Chapter 20
William
The next day, I was hoping to see a text from Nairie, but she hadn’t reached out yet, and it made getting out of bed that much harder.
My two-bedroom cottage was small but cozy.
I didn’t need much anyway as long as I had a warm fire and running water.
One of my favorite things was the fireplace.
It was hobbit-like in design with a semicircle stone arch and a cushioned bench along its base.
I usually ended my days sitting by the hearth with a scotch, watching the embers glow brightly as the crackling wood burned.
I sipped my coffee in silence, squinting out at the overcast clouds sweeping over the sea, forest, and mountains.
It felt like years, not days, since I’d heard Nairie’s sexy morning voice.
I couldn’t shrug off the melancholy as I got dressed for the day, layering my clothing to prepare for the incoming storm.
I had to meet with the contractor to discuss some minor renovations. Then I had to check with Phillip on our food inventory to make sure everything was on track for the upcoming holidays.
I was checking off my to-do list in my head and almost didn’t notice the staff gathered around the table by the front desk. “What’s going on?”
The murmuring stopped, and everyone looked at me. They cleared away to reveal a large fruit basket sitting on the table. I walked up to it and looked at the card attached.
Happy birthday, Mum. I hope William had a good trip. Speak to you both very soon. Love, Angus
My hand curled in on itself as I crumpled the message. “Where’s my mother?”
Poppy hesitated. “She, uh, I think she’s in the barn.”
I walked toward the door and spoke over my shoulder. “Throw that out.”
I didn’t need to explain my foul mood. Everyone in town knew about Angus and me.
What I didn’t understand was why Mum appeared to be on speaking terms with him again, considering he was a dangerous criminal bastard.
I was also worried he had somehow found out about Nairie.
But there was no way to know for sure, which set me on edge even more.
The idea of her getting hurt in all of this set my teeth on edge.
I stalked to the barn, letting the heavy rain pelt me, soaking my jacket and hair. I looked inside and found Mum helping Hamish, the handyman, with a broken door to one of the stalls.
Hamish gave me a broad smile but immediately dropped it and scurried away. “Sorry, Sarah. Your son looks like he’s on a rampage.”
Hamish quickly exited the barn, and I helped Mum to her feet.
She crossed her arms. “What’s this, then?”
“Are you talking to Angus again? I just saw a lovely fruit basket for your birthday. Funny that he doesn’t remember it was two months ago.”
Mum sighed. “He means well, Will.”
“He’s going to put you in danger, Mum.”
“I check in with him from time to time. Just to make sure he’s okay.”
“And how long has this been going on?”
“A year.”
A year? I balled my hands at my sides. “And you weren’t going to tell me?!”
“It’s not as easy for you as it is for me, William! He’s my son.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes, sucking in a deep breath. “Anybody close to him is at risk, Mum. He’s gotten higher in the ranks dealing more than just drugs.”
“What do you mean? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was hoping I’d never have to, but now I see I have no choice. I keep tabs on him. Don’t ask me how. The guys he’s involved with are starting to get into human trafficking. I don’t know if he’s participating in it yet, but it’s part of a big promotion he’s been eyeing for a while.”
Mum’s face paled. “No, no, he’d never get into that. Drugs, yes. But . . . but . . .”
I put my hands on her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Mum. He doesn’t care about us. He never did.”
I didn’t want to share this next part with her because she and I had come so far in repairing our relationship, but she had to understand who he really was.
“He used to threaten to hurt you when we were kids too, Mum. If I ever told you about him hitting me, he said he’d start hurting you too.”
Guilt and hurt flickered across her face.
It was pure anguish, and she looked down in shame.
“Every time I’d ask you about your bruises, you said it was fights in school.
” She shook her head and sighed. “It probably means nothing now, but I’m sorry I didn’t protect you better, son.
I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a better life. ”
I held her hand and squeezed. “He manipulated us both, Mum. You did the best you could with what you had. I just want you to finally see Angus for who he is because he’ll keep taking until there’s nothing left.”
She nodded and rubbed my cheek. “You’re right.”
With a sigh, she knelt back down to continue the work Hamish had started, and I helped her put the hinges back on. “Are we going to talk about the girl?”
I looked at her, surprised.
“So there is a girl?” she asked with a self-satisfied grin.
I rolled my eyes. “It’s nothing.”
“Hmm, wouldn’t happen to be Nairie?”
I stopped what I was doing. I’d mentioned Nairie maybe once or twice growing up, but there was no way she would remember.
She shrugged. “Lindsey and I talked quite a bit over the years. She always said you two would get together.”
“Lindsey said that?”
“Aye, she was a wee bit of a witch, that one. She could always predict when I had an oncoming cold.”
“What did she say?”
“Oh, she always knew Nairie had a crush on you. But it was how you acted with her that made her think you’d end up together someday.”
I waited as Mum tested the opening and closing of the door we’d just fixed.
“Just small things only a mother would notice. She said there was a gentleness to you whenever Nairie was around. Like a fleeting smile whenever she’d sit with you on the couch or the way your shoulders stopped hunching when you watched her paint or draw.”
I was dumbstruck. How did Lindsey know before I even realized it?
“So what happened?” Mum looked at me expectantly.
We got up off the floor and walked to the front of the barn, looking out at the pouring rain as guests ran to take cover inside the inn.
I tucked my hands in my pockets. “Her family is strict. They didn’t really approve when they found out, and she got scared.”
I breathed in the cold, wet air. The scent of grass and hay mingled together and soothed my aching chest. I still felt that seed of doubt that I was good enough for Nairie. It was hard not to replay what her parents said about me that day. The worst part was I knew they were right.
Mum joined me in looking out at the pasture, where puddles gathered in the grass like little lochs.
“You’re a little rough around the edges, but you’re a good man, William.
It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks except Nairie, and you’ve proven yourself to her many times over the years.
” Mum grabbed my forearm in a rare act of affection.
“Don’t let your past determine your future happiness, son.
You’ve more than made up for the things you did when you were younger. ”
I looked into her crystal blue eyes. They held a strong conviction. It was the kind of look that often instilled hope that maybe our lives would improve. It’d been a while since I could trust in her hope. I desperately wished she would be right this time.