Chapter Twenty-Two
The countdown was now officially on for the arrival of Murray, Carolyn and Lexi.
In five days they would all be back in Rowan Bay and her mum was getting more and more excited by the second.
She was like a whirlwind as she worked through her to-do list and crossed off all the tasks.
Jessica had watched in awe as she iced several Christmas cakes, baked shortbread and batch-cooked lasagnes and soup, which she then put in the freezer at Primrose Cottage.
Jessica hadn’t seen Reuben since the weekend.
Her mum told her he was back in Glasgow for a few days.
The fact he hadn’t told her himself hurt.
But then again if he was the same player he had been in high school then he was probably with Belinda.
Jessica sighed, frustrated at herself for getting caught up with Reuben.
She had fallen for his charm and was kicking herself for being so stupid.
But she wasn’t about to sit around waiting for an explanation from him and, true to her word, she had started working in the bakery the day after she met with Gillian.
When the alarm went off at three in the morning, she did wonder what she had signed herself up to.
Especially as it was cold, dark and damp when she walked to the bakery in what felt like the middle of the night.
But she reminded herself that she was living a privileged existence and had a choice to do this.
Struan had been doing this for years in order to earn a living.
It took a couple of days to find a rhythm with her new routine.
But now it was the end of the week she was finding the early starts actually invigorating.
She hadn’t realised what a delight it would be to work with a real sourdough starter again.
She appreciated the tips that Struan taught as he kept a watchful eye over her.
She could hardly blame him for being cautious.
This business had been his life, especially these past few years in particular.
Struan was well into his sixties, with a rotund, ruddy face and thinning hair.
He didn’t talk about it at all, but his wife had left him eight years ago for her personal instructor.
It had caused quite the furore at the time and everyone in the village knew what had happened.
Jessica wasn’t quite sure what Gillian had told him but he did seem grateful for the extra pair of hands.
‘Thanks for doing this,’ he said gruffly.
‘You are welcome and there’s no need to thank me all the time. It’s nice to be able to help. I’m really enjoying this. Well, aside from the early starts,’ she added. ‘But I forgot how therapeutic I found baking.’
He nodded enthusiastically, his eyes lighting up. Then he sighed. ‘That’s how I felt when I started out.’ His shoulders sagged. ‘Then I got tired and old. I just don’t get the same pleasure from it any more.’
She realised he could be talking about her life too. She felt the same about her career in the law. Yet today she walked home just after one o’clock feeling very fulfilled, glad she had done something meaningful with her day.
‘Jessica!’ called someone from further up the street.
She turned round and saw Reuben striding towards her looking very smart in dark jeans and a black woollen coat.
‘Hi there,’ she said, as he reached her.
‘How are you?’ She kept her voice even, despite having not heard from him since the night of the kiss when Belinda had shown up and he suddenly left for Glasgow.
She had told herself to move on and just think of him as Murray’s friend but now he was looking at her with such warmth in his eyes, as if he was genuinely pleased to see her.
She felt her heart skip a beat and her cheeks flush.
Obviously the rest of her body hadn’t yet got the memo that he didn’t feel the same as her.
He smiled hesitantly at her. ‘Better than you,’ he said. ‘You look utterly knackered.’
‘Cheers. Nice to see your chat is as dire as ever.’ She smiled in what she hoped was a friendly manner, but Reuben frowned, as if he was confused by her reaction.
‘I’ve just been to yours and your mum filled me in on your latest career move.’
She nodded. ‘I know. Who would have thought it?’
‘Seriously though, that’s a really nice thing you’re doing for Gillian and Struan.’
Her cheeks warmed at his compliment. ‘They’re good people and I just wanted to do something to help. And I’ve got the time.’
Reuben suddenly looked extremely nervous as he chewed his bottom lip. ‘I owe you an apology. For last Saturday. I had no idea that Belinda was going to show up like that.’
She shrugged. ‘Don’t worry about it.’
‘But I do worry about it. I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. I was going to call but something came up in Glasgow about a project for next year and, well, I really wanted to talk to you in person.’
She shrugged.
‘Look, I wanted to pick your brain about something. I don’t suppose you fancy a walk?’
She looked down at her floury trousers. Some fresh air would be good and she could also do with his opinion about her ideas for the bakery before she floated it with Struan and Gillian. ‘Do you mean now? Have you time?’
He nodded. ‘Yes, I’ve just come from a meeting in Drymen for a new renovation project and need a break anyway.’
‘Okay,’ said Jessica. ‘Let me get home and change quickly.’
‘Me too,’ he said, laughing and gesturing at his smart clothes.’
‘We could head to Conic Hill or along to Milarrochy Bay?’
He looked at the sky, which was growing heavy. ‘I think it might snow so let’s stick to the shore just to be safe. I don’t fancy tramping up and down those stones. It could get quite slippy.’
‘Good thinking,’ she said with a nod.
‘But I’m definitely up for doing Conic Hill another time. With today, if you’re quick we should have time to park at Balmaha and do the loop up to Milarrochy and back.’
That was one of her favourite stretches of beach on the loch. ‘Come on then,’ she said, nudging him towards his cottage. ‘What are you waiting for?’ Jessica sped off shouting to Reuben she would be two minutes.
‘I’ll meet you by the car,’ he called after her.
She disappeared through her front door like a whirlwind.
Running upstairs, she reminded herself that Reuben just needed her advice, but her heart was racing as she thought about the way he looked at her.
Dropping her work clothes on the floor, she then pulled on her jeans, a long-sleeved top and a warm sweater.
She ran back downstairs and past her dad who was sitting on the sofa watching his iPad with his earphones in.
She grabbed her coat, her boots, hat and gloves.
‘Bye, Dad.’ He couldn’t hear her and she wondered if he would notice if a herd of cows wandered into the house.
He was clearly absorbed in the latest Netflix drama.
‘Everything okay, love?’ said Catriona, emerging from the kitchen holding a tea towel.
‘All good, Mum. Just going for a walk with Reuben up to Milarrochy Bay. See you later.’ She pulled the door shut with a bang and sprinted towards Reuben’s car, but not before catching a knowing smile from her mum.