Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
As devastated but unsurprised as I was by Fyfe’s inability to love me, I couldn’t have it coming between him and Lewis. The problem with loving someone was that you wanted them to be happy even if they couldn’t be happy with you. Lewis was Fyfe’s family. I couldn’t be the reason that was taken from him. I was biding my time before I urged Lewis to mend fences with his best friend.
I said as much to Callie as I accompanied her and Harley to the doctor’s office. My beautiful wee niece was already fifteen months. She was a heavy, warm weight in my arms as she snuggled against my chest, coughing now and then, as we walked into the small general practitioners’ building. Harley had a cold that wasn’t shifting, so Callie was done being anxious about it and wanted to see a doctor.
“I agree.” Callie held the door open to the reception area. “But you have to give Lewis time.”
“Three weeks is plenty of time. It’s not like Fyfe and I slept together behind his back. I told a man I loved him and he rejected me. He shouldn’t be punished for that,” I said with a calmness I didn’t feel.
Callie shot me a look that said she could see right through me. “He hurt you, and Lewis and I take people hurting you very seriously.”
I lowered my voice. “Fyfe can’t help his feelings.”
Callie stopped us, smoothing a hand over her daughter’s back as she whispered harshly, “He can help denying his feelings to protect himself.”
“What does that mean?”
She pressed her lips together in contemplation.
“Callie … you can’t possibly want Fyfe to lose the only family he has over this?”
Her expression fell. “Of course not. And he won’t. Lewis just needs time.”
With a sigh, I nodded, and we walked over to the receptionist to announce ourselves.
After Callie checked in, we took a seat at the back of the quiet reception area and Harley started wriggling in my arms. She made a few whimpering noises before announcing loudly, “Bah mum mum!”
“She wants her mummy.”
My sister-in-law took her daughter and rubbed her cheek against hers. “I’m here, my darling,” she soothed. “I know, my baby girl, but Mummy is going to make the doctor make you all better again. Yes, yes, my sweet girl.”
I experienced a pang of longing watching Harley smile at her mother’s affection and cuddles. Even as poorly as she felt, she was happy to be in her mum’s arms. It wasn’t like I wanted kids right this second, but after watching how well Callie and Lewis had adapted to parenthood, I thought it might be nice to have kids in my late twenties. While I still had energy like they did. Mum hadn’t been too bad when she had Mor because she was still pretty young, but Dad was in his forties and I remember the new-baby tiredness hitting him hard.
Problem was, I’d have to meet Mr. Right soon if I planned to start having children in the next few years. Despite everything, Fyfe’s face still popped into my head at the thought. It hurt. Now I knew for a fact he wasn’t my Mr. Right. I had to keep looking.
“Have you heard from your friend Jasper?” Callie asked as Harley snuggled her face against her mother’s neck and closed her eyes.
I brushed my knuckles over her soft but slightly reddened baby cheek before I answered, “No. I tried texting and calling, but I think he’s blocked me.”
“I’m sorry, Eilidh.”
“There’s a part of me that’s so mad at him for treating me this way … but another part of me that just wants to give up trying with him. I’m tired of chasing after people who don’t want me.”
Callie searched my face, considering. “I think in his case, perhaps it’s time to let go. In the case of certain other people … I never told Lewis this, but I saw the way Fyfe looked at you at our wedding and I knew.”
My pulse leapt. “Knew what?”
“It’s not just an attraction for him, Eilidh. He watched you that night and it … well, it reminded me of the way I catch Lewis looking at me.”
This time that flicker of hope terrified me. “Callie, don’t.”
Whatever she heard in my voice caused regret to flash over her pretty face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to muddle the waters with my observation.”
“It’s fine.” I was a wee bit breathless as I tried to coach my heart to ignore what she’d said.
“Harley Adair?”
We both glanced up to find an attractive man with dark blond hair and a warm expression standing in the middle of the reception. He dressed similarly to Fyfe and wore an expensive shirt and suit trousers, the shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows showcasing strong forearms.
Who the heck was he?