Beth nodded, a glimmer of a smile on her lips as she thought about how she felt in his company. ‘In a way I’m glad I was stuck there. It gave us time toreallytalk properly.’
‘And what’s next? Any plans to catch up again?’ asked Kirsty.
‘Nope, no plans yet.’ She was a bit too breezy when it was all she’d thought about since leaving Callum earlier.
As though reading her thoughts, Kirsty let out a small sigh. ‘Oh Beth. I can tell from the dreamy look on your face that you’ve got it bad. Maybeyouneed to take the initiative. Call him and ask him out.’
Beth gasped. ‘I’m not sure I can do that. Honestly,’ she wailed with frustration, ‘I feel like I’m fifteen again. This romance stuff doesn’t get any easier with age.’
Kirsty raised an eyebrow. ‘Except you’re not fifteen anymore and you are both free and single and clearly attracted to each other. What have you got to lose?’
Beth didn’t reply.
‘Come on Beth. I’m happy to place a bet on this. I’m very confident I know what his answer will be.’
Chapter Forty-Seven
Callum had now been floored with the virus everyone else had. Yet it seemed to hit him harder than Daisy and Beth, and he’d been in bed for several days.
‘That’s because you’re a man,’ said Daisy witheringly. ‘You always have to get man flu rather than just a wee virus. Murray’s dad was exactly the same.’
Despite her teasing him, Callum was grateful that Daisy was around to help. All the strength seemed to have seeped from his body. He had barely been able to move these past couple of days. Daisy let Ruby out, even though she was loathe to leave her master’s side. She had also taken over the feeding of the chickens, and went up and down to Maisie’s cottage to check she had all she needed. Fortunately, Maisie had dodged being ill, which she told Daisy was down to her daily cold showers and glasses of red wine.
This morning was the third day that he’d been in bed. Daisy brought him through a cup of tea and a bowl of porridge. He began to protest that he wasn’t hungry.
‘You need to feed a cold.’
‘Thank you, Daisy. And for looking after me.’
She looked at him thoughtfully as she sat at the bottom of his bed. ‘It’s the very least I can do. I guess I never really thought about it until recently. But you’ve done so much for me, and I probably haven’t ever said thank you.’
Callum’s mind was blank and he didn’t know what to say. He was choked up as it was — he hoped she wouldn’t see the tear that slipped down his cheek.
She frowned. ‘Are you okay?’
He nodded. ‘You don’t need to thank me. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.’
‘But I know it was theonlyoption.’
‘What do you mean?’ he asked.
‘Someone asked me at school why I hadn’t gone to live with my gran, as she’s still alive, and it got me thinking . . .’
Callum’s stomach was knotted as he waited for her to continue.
‘I did ask Gran when I saw her at half-term, and she told me, very nicely of course, that living with her was never an option. She said she couldn’t have done it as she’s a pensioner. Though she’s not really that old, is she? I mean, she’s had her ears pierced three times and she likes Taylor Swift.’
Callum chuckled. His mum certainly was youthful for her age.
‘I guess I’ve been thinking about it and it made me think that she hadn’t wanted me. I know it’s silly, but it’s been on my mind for a while now.’
He nodded and thought carefully before he spoke. ‘Gran was devastated after your mum died. She took it really badly. I mean we both did. But she’s older and she’d already lost her husband suddenly. To then lose her daughter in the way she did was horrendous for her. She wouldn’t have coped with a young child, and she knew that wasn’t fair on you. She said she couldn’t look after you because she loves you and she wanted what was best for you.’
Daisy nodded. ‘I understand that now I’ve had a chance to think about it. I spoke to Freya about it too, when I was staying there, and that helped.’
‘Good. I’m glad it makes sense to you, Daisy. Life is never straightforward. Gran loves you with all her heart, and she felt awful that she couldn’t take you. But it would have been awful for you both. Anyway,’ he grinned, ‘would you have wanted to live in Crieff?’
Daisy shrugged her shoulders. ‘True. If I had to choose the location it would always be here. I love Arran, and I love that it’s where Mum grew up. It helps me feel closer to her being here.’
