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‘Well, we want to get him out and about so if you’re at Kilnarkie, we could take a walk and meet you.’
Calum ran his hand up the back of his neck. Three weeks ago, he’d made the decision to let Rhona work for him and since then he’d filed the relevant paperwork and drawn up her contract. She’d completed her initial field walk and done everything by the book, but something niggled. The fact she was a Lamond, perhaps. But agreeing to keep it quiet from their families implied they had to keep it quiet from everyone. People talked. Mull was a large island but its population was small enough for people to know people who knew people, especially with Calum’s mum placed at the centre of the web of information. And Will was a notorious gossip.
‘I’m not sure I’ll be at Kilnarkie any time soon, so how about I come around to the house? You won’t want to walk too far with a new baby. Stick to near the village. Keep him close and I’ll come round when you’re free.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Perfectly.’
‘Great. But how come you’re not going to Kilnarkie? What’s happening there? I spotted an excavator and a Portaloo going along that road. I thought it might be for there.’
Calum closed his eyes and ground his teeth. This was exactly the problem. Will lived on the other side of the bay from Rhona’s house. Kilnarkie was further along and round the coast, more exposed to the wild ocean, but it wouldn’t stop Will whipping out his binoculars and checking every delivery that went that way. He’d be well aware there was little else there, making the presence of an excavator and a Portaloo highly suspect.
‘Who knows what you saw.’ Calum paced to his desk. ‘It could’ve been going anywhere. Tomorrow, I have an appointment near you, so how about I drop in about nine? Is that too early?’
‘Are you kidding?’ Will said. ‘If the last few days are anything to go by, nine o’clock is the new four in the afternoon.’
‘Likes to get up early, does he?’
‘Yeah, he hasn’t mastered the art of sleeping for more than an hour at a time yet.’
‘That’ll keep you on your toes.’ Calum rubbed his forehead, checking his online calendar. So much to do. Plus the pile of documents needing filed away. ‘Now, I have to go. I’ll see you tomorrow and I look forward to meeting baby Angus.’
Calum leafed through the papers on his desk, thumbing the copies of Rhona’s certificates, proving she had the credentials for carrying out the work on his land. No point keeping them now. She was a smart woman with all these qualifications. He’d sent details to the local authorities, but he was loathe to discard them completely. Too often he’d ended up having to provide proof of the tiniest details. This time though, when the usual people objected, they could take it up with their own daughter if they didn’t think she was qualified enough for the job.
Thoughts like that kept pouncing on him. She seemed genuine, but he couldn’t allow her to do anything important alone. When she carried out her watching brief the following day, he’d be there, stuck to her like a shadow.
∞∞∞
Stepping up to Will’s door, Calum knocked quietly. He didn’t want to rap too hard in case Angus was in the middle of one of his short naps.
Will peered around the door, ruddy cheeked and beaming. ‘In you come.’
‘It’s very quiet. Is he asleep?’
‘He’s just dozed off.’
Morven appeared at the living room door with a tiny blue bundle on her shoulder, her long dark auburn hair swept over the other side. Calum tilted his head. ‘Aw.’ Where had that sound come from? But the sight was too adorable, Angus’s tiny head resting in the crook of his mother’s neck. ‘He’s beautiful.’
‘Ah, thanks.’ Will clapped his shoulder.
‘And how are you, Morven?’ asked Calum.
‘Knackered.’ She stifled a yawn. ‘But trying to enjoy it. People keep saying to enjoy these early days because they go too fast.’
‘Though they seem very long,’ said Will.
Calum nodded. ‘My mum always saysthe days are long but the years are short.’
‘Probably true.’ Morven indicated for them to go into the living room.
‘I haven’t got you a present yet.’ Calum scanned the room. Every inch was covered in balloons, giant cards, teddies, blankets, and unopened clothes in packs and hanging from the drawer fronts. ‘I thought I’d find out if there was anything you needed first rather than duplicating.’
‘Oh, we’ve got so much,’ Morven said. ‘Everyone’s been so generous but it’ll take forever to sort it out.’
‘I’ve got a card.’ Calum fished inside his blazer and pulled it out. ‘Probably the same one everyone got you. Mum says she’s sold all the baby boy cards and balloons in the shop.’
‘Thank you,’ said Morven.
