Chapter 28
Twenty-Eight
CALLIE
M um said my bout of morning sickness lasted exactly the same length of time hers did with both me and Harry, thus reinforcing the idea we were basically the same person. I was extremely glad to no longer be throwing up everything. There was still no bump to show for the pregnancy, but that was apparently totally normal when you were only ten weeks.
It had been another good week since our first appointment with our midwife. Mrs. Rankin’s attempt to blacklist me (that sad lady needed to get a life of her own) never really got off the ground once the people who were ready to give me shit realized the rest of the village was ready to go to bat for me. The bakery had never been busier, and Mum was really impressed by how I was managing turnover with my fancy creations. I was even talking her into offering a delivery service from Inverness to John O’Groats after Verity said she’d do a two-hour round trip just to get one of my pastries.
And Lewis and I were almost perfect.
I say almost because other than the mind-blowing kiss he’d given me in the car comi ng home from the hospital last week, he’d been a total gentleman.
He was keeping his word about taking it slow.
I hadn’t really realized we’d be taking it this slow with the physical stuff, considering I was already pregnant. Yet knowing how much emotion was attached to sex for Lewis, I understood. I still got pangs of guilt about sneaking out of his flat in London after learning just how much sex meant to him. The reminder that maybe I hadn’t known him as well as I’d thought (that I had underestimated how much he loved me) made me want to make it up to him. I didn’t know how to do that while we were taking it slow.
I was also very much aware I had been the one to suggest taking things slowly.
It seemed silly now in light of how easily we’d fallen back into our relationship. Much easier than I’d anticipated, considering all that had kept us apart.
Those were my musings as I wandered into the Gloaming Thursday afternoon. Lewis’s uncle Arran wasn’t bartending today. In fact, I didn’t recognize the young woman behind the bar, so I assumed she was summer staff. The pub’s main room was packed and a peek into the dining room told me it was busy too. The tourists had well and truly descended upon Ardnoch. Wondering how I’d ever hear Carianne over the din, I scoured the room for her and found her at a table near the very back of the old pub. She waved, and I wound around the tables toward her.
We hadn’t spoken face-to-face since the mix-up. Lewis had explained fully Carianne’s scheme and how she’d jumped the gun. We’d shared a few texts back and forth, and she’d texted to congratulate me when the news broke about the pregnancy. However, she’d done an excellent job of avoiding me so far. A part of me didn’t mind her avoidance. The fact that she’d admitted to crushing on Lewis all this time and then asking him out made me wary of her. It was awkward knowing your friend coveted your partner.
It didn’t help that Eilidh had flat-out decided Carianne couldn’t be trusted. I wasn’t sure about that. I still remembered the person who had been kind to me for most of our friendship, so when she asked if we could meet, I’d said yes.
“Hey.” She gave me a tight smile as I slid into the chair opposite her. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m actually feeling really good.”
“Nervous? I can’t imagine having a baby at our age.” Her tone suggested a hint of judgment.
“Twenty-five isn’t that young.”
“It’s kind of young, but you always were so mature for your age. Lewis too.”
I nodded. “How are you?”
“Busy. I’ve been so busy at the salon.”
“Good.”
An awkward pause hung in the air between us.
Carianne gave me a nervous smile. “Look, I feel like I’ve been avoiding you and I don’t want to avoid you … I just feel so bloody awkward that I asked Lewis out.”
At her wince, I smiled kindly. “Carianne, it’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. What was I thinking? I mean, like, I genuinely thought things were over between you and didn’t even realize how badly you’d take it until I pretended to be going on a date with him. And now that you’re pregnant and together again … it’s like … how weird have I made it?” She threw up her hands in despair.
I laughed, instantly relaxing at her honesty. “Carianne, we can get past it.”
She made a face. “Do you think?”
“Aye. I can. If you can.”
“I don’t want you to be constantly worried that I have a thing for your bloke, though. ”
Now I grimaced. “I mean …”
“Oh, God, see!”
“But with time, I’ll forget,” I offered, hoping it was true.
“Really?” Carianne leaned forward, expression pleading. “Because I miss you and I don’t want to not be there when you have the baby. I want to be Aunt Carianne, you know.”
A pang lit my chest because I wanted that too. “Then it’s done. We’re on the road to forgetting all about it.”
“Good.” Carianne scooted even farther forward. “Because I’ve started seeing this guy from Inverness and I’m desperate to talk to someone who isn’t going to tell everyone and their nan about it.”
And just like that, me and Carianne were me and Carianne again.
“When does Lewis move into his new place?” Mum asked as we finished up dinner that evening. To be honest, I’d spent hardly any time at the cottage other than to sleep in it, and I think that suited my parents and Lewis just fine, considering I spent most of my time with them.
“He’s in.” I frowned. “Did I not tell you that?”
“No. My goodness. You mean, he’s living there?”
“Moved in last night.”
“Have you visited yet?”
I shook my head. “Haven’t had the chance. He’s working late tonight for that project in Tain, so we decided I’d go around tomorrow to see him.”
“Have you bought him a housewarming gift?”
I patted my tummy. “Cooking one up as we speak.”
Harry snorted, Dad smirked, and Mum rolled her eyes. “Be serious.”
“I bought him a Sander Patelski framed poster. ”
“And what is a Sander Patelski?”
“An artist. He paints images of famous architecture.”
“Very nice. I bought him something. We’ll need to take it over.” She looked at Dad. “Right?”
Dad was expressionless as he replied, “I’ve already given him his housewarming gift.”
“You have?” Mum frowned. “When? What was it?”
“The gift of life when I didn’t kill him for knocking up my only daughter.”
I cackled, even though I knew he was being totally serious.
Later, Harry was in his bedroom, playing a video game before bed, and I was leaving to head back to the cottage. Mum and Dad were settling in to watch a movie while I grabbed my keys and shoes, but I heard the TV mute. Mum cleared her throat.
“Callie, I need to tell you something.”
Her tone stopped me slipping on my other trainer.
When I looked over at her, I somehow knew this was about Nathan. I hadn’t wanted to ask for any updates because I needed to bury my head in the sand about him. Now my heart was pounding a mile a minute.
“I didn’t want to say anything until it was over, but this morning was Nathan’s parole hearing.”
I waited, barely able to hear anything over the rushing blood in my ears.
“I appeared before the board via video call to give a statement.”
“Mum, you should have told me.” I’d never have known she’d been through something so harrowing today. “Did you see him?”
She shook her head. “I only spoke to the board. I told them that Nathan had already used his lawyer to harass you into making him look goo d for the parole board, and how until that moment, when it only suited him, he’d never reached out or shown any remorse toward you. I shared my fears that he’d look for revenge against us. And I reminded them of everything he put us through and the lasting effects of his actions.”
“Mum … I wish you’d told me. Didn’t they want a statement from me?”
“Yes, and I refused. I didn’t want to dredge all that up again for you.”
But she’d dredge it up for herself for me. “Mum.” I got up and squeezed myself between her and Dad, wrapping my arms around her. As we hugged, Dad smoothed a comforting hand over my back.
“I’m okay,” Mum promised. “Your dad was in the room with me the whole time.”
Releasing her, I was almost afraid to ask, “When do we hear their decision?”
“We already know.” Relief blazed in her eyes. “He was denied parole and he won’t be eligible for another fifteen years. He’s not getting out anytime soon, baby girl. And he never will if I have anything to do with it.”
I hadn’t realized how much the fear of Nathan out in the world, in my world, was weighing on me until the danger was no longer a possibility. I burst into tears, shaking with relief as first my mum held me and then my dad.