Page 71 of A Scottish Country Escape

Oh my god. Could it be Linda Carlucci? I attempted to steady my bubbling optimism. ‘Can I have a guess? You don’t have to tell me.’

Lucy chewed her bottom lip. ‘I can’t. I wish I could.’

Cate placed both her hands on her girlfriend’s slim shoulders. ‘This is really important. It would mean a lot to Elle.’

Lucy’s freckled nose creased in agony. ‘I know. You did tell me what happened.’

Cate’s understanding eyes searched Lucy’s. ‘You don’t have to tell us, sweetheart. Just nod or shake your head if we happen to guess correctly.’

Lucy swivelled her pained expression from me to Cate and back again. She made a deep, resigned sigh. ‘I knew I shouldn’t have said anything. If I lose my career over this...!’

Optimism swelled inside of me. ‘Thank you. So, Lucy,’ I began, ‘Is this Italian name by any chance, Linda Carlucci?’

She screwed up her face. ‘Oh, for pity’s sake!’

Cate and I observed her as she stole a breath. There came a brief nod of her red hair. It was so brief, we were at risk of missing it.

‘Bloody hell! It is! It’s her!’ Once I’d finished hugging and thanking her, I bathed her in what I hoped was my most appealing smile.

She groaned, folding her arms. ‘I take it that means you would like her address as well?’

Chapter Forty-Three

Once Lucy had texted me Linda Carlucci’s address and warned me again that if it came back to bite her on the arse, she would make my life a living hell, I bundled her into my arms.

Once I’d almost cut off her air supply and planted a kiss on her cheek, I hurried away, reeling with excitement.

My mind was frothing over. I had to speak to Dexter. OK, so he sounded as though he’d made up his mind about going back to London, but he should at least know we had acquired Linda’s home address.

If he was adamant about leaving Fir Haven, then there might be a chance that his writing problems could be resolved before he left.

I would just have to confront the fact that he didn’t feel about me the way I did about him.

Remember, Elle, you can’t help who you like. Mum’s words of wisdom drifted through my mind as I made my way back to my car. A crushing sensation came out of nowhere again, sending me into a tailspin.

Tears stung the corners of my eyes. How I wished Mum was here right now. She always knew the right words to say at the right time, whereas Dad wouldn’t say much but embrace me and reassure me everything had a habit of working out in the end.

I got to the end of the high street in a blur and stared down at my car keys jangling in my hand.

Steeling myself, I lowered my bag to my feet in the car park and reached for my mobile. My fingers hovered over my list of contacts. Why was I hesitating? What was the problem with ringing Dexter to tell him that at least we had an address for Linda now? It was a start.

I raised my face up to the icy-blue sky, searching for an answer. What if he thought I was trying to make him stay? I rubbed at my forehead. Good grief, this was bloody ridiculous! No wonder Mum always used to say I had a habit of overthinking things.

I imagined my mum talking to me in that soft, measured way of hers. ‘Imagine the situation in reverse. What would you want Dexter to do? Would you want him to tell you?’

It was a no-brainer.

I rang Dexter’s mobile. I could leave a message. Half expecting his voicemail to kick in, as it had done the past few days, I began to mentally concoct what I was going to say.

But then Dexter greeted me with a hesitant, ‘Hi, Elle.’

I swallowed and began to tell him about where Linda Carlucci lived.

He was shocked and speechless for a few moments. Then he asked where I had got this information, but all I would say was that a friend of mine had come up trumps. I wasn’t prepared to drop Lucy in it and risk her career.

His voice ricocheted from surprise to hesitancy, but he asked if I was OK to go up to Linda’s home right away. ‘I guess there’s no point in hanging around.’

‘Fine by me. Just give me half an hour to get changed.’