‘I’ll leave when I want to leave and not before,’ Lyle replied with venom, through clenched teeth. Cleo stalked forward, snarling and growling and Lyle stared at the sensitive, protective dog. ‘And you can sod off, you little rat.’ Cleo began to bark, and Caitlin lifted her up to try to calm her down.
Archie lifted his phone from his pocket. ‘Look, I’m trying to be reasonable here, which is more than you’re doing, pal. You leave the village now, or I call the police. And we both know they won’t let you into Canada with a criminal record, so I suggest you walk away.’
Lyle huffed, his face was red, and his brow scrunched. ‘I don’t know why you can’t just give me a second chance, Caity. We were so good together. We had something special.’
‘Lyle, we barely know each other. Just go and start your new life in Canada. You’ll meet someone new. We’re just not… we’re never going to happen. And I think deep down you know that.’
He tugged at his hair and bent double. ‘I’m such an idiot! Women are all the same! Users, manipulators, the lot of ’em.’ He stood again and glared at Archie. ‘Good luck to you, mate. You need it with her.’ He sneered in Caitlin’s direction and with his final words, he turned and stormed back to his car, got in and sped away, tyres screeching.
* * *
When Lyle’s car was out of sight, Caitlin heaved a sigh of relief, placed Cleo on the floor and almost collapsed against the wall.
The little dog fussed around Archie’s feet, so he bent quickly to stroke her. ‘You’re a brave wee mutt, eh? Yesh you are.’ Cleo wagged her tail frantically, clearly proud of her role in proceedings.
Caitlin inhaled a shaking breath. ‘Thanks, Archie. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been here.’
He stood and pulled her into a hug. ‘Hey, it’s nae bother. And I get the feeling the mention of him not getting into Canada with a criminal record may have put him off coming again. I don’t think he’d thought this visit through. But if he does come back, you ring me right away, okay?’
She nodded, still a little shaken by what had happened. ‘Thanks again.’
‘Look, I’ll be off. I think Grace might need you. But I’m on the end of the line if he comes back.’ The next thing he did was strange but sweet. He kissed the top of her head before turning and leaving the house. It was an affectionate gesture that made her smile.
‘Archie!’ she called out to him, and he stopped and turned his head. ‘You’re going to make a wonderful dad,’ she told him with a lump in her throat.
He didn’t reply. Instead, a wide smile spread across his face, and he somehow stretched taller as if empowered by her words, and he lifted his hand in a salute.
19
Just as Caitlin was closing the bakery at the end of the day on Monday, Archie walked in. He looked so different in his suit and tie. Ridiculously handsome, in fact. His hair was still wild and shaggy, and his chin still graced with stubble, but it was clear he had attended the meeting with his solicitor with every intention of putting across the best of himself.
She closed the door and locked it behind him. ‘So, how did it go?’ she asked eagerly.
He loosened his tie and held out his arms. ‘You’re looking at the father of a five-year-old girl,’ he replied with tears of joy in his eyes.
Caitlin flung her arms around him. ‘Archie, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you! How do you feel?’ She pulled away and held him at arm’s length.
‘Bloody rung out to be honest. It was fairly straightforward, because of the birth certificate and the letter in the will that mentions me, so I now have full parental responsibility. I’ve been assigned a social worker just to make sure Sophie settles in okay, but – and this is the scary part – she will be with me at the weekend. I’ve to go up to Edinburgh and meet her at her foster carer’s on Friday. And then I’ll bring her home Saturday or Sunday.’
Caitlin was astounded at how calm he seemed at the prospect of being thrust into a whole new lifestyle. ‘Wow. That’s all so fast. What about getting her room ready? And what about your work?’
‘The campsite isn’t too bad. It’s all tents, so they’re fairly self-sufficient, and I have a cleaner for the shower blocks and toilets, and Dex to do check-ins and maintenance now he’s back from his trip. The IT stuff, when it comes in, can be done from home. It’s the shop that’s the main issue, although Sophie will be enrolling in school, so I may just have to rethink my hours. If I need to get extra help in, I’ll do that.’ He shrugged.
Caitlin was impressed with the way he had just stepped up. He was putting the welfare of his child first, unlike Lyle, who put himself and his own desires before everyone. Archie was doing what any father should, but the fact that he didn’t necessarily sign up for the full-time dad thing from the start meant that everything he was doing was because he wanted to.
‘So, therein lies the reason for my visit…’ he said rather sheepishly. ‘I was wondering if you might come around to mine tonight and help me pick some things for her room?’ He winced and narrowed his eyes. ‘And Grace too?’
Caitlin laughed. ‘We’d love to. I think Grace will have some nice ideas. What time shall we come round?’
‘I’ve bought pizzas, so shall we say six? Bring Cleo too. I picked up some magazines when I was up in Portree, and I’ve got my laptop so we can order things online if necessary. Then, I’m going to close the shop from Wednesday and get the room done before I head up to Edinburgh on Friday. I’ve been put in touch with the foster carer and apparently Sophie’s favourite colour is blue, like the sky.’ He grinned. ‘Her words. And she loves stars and rainbows too, which is wonderful. I was worried she’d be a really girlie wee thing and into pink and fairies but apparently not. Anyway, I’ve sent a couple of photos of me and a letter that they can read to her to make things a little easier.’
‘That’s so lovely. She’s lucky to have you.’ She hoped her sincerity shone through because she couldn’t think of a better man to be the little girl’s father.
‘Aye, let’s hope she feels that way too. Oh, and apparently she has a dog. A pug called Bowie. So, looks like I’m getting two for the price of one.’
‘Bloody hell, Archie, you don’t do things by half do you?’ Caitlin laughed.
‘Apparently not!’ He turned and unlocked the shop door. ‘See you in a wee while then.’
