Page 96 of A Scottish Country Escape

I unlocked the door to be greeted by Elsa’s anxious expression. ‘I’m sorry to turn up like this but I need to speak to you, Elle.’ Her blue mac rippled as she moved. ‘It’s about Dexter.’

The mention of his name made my heart hammer harder. I knew I shouldn’t get involved again. Snatches of Dexter’s hurt expression, the pain burning in his blue eyes, jumbled together in my head.

Elsa lingered on the step outside Paper Roses. She could sense my reluctance. ‘Please, Elle. It’s very important.’

A few discarded leaves danced past us on the cobbles.

There was a pleading look in her dark-grey eyes.

Ignoring the screaming warning klaxons going off inside my head, I gestured to Elsa. ‘You had better come in then.’

Chapter Sixty

I locked the shop door behind Elsa and indicated for her to go through to the kitchen area.

She watched me switch on a corner light in the hope it might lift the atmosphere a little. The evenings were beginning to get darker a little earlier, now that autumn was knocking on the door.

I lowered myself into the chair opposite her at the table. ‘So, what is it?’

She laced and unlaced her hands together. ‘I know Dexter gives the impression that he’s some sort of indestructible force and that very little affects him and, yes, he did used to be like that.’

‘And now?’

She sank back in her chair. ‘Two young ladies have come into his life and have changed all that.’

What she was saying triggered a pang of pain. ‘That’s good,’ I forced, fighting to sound pleased for him. ‘He and Shelley and Nadia—’

Elsa’s greying brows arched. ‘Who? No, I’m not talking about that money-grabbing madam!’ A glimmer of a smile melted across her pink-frosted lips. ‘I’m talking about you, Elle. You and Nadia.’

My stomach made a whooshing sensation. ‘What?’

Elsa gave her head of crisp white waves a guilty shake. ‘I’ve worked for Dexter for almost seven years now. I know him better than he thinks I do.’ She rubbed her powdered forehead. ‘I know I promised to keep his counsel and be discreet, but he’s making such a huge mistake with Shelley.’

‘She is Nadia’s mother,’ I pointed out. ‘And Dexter is her father. He’s trying to make a go of things for the sake of that little girl. You can’t fault him for that.’

I expected Elsa to agree with me, but she didn’t. Her expression was pained. She shuffled in her seat and let out a sigh. ‘But that’s the while point. There’s something you should know.’

She flashed me a meaningful look. ‘Nadia isn’t Dexter’s daughter.’

I frowned. ‘Sorry? I don’t understand.’

Elsa knotted her fingers together and concentrated as she spoke. ‘Nadia is Jay’s child. Jay is Dexter’s younger brother.’

I turned all this information over in my head. ‘But… but Dexter said she was his.’

Elsa shook her head. ‘He’s her uncle, but he acts more like a father to her than that wastrel Jay ever did. Jay didn’t want anything to do with Shelley when he discovered she was pregnant, so Dexter stepped up to the plate and provided for them both.’ She gave me a small smile. ‘He’s been there for both of them ever since.’

Thoughts flapped around my head like wild birds.

I slumped back in my chair, trying to unscramble it all. So… he was the little girl’s uncle.

‘Dexter insisted on financially and emotionally supporting Shelley Horgan during her pregnancy and once Nadia was born. Then it continued.’ Elsa flicked me a look. ‘Dexter didn’t want it getting out about what Jay had done. He was appalled by his brother just cutting and running like that, so he stepped in.’

I took a few moments to digest what Elsa was telling me. ‘Who knew? Who knows?’

‘Only members of Dexter’s “inner sanctum” know about Nadia. So just his parents and the immediate members of his management team. Oh, and me.’

I took in the surroundings of my shop for a moment, shock and surprise overtaking me again. My heart filled my chest for Dexter. What a caring and altruistic thing to do. ‘But why has Nadia come to Fir Haven with her mother?’