‘Please, Cora, just call me Caitlin, or Cait!’
‘Well thank you, Cait. I absolutely love it! It’s beautiful and you’re so clever.’
Caitlin smiled and hugged the girl. ‘I’m glad you like it.’
‘Right, Caity, you can cut the cake and I’ll be back in a second.’
Caitlin picked up the knife and cut four slices as Lyle dashed back to the kitchen and returned moments later with a bottle of Champagne and four glasses.
‘Now, girls, as this is a very special occasion, I think it’s okay for you both to have a tiny amount of alcohol.’ Caitlin was a little disconcerted by the way in which he had given permission forherdaughter to drink alcohol without consulting her but there was so much going on in her mind she couldn’t form the words to protest, and he didn’t pause long enough. ‘And, Caity, I’ve ordered you a taxi for later on this evening so you can celebrate with us without worrying about getting home.’ He leaned in to whisper, ‘Or you could always stay the night.’
She tried to stifle the gasp that bubbled up from within her. They hadn’t even remotely got to the point of sleeping together, there simply hadn’t been an opportunity, and she wouldn’t rush into it anyway, so his suggestion came as a bolt out of the blue. Unaware of how to answer, she gulped and forced a smile.
Lyle popped the cork to gasps and cheers from the girls and poured the bubbling liquid into the glasses. When he was finished, he remained standing.
‘May I first of all say how wonderful it is to be surrounded by beautiful young women. I’m a very lucky man indeed.’ The girls giggled, but Caitlin felt the colour draining from her cheeks. Lyle smiled at his daughter. ‘Cora, you’re growing up to be such a wonderful girl and I’m so proud of you. Happy birthday, sweetheart.’ He raised his glass and took a sip before turning his attention on Caitlin. He sighed contentedly. ‘Caitlin, you came into our lives just at the right time. And we couldn’t be happier that you brought Grace too. Cora and I look on you already as family.’ Caitlin’s heart pounded at her chest, and she lifted her hand to rest it over the area in case her anxiety was visible to the others. Lyle raised his glass. ‘So, the second toast is to Caitlin and Grace.’
The girls giggled again and said in unison, ‘To Caitlin and Grace.’
Both girls slurped their drinks, and both coughed simultaneously.
‘Euw! The bubbles went up my nose!’ Cora exclaimed.
‘Mine too!’ Grace chimed in. ‘I don’t think I like it.’
Caitlin simply sipped once at the drink, the bubbles stinging her tongue. Then she waited for what was about to come. Her future could be resting on Lyle’s next words, and she had no clue what she would say, or do, when the truth was revealed.
‘Now, there are only so many times you can meet someone and know that you have something special. I had thought so with Cora’s mum, but… well… we’ll leave that there.’ He smiled awkwardly. ‘So, this is all a little fast, I’m aware, but I have some important news and a question to accompany it…’
The girls shared a wide-eyed glance and gripped each other’s hands.
Caitlin felt her throat tighten and her eyes began to tingle. She’d have to say no. Watching Lyle standing there, her own truth dawned on her. She didn’t love him. In fact, she didn’t feel remotely close to loving him. She liked him a lot, she was definitely physically attracted to him, and could possibly love him at some point, but that point was so far off in the distant future, she couldn’t even visualise it. And here she was, in front of their two girls, on his daughter’s birthday no less, knowing full well that she was potentially about to break all of their hearts. Her stomach churned and she was riffling through her mind for the right words to stop him from saying anything further, but the words wouldn’t come. She couldn’t speak.
‘So…’ Lyle continued, ‘as you know, I had a meeting with my boss who came over from Canada, and then several phone calls… and well, the upshot is… he wants me to relocate over there to take over as financial controller for the Canadian branch.’ His words came out in an overexuberant rush, and his eyes were bright and filled with excitement. ‘And… I want you to come with me.’
Caitlin scrunched her brow. ‘I’m sorry, what?’
Still beaming, he said, ‘I want you and Grace to come and live in Canada with me and Cora, as a family.’ He held up a defensive hand. ‘Now, before you say anything, I know it’s ridiculously fast, and I know there’s a whole lot to think about, but please say you will think about it.’ The hope in his eyes made her heart ache.
Cora squealed. ‘We’re going to live in Canada!’ And she hugged Grace, who sat statue still, watching everything unfolding with wide, terror-filled eyes, and a pale face. ‘Grace! It will be amazing! We’ll be sisters but in Canada! This is the best birthday ever! It’s amazing! Don’t you think it’s amazing?’
Caitlin realised she hadn’t replied, and she opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water. ‘I… erm… wow… you’re right, that’s such a lot to think about…’
16
Lyle sat beside Caitlin and took her hand in his. ‘Like I said, I know it’s fast. But I want to start the next chapter of my life with you and the girls. It all just feels right. Don’t you agree? I… I love you, Caitlin, I’m already in love with you, and I’m pretty sure you feel the same. We don’t have to get married right away, of course, but let’s do this. Let’s live dangerously and go on this massive adventure together. What do you say?’
Love? How could he talk so confidently about love? He hardly knew her, and she hardly knew him, yet here he was talking about starting a new life on the other side of the Atlantic. There was the bakery, Cleo, her friends, Grace’s education…
She glanced over at Grace whose eyes were now filled with tears, her chin was trembling, too, and Caitlin could tell they weren’t happy tears. ‘I… I think perhaps Grace and I need to talk. This is huge, Lyle. I can’t just make a decision like this at the drop of a hat. Please understand?’
Disappointment filled his eyes and Cora fell silent; her excitement suddenly quashed too.
Lyle nodded. ‘I see.’ He rubbed at his forehead and closed his eyes. ‘Girls, why don’t you go and get some ice cream to go with the birthday cake and take it out into the garden.’
Silently, the girls did as requested, but as they left the room, Grace paused and pleaded at her mother with her gaze, an unspoken but clear plea that made Caitlin’s eyes well with tears. This was not something her daughter wanted. Certainly not the relocating part, that much was evident. Grace had always loved Glentorrin. Skye was her home and it had been all she had known since she was born. Leaving wasn’t something either of them had ever anticipated.
Lyle huffed. ‘Well, that was subtle,’ he said, his face a blank mask.
