Chapter 19
NINETEEN
A GHOST
Scarlet
Bright the next morning, Ally and I took a slow walk to the castle. We needed to borrow a car to pick up Cait, and I was going to say good morning to my parents.
After walking in with Ally on my arm.
I knew how it would appear. How it was. On the plane coming back from Hong Kong, I’d told Dad I was having second thoughts about the move. We weren’t seated together, so the conversation was rushed, but he’d only given me a searching look and told me we’d discuss it later.
He was disappointed, I could tell.
At that point, I’d had no idea if Ally would still be talking to me. Leaving for his place in the cab sent a pretty clear message, but we were still unsure of each other, so there was no need yet to talk through my choices with anyone else.
Not that Dad wouldn’t try. But I could handle him.
Overall, everything felt good. The fresh scent of the rain-washed landscape filled my lungs, a huge deer with enormous antlers ambled along the track not a hundred yards ahead of us, and Ally held my hand every step of the way.
“I need to buy a car,” I mused, hopping over a puddle in a deep rut in the gravel. “A four-by-four to take on this road.”
Ally grinned at the ground. “Thinking of coming back sometime?”
I shrugged, hiding my smile. “I was considering it.”
“Good to know.” He eyed the castle ahead. “Is your dad going to skin me? He was surprisingly tame last night. Your ma told me to run to ye.”
“Mom likes you. Hence her reaction when I told her to bring my bear.” I had the bear in Cait’s change bag. “My dad will get used to the idea.” Then I chewed my lip, wondering how to phrase the next statement. I hadn’t mentioned Jeremiah Jones yet, and I didn’t want Ally finding out at random.
“There was another reason I went to Hong Kong. That guy, the one who hired you and the other models in Milan…”
Ally bristled. “What about him?”
“He was there. Dad had a meeting booked with him. I had this idea to confront him. Not naming you,” I hastened to add. “But I couldn’t miss the opportunity to challenge him.”
“Jesus, Scar.” Ally stared.
“He needs to be told! He needs to be brought down!”
He gave a startled laugh. “You warrior! After everything’s that happened, that guy has been low on my list of things to worry about.”
“Not mine. It has bothered me since the second you told me.” I took a breath. “Dad doesn’t know what Jones did, but I need to tell him I won’t work with him, and I won’t suggest anyone else does either. When I sat across the table—”
“You met him?”
“There was a preliminary meeting. I refused to shake his hand.”
“I cannae stand the thought of you near that man, let alone shouting him down.”
“Wouldn’t you have done the same for me?”
A combination of concern and frustration rippled over his face. “Aye, and I’m all for equality, but a woman going up against a man is nae the same as two men locking horns.”
“Maybe not. But I was going to do it anyway. I still might. Dad’s stuck in a business deal with him. If I get the opportunity again, I’ll ambush the asshole.”
Ally groaned then palmed his jaw. “I knew you were fierce, but this… Look, I appreciate the fuck out of ye having my back, but I dinna care two pennies about that man. Not anymore. After everything that’s happened in my life, with ye, the bairn, the accident, I’m so far from who I was, it’s almost like remembering another person.
A version of me I don’t like. What he did was a wakeup call.
Unless ye have to talk to that guy, there’s no need to do so on my behalf. ”
My sigh came heavy. “It’s still wrong, but I understand.”
We continued on and entered the car park.
Ally gestured with our joined hands. “Cal’s car is here. I wonder if Mathilda and the bairn are home.”
“Oh! You should see him. I only caught a glimpse last night at the hospital, but he’s massive. He’s probably the size of Cait already.” I dragged him inside the castle.
The great hall was empty. Then Dad appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Scarlet! Ah, Alasdair. You’re here. Together.” He summoned a smile.
I tilted my head. “Hey, Dad. Is Mathilda home?”
“She is! In her room, with the baby. Ah, he’s a fine boy!” Then he cleared his throat and studied Ally. “As I’m sure your little girl is.”
“Cait, that’s her name,” Ally said.
“That’s right. Mathilda told me. Do you have a picture?”
This was odd. Dad was making an effort. I’d expected him to huff and puff and throw us unhappy looks.
“If ye are staying, you’ll meet her in the flesh this afternoon. We’re going to collect her now.” Ally threw me a quick glance but spoke to my father.
“I’d like that. With Gordain’s baby due in a few months, you’ll need a McRae nursery,” Dad replied.
“Aye, if all goes well with the courts, I should have her home by then.”
My father’s eyebrows shot together. “But that’s months away. Why are they dragging their feet? You’re the child’s father. She has no mother. What possible reason could there be to delay?”
“I know! You’re telling me! But that’s how these things work. The solicitors are hopeful, but I have to prove myself.” Ally gestured down his body. “Which has been a challenge until now. Even getting a court date has been a battle.”
Dad shook his head, displeasure clear on his furrowed brow. He strode to the side table where the mail was stored and picked up a pad and pen. “Here, write down the details of the solicitor and the judge. I might be able to do something about it.”
Ally’s jaw dropped.
Mine did, too.
“Um, aye, great. I’d appreciate any help I can get.” Ally took the pen but stared at it for a second. I’d never seen him write. I assumed that was as difficult as reading.
“Tell you what, I’ll text you the information later,” I jumped in. “We want to see the new baby, then we need to go pick up Cait.”
Ally placed the pen down but offered Dad his hand instead. “Thank ye.”
Dad shook it then let us go, humming as he wandered to the kitchen.
“What was that?” Ally whispered once we’d got out of earshot.
“No idea, but I like it.”
“I do, too.”
At the solar, we poked our heads in the door of the lounge. Mom sat on the couch, smiling over a Moses basket. She saw us and gestured for us to come in.
“Aw! Look at the little bruiser!” Ally bent over and peeked at our new nephew.
“Your sister is asleep,” Mom said in a hushed tone. “Callum is in with her. Both of the poor souls need rest.” She let her gaze rest on Ally. “Will your little girl like Scarlet’s bear? He’s scruffy, but I combed his fur to make sure none was loose.”
“She’ll love him,” Ally replied, his voice tight. “Thank ye.”
My mother graced us both with a smile, and I took Ally’s hand. He stared at the baby boy then raised his gaze to mine. Something deep and heartfelt burned in his eyes.
I’d admitted I had feelings for him, but not how far they went. They swelled now, overflowing, and when I saw him with Cait? I was going to melt on the floor.
After a little more cooing over the boy, we grabbed Mathilda’s car keys and left them to it. We were on our way to pick up another baby. One I couldn’t wait to properly meet.
The journey took us through the centre of the Cairngorms National Park in all its gorgeous glory.
Autumn was in full swing, with smatterings of rain showers on the windscreen and the heated seats keeping us snug inside.
Ally drove with a relaxed confidence, his smirk—one I’d barely seen in months—installed once more and his conversation light.
I didn’t even try to hide my lustful gazes. His forearm muscles flexed as he changed gear, and his tall, lean body had me ogling.
“You are all my teenage dreams come true,” I told him.
“And you’re making me want to pull over and do filthy things to you in the back seat of this car,” he shot back.
I tutted. “Still not happening. We’re going to date for a while first.”
Ally quietened for a moment. “Scar?” he asked, his tone more tentative now. “Are we a couple? Boyfriend and girlfriend?”
I swallowed. “You’d think that would be obvious without asking. I’ve known you for so many years, but—”
“But nae this version of me. Right?” he interrupted, guessing my thoughts.
“Exactly. You’re the same but different. Do you feel that about me?”
“No. Nothing has changed in the way I see ye. Not from the first time I laid eyes on ye.”
My heart fluttered, and I wanted to hear more, ask more, but Ally cleared his throat, his countenance changed.
“Over there is the place I had the accident.”
He pointed to a nondescript lay-by and a whole-body shiver took me.
“How long until I can drive this road without panic stabbing me in the heart? It’s been weeks, and I’m sweating.”
“I don’t know. Maybe never. Don’t feel like you have to get over it.” I wanted to reach out and take his hand, but his fingers gripped the wheel like his life depended on it.
A sense of foreboding fell over the car.
Ally shook his head. “I don’t usually dwell on things and I don’t intend to start now. That was a bad change of subject, and I’m sorry I did it. So, back to our conversation. I’m going to call ye my girlfriend from now on. How do ye like that?”
“A lot.”
“I do, too. New question: If you’re not going to take that job abroad, where will ye work? London?”
I twisted my lips. “Maybe.” We were approaching Edinburgh and Storm Force’s HQ.
The place had stuck in my mind. I liked the staff, the work, the proximity to a certain Scot.
When I’d sorted through my notes last week, I’d deliberately left them out of my report, a different plan in mind for that business.
“Or maybe there’s somewhere else nearer by that needs a manager. ”
“Tell me more.”
“Not yet. Let me muse on it for a while.”
Ally gave me a curious once-over but sped on, and soon, we were arriving at the foster carer’s home.
At the front porch, nerves gripped my stomach. “What if she hates me? What if she takes one look at my face and cries? Maybe she won’t like red hair.”
Ally shouldered the baby’s change bag and threw me a smile. “You sound just like me on my first visit. Cait will love ye.” He pressed a sweet kiss to my cheek. “And you will love her. Don’t panic.”
That’s what had me nervous—I believed him.
“Get me inside for baby cuddles, then.” I gave him a kiss in return.
Behind us, the door to the bungalow flew open, and a woman stalked out. At a guess, I’d put her at a few years older than me, but the sheer anger on her face had me recoiling. She glared at Ally, looking him up and down with her upper lip stuck in a sneer.
“You,” she spat, her eyes flashing with her rage. “The sperm donor, I take it?”
The colour drained from Ally’s face, and he stared like he’d seen a ghost. “Who are ye?”
“Oh no. I was hoping this wouldn’t happen,” came another voice from the door. The foster carer, I presumed, pressed her fingers to her lips and gawked, glancing between Ally and the stranger with horror in her eyes.
“It shouldn’t be allowed. What right has he got?” the woman declared to the foster carer. Then she threw daggers once more at Ally. “If anything, any single thing, happens to Kathleen when she’s in your care, you will answer to me.”
“Her name is Cait.” Ally glared right back. “And I ask again, who the hell are ye and what are ye doing visiting my daughter?”
But she stuck her chin in the air and strode to an expensive car, double parked outside the house. “I’ll see you in court.”
Then she screeched away.