Chapter 1
Madeleine Green tapped the pencil on the slanted surface of her work desk, trying to concentrate on the design in front of her. Her clients had sent back the plans for the umpteenth time, unhappy with the cost of installing the rainwater collection system that they insisted on. She ground her teeth in frustration. They wanted to make their new house as eco-friendly as possible and yet they were unwilling to pay for it. Didn’t they realize all the adaptations Maddy had suggested would save them money in the long run?
The pencil lead snapped with a crunch.
“Damn,” she muttered, wiping away the dust from her design. She hadn’t realized she’d been pressing quite so hard.
“Whoa!” Helen said with a laugh. “I’m glad I’m not that drawing board. Feeling a little frustrated, are we?”
Maddy raised an eyebrow at her red-haired friend who was working at the next desk in the office of their architectural design business. “Is it that obvious?”
Helen nodded. “Afraid so. You’ve been staring at that design for the last thirty minutes, but I’ve yet to see you make any changes. Am I to deduce from your temper that your clients are still being a little awkward?”
“Awkward?” Maddy exclaimed. “Try downright pig-headed and you’d be closer to the mark.”
Helen pursed her lips and regarded Maddy shrewdly. “Picky clients are par for the course for an architect, and you’ve had plenty of them in the past. I’m guessing that’s not what’s really got you in a bad mood this morning. Is this about Rodric? Is he still hassling you?”
Maddy’s stomach tightened at the mention of her ex: Rodric MacKay. She’d hoped never to hear that name again. In fact, after he’d walked out on her four years ago, she’d thought that’s exactly what would happen. That was until three weeks ago when he’d suddenly started contacting her out of the blue, wanting to make a ‘fresh start’. Did he really think she’d fall for that?
“It’s fine,” Maddy said, waving a hand.
“It most definitely isnotfine,” Helen countered. “Who does he think he is turning up unannounced and demanding to meet? Demanding to see Rory? You need to get an injunction on him or something.”
“He’s notactuallycome anywhere near,” Maddy pointed out, flicking a strand of blonde hair out of her face. “In fact, I haven’t seen him at all. Just letters from his solicitor stating his rights.”
“His rights? He gave up all his rights when he ran out on you! Point him in my direction, I’ll soon sort him out!”
Maddy smiled despite herself. She could always rely on Helen to fight her corner. Her fiery-haired friend might be short in stature, but what she lacked in height she made up for in attitude.
But in reality, this washerfight. She would have to find a way to deal with her ex and it was becoming increasingly likely that it would have to be through the legal route, as Helen suggested. There was no way Maddy was going to meet him. After the way he’d behaved, and the crazy things he’d claimed, she wanted him nowhere near her.
And that went for any other man as well.
“They’re not all like Rodric, you know,” Helen said, as if reading Maddy’s mind.
“I’m sorry?”
“They’re not all like Rodric. You shouldn’t let that arsehole put you off finding love. There’s someone out there for everyone.”
“Is that right? Then where is he, this knight-in-shining-armor of mine? Do you see him anywhere? Do you see a line of men outside my door? No? I didn’t think so. There’s no happy ending, Helen. At least, not for somebody like me.”
She was surprised at how bitter she sounded, so she smiled at Helen to soften her words. “I’ll think of something. Don’t worry about me.” She picked up a new pencil from the holder on her desk. “Right. Let’s see. How to install a rainwater collection system for half the price? This is going to take some creative thinking. While I’m at it, why don’t you tell me how the wedding plans are coming along?”
That distracted Helen nicely. If there was one thing she couldn’t resist talking about, it was her upcoming wedding. Maddy let Helen’s chatter wash over her as she tweaked her design, took bits out, added bits in, and re-costed the whole damned thing.
The afternoon wore away until she finally glanced at the clock and jumped. “How can it be that time already? I’d better get going. You okay to hold the fort?”
Helen waved a hand. “Go. Get out of here. If Mr and Mrs Miller call, I’ll tell them you’ve emigrated to New Zealand. And give Rory a hug from me.”
Maddy gave her friend a nod of thanks, then grabbed her coat and purse from their hook and hurried out the door. Once outside, she paused to zip up her coat against the chill wind. Although it was March, and technically the beginning of spring, winter still refused to loosen its grip on the little Highland townshe called home, and the wind was cold enough to set her teeth chattering. Sticking her hands into her pockets and hunching down in her coat, she hurried down the street.
She spotted her destination up ahead and as she reached it, she slowed her pace. She was a little early.
“My, my, ye look out of puff, my dear,” said a voice.
Maddy turned and saw an old woman standing beside her. Short and round like an apple, she had gray hair pinned into a bun on the back of her head and rosy cheeks that made her look like an elderly cherub.
“Yeah,” Maddy agreed. “Practically ran here.” The old woman was, no doubt, somebody’s kindly old granny come to collect a grandchild, although Maddy hadn’t seen her here before. “Are you waiting for someone?”
