Sunday's Child (9 page)

At the office, he found the quote and slid it into an envelope. Then he checked the diary. Glancing at the clock, he realized it had gone six and decided just to go home via Laurie's to give her this. Then maybe have something to eat before the pager went off again.

 

****

 

Hattie pulled up on the driveway of her aunt's house. She didn't remember any of the two hour drive from Headley Cross to Penry Island. That on reflection wasn't a good thing, but nothing she could do. Her heart ached and tears were still perilously close to the surface. She stepped from the car, straight into the warm embrace of Aunt Laurie.

“I've got you.” Aunt Laurie's gentle voice opened the floodgates, bringing forth a tsunami of tears. Aunt Laurie guided her inside the cottage, and sat with her on the sofa, still holding her.

Finally Hattie looked up. “I'm sorry. Didn't mean to get here and cry all over you.”

“It's fine, dear. What happened?” Her aunt handed her a tissue.

“Steve wanted me to cancel again. He booked in a house party and lied about it, in order to make me stay. I hate him.”

“Hate isn't a nice word,” Aunt Laurie chided. “You may not like him, but you'll never hate him.”

“I'm so tired of this. I haven't had a proper day off in forever.” She took a deep breath, reigning in her emotions. “Penny said she'd send a letter here for you to forward to me. They don't know I'm staying here and I don't want them to.”

“I'm not going to lie for you if he rings.”

“I'm not asking you to. I'll just leave the room if he calls and then you won't know where I am.”

Aunt Laurie gave her the look she knew so well. “That isn't going to help.”

Hattie sighed. “I know I need to talk to him, but not yet.”
He needs to apologize first
, she added silently. She wasn't in the wrong here.

Aunt Laurie nodded. “OK, dear. Bring your things in from the car and I'll put the kettle on. I made up the pink room for you.”

“Thank you.” She got up and headed out to the car. Opening the boot, she pulled out the smallest case and set it on the path beside her.

A red truck pulled up on the main road as she pulled out the next case. She tugged at the largest one, but it refused to budge. Figured, just as it started raining as well.

The gate squeaked. Footsteps walked down the path towards her. “Can I help you with that, ma'am?”

“Thank you. I seem to have gotten it stuck somehow.” She looked up into familiar eyes and shock of dark hair falling over his forehead. “Cal?”

“Hi, Hattie.” He grinned at her. “I wasn't expecting to see you here.”

“Me either. Uh—see you here, that is.” She stood there. She must look a sight. Her face would be red and blotchy and her mascara streaked. What would he think of her? “Thank you for the postcard.”

“You're welcome.”

Aunt Laurie laughed from the doorway. “Are you two coming inside or just playing statues in the rain for the rest of the night?”

Hattie's cheeks burned. “I'm coming.” She picked up both cases as Cal pulled the other from the boot.

Did he live here on the island? What was he doing at her aunt's house? A thousand questions whizzed through her brain in the time it took her to walk up the garden path. But she didn't ask any of them. Instead, she smiled at him as he set her case in the hall. “Thank you.”

“Welcome.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Here's your quote, Laurie.”

“Thank you.” She took it and grinned. “I know I don't have to introduce you to my niece, Hattie.”

Cal smiled. “No.” He cast a glance over her cases. “You always travel this light when you go away?”

“No.” She took a deep breath. “I've had enough.” She noticed the look Cal and Aunt Laurie exchanged, but wasn't going to comment. “Steve finally pushed me too far.”

“I don't blame you,” Cal said gently. “I've seen the way he takes you for granted close up. A break will do you both good.”

“This is more than a break. I've quit. But he doesn't believe me.”

He raised an eyebrow, the expression so comical she would have laughed under different circumstances. “Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“What will you do?”

“I don't know. Figured go out and explore the island tomorrow, maybe. Then help out in the shop or something. Then find another job. Preferably one miles and miles away from Steve.”

A fleeting look crossed Cal's face, mirrored exactly on Aunt Laurie's. Almost akin to consternation, but not quite, and again would have been funny under different circumstances. He cleared his throat. “That doesn't sound like much of a holiday. You need some proper time off. Find someone your own age to have fun with.”

I'm not five!
The thought crossed her mind and almost made it over the threshold of her lips, but she managed to bite it back just in time. “I'm sure I'll do fine. Besides, I bet all the kids we played with here when we were growing up have moved off the island long ago. I won't know anyone my age to have ‘fun' with.”

Aunt Laurie looked up from the piece of paper in her hand. “The quote is fine, Cal. When can you start?”

“Next week, do you?”

Hattie grabbed one of the cases and headed up the stairs to the pink room, leaving the others to talk. Cal must live here and obviously knew her aunt. But why hadn't either of them said anything? She stopped. Where Cal lived had never been mentioned and she hadn't bothered to look up his records back at the lodge.

That didn't alter the fact it was good to see him again. Did he feel the same way? Maybe she'd have the chance to find out. Right now though, all she was certain of was the fact she didn't want to go home. Ever.

She tossed her bag to the bed and dumped the case on the floor. The room hadn't changed since she was a kid.

As she turned, her handbag fell off the bed and the envelope that Penny had given her fell onto the floor. Hattie opened it and blinked hard. “Oh…”

She slumped onto the bed, stunned at the sight of red notes filling it. However much was there in here? She pulled out the white bank receipt.
Five grand?
Her phone beeped and she glanced at it. Penny not Steve, so maybe she'd read it.

‘I'm guessing you opened the envelope by now. The money is yours. Please keep it. There is more to come via your aunt. Don't call tonight. Steve in a foul mood. But he'll live. üP'

She allowed herself a small smile. Penny's signature always looked like a poked out tongue. ‘
I can't accept it and nor can you two…'
She typed quickly and got an almost instant reply.

‘Don't be silly. You're owed every penny of it. We can more than afford it. The rest will follow.'

‘Rest?'
She replied. ‘
I don't understand.'

‘I'll explain later. Gtg and serve dinner. Luv you sis. Xx üP'

A knock on the open door jerked her head upright. Cal stood there with the rest of her bags. “Laurie asked me to bring these up.”

“Thank you. Just dump them anywhere.”

Cal put the cases and bag down and perched on the edge of the bed next to her. “Are you all right? For someone with a lot of cash on her lap you look like the world's ended.”

“Maybe it has.” She swallowed hard, all her nerves coming alive at his nearness. “Penny gave it to me as I left. Said I was owed it and there was more to come. I assumed all my money went back into the business. I just had, well, pocket money I guess you'd call it. Steve took care of all the finances. But maybe that was another ploy so I couldn't leave. Once he knows I have this, he'll want it back.”

“You should pay it into the bank first thing. It's not a good idea to keep that much cash lying around the house.”

“I'll do that tomorrow.”

He smiled. “I'd better go. Dad's expecting me for dinner tonight. I'll see you around, I hope?”

“Sure.”

Cal touched her hand lightly, sending ripples of warmth running through her. “Just put all this into God's hands, Hattie. He'll work it out, even if you can't see a way right now.” He stood and headed out.

Hattie watched him go. He was so different to Steve. He genuinely seemed to care, and his faith almost shone through him. But it was just infatuation on her part, nothing more.

Aunt Laurie's voice floated up the stairs. “I'm just going to get some milk.”

Hattie jumped up. “I'll go.” She ran down the stairs. “Just milk?”

“Please.” She held out a two pound coin. “Thank you, dear.”

“I've got money.” Hattie smiled and hugged her aunt. “I won't be long.”

“You remember the way?”

She laughed. “It's not been that long. Left out of the path. Left at the top of the road and over the crossing. Five minutes there and five minutes back.”

“And a twenty minute catch up with Alba behind the counter.” Aunt Laurie grinned.

“Is she still there? Wow.”

“Yeah, she is. So see you in half an hour. Dinner will be ready then.”

The corner shop and post office was just as Hattie remembered it. Magazines and papers lined the shelves under the window by the door. Laundry, bathroom and kitchen stuff on the other wall. Behind the main counter were all the other groceries, fridge, and stationery supplies. But her favorite section by far was the shelves next to the small post office counter.

Jar upon jar of every sweet you could imagine and then some. All the ones she remembered from her childhood.

Bonbons, fruit salad, rhubarb and custard, pear drops, jellies, chocolate éclairs, lime éclairs, toffees, fudges, and even shoelaces and the chocolate buttons with hundreds and thousands on them.
Wow. This place really hasn't changed at all. Time stands still here.

“Harriet, is that you?” The deep voice was familiar, yet at the same time wasn't.

She turned to find a tall, ginger haired man with green eyes grinning at her. Oh, but she'd recognize those eyes anywhere. Part of her hoped he wouldn't still live here. For all she knew he'd tell Steve he'd seen her and that wasn't at all a good thing. Of all the people she could run into here, it had to be him. The one bloke Steve was determined to set her up with and marry her off to, purely on the basis he was the richest man on the island. “Hello, Markus.”

Strong arms enveloped her in a bear hug. “My goodness, you've changed.”

She hugged him back, not wanting to be rude. Maybe if she were nice to him, he'd keep her secret. “So have you.”

He kissed her cheek. “Let me look at you. Still the same on the inside no doubt, but far prettier on the outside.”

“Flatterer.” She grinned, pulling back from the over familiar and too long hug. “Think you've changed more. You're a lot taller now for one thing.”

 

****

 

Cal edged towards the door, not wanting to see any more. His heart had leapt when he saw Hattie at Laurie's place. For a few short moments, he'd allowed himself to hope he could see her again. And properly this time. But it looked as though she was on more than friendly terms with Markus.

He was almost out onto the street and safety when Alba called to him. “Cal, here a minute.”

He slowly went back over to the counter, glad Hattie and Markus were too wrapped up in talking to each other to notice him. “What's up, Alba?”

“That package came for your dad yesterday. I meant to get Fraser to bring it over, but he had to go to the mainland. The wee bairn was taken sick.”

“I'm sorry to hear that.” Cal knew full well that the ‘wee bairn' was thirty-two with his own gardening business on the mainland, but guessed all kids remained kids in their parent's eyes, no matter how old they got. “I hope he feels better soon. I can take the parcel if you like. I'm heading that way now.”

“Thank you. Bring your truck around back into the yard.”

“Will do.” He turned around to find Hattie standing right behind him. He smiled. “We must stop meeting like this. People will talk.”

“Let them.” She grinned at him. “But we do seem to be making a habit of bumping into each other. But it's a wonderful habit to have.”

“It sure is.”

Markus came up behind her, a paper and box of washing powder in his hands. “Callum.”

Cal nodded. “Markus.”

“You and Harriet know each other?”

“Yeah. We've known each other a while.” Well that was true, just not as long as Hattie and Markus had evidently known each other. Cal took a small measure of comfort in the fact that Markus called her Harriet and not Hattie. Not that he could read too much into it, as Markus was formal with almost everyone. Very old school, he still addressed the majority of the village folk by their title and surname, except people his own age or his own circle of friends. Cal wasn't in either category, but because he was famous, Markus considered them to be on first name terms.

Cal smiled at Hattie. “I'll see you around. A lot.”

Hattie returned the smile. “I'm looking forward to it already.”

He headed to the door. “I'll be around back in two minutes, Alba.”

“OK, dear.”

Cal turned for a final glance at Hattie. Markus had his arm around her waist. He sighed. For the first time in his life, the boot was on the other foot and he wasn't sure he liked it. He'd always had his pick of women, sometimes more than one at once, but now? The one he wanted to get to know better was in the arms of another, even if there was nothing between them.

He didn't like the sudden rush of grief that filled him at that thought. He didn't want to lose her. Was she even his to lose? He didn't know, but he was going to fight for her one way or the other.