She smiled up at Ross. “And if I were forty years younger, I’d show you a thing or two young man.”
They all laughed and hugged each other.
Chapter Forty-Four
Orkney
Ross was walking home, enjoying the stars and the silence, when he saw what looked like a scarecrow slumped by the side of the road not far from his house. As he got closer, he was horrified to see it was Evie.
She was staring straight ahead, eyes wide open and muttering to herself.
“Evie?” he said. “Evie, love?” He shook her gently, but she just stared at him looking catatonic. Her hands were ice-cold when he touched them. “Hush now, lass. You are freezing. Let me get you into the warm.”
He picked her up and carried her to his house, placed her carefully on the sofa and covered her up with a soft woollen blanket. He didn’t know what to do. She seemed drunk but there was something in her glassy stare and the weakness of her limbs that just didn’t sit right with him. He wasn’t sure whether to call an ambulance but didn’t want to embarrass Evie. He resolved to stay up and watch her for the next few hours, as she fell into a fretful sleep.
He held her hand and lay down on the floor beside the sofa. Looking at her now, so vulnerable and fragile he realised that, despite everything, he still cared for her deeply. There had to be a good explanation for her recent behaviour. He wasn’t goodat analysing his feelings but not for the first time, he wished he had told Evie long ago how he really felt.
He realised with sudden clarity that Amelia was just a distraction, and he was attracted to her because of her resemblance to Evie and, if he was honest, the sex was very good. But he had made a mistake and would need to tell her.
Freya had been dropped off at her house and was sitting with Bette Davis on her lap and a glass of Scapa in her hands. It had been a lovely party. She was sad that Jack and Delima and their kids hadn’t been able to come but she understood completely. The news of the poor whales struggling to survive and the desperation of those trying to help was dominating the news. And although disappointed that Sophia and Finn hadn’t made it home, she was happy they were back together.
She chuckled remembering Andrzej dressed as a very large Minion bursting at the seams. She felt so lucky they had all made such an effort with the food and the decorations. The only niggle was Evie.
Freya frowned and thought to herself, ‘I need to make things right between us. I will have a long chat with Evie in the morning and hopefully we can move on. I hope she will be in a better mood, but at least she didn’t make a scene at the party.’
Freya smiled again to herself, ‘Amelia was the life and soul. I think she enjoyed the dancing more than I did and she picked up those Scottish dance moves so fast. Mind you, that bonnie fella from Whisky Kiss made it easy for us all, counting out the steps so well.’
She yawned and said, “Right, Bette. Us old biddies need to go to bed. Everything will sort itself out in the morning.”
Just as Freya stood up and Bette Davis jumped to the floor, her phone rang and Edwyn’s name appeared on the screen. Freya pressed answer with a sense of dread …
Chapter Forty-Five
The Balfour Hospital
In the wee small hours, Edwyn left Amelia at the hospital. She’d been kept in for observation and he headed back to his own house. When he arrived back home, Kate was sitting at the kitchen table and jumped up as he came in the door.
She gave him a hug and said, “You look done in. I’ll make us some tea. Is Amelia really going to be alright? I can’t believe Evie would do such a thing. I keep telling myself it was all just a mistake.”
Edwyn sat down and sighed, “Amelia told me all about it in the hospital. I had to drag it out of her, though. She doesn’t want Evie to get into trouble. It’s such a mess, Kate. I had to call Freya and tell her Amelia had an ‘accident’. What a way to end her night.”
He rubbed his hand wearily over his tired eyes. “Evie wasn’t answering her phone either and didn’t go home last night. I got Andrzej to swing by to check and there was nobody at her house.”
He gulped down his tea. “Thanks, love.” He looked at her. “I know you were up all night waiting for me, but you should try and get some sleep.” He got up from the table and stretched. “I’m going to have a shower and freshen up. I promised Freya I would drive Amelia back from the hospital in the morning. I know she will be fretting.”
A few hours later, Edwyn drove out of the hospital with Amelia in the front seat wincing every time the car turned a corner. Unsurprisingly, she had been given the all-clear by the medics and her ankle wasn’t even bruised, but she still had an air of martyred suffering about her, that had Edwyn completely fooled.
When they arrived, Freya enveloped Amelia in a massive hug and clucking over her, sat her in the best chair, covered her in a blanket and plied her with hot sweet tea and cake.
“You poor thing. What on earth happened? Edwyn didn’t really tell me anything other than you’d fallen and hurt yourself. I’ve been so worried.”
Amelia looked at her wanly. “It was my own silly fault. I went outside for a bit of fresh air …”
“You mean a ciggie?” said Freya, but she was smiling.
“Well yes, exactly. And I just fell over.”
“It’s those high heels of yours, my girl. They are an accident waiting to happen.”
