‘Whoa, whoa, Donny, knock it off, lad. That’s enough now,’ a red-faced Kenneth said, trying to calm the situation.
By now, there was a crowd gathered around them. Spectators all disbelieving what they were seeing from Donny, the mild-mannered, oblivious man.Not so oblivious, after all. Juliette was shocked to the core at the lengths Donny had apparently gone to, to ensure his wife was free of the temptation of Reid’s presence.
Two police cars with blue lights flashing turned the corner and stopped beside the crowd. Four uniformed men leapt, two from each vehicle, and took over from Archie and Kenneth.
‘Move along, folks. Let us do our job. Away you go now,’ one of the officers said as he held his arms out towards the gathered throng. It didn’t help, the people were too invested in what happened next.
Ignoring the presence of the police, Reid shook his head. ‘Donny, I neverlovedLeanna,’ he told him helplessly. ‘Not likethat. You had no competition from me. None at all.’ He pointed a finger at Donny’s chest. ‘You’ve ruined my life for a fantasy you created in your head. Didn’t you think to speak to me? My God, Donny, mysonis being taken away, I’m being branded an alcoholic and a womaniser. I’ve lost my business, all because you thought I was after your wife?’ He threw his arms up in the air in utter exasperation. ‘Jeez man, Leanna and I grew up together. We were friends.Werebeing the operative word.’ He glanced at Leanna where she stood in a shaking, sobbing heap, his gaze filled with disdain at her recent behaviour. ‘I’veneverthought about her as anything other than a friend. If she felt more for me, then that’s not my fault. I’ve never led her on. I’veneverencouraged her, Donny. I can assure you of that. I adored my wife.Shewas all I wanted. I wouldneverhave cheated on her. Ididn’tcheat on her. She cheated on me. She abandoned me and Evin and now you’ve given her the ammunition to march in and take everything from me! And, to top it off, you drag my brother into this too?’
Wide-eyed, Donny struggled to release himself from the grasp of the officers. ‘But I saw you. I saw you just then! You were kissing! In bloody public, brazen as you like. I’m not blind!’
Reid laughed, a harsh, humourless sound that erupted from his chest. ‘Well, apparently youare. She tried to kiss me. I stopped her.’
‘It’s true, Donny, I saw it happen,’ Juliette pitched in.
Reid continued, ‘She’d come to tell me not to go away. That she didn’t want the damn café you’ve bought for her. That she only worked there to be close to me. It was news to me, I can tell you that with a hundred percent honesty. I was shocked and horrified, if you want to know the truth. But you… you jumped at the chance to get rid of me. You were so damn quick to buy the café, weren’t you, Donny? Without even knowing the truth or bothering to find out, you were quick to make sure you got rid of me from Glentorrin. And it’s not enough that you do all that, but you try and drive a wedge between me and Kendric too?’
Morag appeared beside Juliette and put a reassuring arm around her shoulder. Soon after, Caitlin joined them. ‘Are you okay, hen? What the hell is going on?’
‘You wouldn’t believe it if I told you,’ Juliette managed to utter.
Donny’s nostrils flared, his anger unabated. ‘She only ever wantedyoueven thoughImarried her, and I’d had enough. I knew that if Evin was gone, you’d sell up and piss off too. And I couldn’t bloody wait. So,yes,I bought your shitty business. And I’m not lying about Kendric. Kate told me. They slept together.’ He was seething, but there was a sick look of pride in his expression. His face was beet red and his chest heaved as aggression continued to emanate from him.
Morag gasped. ‘Hang on. What’s this about Kate and Kendric?’
Before anyone could reply, the police officers dragged Donny to one of the waiting squad cars, handcuffed him and shoved him into the back seat. Then, it was Reid’s turn to be bundled towards a car.
Juliette dashed forward. ‘Wait! He did nothing wrong. I witnessed this whole thing. He’s the victim here. You can’t take him away!’
‘Sorry, madam, they’re both coming to the station at Kyle of Lochalsh. Let us do our job, eh? He’ll be allowed to call home once we’ve got to the bottom of all this. Go on home.’
‘But—’
‘Jules, it’s fine. I’ll be okay,’ Reid said with a small smile of reassurance. ‘Can you just make sure Evin is all right?’
She was taken aback by his lack of anger towards her. ‘Of course. Absolutely,’ she told him with a shaking voice.
Reid nodded his thanks before ducking his head to climb into the car willingly.
As the vehicles pulled away towards the bridge and the crowd dispersed, Morag heaved a deep sigh. ‘Come on, ladies, back to mine. I think we all need a stiff drink after that. Jules, you can call Kendric from my house and let him know what’s going on. Make sure he’s got Evin with him.’
Juliette was still quite stunned by what she’d witnessed, and when she glanced down at her hands, she realised she was shaking. Suddenly, the prospect of alcohol appealed to her. ‘Th-thank you, Morag.’ She peered over to where Leanna stood, still sobbing violently.
As if she sensed that she was being watched, she raised her chin, and when she locked eyes on Juliette, she glared at her before turning to stomp away, back towardshercafé.
‘I hope she’s okay,’ Juliette whispered.
Morag tutted. ‘Oh, just leave her be. Daft wee mare. She has no clue what she’s done. She’ll soon be playing the victim again, no doubt.’
* * *
Back at Morag and Kenneth’s, Juliette called Kendric at Reid’s house and passed on the details of what had happened in the village. She warned him that Reid would be asking questions and that things were out in the open.Literallyin the open. The whole village had witnessed the incident.
‘No, no, no!’ She could hear the utter anguish in his voice. ‘I can’t believe Donny woulddosuch a thing. And I can’t believe he thought Reid had any part in an affair, not after what Kate did. He knows how hard it all was. Shit, I’d better get to the police station.’
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea. We want him out of there, not staying longer. And if you go and tell him the truth now, he’ll react and then he’ll be arrested. Is Evin okay? He doesn’t need to be hearing this from people. Do you need me to come and get him?’
‘No, no, thank you. He’s fine. Well, as fine as can be expected under the current set of circumstances. He’s sitting in the garden with Chewie. Kate’s coming tomorrow to take him. Evin’s heartbroken that he’ll be leaving Chewie behind. Poor kid, he’s begged her on the phone to let him take the dog, but she’s adamant. Apparently,tough biker boyis allergic.’ He sighed heavily down the line. ‘Oh God, Jules, this whole damned thing should never have even happened.’
