Grace gasped, her eyes wide with excitement as she clapped her hands. ‘Can we, Mum? Can we? It would be awesome! I loved camping with Evin, and I’d love to go again. Please!’
Caitlin’s cheeks flushed. As much as she loved the great outdoors, she also loved her luxuries, and she wasn’t sure she was cut out for sleeping in something without a solid roof. But if the truth be told, she was reluctant to spend alone time with Archie, torturing herself over something that wasn’t going to happen. ‘But we don’t have a tent, or any gear, love.’
Archie interjected, ‘I’ve got all the gear you need, and a spare tent.’
Shit, how do I get out of this?‘But it depends if Isla can work in the shop, and it might be too short notice.’
Archie pondered her words for a moment. ‘If it helps, I can take the girls and you could join us afterwards. We’re only going up to Kinloch by Dunvegan. It’s about an hour away from here. I want to show Sophie the night sky up there as there’s very little uplight and the stars are spectacular. I’m going to take a telescope too.’
All eyes were on her. Archie looked hopeful, Sophie too as she flicked her gaze between Caitlin and Grace, and Grace was blatantly standing there, hands clasped in prayer, bottom lip thrust out and her eyelids fluttering.
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, fine!’ She laughed.
Grace cheered and hugged Sophie, and Archie simply grinned like a loony.
She huffed. ‘I presume it’s a dog-friendly trip?’
‘Absolutely. Bowie and Cleo got on well at the barbecue so it should be fun. We’re just staying the one night, Saturday. The forecast is good so it should be great weather for stargazing.’
Caitlin nodded as she handed over Archie’s purchases and took his payment. ‘Okay, text me the details of the campsite and I’ll come right up after I close on Saturday. I’ll bring midge repellent.’ She rolled her eyes.
‘Great! Right, we’d better be getting back, Sophie. Say “bye” to Caitlin and Grace.’
Sophie gave a sweet smile and waved. ‘Bye, Cakelin. Bye, Gwace.’
Once they had left, Caitlin turned to her daughter. ‘I’m not sure I’m up to sleeping outdoors.’
‘Mum, you’ll be absolutely fine, I promise. It’ll be such fun, you’ll see.’ Caitlin forced a smile but couldn’t be sure that her daughter’s assertions were correct on account of the risk to her heart.
* * *
After the bakery had closed, Caitlin decided to take Cleo for a walk to get some fresh air. The heat had been stifling in spite of the overcast clouds. Perhaps there was a storm brewing. And if there was, it had better come and go before the camping trip.
As she walked, she spotted Archie and Sophie standing by a taxi that was parked outside his house. They were chatting to a blonde woman, no doubt the same one that Grace had mentioned. Caitlin tried not to watch, but her curiosity got the better of her, so she pretended to tie her shoelace.Pathetic attempt at subterfuge, Caitlin. You’ll be cutting holes in newspapers next.
Archie reached out and touched the woman’s cheek. Caitlin wished she could hear what they were saying. If only she’d listened to her heart and acted earlier when she realised her true feelings, he may not have hooked up with someone new so quickly. But then again, she had no real proof of Archie’s feelings, so things may have been no different.
Her stomach knotted as she watched the scene before her. What happened next made her wish she hadn’t been watching. Archie pulled the blonde woman into an embrace, and she wrapped her arms around him.Definitely not the social worker then. Next, the blonde crouched to Sophie’s level and hugged her too.Bloody hell, she’s won Sophie over already.A twinge of jealousy tugged at Caitlin’s heart but was soon replaced by sadness.
It was too late.
Whatever she was feeling needed to be pushed way down and locked away.What was the point in feeling something for someone who wasn’t interested?Perhaps she really was destined to remain single. And that was fine. She didn’t need a man. Admittedly, a relationship would’ve been nice. A relationship with Archie – even though she never realised it was something she wanted until it was too late – would’ve been lovely. But Grace didn’t need a dad, that was one thing she was absolutely certain about. And they were fine just the two of them.
Absolutely fine.
24
‘Have you got everything you need?’ Caitlin asked Grace as she stood in the doorway of the bakery with Archie, ready to head off for the camping trip.
‘Yup. All sorted,’ Grace said with a pat to her backpack.
‘Thanks for taking her and Cleo, Archie. I’ll be there as soon as I can.’
‘Aye, no worries. Don’t rush though. Just text when you’re setting off and I’ll light the barbecue.’ He frowned and then laughed. ‘Is it just me or do you think our relationship revolves around barbecues?’
She laughed and crinkled her nose. ‘It kind of does, doesn’t it?’
He raised his hand in a wave and gave a handsome smile. ‘Bye, then.’
