Chapter Nine
Rafe
Iona checked out of the hotel. I know this because, when I emerged from my room this morning, Mrs. Agnew informed me of that fact. "Your girl went home," she'd told me, as if I care what Iona Buchanan does. She is not my girl, anyway. Mrs. Agnew also offered to give me Iona's phone number. I know where she lives---because I stalked her, slightly, just a bit, only enough to...make myself seem like a psychotic arse.
A straight jacket might be in order.
The only place where I can buy food is the café, but I don't feel like going there again. Everyone knows me by now, of that I'm certain. What I most need to do today is find Toby. Jack gave me some surprisingly useful advice. He suggested that I should make amends with my son and explain to him all the things I'd refused to discuss ever since the divorce.
What a simple, straightforward task. Explain seven years' worth of things I've avoided thinking about. Toby deserves to know the truth, even if my confession results in never seeing my son again.
He won't believe me. How could he? I've done a bang-up job of lying.
But I did it all for Toby.
In the middle of the hotel's car park, I stop and consider my next move. If I don't eat at the café, where will I find food? There must be a supermarket or convenience shop somewhere in the blasted village. But I could wander for hours trying to find one. The map on my mobile doesn't help. Either there isn't a supermarket in this village or for some reason everyone here wants to hide the location.
That seems unlikely.
I wouldn't feel quite so unwelcome if I had someone with me. So, I ring Toby. When he answers, his response isn't what I'd hoped.
"Bugger off, Dad."
"That's no way to speak to your father."
"I heard about what you did yesterday. Harassing Iona Buchanan. Rampaging through the village. It's humiliating to be the son of a lunatic."
No, I won't deny I've behaved abominably. "Please, Toby, I need to see you in person to explain everything. Will you meet me somewhere? Anywhere?"
He says nothing for what feels like forever, though it was only a minute or two. "Yeah, I'll meet you somewhere. Eric will come with me. Wait for my text. Goodbye, Dad."
Even when he's angry with me, my son is still polite. He didn't hang up on me without saying goodbye. He did tell me to bugger off, but I know he didn't mean it.
While I wait for Toby to summon me, I sit in my car listening to a Scottish radio station. Apparently, it's local. I figured that out because I'm a bloody genius. That means I heard the DJ declare its name---"Loch Fairbairn's one and only destination for news, sports, and music over the airwaves." Naturally, they're playing bagpipe music, though I assume the station doesn't exclusively play that sort of thing.
Turns out I was right about that. As I'm listening to an annoying pop song, my mobile chimes. I have a text message. From Toby.
I snatch my mobile off the dashboard, then fumble and nearly drop it on the floor at my feet. I catch it just in time. The message contains only an address and the words "use your maps, old man." At least I'm capable of following those instructions, despite my geriatric status. I find the location on my mobile's map feature.
My brows knit together. Toby must have cocked up the directions. He can't be sending me there. Not unless he intends to start a war. But if I want to see my son, I must follow his instructions to the letter, keeping one eye on the map's directions whilst also trying not to crash into another vehicle. Based on the way the other drivers behave, I suspect Scots pay minimal attention to the laws of the road.
When I reach my destination, I see three cars on the premises. Two are parked along the road directly in front of a house. One car sits in the gravel drive, but there's enough room for another vehicle to pull up behind it. Should I park in the drive too? Toby didn't provide parking instructions. For a moment, I just sit here in the middle of the road, trying to determine the best course of action.
The front door of the house opens, and a beautiful woman with coppery brown hair trots over to my car. She smiles, tapping on the passenger window. When I don't respond, she mouths, "Roll down the window."
I dutifully roll down the passenger window. "Ah, I'm not sure if I'm in the right place."
"Of course you are, Rafe. Toby gave you directions." She thrusts her arm into the car to offer me her hand. "I'm Rebecca Taylor, soon to be Rebecca Buchanan."
I cautiously shake her hand. "Eric Taylor is your son?"
"Yep." She retracts her arm. "Come on, Toby's waiting."
"Who lives in this house?"
She grins. "Thane and I live here, of course."
Bloody hell . Why has Toby brought me here? Perhaps my son has tricked me into some sort of intervention or brainwashing.
Rebecca is still grinning at me.
I blow out a breath and give in. Shutting off the engine, I shove the keys into my pocket and go round to where Rebecca waits for me. As she leads me toward the porch, I begin to feel rather...anxious. What bollocks. I never feel nervous about meeting new people. In my profession, I encounter many strangers and often make new friends. Rebecca and Thane will not unsettle me, if that's their plan.
We've just stepped onto the porch.
Rebecca grasps the door handle and hovers there. "You should know that Toby asked us to help. That's the only reason we're kind of, sort of interfering."
"Is your mate Jack MacTaggart here to brainwash me?"
"No, Jack isn't here. We've kept the number of guests to a minimum." She bites her upper lip briefly. "I'm not supposed to tell you who's in there waiting for you."
Not sure if I will like it once I find out who is inside the house.
Rebecca swings the door open, walking in ahead of me. I follow her into the cozy home, and the aromas of food tease my senses. I haven't eaten breakfast yet. Blimey, I could eat a smorgasbord of Scottish foods right now, no matter what they feed me. But they probably won't offer me anything to eat. I am the evil man everyone wants to assault.
Just as Rebecca shuts the door behind us, I finally get my first glimpse of the people gathered here. Toby and Eric, I'd expected. But Thane and Ramsay are here too.
And so is Iona.
I freeze, and I must be gawping at her. Considering the way I've treated her, she has every right to ram her knee into my groin and whack me over the head with a blunt object.
"Dinnae worry, Rafe," Iona says. "This isn't a trick, and the constables are not waiting out back to arrest you. Though I think that's where you belong, you trealaich tolla-thon ."
Thane chuckles. "She called you an ersehole with a tiny cock."
Naturally, he thinks Iona's jab at me is amusing. I resist the urge to tell Thane that his sister knows full well I do not have a tiny cock because she's felt it inside her. Even I'm not that much of an arse.
Toby approaches me. "Are you going to cooperate?"
"With what? I have no idea why you've brought me here. The last time we spoke in person, you informed me that you're shagging Iona Buchanan. Then you proceeded to rail at me about the divorce."
When I'd mentioned Toby's claim involving Iona, Eric Taylor had winced and shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. He hunched his shoulders too. Why would he do that? Now, he averts his gaze and can't seem to look at me for even a second. It can't be that he---No, that's barmy. I don't believe Eric would shag Iona any more than I believe Toby would.
Still, it is possible that Eric might have wanted to seduce her but failed. Toby would cover for his best mate even if it meant I would blame him for Eric's actions.
I sweep my gaze over the men and women gathered in this house. "May I speak with Toby alone? I won't get angry. Jack gave me excellent advice, and I intend to follow it."
Ramsay, Thane, and Iona exchange glances.
Thane nods. "All right. We'll be out back with the animals."
"Wait," Toby says. "I want Eric to stay. It's a deal-breaker."
As much as I'd rather talk to my son alone, I understand why he wants his best mate here with him. "Agreed. Eric can stay."
"Thanks, Dad."
He seems genuinely glad that I'm going along with his rules. I would do anything for my son, but he has no idea how much I've sacrificed for him.
Thane, Rebecca, Iona, and Ramsay exit the house via the back door.
"Where should we do this?" I ask. "You and Eric might as well take the sofa. I'll find a chair to sit on. But that's only a suggestion."
Toby seems rather surprised by my offer. "Yeah, that's a good idea."
Eric and Toby sit down on the sofa while I hunt about until I find a wooden chair in the corner. Despite the lack of cushioning, the chair is comfortable enough.
Now that I'm facing my son, I don't know what to say.
For a moment, the three of us shift about on our seats and make various uncomfortable expressions.
I suppose it's up to me to get things going. I clear my throat, which has grown tight. "Toby, I know I haven't been the best father---"
"Why would you say that?"
"Because it's true. You think I'm an arse. I've certainly behaved like one." I scratch my hand, but only because every inch of my skin seems to have spontaneously developed poison ivy. "I'm sorry for everything I've done, today and in the past. But I want to make amends."
"You still don't get it."
I dive my hands into my hair, bowing my head. "Our broken family is all my fault, though not for the reasons you must think. Why else would you take up with an older woman?"
Toby winces, just like Eric had done a moment ago. "That's what I need to tell you. I only said those things about Iona to hurt you. It was a bloody stupid, childish thing to do. The truth is that I've never slept with or even kissed Iona Buchanan."
"Then why---"
"Eric is the one who's been trying to win over Iona Buchanan."
I stare blankly at my son. "What? Why would your best mate..."
"Because I didn't want my mom to find out," Eric tells me. "She wouldn't understand how I feel about Iona. She's my dream girl."
Who I shagged yesterday. Even after Toby told me he was shagging her.
I raise my head. "That explains a few things. But I'm more concerned with what you told me yesterday, Toby. You said I broke up our family without a second thought. That's partly true. But you have not become a selfish prick like me, and you never will."
"But why did you leave Mum?"
Should I divulge the truth to him at last? Having kept a secret for so many years, it's difficult to open up about what really happened. "Please, Toby, I'd rather share those details with you alone."
"Eric is my best mate. He's practically my brother. If you can't tell Eric, then you won't tell me either."
"This has nothing to do with him. I like Eric, but he isn't family. You and I should discuss this without your best mate."
Eric begins to stand up, but Toby gestures for him to remain seated. "Either he stays, or the conversation is over."
"Haven't I always been there for you, Toby? Whenever you needed me. I drove you to your first day at university and surprised you with a car of your own."
Toby frowns. "You think all it takes is throwing money at me and everything will be right as rain? I'm not a child. If you're claiming that Mum lied about what happened, then you should tell me your side."
"If that's what it takes, I'll tell you. Right now."