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Our hideaway was a refuge, and I wanted to keep it that way.
Valentine squinted down at the boy with him. “Just so happens that Finn and I are going there for a few things. Hop in my car, and I’ll drive. Tobi, have ye met Finn? Finn’s friends with Zander, Avery’s brother. You’ll probably see each other on play dates at their house.”
While the two children gave shy waves, Finn asking if Tobi had seen Zander’s car collection, my attention remained on Valentine. Still, he was trying to protect us.
“You don’t have to do this,” I said softly.
The huge bodyguard looked away, scanning the other parents passing by. “It’s just a rideshare. One fewer car on the road.”
It was more than that, but I relented, moving Tobi’s car seat from my old junker to Valentine’s much nicer vehicle. With the two kids in the back, he put music on, giving them the alternating choice of song. Then we set out.
I wanted to make conversation, but it was tricky with little ears listening. That was fine. Settled in the familiar passenger seat, I formulated a plan to use the trip as a way of sussing out something nice I could do to show Valentine my thanks.
My scheming went awry, though.
At the store, he marched off, not lingering near us and not reappearing until we were done and through the checkout. He and Finn waited by the exit, both standing sentinel like security guards.
Valentine took control of our heavy trolley without comment.
It didn’t escape my notice that neither he nor Finn carried a shopping bag.
The return trip went the same way, the kids choosing songs and singing along, and Valentine studiously not talking.
At the school car park, he transferred our numerous bags into my car, then left without another glance.
Job done, I guessed.
I grumbled under my breath but got us home, parking outside and taking all of our goodies in. Tobi danced inside, switching lights on as she went. The heating timer had the place warming up nicely, and we put away the fridge goods, tins, and packets of food, leaving out the items we needed for the cookies.
Double amounts, because my solitary idea for Valentine was to bake for him.
He liked food, and I was pretty sure a dinner invite would’ve been refused outright. This was the next best thing.
For the following hour, Tobi and I measured ingredients, mixed them up using our brand-new bowl and wooden spoon, then baked two lots of treats in our new oven. Then we madedinner, eating our first hot meal in our kitchen since we’d moved in.
We perched on tall stools at the counter, a picture of Mom on the wall to watch over us, the window beyond us, with exposed stone and white-painted plaster walls, giving way to a gorgeous view down the hill to a river. There was no garden boundary, but it wasn’t needed. Outside the window was our porch—just a roof over a concrete floor, but a place to put seats come summer. Somewhere to sit and look out over the purple heather-strewn Scottish Highlands’ landscape.
My imagination drifted to that happy place.
Every little thing here felt like a gift. A kindness from someone we hadn’t met yet. After Valentine, Daisy, and Ben had revealed the place to us, the owner of the cottage had visited. Gordain and his brother owned all of the land for miles around, and from what I understood, he was Ben’s boss, too. His wife had been by his side with a box of crockery which we were now using, and he’d confirmed the rent and offered us a lease for the cottage which I’d readily accepted. If I worked enough hours, we could afford the place, just about.
We were home.
For the first time in forever, I could take a deep breath, everything in order.
Well, except for my issue with Valentine.
After dinner, while I washed the dishes, Tobi plated up the biscuits with a splodge of icing and rainbow sprinkles on each.
“Do you think everyone will like them?” she asked.
I dried my hands and kissed her forehead, gazing at her handiwork. “Of course they will. You’ve made them so pretty. Shall we take Valentine his?”
“At the bunkhouse?”
I’d told her he’d no doubt move back in after we left. Tobi had loved the place the single night we slept in the bunks, but I wasglad I didn’t need to worry about her wandering out and getting stuck into a mechanic’s station.
“I think that’s where he’ll be. We’ll surprise him.”
