Chapter 27
TWENTY-SEVEN
A HEAVY SKY
Ally
A heavy sky loomed over the castle, and Callum and I pulled up, bone weary from what felt like the fight of my life, all while taking care of a cranky baby.
On the drive to Edinburgh, I’d harangued the social workers until they agreed to a two-night stay for Cait, then we’d collected her and gone straight to the solicitors.
Cait was teething and fractious. If she picked up on my stress, I couldn’t tell, but she’d fussed and cried the whole afternoon. Now, in the back of the Land Rover, she slept, unaware of the panic I was still under.
The solicitor had been a champ, and we’d done all we could, but my hopes were slim.
A new problem had arisen right there in the office. The money I’d been expecting from the insurance payout from the car crashing into mine now looked shaky. The insurers were refuting the man’s cover, and the solicitor advised that I’d need to take out a private prosecution instead.
I barely had enough money left in my savings to pay for Cait’s custody case. In a matter of weeks, I’d be broke.
Callum stopped the car outside the castle, and we climbed out. He’d been at my side all day, pushing my case and having my corner, and I’d needed him there, but I’d missed Scar. I shouldn’t have left without saying goodbye. She must have felt terrible, and I’d let that happen.
All I’d got from her all day was a short message confirming the job stuff was in hand, but then nothing since.
I needed a hug, a debrief, and to take my lasses home for the evening.
“You’re back!” The twins rushed us at the door, flinging themselves at their dad before mobbing me.
“Aw, look at Cait! She’s bigger already,” Skye said. “Is she home for keeps now?”
She and Lennox stared up at me with big eyes.
Ah fuck, but that nearly floored me. “Not yet, sweetheart,” I said.
Across the hall, near the dining room, Scarlet’s parents stood, talking with Wasp and Taylor.
Where was Scarlet?
Cait mewled, needing a feed, and I took her from her carry seat, finding her formula from her change bag.
“Can I help?” Scarlet’s mother came over and beamed at my bairn. I gave her a swift nod, and she took the bottle and powder to the kitchen.
Mathilda’s worried gaze pinned me in place. “What happened with the solicitor?”
Then all eyes were on me. I held my daughter closer, her wee heartbeat thrumming against my chest. Ah Christ, this hurt. My family had celebrated her joining us, and looked forward to her homecoming, but now that happy event couldn’t be farther away.
“We did all we could,” I managed. “Cal and I came to a new agreement on the loch house, one that was legally binding this time but which makes me a tenant rather than an owner, and the social workers corrected the report which said I’d missed contacts when I was in hospital.
” I glanced at Maximus Storm. “Scarlet came through on the employment papers, so we’re good there. ”
Her dad shook his head. “I heard all about it from Philip. I’m so sorry that happened. Scarlet was distraught about it.”
“Where is she?” I performed another sweep of the hall, but she was nowhere to be seen.
“I’m not sure. She hasn’t returned.”
Scarlet’s ma emerged with the bottle, and I took it, Cait instantly latching on to her supper.
Wasp stepped up. “What are your chances after everything you’ve done?”
Knives pierced my heart. “Slim, I think. On my own, I might have done enough, but up against a family who are also blood relatives but have everything she could need? I don’t stand a chance. If I were the judge, I wouldn’t choose me.”
Identical expressions haunted every face. Mathilda hugged her baby close, and my fucking heart broke.
“What else can we do?” someone said. “Are there any other options?”
“I have something to tell you,” Wasp spoke up. He held out an arm for Taylor, and she slipped under it. “We talked about a backup plan of putting ourselves forward as prospective parents to make sure she joined the family, aye? That won’t work now.” He glanced at his wife.
“We’re pregnant,” Taylor finished for him.
Ah fuck. This should be the most joyous moment for them both, but their faces wore nothing but worry. I marched over and wrapped Taylor in a one-armed hug.
“You clever lass,” I said into her hair. “I’m so happy for you both.”
“We’re over the moon, except this causes a problem for you, doesn’t it?” she said. “We didn’t want to tell you now but it means we can’t help with Cait. They won’t allow us to adopt her if we’re pregnant.”
“I’d do anything for ye,” Wasp added. He had, over the years.
He’d taken my driving test as, though I could drive no problem, I couldn’t read the number plate to pass the vision test, and he’d stood in for me on any number of other times.
“It’s breaking me that I can’t do it now. The one time you need me—”
I hugged my twin now, Cait squeaking between us.
“Don’t. It’s too late to put forward another case anyway. We’ll celebrate this, aye? You’re having a baby!”
Even as I said it, my insides ached with the crushing difference. They’d never have anyone else try to take their child from them. Nor would Ella or Mathilda. All the bairns born on this estate had secure futures ahead of them. Cait didn’t.
My own child, and I couldn’t protect her.
It fucking killed me.
The castle’s front door creaked, opening. A small figure slipped in, her brilliant red hair giving her away. Scarlet.
“Ah! There she is!” Her father heaved a sigh.
Scarlet only had eyes for me. With her shoulders down and her pace slow, exhaustion dogged her steps. She crossed the hall and stood in front of me. Her gaze dipped to Cait, and her hand raised a few inches like she wanted to take her, but then it dropped again.
Fuck that.
I pulled her against me and held her chilled form close. We both took a deep breath, and part of my fear eased. Then I laid Cait in her arms and stepped back to peer down at Scarlet’s face. “Where have ye been?”
Scarlet stared at Cait and stroked her cheek. “Inverness. I went to try to find Georgia Banks. And I did.”
Gasps sounded around us.
Scarlet continued. “She visited the cemetery when I was there, but she was so angry, and she wouldn’t speak to me.
I’m not embarrassed to say that I followed her car.
She drove to an office, and I went to the reception to ask her to see me.
But they turned me away.” She drew another deep breath, and her gaze turned steely.
This was the Scarlet I knew. The one that went after, and got, what she wanted.
“I sat outside for three hours until she emerged. Then I marched after her down the street. I made her listen. She threatened to call the police, but I figured I couldn’t do any more damage than I already had. I called her bluff because this isn’t about her or her family, it’s about Cait and you.”
“And you,” I added, because we were a unit, the three of us. At least, I’d hoped we would be.
Scarlet’s dad scrutinised her. “What happened next?”
She gazed at me. “I told her everything you’d done for your baby.
I made her look at pictures of the two of you together and I forced her to hear how close your family is and what she was doing separating Cait from you.
From all of you. We walked together to pick up her kids from school, and by then, she really did hear me out. ”
My heart sped. “How the heck did ye manage that?”
Scarlet glanced at her dad. “I told her about my situation and how having a fractured past was the worst. Cait’s missing a mother, but she shouldn’t be denied a father. Not one who loves her and desperately wants her.”
I couldn’t have done that. If I’d seen the woman, I would only have yelled or begged. I didn’t have it in me to dial back my emotions and speak plainly. But Scar did. “How did ye leave it?”
“I invited her here to see for herself.” Her fierce expression remained on her face. “Look around! How can she come here and walk away, still thinking Cait will be better with her?”
“No way,” rumbled agreement from multiple members of my family.
Scarlet’s gaze met mine. “I’m sorry for what I did.”
“It wasn’t your fault—” I started, but she wasn’t done.
“If this doesn’t work, if Banks doesn’t relent, I have another idea.” She held Cait close and reached out to take my hand. “I want us to apply as a couple. Ally, will you marry me?”