Page 10 of A Scottish Lighthouse Escape

Chapter Five

I lowered Bronte onto her pink-checked blanket on the back seat and secured her in her harness and seatbelt. Her little, furry face peered back at me.

I gripped the steering wheel. My knuckles tensed. I didn’t feel like me anymore. I didn’t think I would ever again.

I picked up my phone once more from the passenger seat and located Mia’s number. I didn’t give her a chance to say anything when she picked up. ‘Just to let you know I’m about to head off to Scotland.’

‘What? Now?’

‘Yes. To my late grandparents’ cottage.’ I swallowed hard, the stars misting over through the windscreen. ‘I need to get away for a bit, Mia. Bronte and me.’

‘I get it,’ she said softly. ‘I do. But please. Let me drive you there. Can you hold fire till tomorrow morning? I’ll come straight over first thing.’

I realised I was shaking my head, even though Mia couldn’t see me. ‘No. Thanks. I need to be on my own.’ I gulped. ‘You understand, don’t you?’

‘Yes. Of course I do.’ She hesitated. ‘Just take it steady, okay? There’s no rush. Just please let me know you get there okay and keep in touch, otherwise you’ll be in my bad books.’

‘I will. Just please don’t tell anyone where I am. I’ll call Joe’s parents and tell them I’m going away for a while, but I’m not even telling them where I’m headed.’

My heart felt like a piece of ripped paper, twisting and turning in the wind.

‘I won’t tell anyone anything, Rosie. Not if you don’t want me to. And don’t worry about your apartment. I’ll hang on to the spare key and keep an eye on the place.’

‘Thanks. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.’

Mia’s voice splintered down the line. ‘Don’t be daft.’ I could hear her fighting back tears. ‘Please give Bronte a hug from me.’

‘I will.’ I paused. ‘Can you tell Lola about all this for me? She’d want to know.’

‘Of course I will. Don’t worry about that.’

I finished the call and jabbed the button that controlled the driver-side window. I took a few greedy gulps of the night air and rubbed my face. Then I clicked the window closed again.

Behind me, Bronte let out a little whimper. She could sense my ping-pong of emotions.

I reached one arm into the back seat and ruffled her warm head. ‘It’s okay, sweetheart.’

I pushed my automatic into drive.

And then, dismissing the tears trickling down my face with the back of my hand, I concentrated all my attention on the road ahead and vanished into the night.

* * *

I managed to put a couple of hundred miles between London and us, before more huge waves of weariness and heartbreak gnawed at my bones.

Even Bronte, snuggled down on the back seat, looked in desperate need of a proper sleep. She let out a couple of Scooby-Doo type yawns.

I located a Premier Inn just outside Leeds which welcomed dogs, and eased into the car park.

For a few moments, I just sat at the wheel, staring out of the windscreen at the streetlamps and the concrete space I was parked in. I couldn’t even remember arriving here.

Bronte let out a couple of irritated barks, which snapped me out of my stillness. I attached her lead and let her have a good wander around. Then I checked us in and gathered our things from the boot.

Our accommodation was small but clean, with dark wooden furniture, red, plump cushions on the king-size bed, and the lights from Leeds dazzling through the long, hessian curtains.

I glanced down at my watch. It was approaching one o’clock in the morning.

I peeled off my jeans and stripey sweater and tossed them onto the floor.