‘I can’t believe he went so psycho after only a couple of dates. That’s just bizarre,’ Ruby said once Caitlin had finished recounting her story. ‘It’s like something off a stalker movie.’
‘You’re not kidding. Talk about a bunny boiler,’ Jules agreed with a wide-eyed expression.
‘Bunny boiler?’ Morag asked with a hint of disgust.
‘It’s a movie reference, Morag.Fatal Attractionwith Glenn Close and Michael Douglas. And yes, that scene is about as disgusting as it sounds,’ Ruby informed her.
‘Ooh, might have to watch that. I love me a bit of Michael Douglas,’ she said with a giggle. ‘Just don’t tell Kenneth.’
‘So, what will you do now, Cait?’ Jules asked.
Caitlin shrugged. ‘Give up, I suppose. I think I’m destined to be single forever. I’m not prepared to go on an app, only to be catfished. And I certainly don’t fancy singles nights again. I’m not open to a relationship with someone old enough to be my dad, or someone who still lives with his mother, and in my recent experience that’s all I seem to attract.’
Morag reached out and squeezed her arm. ‘Can I fix you up, hen?’ she asked with a glint in her eye.
Ruby leaned forward. ‘Ooh, Morag, who are you fixing her up with?’ she asked eagerly.
‘Yes, Morag, who?’ Caitlin asked with narrowed eyes and a fair dollop of suspicion.
Morag told them, ‘He’s a delivery driver from the wholesalers. His name is Bram.’
‘Like the Dracula bloke? Who names their child Bram?’ Caitlin asked with a turned-up nose.
‘Aye, but he’s not a vampire, I can assure you of that,’ Morag replied with a serious expression. ‘He’s a driver, remember?’
Caitlin frowned. ‘Aye, Morag, and Bram Stoker wasn’t… never mind, go on.’
With delight, Morag carried on, evidently needing no further encouragement. ‘He’s called Bram Wallace. He’s from Glasgow originally, but I believe he lives in Kyle of Lochalsh. Handsome, no kids, steady job. Fair hair, what’s left of it as it’s shaved pretty close. But he’s only in his early forties and so lovely. He’s been delivering to me for a while now, but I always thought he was married, on account of his wedding ring, so I never mentioned him before. Anyway, he stopped wearing his ring, and me being me, a nosey old beggar, I asked after it. Turns out he’s been widowed for five years but has only just started to try to move on, bless him. He’s also on dating apps and such but hasn’t had any luck yet, like you. Although he spotted you when you were out walking Cleo the last time he came, and he asked after you. Here, I took a sneaky pic of him on my phone.’ She held out the screen towards Caitlin so she could see the image of the man. As Morag had said, he had a shaved head, a full, fair beard, a nice smile and was quite stockily built. ‘What do you think? Can I put you in touch?’
All eyes were on Caitlin as she thought back to Lyle and his drama. Then she thought about Archie and how he had found someone he really liked, and the strange mix of emotions that fact evoked. She’d experienced weird sensations the last couple of times she’d seen Archie, but what did they mean? She wasn’t feeling more than friendship for him, was she? She had to admit that he was an attractive man, something she’d never really noticed before, and he was fun to be around and was amazing with Grace… But, it was a moot point considering Rosabeth was in the picture. And if Morag knew this driver and considered him a decent human being, what did she have to lose? One thing was certain, he could be no worse than Lyle.
Realising she hadn’t answered, Caitlin heaved a long sigh. ‘Aye, why not. I had sworn off dating, but what the heck.’
The rest of the women cheered and toasted.
Caitlin, however, began to wonder what could possibly go wrong this time.
* * *
At the end of work on Monday, Caitlin headed into the house and was contemplating messaging Archie to see how things were going, when there was a knock on the door. She checked her reflection in the hall mirror.Ugh, rough old hag, she sneered at her reflection, before smoothing down her locks, and opening the door.
‘Hey, Caitlin. There’s someone I’d like you to meet,’ Archie said softly from where he stood. His handsome smile was wide and his eyes bright, despite the lack of sleep he’d informed her about by text. ‘Sophie, sweetheart, this is my good friend Caitlin Fraser. She has the same second name as you, how cool is that? Come and say hello,’ he said to the little girl, who was standing out of sight.
Slowly a little mop of long dark hair appeared. Big brown eyes peered up at her from under long lashes. Sophie was wearing jeans with rainbows and stars embroidered on them and a pale blue T-shirt with a unicorn on the front. A toy pug was clutched in one hand and the fingers of her other were in her mouth. She was utterly adorable.
Caitlin crouched to her level. ‘Hello, Sophie, it’s lovely to meet you.’
Sophie huddled into Archie’s thigh and seeing her do so melted Caitlin’s heart.
‘Would you like to come in and meet my little girl?’
Sophie glanced up at Archie and he nodded encouragingly. The little girl gave a couple of small, almost invisible nods and Caitlin stepped aside for Archie and Sophie to walk into the house.
‘She’s so painfully shy,’ Archie whispered. ‘There have been lots of tears, which is to be expected I suppose after what she’s been through.’ His worry and concern were evident in his eyes as he spoke.
Caitlin squeezed his arm. ‘Well, at least the pug turned out to be a cuddly toy, I suppose. Small mercies.’ She smiled, trying to lighten his mood.
He shook his head. ‘No, no, the real thing, Bowie, is back at home having a wee nap. He doesn’t travel well as I discovered to my chagrin.’ He chuckled and rolled his eyes.
