‘It’s English that I’m worried about.’ Daisy glanced across at a teacher who was on the other side of the room, in full flow with another parent. ‘I just find it a bit of a struggle. It used to be my best subject.’
‘How come? I mean, from what I’ve seen, you have a really good grasp of things when we’re working on the paper. What is it you’re finding hard?’
Daisy shrugged. ‘The reading for understanding bit, which then means I struggle with the analysis and evaluation . . .’ She lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘I don’t think the teacher likes me either.’
‘Ah okay.’ Beth had met the teacher earlier and she reminded her of teachers she dreaded when she was a kid. She wasn’t exactly warm or engaging, so it was fair to say she realised why Daisy was getting stuck. ‘You do know that you’re doing all that anyway when working on the paper? But I’ll let you in on a secret Daisy. I struggled with the way English was taught at school. Icould do it, but as soon as they started doing the exam papers, I had a complete blank.’
From the way Daisy was looking up at her, she knew she had struck a chord.
‘Would it help if I spent some time going over stuff with you?’ Beth asked carefully.
Daisy nodded, smiling in relief as Beth’s suggestion. She perched on the table. ‘That would be amazing. If you don’t mind?’
‘Of course I don’t. I would love to help you, but we just need to check if it’s okay with your parents.’
‘It’s just me and my—’
‘There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.’
Beth’s eyes widened. She took a sharp intake of breath when she turned and saw who was now standing alongside Daisy.
‘Hello,’ Callum said, his voice gruff. He nodded at Beth and smiled. ‘Long time no see. I have been hearing all about the famous reporter who’s been helping the kids. You seem to have madequitethe impression.’
An unexpected frisson of excitement ran down her spine. Beth had no idea what to say. Her heart raced as she looked over at him, his face a mixture of shifting emotions. ‘Hi Callum. We meet again.’ She groaned inwardly.Why on earth had she said that?‘Um, how are you doing?’
Daisy raised an eyebrow curiously. ‘Wait a minute, have you two already met? Do youknoweach other?’
Callum gave a small, wry laugh. ‘Yes, you could say that. At the winter market last weekend. Though we met a very long time ago before that. Back then you were known as Liz or Lizzie.’
Beth was rendered speechless again, overwhelmed at the way she responded to being up so close and personal to him. Her mouth was dry and her palms felt clammy. She clearly hadn’t imagined his magnetic appeal from when she saw him last.
Then she had to shake herself. He was a father now. And his daughter was standing between them, wondering what on earth was going on. She needed to pull herself together before she made an utter fool of herself. Especially if his wife was about to appear. ‘Yes, things have changed a bit since then.’Seriously was that all she could say?
Daisy cleared her throat loudly. ‘Hello? Is anyone going to tell me what’s going on? Are you two going to tell me how you know each other?’
Chapter Twenty-Eight
‘We used to work together. A long, long time ago.’ Callum was unable to peel his eyes away from Beth. He still couldn’t believe she was here on the island. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since she fell into his arms at the winter market. ‘Back in the olden days.’
He could feel Daisy staring at him, wondering what it was he wasn’t saying. She was as intuitive as her mother had been, and he knew she would grill him the moment they left the classroom.
‘Where did you work?’ pushed Daisy.
He could see that Beth’s chest was flushed. He remembered from way back that was a sign she was nervous. Some things hadn’t changed — he was curious why she should feel that way. Instead of stepping in and answering Daisy, he waited for Beth to reply.
‘Oh, just at one of the hotels in Brodick,’ Beth said. ‘I used to come over during the summer when I was a student, that’s where we met. We all kind of got to know each other.’
He held her gaze for a moment — until his phone buzzed and he looked to see Maisie’s name flash up on the screen. ‘Excuse me, I need to take this.’ He stepped aside to answer.
‘Hello dear. I’m sorry to call you. I hope I’m not interrupting your dinner. I know you’ll be busy cooking just now,’ said Maisie.
‘That’s okay. I’m just at the school with Daisy. It’s parents’ evening.’
‘Sorry of course it is. I totally forgot.’
‘Is everything okay?’ His brows furrowed as he looked over and saw Daisy and Beth deep in conversation. He didn’t like to think what they might be talking about.
‘The back door is locked and the key is jammed,’ she said. ‘I was just wondering if you would mind popping by to have a wee look when you can. No rush though.’
