Page 21 of Fireworks


Font Size:

Eiley’s tension eased a little. She hadn’t given Maggie enough credit, thinking she might just give up. At least if she still had a job, she’d have a little more financial security. Enough to pay her half of the rent at Mum’s, too, though Mum would likely refuse, as she had last time.

Mum squeezed Eiley’s shoulder. “See? Everything’ll figure itself out.”

“Absolutely. We’ll muddle through together.” Maggie checked her phone. “Are you all right getting a start on this? I’ll make some insurance calls, but my daughter’s expecting me for lunch, so I think the real work will have to wait until tomorrow.”

“Of course.” Eiley would happily spend the rest of the day here if it meant she could feel more of this hope. She wasn’t alone in this, and she still had a job. She was going to be okay. Eventually.

Bidding them goodbye, Maggie tiptoed around the mess and left the store, still beaming as though the problem hadn’t fazed her in the slightest. Eiley envied that sort of relentless confidence, then reminded herself she should never judge a book by its cover (even if she did do that, quite often, with actual books). She of all people knew that some kept their struggles on the inside.

She perched against the arm of the couch, wondering if this would at least provide an excuse to purchase some new furniture for the cosy window nook. Perhaps Fraser had some ideas up his sleeve.

Fraser. A jolt of panic shot through Eiley. He was still looking after her kids. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to tell him yet, nor break the news to the children. They deserved a few more hours of fun with their uncle, as originally planned, and Eiley needed the space to figure things out.

As though sensing her thoughts, Mum began, “I can call your brother, now …”

“No!” Eiley shot back quickly. “Just … let him think I’m still enjoying a nice weekend for a few hours longer, okay? We can tell him when he drops off the kids tonight.”

“He’ll be a big help, sweetheart.”

“I know. But the kids running around here won’t, and honestly, I don’t want them to see our new home in tatters.”Her voice threatened to crack again. “I want to make this as easy for them as possible.”

“Okay,” Mum agreed solemnly. “Then how about we pack up your things, and I’ll go home and get their room all set up for them while you work here? Might make them feel more settled if everything’s back in its old place, aye?”

“That would be perfect. Thank you, Mum. I’m really sorry that we have to do this to you again.” Eiley’s chest swelled with gratitude. They were so lucky to have her.

“Nonsense. You know I love having you all home. It’s too quiet without you.” A gentle kiss was placed on Eiley’s cheek. “Chin up, love. It’ll be sorted in no time.”

For a moment, Eiley believed it.

9

It would have been easier to forget about last night’s disaster if the bookstore wasn’t right across the road from Warren’s favourite café. He’d only dropped into town for a late breakfast before what he knew would be a long day, and resolved to maintain that plan. Once he’d finished … staring. Once he’d caught sight ofherrattling around inside.

Move it along, Warren. For Christ’s sakes, she wants nothing to do with you. You want nothing to do with her.

He all but carried his legs away from the café towards his van, parked on the corner. The buttery smell of pastry emanating from Pam’s Pies tempted him, but he’d already had “brunch” – which he liked to say because it made his beans on toast sound fancier. The old-fashioned bakery was hissecondfavourite establishment in Belbarrow, especially after discovering delicious stone-baked pizza was on the menu.

A loudthwacksounded behind him just as he passed the window of golden bread loaves and Scotch pies, and he turned to find Eiley shoving a box of books out onto the pavement. He waited for someone to help her with the heavy stock, but a passerby only dodged around her without so much asa smile. From what he could see, nobody was inside, either. She was alone.

She shouldn’t have to be.

So he doubled back towards the entrance of the pie shop. They’d managed to talk without her getting angry on the drive home last night. Maybe she’d actually appreciate his help today, especially if he came bearing cheesy pizza.

And then he reversed, because he wasn’t sure shediddeserve it, especially not from him. He’d say something too direct, she’d probably find something new to snap at him about, and he’d be left to feel like a fool for even trying.

Before he knew it, he was dancing back and forth between his van and Pam’s Pies like some sort of Scottish Andrew Lincoln in aLove, Actuallyscene – which, for the record, he’d only watched against his will when he couldn’t find the TV remote, a phenomenon that somehow seemed to happen every Christmas. People were looking now, and he didn’t know what to do. It was in his nature to offer help. Wouldn’t be the first time he’d returned to the scene of a job just to check in on those affected.

And she’d apologised. That surely put them on common ground. The memory of her devastated features echoed in his mind, and he knew his bloody empathy was about to decide for him. If she kicked him out, he’d leave immediately, and that would be that. What was the worst that could happen? He’d have a whole box of pizza to himself? That would be a shame.

He’d try. Not for her, or so he told himself, but because that was what he did.

Inside, he found he wasn’t the only one queuing up for lunch.

“You really kept us all on our toes out there,” a curvy, dark-haired lass drawled by the mounted chalkboard menu. He grinned bashfully at the woman, who had introduced herself as Blair, a teaching assistant at the village school, last week. The firehouse was just across the road from the primary school, so his first taste of Belbarrow had been rambunctious uniformed school children and a couple of friendly staff members. Blair’s skin was a glowy gold, her thick raven hair tossed across one shoulder. Undeniably pretty, and undeniably flirting, just like last time they’d spoke outside the school gates.

He stood in line behind an elderly man with a cane.

“I was trying and failing to resist temptation.” He couldn’t help but respond in kind, meeting her sultry gaze.