‘Have a great evening. I want to hear all about it later.’
‘You will, bye.’
Caitlin turned and made her way back up the tree-lined lane that led from Jules and Reid’s pretty cottage back towards the village. The dappled evening sunlight cast dancing shadows on the ground, and a smell of wild garlic and pine was carried on the warm air. She absolutely adored Glentorrin. It was a place she had known all her life but had only lived in since just before Grace was born, but it was home. The kind of home people didn’t ever leave because it was a part of them. It took hold and wove its spell on people, like it had for Jules, and Ruby too. Although she had been here longer, it was no different for Caitlin. She couldn’t imagine fitting in anywhere else in the world like she did here. And it was a wonderful place for children. The pressures of social media, fashion labels and such were not quite so important here. Children could be children without the eager rush to become adults before their time and that had been one of the factors that had helped Caitlin make the decision to buy the bakery all those years ago. Looking around her now she was so glad she had taken the plunge.
As she rounded the corner to the pub and saw Lyle standing there, hands in his jean’s pockets, and wearing a crisp white shirt, looking just as nervous as she was, she realised that there was nowhere else she’d rather be.
A smile lit up his face when they made eye contact. ‘Wow, look at you. You look beautiful,’ he said.
In that moment, it dawned on her that she had never been called beautiful by a man before and it gave her a boost in ways she couldn’t have imagined. Butterflies began to dance around her insides once again.
She touched her hair. ‘Thank you so much. You look lovely too.’
He held out his arms. ‘What, this old thing?’ He laughed. ‘I’ve been looking forward to tonight since our texts yesterday.’
‘Me too,’ she admitted as her heart skipped a little in her chest.
9
Lyle held the door of the Coxswain open for Caitlin. The place was just beginning to welcome its early-evening crowd and she was relieved it wouldn’t be just the two of them in there. There would be nothing worse than a first date with the inevitable awkward silences in an empty pub.
A familiar, booming voice called out, ‘Caitlin, how are you doing? It feels like ages since we saw you in here.’ It was Joren, the pub’s owner, greeting her in his inimitable way.
‘I’m good thanks, Joren. This is my friend Lyle.’
Joren reached his large hand across the bar and Lyle shook it. ‘Good to meet you, Lyle. Now, what can I get you both?’
‘I’m driving, so just a lime and soda for me. And for Caitlin…?’ He turned to her.
‘I’ll have a Sauvignon Blanc please.’
‘Coming right up!’ Joren replied before turning to prepare their drinks and whistling along to ‘Black Eyed Boy’ by Texas as it played in the background on the sound system.
Lyle glanced around the cosy surroundings. ‘I can’t believe I’ve never been in here before. It’s a great wee place.’
Caitlin smiled, briefly remembering some of the fun times she’d had in the village pub. ‘It’s grand. It has the best atmosphere when there’s live music on. We have ceilidhs too.’
Lyle’s eyes widened. ‘In here? But… where do you all dance?’ He laughed.
‘You’d be surprised how big the place is when the tables are pushed back.’
He shook his head and grinned. ‘Oh, I think I’ll need to come to the next one. Impress you with some of my moves.’ He waved his hands, and she couldn’t help laughing along.
‘That is something I definitely want to see,’ she told him.
Joren handed over their drinks and Lyle paid. They walked over to a table by the fireplace and sat down. The grate was filled with fairy lights on this occasion; a relief considering the outside temperature.
‘So, have you been hounded by Grace as much as I have by Cora?’ Lyle asked with a smirk.
Caitlin rolled her eyes. ‘And then some! It sounds like our girls have practically married us off and have us all living under the same roof. Grace has even picked out bridesmaid dress colours.’ She laughed but hoped her words hadn’t terrified him. ‘Not that I’ve been encouraging that in any way, I’d like to add.’
He shook his head. ‘Oh, don’t worry. Apparently, the dresses are to be violet from what I’ve been informed?’
Relief washed over her when she realised he was taking things in his stride. ‘Yes! Grace said so too.’
Lyle grinned. ‘Aye, I’ve given up trying to calm Cora down now to be honest. I’m just letting her plan everything in her head.’
‘Good idea. I can rarely get a word in edgewise, so I let Grace talk and I kind of switch off.’
