Page 77 of A Summer of New Beginnings
Oh, heck, Caleb must really be ill or something,she surmised, and she turned to walk away, berating herself for her lack of trust.
‘Hey… hey, listen to me, Katie, okay? YouknowI love you.’ Zara froze in her tracks. ‘I’llalwayslove you, but you said we were through, Katie, so what was I supposed to think?’ A long pause ensued and Zara widened her eyes, covering her mouth so she didn’t scream. ‘Of course, I want you, babe. Don’t be likethat… Inverness… It’s an awards thing. Yes, I’m withher. No… no, babe please, it’s only because she thinks I sent her stupid book into some competition. I was only with her because I was trying to get back at you… Yes, I know that was cruel and stupid. And I’m so,sosorry. But now I know the truth, eh? You, me and Caleb, baby, always. Okay? Always.’
Anger and sadness were desperate to leaveZara’s body in raw, impassioned screams. But instead, holding her hands firmly over her mouth, she tiptoed back to the room and dead-bolted the door.
Zara crawled into bed and sobbed into her pillow. So it wasn’t Josh who’d sent her manuscript to the awards. That must have been what Lachy meant.It was him, not Josh. Oh, God, and I was so awful to him.Her body shook as she let out all her anguish.How could she have been so stupid? How could she have not seen through Josh and his lies? She contemplated contacting Shelley or Marco, but it was so late and they were on a completely different floor so it felt unfair to bother them. Better she stayed alone. It was no more than she deserved after all.Stupid, stupid Zara.
Josh returned to the room and tried the door. When it wouldn’t open, hebanged on it. He called her mobile, banged some more. Then it all went quiet and the room phone rang. Security asked if she was okay and checked if they were to let the man at the front desk into the room. She informed them that under no circumstances should they let him in.
Josh appeared and hammered again. After around thirty minutes of pounding on the door she heard raised voices. Securityhad come to remove him. Eventually it fell silent and she cried herself to sleep.
*
The following morning the bags under her eyes had bags and she hopped into the shower, hoping that it would go some way to freshening her up. Once out and dried she checked her phone. Josh had been messaging her asking why she was ignoring him. The messages started out sweet but descended into swearing and insults.And as expected there were no messages from Lachy. But, when all was said and done, he’d still turned out to be a cheater. So maybe she was better off without him too. Even if it was him who’d sent the manuscript in and not Josh. Regardless of how sweet that was, he had still lied to her and cheated on his fiancée. She had to at least try to put it out of her mind. She had a potentially life-changingmeeting to attend.
The butterflies were stampeding around her insides again as she dressed. She was thankful that she’d brought a ‘just in case I win’ outfit. The winner was to be interviewed onGood Morning Scotlandbefore being whisked away to London for more publicity. Luckily now the outfit wouldn’t go to waste. The smart shirt dress was fitted and elegant and definitely appropriate. Sheslipped on her designer stilettos to complete the look – dress to impress and all that – and set out to meet Loretta and Shonagh at the address from the text message.
The little brasserie-cum-bakery was wonderful. The pastries in the glass cabinet as she walked in were far too tempting. And she could feel her waistline expanding as she gazed longingly at the display. Something caught her attentionand she turned to see Loretta smiling and waving from a table towards the back, so she made her way over to where her agent was sitting alone and her heart sank. Had Shonagh changed her mind?
Loretta stood and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘I’m sorry I look so dishevelled. We’ve had a bit of family drama.’ She looked anything but dishevelled.
‘Oh, dear. I hope it’s nothing too serious.’
Lorettarolled her eyes as they both sat. ‘Believe me, where my sister is concerned everything is dramatic.’
Zara’s ears pricked up and she hoped Patrick was okay. ‘Sophie?’
‘Oh, good heavens, no. Sophie’s happily planning her wedding to Patrick. No, this wasallSaskia at two o’clock this morning.’
Zara wasn’t about to pry, especially seeing as she knew about Saskia’s connections to Lachy. The lessheard about them, the better.
A waitress arrived and placed a cafetière, cups and cream on the table. ‘Thank you, dear. I’ll order the rest once our third party member arrives,’ Loretta informed the young woman. Once the waitress had gone, she sighed as she poured coffee into the two cups. ‘Honestly, there’s no wonder she’s single. I defy any man to take on such a little madam. You’d hardly believeshe was a grown woman.’
Zara gulped.Single?‘Oh, man trouble?’ Her interest was now piqued.
‘You could say that. Although if you keep in touch with Lachy after your trip you probably know all about it.’
‘I… erm… I don’t keep in touch with him. I’m just so busy, you know…’ She swallowed hard and willed her agent to continue.
‘Well, I shouldn’t gossip. Sheismy sister, after all, but… Oh,what the hell? It turns out that Saskia and Lachy broke upmonthsago. She hadn’t told any of us for fear of embarrassment. Although why she felt it necessary to perpetuate the lie, I have no idea.’
Zara sat up straight. ‘Months ago? Like, how many months ago? Forgive my nosiness. Lachy never mentioned he was having relationship troubles when I was at his croft.’
‘Oh, that’s because tohimitwas all done and dusted by that point. He had moved home to nurse his father and had hinted that he would be staying indefinitely but Saskia was furious and demanded he sell the place. He refused, of course, and she broke up with him. Although in her mind it wasn’t a proper break-up. She expected him to come running back to Inverness to beg her forgiveness. But why the hell would he do that? I mean,I love her, I have to really, but I wouldn’t wish her mood swings on my worst enemy.’
Zara’s heart hammered at her ribcage as she realised that poor Lachy had been completely innocent in the whole situation she had created in her mind. ‘But… your parents’ anniversary party…’
Loretta huffed with exasperation. ‘Oh, yes, that was a total shambles. She’d conned the poor man into accompanying herbecause she didn’t want to break our parents’ hearts with yet another failed relationship. Ridiculous. They knowexactlywhat she’s like. They would have totally understood. But he’s such a good man he accompanied her anyway.’
Zara was stunned into silence.
‘To ice the cake she turned up at the awards last night because she knew he had asked me for a ticket. She showed up just expecting himto welcome her with open arms. Anyway, he announced that he’s head over heels in love with someone else and asked that she leave him alone to get on with his life. She had a total meltdown. The police were called and everything. She really is so very melodramatic. I really do like Lachy and whoever this woman is that he’s in love with I wish them all the very best. He deserves happiness, the poorchap.’ Loretta laughed and sipped her coffee. ‘You could probably write a bloody book on all this.’
Rather distractedly Zara said, ‘Yes, probably.’
‘Ah, here’s Shonagh now. Game face on, Zara.’ Loretta gave an excited smile and stood to greet her friend.
They swapped air kisses and then Loretta announced, ‘So, my lovely, this is the very brilliant Zara Bailey.’
