Chapter Thirty-Five Yesnaby Cliffs
Chapter Thirty-Five
Yesnaby Cliffs
Evie realised guiltily she hadn’t seen Freya since she had told her about those awful online posts a few days ago. She’d been reeling from what Liv had told her and worrying over how to confront Amelia.
She had gone for a long walk along the cliffs at Yesnaby to try and clear her head, and back home continued to work on her painting of Freya, but knew if she kept going there was a danger she would make Freya look sad and diminished.
Evie realised she needed to go round and make sure Freya was OK, and she would have to have it out with Amelia.
Arriving at Freya’s, she let herself in as usual and was about to say a cheery hello when she felt punched in the stomach by the scene in front of her.
Amelia was sitting with Hari on her knee while Freya was reading Ola a story.
Kate and Maureen were chatting and knitting while Ross was sitting quietly, looking at Amelia with adoring eyes.
Evie hated to admit it, but Amelia looked gorgeous.
The sun streaming in caught her newly dyed golden hair, so she appeared almost angelic.
Evie knew Amelia was trying to look like her, but hadn’t really appreciated just how much, right down to the silver jewellery gifted to her by Freya.
Evie felt cold hard rage. This woman had effectively cuckooed Evie out of her life.
She thought, ‘That should be me cuddling baby Hari with Ross gazing at me with love in his eyes. How could I not have seen this coming? She’s wormed her way into all of our lives in such a short time, and she obviously wants to take my place, and they are all going along with it. It’s as if I don’t exist anymore.’
Evie felt queasy and angry. ‘None of these people can really be my friend,’ she thought. ‘Look how easily they have welcomed this usurper. They don’t care about me at all.’
She heard her voice, high-pitched and querulous, say far too loudly: “I thought you would be in need of some company, Freya, but I see you are all having a lovely time without me.” She knew she sounded petty and jealous but she couldn’t help herself.
Freya looked up from the story book and said mildly, “Evie, it’s good to see you. Come and join us.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose.”
Kate glared at her. “Stop acting like a clown and come and sit down. I was going to make Maureen a coffee. Do you want one?”
“No, I don’t. Why didn’t you all tell me you were meeting up here? And did none of you think to invite me?”
Evie knew she sounded like a petulant child, she knew her cheeks were bright red and her voice was wobbling, but she was past caring.
Freya said in the same measured tone, “It was all very last minute. I’m feeling a lot chirpier. The art class was crowded and look at all the cards and flowers the peedie bairns brought.”
Evie was too furious to look at the heartfelt presents or to reply. She was trembling with rage and self-pity.
Freya went on, “Delima was in Kirkwall shopping with the bairns, when she got an emergency call from Jack that she was needed at the sanctuary. She asked if she could drop them here with me, and then I asked Amelia to see if anyone wanted to come over for the afternoon.”
She smiled at Amelia, “Funnily enough, everyone was together, doing something secretive involving cake decorations.”
Amelia said nervously, “I did try to call, Evie, and I left you a text message.”
“You know I don’t answer my mobile when I am in the middle of a painting,” Evie snapped at her. “And strangely, I didn’t get your message. But then I bet you didn’t actually send it did you? And none of the rest of you thought to invite me.”
“Evie, that’s enough,” said Freya. “I don’t know what’s got into you. Please stop this. It’s not like you.”
They were all looking at Evie, aghast. Even little Ola seemed upset. Maureen said quietly, “Evie, we would never deliberately exclude you from anything. None of us would do that to you.”
Evie realised she was making a fool of herself but her emotions were out of control.
She looked at Amelia, sitting at the heart of the group in what was Evie’s usual chair, holding the baby she adored, and bathed in the love and admiration of her favourite people.
‘Oh God, I’m so jealous of her. This is ridiculous and I am being absurd. ’
Evie was just about to blurt out an apology to everyone for her behaviour, when she saw a sly look of triumph come over Amelia’s face and she blew her top. She yelled at Amelia, “Don’t you dare smirk at me. You planned this all along. You’ve been telling lies about me to Liv, and now—”
Freya interrupted and said firmly, “Evie. If you can’t behave yourself and control your temper, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Evie responded angrily, “You seriously want me to leave, when it’s her you should be kicking out?”
Amelia started to cry and got up sobbing, “I don’t want to be the cause of any arguments between you. I’m so sorry you feel like this, Evie. If I have done anything to upset you then please forgive me. The last thing I want to do is cause problems. I will leave right away.”
Kate went over to her. “Don’t be silly, Amelia.
You haven’t done anything wrong. You don’t need to go anywhere.
” She turned to look at Evie. “I don’t know what’s going on in your head.
You’ve been rude and objectionable and bloody odd to Amelia ever since she got here, when all she’s done is to be kind and help Freya, and the rest of us.
Where have you been? You need to take a long hard look at yourself. ”
Freya interrupted quietly but firmly, “I really think you should apologise to Amelia before this all gets any worse.”
Evie was furious. “Apologise to that two-faced sneak? No chance. You ask her what she said to Liv. And just look at her. She has copied my hair, my clothes and she’s slithered her way into our lives. She’s a snake and you can’t trust her.”
Amelia was shaking her head. Freya stood up, trembling, but her voice was strong and cut Evie to the bone.
“That’s enough, Evie. If you can’t be civil, I don’t want you in this house.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t stay here a minute longer,” said Evie. “Don’t worry, I’m going. I know when I’m not wanted. I will leave you all to it.”
Evie wanted to tell them all she was sorry for being angry and lashing out, that Amelia brought out the worst in her and really had told Liv those lies. She found her throat was so choked up with unshed tears, she simply couldn’t get the words out.
Amelia was still sobbing and being hugged tightly by Kate, who looked at Evie in bewilderment.
She turned on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door so hard the windows rattled.
Amelia had planned this whole thing all along.
She didn’t fool her. She knew exactly who Amelia was.
Getting behind the wheel of her beloved Florence she could barely see out of the windscreen for her tears.
Angrily brushing them aside she headed home.
‘Oh Christ,’ she exclaimed. She’d played right into Amelia’s hands. Amelia wanted her to rant and rave at everyone and she’d have made it easy for her to be portrayed as the victim of big bad Evie. Amelia had turned them all against her.
Back at Freya’s, everyone was trying to comfort a distraught Amelia, who was tearfully telling them it was all her fault, and she was so sorry for upsetting Evie and causing a scene.
Kate said grimly, “You didn’t cause anything, Amelia. Evie was way out of order. I don’t know what’s gotten into her lately.” She added, “Agnes is really upset with her. Apparently, Evie wasn’t happy with how she did her hair, so she went to a salon in Aberdeen.”
Maureen was desperately upset at Evie for causing such a scene.
She managed to whisper, “When I was in Hume from Hume, Fiona’s sister said she was very sad to hear that Evie didn’t like any of the dresses that she bought from there, even that bonnie green one that I know she loves.
At least I think that’s what she said. You know how these stories grow arms and legs. ”
“Yes,” said Freya uncertainly. “But there’s usually a kernel of truth in them. Amelia, didn’t you say Evie thought my style was a bit too flamboyant?”
“Oh Freya, I’m sure she didn’t mean it. I told you I must have picked her up wrong. She’d never say anything so hurtful about you.”
“I’m worried about her,” said Freya. “She’s acting out of character. She’s saying all sorts of mean things and that display we all just witnessed was not the Evie I know.” She sighed heavily. “I know she’s been through a lot in life, but I feel like I don’t know her anymore.
Kate nodded in agreement. “She has been completely different since Amelia arrived.”
Amelia burst out, “See. Evie was fine until I arrived. I knew it was a mistake coming here. I’ve caused all this turmoil.
I should have stayed at home in Seattle.
I wish I’d ignored those letters from Shelia I found all those years ago.
I’m so sorry everyone. You’ve been so kind, and I’ve ruined everything. ”
They all started talking at once to reassure Amelia that none of this was her fault. Amelia sniffled, “I know she was very cross when I got my hair done like hers, but she is just so beautiful, and I thought as we looked quite similar it would suit me too.” She started to cry again.
Freya patted her hand. “There now love, don’t be upset and you don’t want to be crying on peedie Hari or you will start him off too. And anyway, that’s not how we wet the baby’s head in this part of the world.”
Ross spoke up. “I think we could all do with a drink, Freya. Let me sort it.” He got up and made his way into the kitchen.
Freya smiled in approval. “That boy doesn’t say much but when he does, it’s always very sensible indeed. I for one would like a wee dram to calm my nerves.”