Chapter Six
Walking back home, Jessica took a sip of coffee, grateful for the hot drink which was surprisingly nice.
It really was very cold and before long the sun would start to dip again and the light would fade.
It had been nice seeing Gillian’s friendly face and it made her think about the lack of contact she had in the area of London that she lived in.
Putney no doubt had a good community feel if you actually spent time there and were out and about and involved in the local area and then got to know people.
But for her it had always been a place to rest her head.
Work had always been the focus and the most important thing in her life.
She realised that she hadn’t given work or her clients a second thought since leaving the office last week.
That was a sign she really was out of sorts.
But she no longer had the energy to care.
Her stomach growled and she stopped for a moment to take a bite of the cinnamon bun.
Closing her eyes, she enjoyed the sugary taste of the icing, drizzled over it, with the light layers of flaky pastry.
It was delicious and perhaps one of the best she had ever tasted.
During her baking phase, when she once had a healthier work-life balance, she’d tried making them a few times with surprisingly good results.
The thought of spending any time in the kitchen lately seemed odd.
Yet it used to be her relaxation technique and a way of unwinding from her stressful job.
Then she thought about Reuben again and felt a bit apprehensive.
She wondered what he was doing in Rowan Bay and how typical it would be that he was here when she was.
To her he would always be her older brother’s annoying best friend, who rattled their letterbox when calling for Murray, and pulled her ponytail, much to her irritation.
As they got older, he was popular with all her friends and a bit of a ladies’ man.
The last time she’d bumped into him, which was years ago at Glasgow Airport, a glamorous woman appeared at his side, possessively looping her arm through his and looking at Jessica in disdain.
Reuben had introduced her as his wife, Belinda.
Reuben may have grown up and looked gorgeous in his business suit, but she was in no doubt he was the same arrogant person she knew from before.
Now, as she walked up the street and took the turning for Rowan Lane, she noticed that Primrose Cottage had been spruced up.
It had a smart front door and new windows, and she frowned as she tried to remember who lived in it now.
It had been Reuben’s family home which was why he and her brother had been such good friends back then.
Jessica always wished he’d had a sister who she could be friends with too.
His mum had died quite a while ago, and she had a vague memory of her own mum telling her that his dad had been moved into a care home.
Usually, whenever she spoke to her mum on the phone, she would get the full rundown of comings and goings in the street and indeed the whole village.
She guiltily realised that her mum could have told her Taylor Swift or Harry Styles had moved into the village and she would be none the wiser — she didn’t listen properly, always distracted, her mind elsewhere.
Her parents’ car was back in the small, cobbled driveway, and she swung the front door open, kicking off her shoes as she walked in. She felt cosy in the jacket and so kept it on as she walked through to the kitchen.
‘Hi, dear,’ said her mum. ‘I’m glad you managed a good sleep.’
‘Hey, Mum. I certainly did,’ she said, putting her bag and cup on the table. ‘I just nipped out for some fresh air while it was sunny. I went to the bakery.’
‘Oh, you’ll have seen Gillian then. She’s always asking after you. She was really pleased to hear you would be back for a while.’
Jessica nodded. ‘Yes, it was nice to see her. How’s your morning been?’
‘Busy,’ Mum said, sighing dramatically. ‘Wee Jeannie has fallen and broken her wrist and so now they’re short of helpers on the bottle tombola.
It’s the most popular stall at the Christmas fair and the one that earns the most. Anyway, I knew you’d want to help and so I hope you don’t mind but I signed you up for it. It’s on Saturday.’
Jessica’s mouth fell open. Bottle tombola at the Christmas fair?
‘It was either that or selling tickets for the sauna down at the loch.’
‘Sauna?’
‘Aye, have you not seen it yet? I wondered if you might have gone down that way for a walk.’
She shook her head. ‘A sauna? Here in Rowan Bay?’
‘Yes. It’s all the rage. They’re everywhere now.
Here and over in Luss, too. Basically, anywhere there’s a loch you’ll now find a sauna.
You sit and sweat in it and then cool off in the loch.
It’s brilliant. Your dad and I love it. It’s like therapy,’ she said evangelically.
‘We’ll need to sign you up for it. It’s excellent for your mental health. ’
‘I didn’t notice it when I was on the beach.’
‘You need to walk left for a bit before you can see it.’
‘Right. Where is Dad?’ said Jessica, feeling as though she had walked into a parallel universe. Saunas and bottle tombolas?
‘Playing golf. And probably on his second bacon roll now with the boys,’ she said disapprovingly. ‘I was just about to put some soup on. Do you fancy a wee drop?’
‘Um, sure,’ she said, even though she had just finished the bun.
‘That jacket suits you,’ said her mum approvingly. ‘Red is definitely one of your colours. It matches your skin tone.’
‘I was cold and didn’t think Dad would mind. It’s quite on-trend for him. Did you buy it for him? I can’t imagine it’s something he would buy for himself.’
She chuckled. ‘Sadly not. It’s not actually your dad’s. It belongs to Reuben. He must have left it here the other day.’
She felt her jaw drop open once again. ‘Reuben’s?
’ That was why he had kind of smirked at her and made a comment about the jacket.
And to think she hadn’t even recognised him but was brazenly strutting around the village wearing his coat.
How embarrassing. And how annoying. She quickly shrugged the jacket off.
‘I didn’t realise, otherwise I wouldn’t have put it on. ’
Her mum shook her head. ‘Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m sure he won’t be bothered but maybe he’s forgotten he left it here. Do you mind just dropping it off to him?’
Her mum was making a reasonable request, so why did Jessica feel so resistant? She dug her fingers into the back of the chair she was now leaning into.
Catriona, gaily stirring the soup in the large pot on the stove, looked up. ‘In fact, you could ask him if he fancies a spot of lunch too? He’s been working so hard. He must be famished.’
‘Mum, what do you mean? Where am I to drop it off to? What’s he been working hard on?’ The cogs were slowly whirring in her head as she tried to piece the puzzle together. Her mum gave one of her looks as though to say are you okay, dear?
‘I’m sure I’ve told you this already. He’s just a few doors down. At Primrose Cottage. He’s been finishing it off.’
‘Finishing it off?’ she said confused. ‘But what do you mean? Why?’
‘Because he’s the new owner,’ said her mum patiently. ‘He bought it from his dad when he had to move into the care home.’
‘Oh . . . and is he going to live there?’ Why would he want to return to live in his childhood home? He was a high-flying architect who lived in Glasgow with his glamorous wife. Wasn’t he?
‘I’m not entirely sure what his plans are to be honest, dear. You could maybe ask him that when you see him. But he did insist that Murray and the family stay there when they come back. That’s why he’s been working every hour of the day to get it all finished.’
‘Murray, Carolyn and Lexi are going to stay there?’
‘Yes. It makes sense, doesn’t it? We thought it might be a bit of a squeeze trying to fit them all in here.
I suppose you could have gone in the love room and they could all have had your room as it’s bigger.
Anyway,’ she said with a wave of her hand, ‘at least it gives them a bit more space with Lexi. And it’s only down the road.
When Reuben suggested it, I could have kissed him.
He’s such a sweetheart. Anyway, dear, if you can take his jacket back, then you could also say he’s welcome to come for lunch. ’
‘Okay, Mum.’ Reluctantly, she picked up the jacket and headed to the front door, pulling on her own woollen coat and her shoes. She walked two doors down and knocked on the front door. She waited a few moments before it swung open.
‘Twice in one day,’ said Reuben with a wide smile. ‘Hello again.’
‘Your jacket,’ she mumbled, realising that she had never appreciated what a nice smile he had until this very minute.
‘I am so sorry. I didn’t recognise you at the bakery and I didn’t know the jacket was yours.
I thought my dad had been given some kind of makeover.
But Mum explained. She also said you’re very welcome to come for some lunch.
If you want to.’ She tried to get herself to stop talking, but the words kept tumbling from her mouth.
‘I hear Murray and the family will be staying here soon and my mum is so pleased.’ She didn’t mean to sound quite so petulant but it appeared that Reuben was still quite the favourite in her household.
It was the same when they were kids. Even though he perpetually teased her, her family loved him.
He practically lived at their house. She’d sometimes wondered why he didn’t just move in.
But why was she acting like an awkward teenager?
She hadn’t even behaved like this around him when she was a teenager.
Honestly, the effect he was having on her was ridiculous.
Especially the way he was leaning against the door, grinning lazily.
‘I wondered if I’d confused you with my outfit,’ he said drily.
‘I guess I wasn’t expecting to see you in workie’s gear,’ she said tersely.
‘Are you only used to slick city lawyers these days?’
Urgh, he was so annoying. ‘No, I didn’t mean that . . . you look great,’ she said quickly before realising what she’d said. Why did she just say that? She wanted to disappear.
‘You think I look great, do you?’ He flashed that smile again.
Jessica felt her cheeks turn pink with annoyance. ‘I didn’t mean it like that and you know it. You haven’t changed at all, have you, Reuben?’
He eyed her with amusement. ‘And how are you, Jessie? Is it good to be back? Your mum did tell me you were going to be home for a few weeks. They’ve missed you. I hear you’ve not been home since last year.’
She stiffened at his sideways dig. Plus she had always hated him calling her Jessie when they were younger, and she bristled, feeling as though she was fourteen again.
When she looked up at him, he was smiling mischievously at her.
She felt her face flush as she noticed his strong forearms. It was like she’d had a knock to the head.
He might have had old painting overalls on, but right now she realised he would look good in a bin bag.
But he was still as aggravating as ever thinking he knew best.
‘Yes, I’m back for the holidays. Anyway, here you go,’ she said, practically shoving his jacket at him, desperate to get away. ‘What shall I say about lunch?’
‘Say thanks to your mum but that I’m on a roll at the moment with the painting, so I’ll just crack on. Maybe another time though, eh?’ He raised an eyebrow at her.
‘I’m sure you’ll be invited again, given how popular you are with everyone.’ She realised she sounded sulky but couldn’t help herself. She mumbled goodbye and walked down the path. Turning to close the gate, she gave Reuben a tight smile — he was watching her.
‘Bye, Jessie.’ He raised his hand and waved.
The less she saw of that man the better. He may well have grown up to be handsome and full of charm but he was as infuriating as he had been when they were kids.
* * *
As Reuben closed the door he couldn’t quite believe Jessica was back.
She had always been his best friend’s annoying little sister.
And she still was, as far as he could tell, as she was practically stamping her foot at the idea he was welcome at her family home.
But she had certainly grown up and there was no denying she had a spark about her and was gorgeous.
He smiled to himself, realising having her back in the village could be fun.