All she could remember was it being all about him and making sure he had everything he needed. It seemed off to think that she could actually do what she wanted for a change. She could have what she wanted for dinner, and decide when she would have it, if at all. She could lie in bed all day if she wanted, though that wasn’t working out that well so far, she thought wryly, given her usual early start. She could watch what she wanted on television and go to bed when she wanted. Though she had always been an early bird, preferring to be in bed byeleven and up early. The problem was that she didn’t really know who she was anymore or what she wanted to do.
She thought about Ellen’s advice before she left, how she should use this time to try different things. As she neared the door of the bakery, she caught sight of a guy holding the door open for her.
‘Good morning,’ he said with a warm smile.
Kitty noticed his eyes first, which were intensely dark brown. He had wavy, dark brown hair and looked ruggedly healthy, as though he spent a lot of his time outdoors. He had that strong and self-sufficient look about him. Perhaps he regularly chopped wood, fished, wrestled bears, lit fires or climbed mountains. An alpha male, the type of guy that Ellen would describe as aprovider.
‘Oh. Thank you.’ Kitty felt her cheeks flush, which, she told herself, was due to the sunshine rather than the fact he was very good looking, and she’d just made multiple assumptions about his masculine capabilities.
‘No worries at all.’
He held the door open until she was all the way through it and then sauntered away, leaving her feeling a tad bereft. She noticed the scent of his spicy aftershave that lingered in the air, and she stared wistfully after him. She wondered if he was a good example of what kind of men were on this island.
‘What can I get for you?’ said the woman behind the counter.
‘Oh hello,’ she said, flustered, and then switched her focus to the reason she was there. ‘Can I have a loaf of wholemeal sourdough, please?’
‘Of course. Would you like that sliced?’
‘Yes please,’ she said with a nod. As she waited, she glanced at all the cakes and pastries in the glass display case and absent-mindedly wondered if any of them were dairy free.
‘There you go, my love,’ said the woman, handing her the package of bread. ‘Can I get you anything else?’
‘Just a coffee to take away please.’
‘Milk?’
‘No thanks. A black one is fine.’
Kitty glanced at the pile of leaflets on the counter and saw one that was for walks of Arran. Picking it up, she tucked it in her bag, thanked the woman for her coffee and paid. Then she walked across the road and sat on one of the many benches that looked out across the water.
Sighing with contentment, she reached into her bag and pulled out the flyer. It was for a series of walks around Arran over five days. She looked at the dates on the leaflet and saw the next tour would start the day after next. Maybe she should sign up and try and encourage Olivia to do it with her. It would certainly be a good way of getting to know her properly with all that walking and talking.
As she drank her coffee, she contemplated the bizarreness of yesterday, from the moment she walked into the cottage to the truce she and Olivia seemed to have made. Who would have thought she would find herself in a house share with an American woman for the summer? Even more surprising was that she was prepared to give it a go. When her stomach began to rumble, she realised it was time to head back to the cottage.
Chapter Fourteen
Gently opening the door, Kitty tiptoed back into the house, careful not to wake Olivia up. Until they got used to each other’s rhythms she wanted to make sure she was as respectful as possible. Placing the bread on the worktop, she wondered if Olivia would actually eat it. She didn’t seem the type to touch carbohydrates, given how slim she was.
She was glad she’d packed some provisions, including a package of oats. Deciding that she would have that and save the bread for later, she tipped some into a saucepan, topping the pot with some water and a sprinkle of salt. It was her go-to method of making porridge — all she needed were the oats and some water. Some of her friends swore by using milk, which made her feel sick. Others added syrup and sugar, but she always preferred salt. Stirring it with the spurtle she found in the utensil pot, she kept a close eye until the oats turned creamy. Then she tipped them into a bowl and sprinkled the top with some flaxseed. As she sat enjoying her breakfast, she made a list of things she could do while she was on Arran. She was definitely up for giving Amy’s class a go, and maybe the art class. She would like to do lots of walking, so in a way the tour was perfect. Fergus had also insisted that she go up to the outdoor centre while she was there, to make use of the kayaks. She had drawn the line at sea swimming though, and shivered involuntarily at the thought.
As she finished her porridge she wondered if she should just get on with the day. Then she heard the toilet flush. Olivia was awake and up then, but would she come through, or would she hide in the bedroom until Kitty went out? Getting used to someone else’s routine was going to take some time.
‘Good morning,’ Olivia said brightly as she wandered into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. ‘Wow, when did you get up?’ She stifled a yawn.
‘I always wake up at seven and it seems it’s a habit that’s stuck. I mean, how typical is that? For the first time in years I can actually lie in. I don’t have to rush to get up for my son or get to work, but here I am, up and about. I’m still on my mum clock.’ She laughed. ‘Mum clock has me unable to sleep past seven and on constant edge in case anyone needs some food, money, a lift somewhere or some laundry washed and dried at the very last minute.’ She hoisted her elbows on the table and sunk her chin into her hands. ‘How about you? What’s your routine like normally?’
Olivia looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘It depends,’ she said hesitantly. ‘If I’m on tour then it’s all go and I’m up sharp, ready for rehearsals and the show . . . but when I’m not working, I do love to sleep. I have the comfiest bed back home and it’s my happy place. The space I go to rest and recharge.’
Kitty raised an eyebrow at her and waited expectantly.
‘My bedroom is a bit of a refuge,’ said Olivia briskly. ‘It can be quite common to have to share rooms when away, so I appreciate my space alone even more.’
Kitty was a bit taken aback at her matter-of-fact tone, and didn’t know whether to be offended.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean that as it sounded. Sometimes I forget I can be a bit blunt,’ said Olivia sheepishly. ‘It wasn’t meant as a dig.’
‘That’s okay,’ said Kitty. ‘Can I make you a cup of tea? Mind you,’ she said jokingly, ‘I won’t be making a habit of this. So don’t get used to it.’
