‘I amnothaving this conversation with you,’ I replied in a bright, sing-song voice.
‘Oh, come on. We shareeverything, you and I. Just tell me. Was it better knowing that he has feelings for you?’
Rolling my eyes for what felt like the hundredth time that day, I replied, ‘Oh my God, isnothingsacred?Yes, okay?Yes, it was amazing.Heis amazing. Happy now?’
Alec’s head poked round the door into the living room. ‘I knew it. You’re falling for him.’
Bit late for that. I covered my face to hide the fact that I was blushing and grinning like a maniac. ‘I think he’s sweet. That’s all I’m saying.’
Alec chuckled, and as I peered at him through my fingers, he made some dramatic gesture with his hand; a kind oftalk to the handthing. ‘Yeah, whatevs. I know that bloody expression. Just... be careful, okay? He hurt you once before and I don’t want to see you go through nasty stuff you don’t deserve. Tell him I’ll sort him out if he hurts you again.’
I lowered my hands from my face and was met with an expression of deep concern. I stood to face him and placed my hands on his arms. Looking him directly in the eyes, I boldly told him, ‘I’m a big girl, Al. I’ll be fine.’
Oh, please God let me be right for once.
‘I sincerely hope so, Twinkle.’ He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. ‘Now come on, we’ve a date with Granny Aggie. I’ve brought her some of her favourite chocolate cupcakes from the café.’
I smiled and shook my head. ‘You know how to get on her good side.’
He tapped my nose. ‘Granny Aggie only has good sides.’
24
Fin
The weekend rolled around and I was getting ‘Star withdrawal’. I hadn’t seen her since our date on Wednesday, and although we’d video called and messaged each other in the few days since, I hadn’t had my fill of her. I had hoped Saturday would make up for that but she had a prior arrangement with her Grandma. Thankfully, my brother called and invited me for dinner, complaining that he’d feared I’d dropped off the face of the earth. I apologised and accepted willingly, figuring I had so much to tell him—and it would be a good distraction from pining like a pathetic love-sick teen.
‘So, how are you feeling about the stuff with Dad now?’ Callum asked as he poured me a glass of wine. It was early Saturday evening, and Tori, his wife, had cooked the most amazing lamb tagine. She was still breastfeeding Charlotte too but she wouldn’t rest.
I took a deep breath, followed by a long swallow of my drink. ‘I feel numb to be honest, Cal. Hurt that he could treat me like that, but numb at the same time.’
‘Well, he was always a stubborn bastard. I don’t see that changing any time soon. Why do you think Tori and I keep out of his way these days? She doesn’t need it with us having Charlotte now. But to be honest, I suspected things would go this way.’
Callum’s admission surprised me. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, you tried so hard to be what he wanted, Fin. And there was bound to come a day when you realised you had to live your life foryou. The thing with Elise was never going to work. You two were forcedtogether. It was tantamount to an arranged marriage. That shouldn’t have happened. Not in this day and age. But you had to realise that for yourself. I couldn’t help you there.’
I almost choked on my drink. ‘But that’s the thing.Shedumpedme.I would’ve married her. That’s how stupid I am. That’s how importantit was to me to please him. What does that say about me? The fact that I was prepared to marry someone I wasn’t in love with just to make him happy. My God, what a pathetic arse I was.’ Anger and resentment fought for priority and my skin prickled.
Callum reached across the table and grasped my forearm. ‘Hey, you arenotan arse. And there’s nothing pathetic about wanting to make your dad proud. And believe me, brother, all this says more abouthim than it does you. And I think if Elise hadturned up, you would have realised when the vicar got to the ‘Has any one got any objections’ bit. And if you hadn’t,Iwould have said something at that point. Either way, you wouldn’t have been marrying her; I can assure you of that.’
‘Well, it’s all a moot point now, anyway. And anyway, I have more news. I’ve been offered a job and I start on Monday.’ I could hear the hesitance in my own voice.
Callum sat up straight and eyed me warily. ‘Bloody hell. That’s quick going, but great, obviously. Sorry, go on. I’m guessing from your tone of voice that you’re worried about telling me.’
I laughed. He was right in a way. ‘I’ll just come right out and say it. It’s with McKendrick Law.’
Callum’s eyebrows rose and he glanced at Tori who had just come back from her fifth trip to the loo. He nodded. ‘Well, spank my arse and call me Mandy, my little brother has grown a pair.’ A wide grin spread across his face. ‘I’m proud of you, Fin. You have the potential to actually be recognisedfor your talents there.’
‘Funny, McKendrick said the same thing.’
Callum rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘From what I’ve heard outside of Dad’s little bubble, Alasdair McKendrick is a decent bloke. Very family orientated.’
‘Yes and on that note, have you heard the real reason Dad and McKendrick don’t get along?’
Callum pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. ‘Can’t say I have, why? Do you know something I don’t?’
I nodded slowly. ‘Our dear innocent father stole Mum from McKendrick. Not the other way round.’
