Surprises on the Scottish Isle (Coorie Castle Crafts #1)

Chapter 20

By the end of the week, Tara was getting used to rising early to share coffee and toast with Cal before he went back to his own place to have a shower and prepare to have Bonnie for the day.

After he kissed her goodbye this morning, Tara made another coffee and took it outside to drink. Skye was living up to its non-official name of the Misty Isle today, as low clouds obscured the mountains and a mist shimmered over the loch. The air was damp, and Tara’s hair and clothes were soon coated in tiny droplets. She didn’t mind. She’d be showering shortly and changing into her paint-daubed jeans and an old T-shirt. However careful she was, she always managed to get some splodges on her.

Since she was up early, she’d do what she had done all this week – go to the studio and work on Bonnie’s doll’s house. A few days ago, another commission had come in, so she needed to start on that, as well as make some more of the bread-and-butter houses she sold online.

Tara was busier than she could ever remember being, and she adored every minute of it. Her days were full of doing what she loved, and her nights were full of being with the man she loved. Two months ago, when she’d been faced with selling the house in Edinburgh and finding somewhere to live, she could never have imagined how brilliant her life could be.

A short while later, Tara was opening up the studio when she saw Gillian waving to her.

‘I’ve got some scones fresh out of the oven,’ the cafe manager announced. ‘In case you fancy one. Mark my words, they’ll be all gone by lunchtime.’

‘Ooh, yes please. If you don’t mind, I’ll take it back to the studio and eat it later.’

As Gillian packed up a scone, adding a small pot of jam and a ramekin of thick cream, she asked, ‘Are you all set for your workshop next week?’

‘More or less. I still can’t believe I’m running one. What if people don’t like it?’

‘Of course they’ll like it. How many have you got booked in?’

‘Eight.’

‘A nice number. Any more, and you won’t be able to give them the attention they deserve. Believe me, you’ll take to it like a duck to water. You’re a natural teacher.’ She handed the stone to Tara. ‘Bonnie showed me the tea set she made. Are you going to run any workshops for children?’

‘Probably. Everyone else is.’ Several events were planned for over the summer, and Cal was pleased with the sign-up numbers. Two of these were taking place in the next few weeks, as well as the adult-based residential workshops that Coorie Castle was becoming famous for. Tara was incredibly excited to be part of it, even if she was nervous about delivering a workshop of her own.

Thanking Gillian for the scone, she hurried back to the studio, anxious to begin work. She had such a lot to do, and now that she was spending her evenings (and some days as well, she thought, smiling as she remembered the amazing visit to the Fairy Pools) with Cal, she had less time to focus on her business. However, with this being Cal’s turn to have Bonnie for the weekend, Tara would be able to catch up tonight and tomorrow – unless Bonnie insisted on her joining them for supper and board games.

It was hard hiding her feelings for Cal from Bonnie, and even harder not being able to kiss him, but she would survive. Absence – or abstinence – was supposed to make the heart grow fonder, and she was looking forward to Sunday night after Bonnie had gone back to her mum. Tara was already tingling at the thought.

A few minutes later, seated on the stool at the workbench, the tingling had disappeared as she concentrated on laying the flooring in Bonnie’s little house. The construction, although not the traditional single front opening, hadn’t taken long, and neither had the exterior details, and Tara was now busy working her magic on the rooms themselves.

This was the fiddly bit, and where her attention to detail came into its own.

She had her head down and was concentrating hard when the studio door opened. People often came in for a gander, wanting to watch the crafters at work, so she didn’t look up immediately, calling out a quick ‘Hello’ instead, before having the awful thought that it might be Bonnie. She’d been so careful to hide the doll’s house from her that she’d feel dreadful if she spoiled the surprise now.

A glance told her that it wasn’t Cal’s daughter who had entered her studio.

It was his ex-wife. And the woman didn’t look happy.

‘I guessed as much,’ Yvaine declared, scanning her up and down with disdain.

Tara was equally as unhappy. It had never occurred to her that Yvaine would walk into her studio, despite being aware that Bonnie’s mum sometimes dropped her off at the castle.

If Tara was honest, she’d been hoping she wouldn’t encounter Yvaine at all for some time yet. To see her standing in her studio, glaring at her, was rather a shock.

Tara didn’t know how to respond to Yvaine’s comment, so she said nothing.

‘I had to see for myself,’ Yvaine continued. ‘Prince Cal and Princess Tara, indeed!’

Tara found her voice. ‘Excuse me?’

‘I would say he’s all yours, but he’s alway s been all yours, hasn’t he? I was always second best.’ Yvaine spat out the words, and Tara flinched. ‘I bet you’re pleased with yourself,’ she added.

The power of speech deserted Tara once more as she stared at the bitter expression on the woman’s face.

Yvaine said, ‘I hope you’ll both be very happy, but don’t count on it. He dumped you once, he could dump you again.’ And with that, she turned smartly on her three-inch heels and marched out the door.

Open-mouthed and shaking, Tara tracked the woman’s progress towards the car park. When she could no longer see her, she got slowly to her feet and pushed the door closed, locking it for good measure.

Yvaine’s visit might have been unexpected and unpleasant, but it confirmed something: Cal had been telling the truth when he’d said that he’d never stopped loving Tara. However, she gained no satisfaction from the knowledge. Instead, all she felt was pity for Cal’s ex-wife. She also felt guilty. Poor Dougie… In hindsight, it must have been obvious to him that she hadn’t loved him as deeply as she should have.

Between them, she and Cal had made a right hash of their respective marriages, and she just hoped Dougie and Yvaine would find happiness with their new partners.

Cal hadn’t expected to see Yvaine quite so soon. She’d just dropped Bonnie off for the weekend, and he’d been supervising his daughter’s unpacking of her overnight bag when Yvaine phoned him and demanded he come to the car park.

Assuming Bonnie had forgotten something and Yvaine couldn’t be bothered to drive back down the lane, he left Bonnie to put everything away. Goodness knows what she might have brought with her. One time she had sneaked her mum’s make-up into her case, and needless to say, Yvaine hadn’t been pleased.

She didn’t look pleased now either, Cal thought when he spotted her leaning against her car. Her arms were folded and she had a face like thunder.

‘When were you going to tell me that the Tara Bonnie has been wittering on about for weeks is the same Tara you dated in university?’ she demanded as soon as he was within earshot.

Damn, he was hoping she wouldn’t join the dots for a while. ‘I didn’t think it relevant,’ he said.

‘I’ll be the judge of that,’ Yvaine snapped.

‘What difference does it make?’

She shook her head, her eyes narrowed. ‘You’ve always held a torch for her, and here she is, living in the boathouse and working at the craft centre. How convenient. I suppose you arranged it?’

‘You suppose wrong. I didn’t know she was here until Bonnie and I came back from visiting my parents. Mhairi sorted it out when I was in Inverness.’

‘I don’t believe you.’

‘I’m sorry you don’t, but it’s the truth. Can we not have this discussion here?’ He saw Jinny get out of her car and he smiled stiffly when she gave them a curious look.

‘Scared your girlfriend will overhear?’

‘She’s not my girlfriend.’

‘You could have fooled me.’

‘It looks like I did.’ Cal hated lying, but if he told Yvaine the truth she would mention it to Bonnie, and he didn’t want his daughter to know about him and Tara yet. Anyway, he wanted to be the one to tell her, not Yvaine, and that wouldn’t happen until Bonnie was settled in her new house and her new school. If that took a few months, then so be it. Tara understood why he didn’t want details of their relationship bandied about, so not telling Yvaine was a necessary evil.

He stepped away as Yvaine got into her car, and it was with sadness and regret that he watched her drive away. He felt guilty for having hurt her so badly, and knew he never should have married her, despite the pregnancy. Trying to do the right thing hadn’t been the right thing at all, for either of them – or for Bonnie. But he’d been determined to make it work, and God knows he’d tried his best.

It had proved impossible to force love though, and Yvaine must have sensed she didn’t have his heart. His mum was right – Yvaine had suspected all along who did.

His heart went out to his ex-wife. He hadn’t meant to hurt her, but he had anyway by not loving her the way he should have loved her. He hoped Lenn was that man, and she could find the happiness she deserved.

All morning Tara kept a weather eye out for Calan, but she didn’t catch sight of him. She guessed he wasn’t aware that she’d had a visitor this morning, and as it wasn’t something she wanted to tell him via a message, she decided to wait until she saw him before she told him about her encounter with his ex-wife. So it was a surprise when Jinny messaged her to ask if Cal was OK.

He’s fine. Why? was her puzzled response.

He and Yvaine were having a barney in the car park earlier.

Was that before or after Yvaine had been to see her, Tara wondered. She didn’t bother replying, locking up and hurrying to the gift shop instead.

‘What were they arguing about?’ she asked Jinny, as soon as she’d made certain their conversation couldn’t be overheard. Thankfully, the only people in the shop were customers, as Fiona, who was the other staff member onsite today, had gone on her lunch. As long as Tara and Jinny kept their voices down, no one would take any notice.

‘You,’ Jinny replied.

Tara stiffened. ‘What did they say?’ she asked cautiously.

‘I didn’t hear all of it, you understand. But I did hear Yvaine accusing Cal of arranging for you to be here, and him saying that he didn’t know anything about you being at the castle until he came back to work after his holiday.’ Jinny was eyeing her speculatively. ‘I know that’s true, but even if it wasn’t, what would it matter? Several of the studios have been rented out because one of the crafters knew someone who might fit the bill.’

‘Did she say anything else?’

‘She seems to think you’re his girlfriend, but Cal said not. He is, though, isn’t he? Or is he just a friend with benefits?’

‘No! It’s not like that. We’re kind of seeing each other. How do you know anyway?’

Jinny gave her a disbelieving look. ‘Bonnie says you’ve had dinner with them and have been on days out together. And I’ve got eyes in my head, as does everyone else at the castle.’

Tara knew when she was beaten. ‘OK, we are seeing each other, but Cal doesn’t want it made public because Bonnie doesn’t know yet.’

‘Why ever not? You get on all right, don’t you?’

‘We do, but she isn’t happy about moving to Portree and leaving her school and her friends, so he wants to wait until she’s settled before he tells her. And it gives her more time to get used to me being around.’

‘Sensible,’ Jinny said. ‘She’s told me she doesn’t want to go. And Katie is upset, too. They’re like a couple of bookends, lost without the other. Katie is going to miss her.’

‘I’m certain Cal will make sure they get together on the weekends he has Bonnie.’

‘But that’s not fair on him. That’s his time to spend with her.’

‘He’ll put his feelings to one side,’ Tara said confidently. ‘I know Cal. He’ll do anything to make Bonnie happy.’

Unfortunately, Tara didn’t realise how prophetic those words would be.

Cal let out a tired sigh. Looking after Bonnie was knackering. The child rarely stopped chattering long enough to draw breath, so the peace that had descended on the cottage now she was tucked up in bed and fast asleep was very welcome.

He took a beer out of the fridge and cracked it open. Carrying it outside, he sat on the deck and swigged a mouthful, automatically glancing at the boathouse as he did so.

A faint light showed through the window, and he wondered what Tara was doing and whether she had eaten. He’d sent her a message earlier, telling her that he and Bonnie were going out in the skiff this afternoon, but he hadn’t invited Tara to come along even though he would dearly have loved her to.

Bonnie hadn’t suggested it either, which made him think she may have been glad to have him all to herself for a change. That was also why he hadn’t asked Tara to have dinner with them this evening. Although, whilst he and Bonnie had been out on the loch, he’d sensed Tara watching, and at one point he’d stared directly at the boathouse when Bonnie was facing the other way and had mouthed, ‘I love you.’

He hoped Tara had seen.

The light in the boathouse went out and Cal took another mouthful of beer, imagining her getting ready for bed, her skin shadowed in the darkness. She slept naked when they spent the night together, but was she naked now, alone in that double bed? How he wished he was in it with her, but he would never leave his sleeping daughter unattended. And Tara couldn’t come here, for obvious reasons.

Movement near the boathouse caught his eye, and he stiffened. One of the shadows was moving purposefully towards him, and he realised Tara was coming here after all.

He rose, walking quietly to meet her before she reached the deck, and when he was within touching distance, he drew her into the trees. Gathering her into his arms, he kissed her soundly, desire surging through him as he pushed her against a sturdy trunk.

‘I had to see you,’ she murmured after the kiss ended.

She kept her voice low, and he was grateful for that. Sound travelled far at night, and although he was fairly sure Bonnie was asleep, there was always the chance she mightn’t be.

‘Yvaine?’ he guessed.

‘She paid me a visit this morning.’

‘So I gathered. I’m sorry.’

‘It’s not your fault.’ Tara was generous in her absolution, but Cal knew he was to blame. He should have told Yvaine who the doll’s house maker was. Although, how he would have gone about it without it becoming more of a thing than it already was, he hadn’t been able to figure out.

He said, ‘I told her you’re not my girlfriend, but only because I didn’t want her saying anything to Bonnie yet.’

He debated whether or not to mention the promise he’d made to Bonnie that he wouldn’t have a girlfriend until she had a boyfriend (which was probably never in Bonnie’s eyes, although she would soon change her mind when she became a teenager), but he decided against it. There was no point, since he was sure Bonnie would be OK with it when she realised his girlfriend was Tara – someone she knew, liked and looked up to. And by the time Cal told her, Bonnie would have gotten to know Tara even better.

‘I understand.’ Tara pulled him closer, and he pressed his mouth to hers.

It was a long time before they came up for air, and by then he was breathing hard and his pulse was racing.

Tara didn’t appear to be in any better shape as she breathlessly said, ‘I’d better go back before we do something we’ll regret.’

‘I won’t regret it,’ It came out as a hoarse growl, and Tara giggled.

‘I refuse to make love with my back against a tree,’ she told him.

‘We could go down to the beach.’

‘And what if Bonnie wakes up?’

Cal knew she was right, and his ardour cooled. ‘I can’t wait for Sunday night,’ he said.

‘You’re going to have to.’ And with that, she planted a kiss on his lips then danced out of reach.

Cal waited until a light came on in the boathouse before he went inside. Sunday couldn’t come fast enough.