Chapter Twenty-Four
Orkney
Amelia came out of the hairdressers and into a beautiful sunny afternoon; heavy clouds fat with rain had threatened to scud in from the west but had held off for now.
She went to the deli to buy essentials for Freya. Fresh crusty bread, butter and cheese, ground coffee and full-fat milk, and was waiting to pay at the counter. Someone tapped her on the shoulder.
“Hello, Evie.” It had taken Ross five minutes of walking up and down the street in front of the shop before he had the nerve to approach the woman he thought was Evie.
When Amelia turned round and smiled, he found himself completely on the back foot. “Sorry to disappoint you, Ross, it’s Amelia. We met at Evie’s gallery. Remember?”
He stuttered his apologies.
“You look so like her, especially with the hair and everything, and that’s just the kind of outfit she would wear.” But not those daft shoes he thought. They are totally impractical for cobbled streets and walking through fields.
Amelia put on a sad face. She knew just how to play this one. “It’s really nice of you to say that. I just admire her so much and I think she’s so beautiful and I suppose I want to be just like her. But I don’t think she likes me. I feel sopathetic.” Amelia managed to squeeze out a tear that trickled down her cheek.
Ross had no idea how to cope with a crying, emotional woman and frantically looked round for help, eventually saying desperately, “Here, let me get your shopping and I can carry it for you.”
“You are so kind,” said Amelia. Ross was busy paying for her groceries so didn’t see her triumphant smile. “Why don’t you let me take you for a drink? I don’t really have any friends here and it would be lovely to get to know you.”
Ross couldn’t think of an excuse and found himself agreeing but only if he paid. In the trendy bar, Ross bought her a glass of red wine and a pint of orange juice for himself which he gulped nervously.
“I don’t drink much,” he said, “To be honest, I’m snowed under with orders. I just came into the toon to get my mum’s favourite sweeties. She’s virtually bedridden now, but she loves her peedie pokes of Soor Plooms and Clove Rock.”
Amelia had no idea what he was on about but she smiled at him and said softly, “I really admire that you take care of your parents, Ross. It must be tough on you.”
“Och, no. It’s fine. They are no trouble at all. And I get a lot of help from friends and neighbours. We’ve got cracking carers who come in every morning. The auld yins want to stay in their own house and that’s not too much to ask after they spent so many years bringing me up and teaching me the ropes.”
He went on, “My dad was a brilliant craftsman until the arthritis struck him down, but he taught me all he knew. I learned from the very best there is.” Ross was taken aback. This was about the longest conversation he’d had with a woman that he could remember, apart from Evie, of course. Usually when a girl chatted him up in a pub, he looked for the nearest exit.
He never opened up like this or talked about his parents, but he felt himself relax with this woman who reminded him so much of Evie.
Amelia gazed at him, her bright green eyes full of admiration. “I have seen your work, Ross, and it’s so beautiful. I’d love to own one of your chairs. Maybe when you aren’t too busy you could show me round your workshop and I could choose the designs that I like best.”
He smiled at her. “Of course. It’s a date.” He blushed and blurted, “Well, not a date. But you know what I mean.” He took a large slurp of orange juice to hide his confusion.
“Course I do,” she laughed teasingly. “Anyway, I am sure you are already spoken for.”
Ross blushed. “I’m not actually. To tell you the truth, I’ve never really had a proper girlfriend. I was always too busy working and I’m not good with women. I never know what to say to them.”
“Well, you know how to talk to me,” said Amelia. “I’ve really enjoyed our conversation.”
Ross smiled again, his cheeks blazing, and looked down at his feet. “You know, I thought there was something between you and Evie, before she put me straight,” smiled Amelia.
He frowned, “I haven’t seen her much recently. Well, not properly. We seem to always be missing one another.”
“Like ships in the night?”
“Exactly.”
Amelia sighed. “Well, there might be a reason for that, Ross.”
“Really? What?”
“I hear she has a new man in her life. Someone from her past. I don’t really know much about it as she hasn’t said anything to me, but I did overhear her on the phone talking to someone and well …”
“Go on,” said Ross.
