He reached out and took her hand. ‘It’s strange, isn’t it? I never believed in fate until now.’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘Fate?’
He nodded. ‘Aye. You and I have known each other in passing for years. We’ve said “hi”, shared the time of day, even danced at the ceilidhs together… all the while never really knowing each other. We were acquaintances but not really friends. Not in the true sense of the word. But I feel like something… someone… the universe maybe, made us friends just at the right time. And all because we were both looking for love.’ He shook his head and smiled. His eyes were fixed on her, and she felt her face warming as her stomach flipped. Strange reactions, she mused.
Feeling a little unsettled, she scrunched her nose. ‘You would have been just fine without me. You have other friends with kids in the village,’ she insisted, trying to push her mixed-up feelings down and out of reach.
He shook his head slowly. ‘None who would understand like you do.’ His voice was a croaky whisper.
‘Well, I’ll help in any way I can. I remember what it’s like to have a five-year-old.’
The movie screen in her mind was suddenly filled with images of Grace trying on her make-up and her shoes, of discovering her best lipstick mashed to a pulp thanks to being dragged around every inch of her daughter’s chubby cheeks, and the look of sheer delight on the girl’s face as she exclaimed, ‘Mummy! I look like you!’; of Grace playing on the beach at the coast and building sandcastles with moats that they had to carefully carry buckets of sea water to fill; of Grace helping her to bake and getting dough in her hair and flour on her nose – evidently a skill she’d inherited from her grandad, a man she sadly never met – and the many, many laughs that had been created simply by the bond they shared. She hoped that Archie could experience this too. But she was very much aware he had a long, possibly difficult road ahead.
‘Well, if Sophie does come to live with me, and she ends up anything like Grace, I’ll be the happiest man alive.’
Caitlin smile as emotion bubbled up from somewhere deep inside her and she giggled. ‘Stop or you’ll have me in tears.’
Archie stood. ‘Thank you, for everything and in advance too. I know I’m going to need your help. Look, I’d better go. It’s late and I’m sure you have stuff to do. Grace will be wondering why I’m here.’
‘It’s absolutely fine. We’ve had quite an emotional day, so she’s fast asleep.’
He turned and headed towards the door but stopped and came back to face her. ‘Thank you. I know I keep saying it, but…’ He sighed. ‘I can’t express how glad I am that we connected at those singles events. Who’d have thought it, eh? It’s times like these when you realise who your friends are and how much you need them. You’re a wonderful mum to Grace and I know I can learn a lot from you about parenting. But…’ He paused for a moment as if contemplating his next words carefully. ‘I… I just wish that I’d…’ He shook his head as if to shake away a thought. ‘Ugh, listen to me stillhaveringon when I said I was leaving.’
Caitlin wondered what he was about to say but didn’t press him.
‘Anyway, alls I want to say is I’m really glad we both met someone special, you know? We both deserve happiness. Rosabeth is lovely and it’s clear that Lyle thinks the world of you, so… We did good, eh?’ He huffed. ‘I only hope Rosabeth has room in her life for an extra one.’ His eyes widened. ‘I can’t believe I’m about to become a dad to a five-year-old girl… well, hopefully.’ He reached out and squeezed her arm. His skin was warm yet rough against hers. ‘Goodnight, Caitlin. And thank you again.’ He bent and kissed her cheek before straightening and walking out the door.
She watched him leave and confusion clouded her mind. Her heart had skipped when he was close to her, and she had closed her eyes when he’d kissed her cheek, inhaling the scent of him and absorbing the feeling of his stubble gently scratching her skin. She reached up and ran her fingers over the place his lips had touched but huffed at herself and closed the door.Stop being ridiculous, Cait, as if you need any more hassle.She certainly didn’t need any more complications in her life, not after Lyle. That was it. Dating was simply not for her and life as a single parent was the way to go. It was all she knew, after all, and it was absolutely fine with her if she stayed that way. Completely and utterly fine. The end.
* * *
After a fitful night lacking any real sleep, Caitlin made her way downstairs to the kitchen. The previous night had been filled with so much drama that her mind had been unable to completely shut down. Things had ended with Lyle, that much she was certain of, so she was surprised to see messages and missed calls from him on her mobile when she retrieved it from the place she had left it to charge.
Caity let’s talk about this. We both said hurtful things. Lyle x
What hurtful things had she said? She couldn’t think of a single one. All she’d offered was honesty and clarity.
Caity we can work through this, we love each other.
She rolled her eyes like an errant teenager and huffed.Erm… nope. This is purely a one-way street and any chance there was of me loving you were shot out of the sky when you made comments about Grace’s father, and Cleo being just a dog, actually.
Look, you’re being unfair. Just reply please. Cora is heartbroken here. Do you want that for her?
Oh, so now you’re laying the guilt on thick in shovelfuls, are you? You’re the one who chose to disrupt her whole life on her birthday! Well, as much as I feel for Cora with her dysfunctional parents, I won’t be accepting blame there, thank you very much.
I know you’re reading my messages so why won’t you reply?
Actually, pal, I was trying to sleep after the trauma of the bloody evening!
I’ve left you a voicemail seeing as you won’t pick up. This is your last chance, Caitlin. I won’t beg.
Last chance rejected, thank you anyway. Have a nice life.
Come on, Caity, please just call me. Please! I want us to sort this out! PLEASE!!
What happened to not begging?
Right. That’s it. We’re finished. Done. Happy now? I’m done.
