Beth was ready to deflect attention away from herself. ‘And how about you? How are things in your life? Do you like running your own business?’
‘Well, Steve and I moved back here when my mum and dad decided they wanted to downsize. We’d had enough of London life, especially as the kids were so small. We decided that we would buy the house and started running it as a B&B. It’s been great fun, and a lot of hard work. But I wouldn’t change it.’
‘And your sisters? What did they end up doing?’ Beth remembered them to say hello to, but they were younger than Kirsty and very shy back then.
‘Amy is back here now as well. She teaches yoga in the community centre and also works as a massage therapist. She lived in Canada for quite a while then came home when my sister, Emma, got married. She met her old boyfriend from school when she was back and that was it. They’ve been together since. It’s been great having her here and she’s really good withmy dad . . . he has dementia, which has been worse since Mum died.’
Beth’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘I am so sorry Kirsty. I was always so fond of your mum. And I am so sorry about your dad too. That’s tough.’
Kirsty nodded. ‘It was awful when Mum died. All our friends loved her when we were growing up. She was like a surrogate mum to them all.’
‘I’m so sorry for your loss. My mum died too. I don’t think anything ever prepares you for it.’
Kirsty reached for the cafetière and topped Beth’s mug up with more coffee. ‘You are so right. Even though she was ill, and we knew she was dying, it was still a massive shock . . . and I’m sorry for your loss too, Beth. It’s so hard to exist when you’re trying to navigate grief.’
Beth nodded her head in sorrow. ‘That must be tough if you’re now caring for your dad?’ She made a mental note to check in again with her own dad soon, to make sure he’d be visiting at the end of the month.
‘It’s actually been easier since he was diagnosed. It just means we know what we’re dealing with and we’ve been able to put a support plan in place. I don’t know if I would manage if Amy wasn’t so nearby though. Her timing of coming back from Canada was perfect.’
‘And how about your other sister. Where is she?’
‘Emma? She lives in Edinburgh and works as a lawyer. Though not for much longer.’ Her eyes widened with excitement. ‘She and her husband are quitting the corporate world to open a restaurant in North Berwick. He’s a brilliant cook, and running their own business is something they’ve always wanted to do. She’s excited to live by the sea again too, though she’ll be at the opposite side of the country to us. She’s very good though. She does come back and visit as much as shecan, and she and Max got married here a couple of years ago. Anyway, enough of me. How about you and your family?’
‘It’s just me and Dad now. Mum died five years ago just as they were selling up and downsizing. Dad lives in a retirement complex on the outskirts of Glasgow.’ She chuckled. ‘It’s like a senior version of first year at university. It’s all about bring your own bottle, cheese fondue evenings and competitive chess. They’re like a bunch of freshers.’
Kirsty burst out laughing. ‘Apparently all that socialising is very good for the brain. It sounds like he’s got quite the community around him?’
‘He certainly does.’ She thought of Margaret next door. ‘They do all seem to be quite carefree and enjoying life, that’s for sure.’ Beth noticed the clock on the wall, shocked to realise she’d been there for two hours. The time had flown in. ‘Gosh, look at the time. I had better go.’
Kirsty started. ‘Wow, where has the time gone? It’s just been so nice to catch up.’
‘I agree. Thanks so much for having me Kirsty. I’ve loved seeing you. Do you fancy getting together again soon?’
‘I’d really like that. Let’s just keep in touch. Maybe text me sometime when you fancy another coffee?’
‘Come to the flat next time? Or let me take you to one of the cafés? I’m dying to check them all out. You can recommend the hot spots.’
‘That sounds like a deal,’ said Kirsty. ‘It’s been great catching up. Though I feel like we’ve only just begun and barely scratched the surface.’
Beth made to stand up. ‘I’d better get going and leave you to get on with your day.’
Kirsty looked at the sky. ‘It looks like it might stay fair. I’ll try to get Dad out for some fresh air.’
As they walked towards the door, Beth zipped up her jacket and couldn’t resist asking if Kirsty kept in touch with anyone else from their summer gang. ‘Do you see anyone from back then?’
A look flitted across Kirsty’s face, and she hesitated a little before answering. ‘No, not really. Everyone just seemed to go their separate ways. Especially as so many folks had come over from the mainland. I guess we all just drifted apart.’
‘As is life, I guess.’ Beth wondered if she should just brazenly ask about the one person she was thinking about in particular. She waited for a moment, in case Kirsty added anything else. But, as she bid her farewells and walked back towards the flat, her curiosity was now piqued. Why did neither of them mention his name? Beth couldn’t help but think that there was something Kirsty wasn’t telling her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
A few days had passed since seeing her in the pub that night. Callum had been on high alert, in case he bumped into her at the supermarket or happened to see her again when he was out and about doing his errands. But there had been no sign of her, which made him now doubt that it had actually been her in the first place. Was he actually starting to gaslight himself? Had he imagined it? But then he reminded himself that there was no imagining that definite connection when they’d caught sight of each other. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to see her again. He now assumed, if it was her, that perhaps she had just been visiting, and just happened to be with the guy from the hotel that night. Especially as it sounded like he was a one-night-only type of guy.
Since catching up with Fergus and Grant he had vowed to make more of an effort to keep in touch with them. He’d popped in to see them at the outdoor centre in Lamlash. Daisy seemed to be a bit more settled at school, and was absolutely loving the newspaper project, which was the highlight of her week on a Friday afternoon.
Callum was glad it was finally the end of the week and was looking forward to the weekend. He’d been busy with the online course and had started brainstorming a few ideas, which he hoped might help him with the running of the joinery business. When he’d been doing the banking and admin earlier, he sighed when he realised how chronic things had become. But he knew he wasn’t alone in feeling like this. The cost-of-living crisis seemed to be affecting most people he knew.
He was in the kitchen making pizza dough — homemade pizza was a Friday-night tradition for them both — and keeping an eye on the clock, knowing he would have to leave soon to collect Daisy. Callum smiled when his phone buzzed and it wasa text from her. His hands were covered in flour, so he quickly washed them in the sink and dried them before picking up his phone.
