Fergus nodded. ‘Aye, Kitty. She’s my cousin, you know. She’s brilliant, and so are her cakes. She did a roaring trade when she was here and supplied some of the cafés.’
Callum nodded. He was desperate to look over again at the woman, but he didn’t dare. ‘Um, yes, so Daisy’s been following her on Instagram and trying out her recipes.’ He winced. ‘Let’s just say that more practice is required. I think it takes a while to perfect it. Maisie used to teach her to bake when she was younger, and I suggested that she ask her to go over the basics with her again. But Maisie is apparently horrified that she’s trying to bake without any eggs, and laughed when Daisy suggested they use the liquid from a can of chickpeas instead.’
Grant chuckled loudly. ‘Aye, I don’t think you’d be wanting to tell Maisie what to do.’
Callum shook his head. ‘Indeed. She’s a woman who knows her own mind.’
‘Being responsible for another human being must be very full on.’ Fergus had a look of admiration on his face.
He nodded. ‘There’s never a dull moment. And I’ve got parents’ night soon, which she’s warned me about. I have a feeling there may be some issue she’s not telling me.’
‘Part of being a teenager, I suppose,’ said Grant. ‘God, do you remember back in the day, when you would be absolutely bricking it when it was parents’ evening. It was such a big deal.’
Fergus nodded. ‘I know, right? And my parents always insisted on going together, and I would wait at home praying that the teachers gave me a good report. Otherwise life would be hell.’
Callum was fidgeting, desperate to turn round, but made himself look at Grant.
‘Er, changed days now,’ said Callum wryly. ‘Daisy comes with me, which is just as well, as the school is like a warren. I’ve no idea where anywhere is anymore. And she sits next to me, keen to hear what the teachers are going to say.’ Callum wanted to roll his eyes at himself. He was aware how much of a middle-class yoga mum he sounded. But he was so proud of her, and he’d felt such a sense of relief when Daisy had run out to the car earlier more enthused than he had seen her in a long time.
‘The journalist was brilliant,’ she’d said. ‘She had loads of great advice, and told us about some of the stories that she covered in her younger days. She’s offered to come in once a week and help us sort out our newspaper.’
She was so excited, and Callum was just happy that she had found something she was passionate about. She had always loved English, but lately had started to make comments about finding it a bit of a struggle. He turned the conversation back on to Fergus and Grant, asking them what their plans were for the weekend. But the truth was that he couldn’t stop his eyes from drifting towards the woman in the corner. They both stood upand were gathering their things to leave. Callum frowned. There wasdefinitelysomething about her. He had seen her somewhere recently. As she flicked back her hair, shock rippled through him when he realised he knewexactlywho she was.Bloody hell.
When she turned round and looked at him, their eyes locked. Her face visibly paled. It was as though time stood still. He had dreamed of seeing her again for years. In fact he didn’t think he would ever see her again. Then his world started to spin on its axis. He couldn’t believe she was now here, within touching distance.
Chapter Twenty-One
Beth was walking up the driveway of Meadowbank Cottage when she spotted Kirsty walking towards the front door of her house.
‘Good morning.’ Beth waved and smiled.
‘Beth,’ she said excitedly. ‘You remembered where we are then?’
‘Yes, though I’m not going to lie. For a moment I thought I’d gotten lost. Then I recognised where I was.’
Kirsty grinned at her. ‘Come on in out the cold.’ She ushered Beth through the front door. ‘I was just over at my dad’s making him a coffee.’
‘This is lovely.’ Beth looked around the bright hallway. ‘And something smells incredible.’
‘Thank you. Here, let me take your jacket.’ Beth shrugged it off her shoulders and Kirsty hung it on one of the pegs by the door. ‘I’m not sure if you remember much about it, but it will have changed a lot since you were last here. Steve and I completely gutted it when we moved in. And, of course, the barn over there was totally dilapidated. That’s where my dad lives now, and Amy and her partner James live in the studio next door.’
‘I have a vague memory of a party in there . . .’
‘Oh yes, there were certainly a few when we were younger.’ Kirsty laughed. ‘Changed days now though. I’ve made scones. That’s about as exciting as it gets these days.’
‘That’s what the lovely smell is?’
Kirsty nodded. ‘Yes, I thought, seeing as you were coming, it was a good excuse to whip up a batch of scones. Steve is out this morning, and with the kids away from home, I guess I don’t always bake as much as I used to. It’s been nice to have an excuse.’
‘They smell wonderful. Thank you.’
‘Come on into the kitchen. The fire’s on there and it’s nice and cosy.’ She gestured through to the kitchen and invited Beth to take a seat at the large table. ‘Would you like coffee or tea?’
‘Coffee would be great thanks.’
Kirsty busied herself, filling a large cafetière with ground coffee and boiling water. She stirred it, plunged the lid down then set it on the table alongside a plate of scones. ‘Now, don’t be shy. Please do help yourself.’
Beth was a bit nervous, and grateful that Kirsty was being so welcoming. ‘Thank you. This is so kind of you Kirsty. I can’t actually quite believe I’m here after so long. It is very weird.’
