I told hereverything! About you and your drinking and you neglecting that boy, leaving him outside in all weather. Him nearly drowning and you being nowhere around. And all the women. Oh, she knows itall, pal. Every last little bit. She knows how you were cheating on her with my fucking wife! And I’m glad I told her! You don’t deserve that lad!’ He lunged forward again, forcing Archie and Kenneth to tighten their grip.
Reid’s brow crumpled in confusion. ‘Donny, what the hell are you talking about? None of that’s true. Youknowit’s not true. Why would you do that?’ Desperation caused his voice to break.
Leanna scrambled to Reid’s side. ‘I swear I didn’t know, Reid. I swear,’ she sobbed. ‘Donny, stop it! Please, just stop.’
‘You should go on home, Donny,’ Archie told him. ‘Go and sober up, eh?’
The crazed man’s grin remained in place as he strained against his captors. ‘Nah, nah, not yet. I’m not finished. I also found out something else from Kate that’s quite interesting.’
Juliette instinctively knew what he was going to say, and she closed her eyes for a moment. Should she risk interfering again or let things unfold? She took a deep breath and stood firm. ‘Donny, don’t do this here. Please. It’s not the time or place. Listen to your wife,’ she pleaded with him, but he glared at her with disdain.
‘Evin’s not even your kid, is he? So, you’ve no claim over him, anyway. Unlike your brother, eh?’ He laughed again, a sickly, possessed sound.
Reid gripped at the short strands of hair on his own scalp and his face contorted into what seemed like a million different emotions – none of them positive. ‘What do you mean by that?’ He glanced at Leanna. ‘What does he mean, Leanna?’
Leanna sobbed into her hands. ‘Donny, no! He doesn’t deserve this. Please!’
‘Donny?’ Reid asked, his chest heaving. ‘You’ve lied to my wife and now you’re making up lies about my boy too? I don’t know what your problem is.’ He walked up to Donny and pointed in his face. Lowering his voice, he said, ‘The stuff Kate has said about Evin’s paternity hasnothingto do with Kendric. I’m sorting it out.Me.’
Donny laughed. ‘Really? Not thought about how much Evin looks like your dear brother? Ask your wee English girlfriend what she knows, eh? They’ve been talking all about it.’
Reid turned briefly to look at Juliette. She covered her mouth, unable to find any words of explanation when she saw an expression of utter confusion in his eyes. When she didn’t speak he turned back to Donny, his nostrils flared and he snapped his fist back.
Juliette grabbed his arm. ‘Reid, No!’
Instead of hitting Donny, Reid let out a bloodcurdling, guttural growl. ‘What did I ever do to you? You’re basing all this on a bloody fantasy! I never slept with Leanna. She’s like a sister to me! So what possible reason could you have to want to ruin my life, eh, Donny? We were mates.’
‘Mates?’ Donny spat. ‘Mates? My wife only has eyes foryou. It’s always been the same. How do you think that makes me feel, eh? Playing second fiddle to someone likeyou? I have money, a big house, a fancy bloody car. I offered hereverythingshe ever wanted, but it turns out it wasyoushe wanted all along! So, I want you gone by any means possible. I want every trace of you removed from Glentorrin. I wanteverythingyou touch to fail. It’s what you deserve. She’ll never love me right while you’re around. Never have my baby if there’s a chance she can have yours. Aaargh! I’dkillyou, but you’re not worth the fucking prison time!’ He strained forward again, almost dragging his sentries along the cobbled road. Luckily, between them they had the strength and determination to hold him firm.
