Highland Fling (27 page)

Jack had been to visit Kim in hospital a few days after – partly to see how she was but mainly, to show there were no hard feelings on his part – and Ross had been there. A week later, Phil and Jack were in The Mucky Duck when Ross had popped in and Jack, like the true friend he was, had bought Ross a pint. And of course, Ross had joined them all for dinner on Emma’s eighteenth birthday. There was still a frisson of tension between the three men but none of them dwelt on it.

They’d also met up a couple of times in the pub with Pete, Jeff and Steve, who’d all been totally stunned when Ross and Jack had apprised them of all the developments. It was on one of those evenings that Jack had suggested to Ross it was time he moved Kim’s things out of his apartment and they had arranged it for Saturday.

‘Everything’s packed and ready to go,’ Jack said. ‘Are you taking it to your place?’

‘Oh! Um. I guess so. Kim’s staying with her mum for the time being so she’s got someone with her all day, you know, whilst I’m at work, but now the wedding’s rearranged I suppose she’ll be moving in with me after that.’

Phil raised his eyebrows. ‘You suppose?’

Ross stuck out his bottom lip and thought about it. ‘Yeah. I mean, of course she’ll be moving in with me.’

‘You could move into her mum’s,’ Jack said, grinning.

Ross’s eyes shot to Jack’s face. ‘Yeah right!’ he said, grinning back. ‘I’ll pay someone to come and look after her if she still needs care during the day. There’s no way on this earth I’m starting married life living at my mother-in-law’s!’

Jack laughed. ‘I’d put that in a pre-nuptial agreement, if I were you.’

Phil nodded. ‘Me too! I’d also add that the mother-in-law couldn’t move in to the spare room – and I’d get moving on turning it into a nursery.’

Ross became serious. ‘A nursery! God, I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet. You know, the whole, I’m going to be a father bit.’ He dropped on to the sofa.

Jack handed him a mug of coffee. ‘It took me a few days to come to terms with the fact that I wasn’t going to be.’

Ross glanced up at him. ‘I’m really sorry Jack.’

‘Hey no! Don’t be sorry. I didn’t mean it like that mate. It wasn’t a dig at you. I was glad the kid’s not mine. Honestly Ross, I do mean that but still ... it was a weird feeling. One minute I thought I was going to be a father, the next, I wasn’t, and even though I’m pleased, it was all kind of surreal, that’s all. I expect it’ll take a long time for you to get used to it’.

Ross shook his head. ‘I don’t think I’ll really believe it’s happening until I hold it in my arms. I hope it’s a boy.’

Jack smiled. ‘I hope so too but as long as it’s healthy, that’s the main thing. I still can’t believe you’ll be a married man in a few weeks’ time, let alone a father.’

Phil put his empty mug on the coffee table. ‘I can’t believe Kim’s agreed to get married with her leg in plaster! I know it’s a registry office but even so.’

Ross smirked. ‘Yeah, that kind of threw me too. I thought we were going to wait but Kim and her mum had it all arranged within a week after I proposed. I just had to take Kim along so that we could both give notice and they did the rest. I think she just wants to be married now – what with the baby and everything.’

Jack and Phil exchanged knowing glances.

‘So what’s the plan then?’ Phil asked. ‘I know you said the wedding’s on April 4th but are you going away or anything? Bit difficult with her leg in plaster, I suppose.’

‘Actually, we’re not going anywhere. Not just because of her leg but also because of the baby. I know the doctor said she’s okay and the baby’s fine but it was a lucky escape and I just want to be on the safe side. Kim says we can go somewhere exotic when the baby’s a few months old, so maybe next year we’ll do something. I’m not that fussed to be honest.’

Jack smiled. ‘Well, at least you’ve got the wedding day sorted. Must admit, I was a little surprised to get an invite even though you’d told me in the pub.’

‘You ... you’re okay with it aren’t you? I mean we’re not having anyone at the registry office other than family but I ... we ... both wanted you to be at the lunch afterwards. It’s not too weird is it?’

Jack grinned. ‘It’s weird – but it’s okay. To tell you the truth, it would feel more weird to not be there. Just don’t ask me to do any speeches!’

‘I won’t. Thanks Jack.’

‘For what?’

‘For everything, but mainly, for being such a good friend.’

‘Oh God,’ Phil said jumping to his feet. ‘Don’t start getting all mushy. Let’s get Kim’s things in your car and over to your place and then ... let’s go to the pub. I could murder a pint.’

‘Really Max, I’ll be fine,’ Lizzie said, ‘I can’t expect you to stay here any longer. You’ve been marvellous and I really appreciate everything you’ve done but I need to stand on my own two feet. Literally! Although no pun was intended.’ 

They were driving from the registry office in Aviemore, on Jane and Iain’s wedding day, to The Drovers Rest in Kirkedenbright Falls, where a small reception was being held to which all the village was invited.

Max smirked. ‘Very funny. But how will you cope while Jane and Iain are away? They’ll be gone for four days. Why don’t I stay on till they get back? I really don’t like the thought of you here on your own.’

Lizzie sighed. The truth was she would kill for a few days on your own. Max had been wonderful and she wouldn’t have been able to cope very well without him she had to admit, but being in his company for so many weeks now was starting to make both of them feel a little too comfortable.

‘Well I’m not suggesting you leave today Max or even tomorrow, but maybe the next day. Then Jane and Iain will be back a couple of days after that and besides, I won’t be entirely on my own.’

Max glanced at Lizzie. ‘Oh? And what does that mean. I hope you’re not suggesting Alastair will look after you. He’s a dog Lizzie.’

Lizzie grinned. ‘Of course not, although, he can load the washing machine and ... no, I’m not suggesting him. Fraser’s new girlfriend Annie has offered to help out while Jane’s away and I thought I might take her up on it. She’s interested in the hospitality sector so learning a bit about how a B&B runs is a start, sort of. I don’t need carrying up and down the stairs anymore and if I need anything heavy lifted or moved, I’ll ask Fraser.’

Max seemed to be concentrating on the road. He didn’t answer and Lizzie wondered if she had upset him in some way. She was about to ask when he pulled the Land Rover over to the side of the road, switched off the ignition and turned in his seat to face her.

‘Okay,’ he said looking her directly in the eye. ‘I know we’ve talked about this and I know we’ve started divorce proceedings but being with you these last few weeks has been like old times. No.’ He held up his hand, palm towards her like a stop sign, ‘please just let me say this. I know you said you’ll never get over the affair and I understand that, really I do but Lizzie, we are good together. Don’t tell me you haven’t enjoyed the past few weeks – even with a sprained ankle. Couldn’t ... couldn’t we carry on as we are and see if it takes us somewhere.’

Lizzie’s lower lip trembled and she struggled to hold back the tears she’d been fighting with since Jane and Iain’s wedding ceremony. She shook her head sadly and fiddled with the strap of her handbag, not wanting to look at Max’s face.

‘I ... I have enjoyed being with you Max, of course I have. I always do and ... you’ve been absolutely wonderful but that’s not the problem is it? The problem is I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wondering if you might do it again. I know you say you won’t – and I believe you mean it, I really do but something may happen, someone may come along and wham, it could happen again.’

‘Lizzie it won’t. I swear!’

‘No Max! Please don’t. I ... I didn’t want to bring this up and please don’t get cross but ... well, I don’t love you like that anymore.’ She cast her eyes to his face. ‘I do still love you and I think part of me always will but ... I just don’t love you enough. Not enough to take that sort of risk and get my heart broken again.’

Max studied her face. ‘You’ve changed Lizzie,’ he said with a hint of sadness. ‘I realised it when you came down that first weekend, that’s why I agreed to start the divorce proceedings.’ He smirked and took her right hand in his, his thumb stroking the wedding and engagement rings she wore there. ‘I suppose I knew it the moment I saw you’d moved the rings. You’d never have done that unless it was really over in your mind. Funny, for the last two years I think I took it for granted that you’d come back to me, was sure you would and I suppose ... I took you for granted too. I’m so sorry.’

Their eyes met and Lizzie smiled sadly. ‘So am I Max. For the last two years you’ve been able to twist me around your little finger without even trying and I’m not even sure you always realised you were doing it but ... well, you can’t do that anymore.’

‘You don’t blame me for one last try do you?’ The corner of his mouth curved up.

Lizzie shook her head. ‘No. But I think it’s time you went back to London.’

He leant across and kissed her on the head. ‘We’ve got Jane and Iain’s reception to go to first,’ he said turning on the ignition. ‘May I just ask you something – and don’t you get cross either, but, is this because of that stag weekend?’

Lizzie’s guard came up and she tensed her shoulders visibly. ‘What ... what do you mean?’

Max’s right arm rested across the steering wheel and he cocked his head to one side. He tried to sound casual. ‘Just that I know something happened with one of the guys – you admitted as much – but I didn’t think it was serious. You said it was a mistake and I assumed you meant it didn’t mean anything but, did it? Is that what you really meant? It was a mistake because it meant too much? Lizzie ... did you sleep with Kim’s fiancé?’

Her eyes shot to his and he noted the horrified expression on her face.

‘Wh ...’ Words deserted her.

‘My God! So that’s it.’ Max shook his head in disbelief and stared through the windscreen. ‘Did you know? No, of course you didn’t. Did he? I mean,’ he looked back at Lizzie, ‘did he know you were my wife and ... and about the affair?’

Lizzie gasped. ‘No!’ she turned startled eyes to his perplexed ones. ‘He knew nothing about it until I told him that morning.’

‘You told him! Why?’

Lizzie shook her head. ‘Oh God Max. I don’t know! That ... that whole morning was just mad. He said he was going to break off the engagement, then he got the phone call and I thought ... well it doesn’t matter what I thought, then Phil told me about Kim and I realised and, well, like you, I put two and two together and made five and then everything got even more crazy and we said things and ... well, anyway... he didn’t know until I told him.’

‘Wait a minute. Go back a bit. He said he was going to break off the engagement?’

‘Oh God! Me and my big mouth. Forget I said that Max. It ... it doesn’t matter now anyway.’

‘I think it would matter to Kim! And, quite frankly, it seems to have mattered to you too!’

‘Oh Max, please. They’re having a baby. What use is there in talking about this?’

‘I just want to know, that’s all. You really care about him don’t you? Does he feel the same?’

‘Max!’ Lizzie shrieked. ‘Let it go! It’s over. It was just one night for heaven’s sake.’

‘One night that seems to have changed your life, Lizzie. One night you can’t seem to forget!’

‘Okay Max! Yes I care about him. I care about him so bloody much that it hurts even now, four weeks later. I care about him so much that I want to go to London and shout it from the Bank of bloody England. Don’t marry her, I want to yell. Leave her and the baby. Come back to me! But I don’t and it wouldn’t do any good if I did. He couldn’t give a damn about me – and he’s going to marry her and there’s not a bloody thing I can do about it! Okay? Happy now?’

Chapter Seventeen

‘There you are! We were starting to get worried,’ Jane said when Lizzie and Max arrived at The Drovers Rest half an hour later. ‘Is everything okay? You look ... like you’ve been crying.’

‘I always cry at weddings, you know that,’ Lizzie said hugging Jane. ‘We ... had a problem and had to pull over for a while. Nothing serious. All okay now. So, how are you ... Mrs. Hamilton?’ Lizzie held hands with Jane and stood back a step. ‘You’re looking pretty radiant.’

Jane laughed blissfully. ‘I’m feeling pretty radiant! I can’t get enough of being called Mrs. Hamilton. Come and have some champagne. Oh, by the way, thanks for that Max. It was really kind of you to pay for six cases of it! I’m not sure I’m going to be very sober on my wedding night.’

‘My pleasure,’ Max said kissing Jane on the cheek. ‘And congratulations. Iain’s a very lucky man.’

Jane shook her head. ‘I’m the lucky one Max believe me. Come on. Let’s get this celebration well and truly started.’

Lizzie and Max followed Jane to where Iain was standing, beside the three tier wedding cake Lizzie and Jane had made. He was in deep conversation with his son Fraser but his eyes lit up with love when Jane approached.

‘I was wondering where you’d got to,’ he said, pulling Jane into his arms and kissing her on the lips, ‘thought you’d had second thoughts and run off with someone else.’

Jane laughed. ‘You won’t get rid of me that easily. I went to see if I could see Lizzie but she walked in just as I got to the door. I was getting worried.’

Iain leant forward and kissed Lizzie on the cheek. ‘What happened to you? You left the same time we did.’

‘Slight problem,’ Lizzie said, ‘all sorted now. When do you leave for your honeymoon? Jane says it’s all a big secret.’

Iain nodded. ‘Aye it is. Just waiting for a fair wind.’ He winked at her.

Max grinned knowingly.

‘You know something don’t you?’ Jane said seeing Max’s grin.

Max gave her his most disarming look. ‘Not a thing,’ he said as Iain handed him a glass of champagne.

‘Somehow,’ Lizzie said, ‘I don’t think I believe you.’

Max’s eyes met hers. ‘Story of our lives,’ he said, ‘Excuse me.’ He brushed past her and beckoned Iain and Fraser to the bar.