Chapter 3
Rachael watched the ferry’s approach, keen now to get back to the main island and Kris. He’d called her as she was walking back to Lyness, promising to be waiting for her at Houton.
His voice had sounded weird, as though something had happened that had annoyed or upset him.
She knew by now it was better not to ask what that something was, so hadn’t mentioned it. Nor had she said anything about the digger at the derelict croft house. Anyway, she reminded herself, she wasn’t even sure the place had anything to do with the Mowats.
Now aboard the ferry, she took her seat and checked for the dry biscuits she kept in her bag, in case of nausea. Since she’d found out about the pregnancy, travelling had become a worry, especially on water. She’d never been a great sailor.
Nibbling the biscuit, she settled back, her eyes closed, aware that watching the choppy waters would only make matters worse.
She would have to tell Kris soon. She had in fact planned the moment, until he’d suddenly proposed that she accompany him to Orkney, ‘to see to some family business’.
The suggestion had come as such a surprise, she’d found herself agreeing immediately, while deciding that news of the pregnancy could wait a little longer.
The truth was she’d felt relieved at the delay, because she had no idea how he would react.
She also wasn’t sure what she felt about it herself.
The nausea abating, she opened her eyes and looked out of the window, to see a police launch heading back the way she had just come.
She’d never seen a police boat before, but registered that when you were policing a group of islands like Orkney and had to get somewhere quickly, it was an obvious choice. The guidebook had said that Hoy, with its small population, was crime free, with no official police presence.
So what might have caused such a visit?
She was pondering this when her mobile rang. Seeing Kris’s name on the screen, she hesitated, keen to get the tone of her voice right before answering.
‘Rachael, I’m at Houton now,’ he said.
‘And I’m on the approaching ferry,’ she replied in what she thought was a welcoming tone.
‘I’ll wait for you on the pier,’ he said briefly, before ringing off.
Replaying his voice in her head, she decided he hadn’t sounded cheerful, but then again, he’d been at his great-grandfather’s funeral.
A funeral he wouldn’t permit her to attend.
She’d been a little hurt by his determined stance on that, until he’d told her that his family were hellish and would likely be unkind to her.
‘Was your great-grandfather hellish too?’ she’d asked.
‘No. That’s why I came back,’ had been his reply.
When she spotted his figure waiting for her, Rachael felt her heart leap in her chest.
He looks too young to be a father, she thought. Much too young.