Chapter Twenty-Seven
When Jessica arrived home later, her mum was folding laundry at the kitchen table.
‘Hi, dear, how was your meeting?’
‘All fine thanks.’ She picked up an apple from the fruit basket and bit into it, chewing absent-mindedly and thinking about the earlier phone call at the inn.
‘Everything okay, dear? You’re miles away.’ Her mum looked at her curiously.
‘Sorry, Mum, yes fine. I had to deal with a call earlier which is on my mind.’
She tutted. ‘You’re supposed to be off work though?’
Jessica shrugged. ‘It wasn’t really work.’
‘Oh, did Reuben catch you?’
‘What do you mean?’ She was now over at the sink, her back to her mum.
‘He said he was going to pop by the inn to see you.’
‘When was that?’ she said in surprise.
‘Just a wee while ago.’
‘And he definitely said he was going to come by the inn?’
Her mum nodded. ‘Yes, he said he was keen to see you.’
The apple turned to cotton wool in her mouth and she spat it out.
Her heart plummeted as she anxiously wondered if he had walked in and heard her on the phone.
Surely she would have noticed? Then she remembered the chair had been positioned away from the door and her voice had been raised as the blood had rushed through her head.
She wouldn’t have noticed a herd of elephants rushing past. ‘No,’ she said quietly.
‘I didn’t see him. Maybe he decided against it,’ she said hopefully.
Her mum frowned. ‘Nope. He was definite he was going to come past and see you before he headed back to Glasgow. He seemed quite cheery at the thought.’
‘I didn’t see him,’ she said, pursing her lips and shaking her head. ‘He must just have missed me.’
‘Never mind. I’m sure he’ll be back very soon to see Murray. This time tomorrow they’ll be here, Jess,’ she said excitedly. The front door slammed shut and she jumped. ‘Angus, what have I said to you about that door?’
He grinned as he walked into the kitchen. ‘That coming from you.’ He shook his head. ‘Do you want to see my outfit?’ he said, holding up a Santa suit?
‘Did you get the milk I asked you for?’ said Catriona, ignoring it completely.
He clasped his hand over his mouth. ‘Sorry. I forgot. I’ll head back out. I got caught up with this.’ He beamed and pointed to the red-and-white costume.
Catriona shook her head in disbelief. ‘Seriously?’
‘I thought the wee one might like it.’
‘What do you mean? Are you telling me you’re going to try and get down the chimney dressed as Santa?’
‘I’m not that daft,’ he said with a chuckle. ‘I thought I could go and meet them at the airport wearing it?’
‘Tell me you’re joking?’ said Catriona looking aghast. ‘Surely it would be better to leave that surprise until Christmas Eve? Or never,’ she said, muttering under her breath.
Catriona folded the last piece of laundry and placed it in the basket.
‘The last thing you want to do is frighten the wee one. Especially when she hasn’t seen you for so long.
Anyway, have you forgotten they’ve got a hire car arranged?
There’s no need for us to go and collect them.
Sometimes I wonder if you listen to a word I say.
’ Then with a shake of her head she disappeared out of the room.
Jessica had to push aside any thoughts of Reuben and what he may or may not have heard her saying and step in to mediate.
‘I think buying a Santa suit is a lovely idea, Dad. But perhaps arriving at the airport might be a tad much? Especially as Lexi hasn’t seen you since last Christmas.
You don’t want to overwhelm her. And Mum’s right. They’ve sorted a hire car.’
Her dad placed the suit on the table and sat down, deflated. ‘We’re not saying you can’t wear it, Dad. We just need to be mindful of the timing of it all.’
‘Okey dokey,’ he said, his shoulders slumping. ‘Why has your mum flounced off?’
‘I think she’s just a bit over-excited and on edge about their arrival tomorrow. You know how much of a perfectionist she is. She wants everything to be just right for them.’ She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
‘Thanks, love. You’re right.’ He jumped up and grabbed the suit. ‘Doesn’t mean I can’t go try it on though, does it?’
‘I suppose not,’ said Jessica. ‘And, Dad, I’ll go and get the milk.’
‘Oh right, I forgot about that. Thanks, dear. I’ll go and try to make your mum laugh.’ He ran out the room and up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
Jessica sighed loudly. This in-house mediating could be exhausting.
She needed to get out and give her parents some space.
Taking a walk would give her a chance to process what had happened earlier.
As she walked down to the Co-op, she thought about Reuben.
She had pretty much convinced herself that he had walked in and heard her conversation.
She racked her brain, trying to think what she could have said that meant he didn’t stay.
After their meeting about the options and possibilities for the bakery, Gillian and Struan, both buoyed with excitement, headed home, and Freda called to give her an update on Belinda’s predicament.
She had made some discreet inquiries and confirmed that yes, the man she had the affair with was an utter tool and known for his womanising ways.
He made passive aggressive threats should any of the women he had used, dumped then fired try to take action against him.
One of Freda’s contacts — Jessica never probed for too many details as Freda had contacts everywhere — said that he had a reputation for it, and though he thought he was getting away with it, had in fact made a lot of enemies.
It sounded like, as well as being a serial womaniser, he was also a serious drug abuser and was known for his fondness of a certain white substance.
‘From what I am told, Jessica, it sounds like he is now walking a very thin line. There is a zero-tolerance approach to drugs out there. I think it will only be a matter of time before he’s back in London for good.
By all accounts, there is more going on and more complaints being made against him.
It looks like things are moving in the right direction if Belinda can just hold on a bit longer. ’
It did sound like, if Belinda bided her time, he would soon get his comeuppance. ‘Thanks for checking it out, Freda. I appreciate it. How are things at work?’
‘The usual,’ she’d said, her voice clipped. ‘Ivan is becoming more of a control freak by the day and the newbies are all falling over each other to impress. I miss you.’
Jessica appreciated her words but knew that Freda wouldn’t have very much time to miss her.
She absolutely relished every second of work and was brilliant — she was passionate about it and loved what she did.
‘That’s sweet, but I’m sure you don’t have time to miss me.
Um, one other thing . . . the text messages have started again. ’
‘Seriously?’ Freda had said with a snort.
‘Yes. I’m not quite sure what to do. I’ve ignored the messages but they are getting more frequent.’
‘Report it to Ivan.’
Jessica had felt her face colouring. ‘Isn’t that a bit extreme?’
‘This is now stalking and harassment, Jessica.’
‘They’re upset.’
‘So are you,’ she’d said sharply.
‘Leave it with me and I’ll try and get some closure.’
Freda had hesitated. ‘Do you really think that’s a good idea?
’ Then in a gentler voice she’d said, ‘You are supposed to be on leave from work and this is not helping you move forward with your life. Remember, you’re dealing with someone who can’t be reasoned with.
And, Jessica, think back to the state you were in at the start of the month .
. . I am more than happy to take care of it. ’
Jessica had paused, tempted by Freda’s offer.
‘If the roles were reversed, what would you advise me to do?’ she’d asked.
Now, as she walked into the Co-op and reflected on Freda’s words, she wished she had taken her up on her offer to deal with it.
She thought she was doing the right thing by making the call herself — even if it was extremely uncomfortable.
She knew it was her responsibility and she had to face it herself.
But doing the right thing might have come at a cost, especially if Reuben had overheard her on the phone and jumped to the wrong conclusion.