Page 59 of Christmas at the Scottish Lodge
‘I knew you’d say that; that’s why I didn’t tell you.’ He shook his head, his expression fierce. ‘This isn’t your problem. It’s mine.’
‘Not my problem,’ she said as the ground under her shifted. ‘You’re my husband – all your problems are mine. At least they should be.’ A tear trickled down her cheek and she swiped it as grief settled in her gut. She couldn’t do this. She had to walk away, even if it would break her heart. Because staying and having him continue to push her away, would pulverize it.
He tried to move again, looking uncomfortable. ‘Perhaps you’re right.’ He looked miserable. ‘It would be better for you if we cut ties.’
She gulped as more tears slid down her cheek – watched him track them, waited to see if he’d reach for her, but he didn’t. ‘I suppose you’ve still got Bonnie. She’s far less complicated than me,’ she said quietly.
‘At least she’s not related to my best friend.’ Jed tried to sit straighter. Mairi heard the paramedic shut the drawer, guessed their time alone was coming to an end.
‘That’s not my fault.’ Mairi shook her head. ‘You knew what you were getting into when we married.’
‘But you didn’t. You didn’t sign up for any of this,’ Jed shot back. ‘Quinn’s right – you are naïve. If he ever finds out about us, who do you think he’s going to blame?’ He looked stricken. ‘He’s my family – my best friend.’
‘And I’m yourwife,’ Mairi said softly. ‘At least I was supposed to be. But we never really got to that stage, did we?’ She blinked. This wasn’t going anywhere and more tears were threatening to fall. Tears she didn’t want Jed to see. What would he do anyway? Tell her that he was wrong. Beg her not to walk away? He wasn’t going to do either of those things.
She’d come to Holly Berry Lodge to find out how Jed really felt about her and now she knew. ‘I’m leaving.’ Mairi swallowed, turning away.
‘Mairi,’ he said desperately as she strode back to the ambulance doors and opened them. When she looked back, he was staring at her and there were tears in his eyes too. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I think in time you’ll see this is for the best. You deserve better.’
She gulped. ‘I’ll leave the divorce papers in your room at the lodge,’ she choked, swallowing the waves of grief as they hit, almost flooring her. ‘Make sure you sign them.’ Then she hopped out of the ambulance, into the snow.
Mairi couldn’t see through her tears. All she wanted to do was get away.
She had to leave Holly Berry Lodge. She loved the people she’d met, the cast that had turned her trip into something wonderful, but none of it was real without Jed. Her little community, her new family, had been a lie.
‘Mairi!’ She heard Kenna shout as she blindly strode through the snow.
Her vision tunnelled on a copse of trees in the distance, and she began to head for it. She had to be alone – had to take a moment or she was going to break down in front of everyone.
‘Not that way!’ Kenna screamed as Mairi sped up. She was wearing snow boots, but she still tried to run.
She’d stop. She would. Just as soon as no one could see the emotions of the last year come spewing out.
‘Mairi!’ Quinn echoed Kenna, but Mairi shook her head. She couldn’t handle her brother at the moment. She had to get away. Otherwise, she’d tell him about Jed – or he’d guess.
She ran through a gap in some tape, almost tripping over a sign. Then continued to run blindly until something suddenly hit her hard on her right side, and she went flying.
Mairi didn’t have much time to think or talk. All she could do was gasp as she spun through the air, twisting and yelling, before she hit the ground with a loud thwack and the world went black.
27
JED
Park Rat News
Jed Murray fails again… is it time for him to find a new career?
Jed heard the shouts from where he was lying in the ambulance because Mairi had left the doors open a crack when she’d flown out. He recognised the voices and eased himself upright as he heard Quinn yell, ‘Mairi!’ at the top of his voice. He sounded terrified and Jed felt his stomach drop out of his body.
‘Easy,’ the paramedic said, coming to check on him. ‘You’re still under observation so don’t move.’ She waved a finger looking stern.
‘I need to know what’s happening.’ He ignored the pain as he swept his feet to the floor. He felt dizzy as he tried to stand, but that wasn’t going to stop him. Especially when he heard Kenna scream. ‘Is she badly hurt?’ At the top of her voice.
‘Feck, feck, feck.’ His heartbeat notched up a thousand beats and his blood pumped itself up to a sprint. ‘Something bad’s happened,’ he growled, shoving his suit back up his torso and fastening the front as the paramedic wagged her finger again. ‘I need my boots.’ He searched the ambulance. Where were they?
She shook her head. ‘I’m not giving them to you. You have to stay here for at least another—’ She checked her watch. ‘Ten minutes.’
‘Then I’m going out there in my socks.’ He made for the doors and tried to sidestep the paramedic when she stood in front of him. ‘I think my wife is hurt!’ he said, his voice cracking.
