Page 66 of Not Quite a Scot


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Finley didn’t acknowledge her greeting. “Is he dead?”

She seemed surprised. “No. Of course not. Bella would have contacted you.”

“Then why are you here, Vanessa?”

If Finley had looked at me with that stony gaze, I would have shriveled on the spot. It was possible he was angry, but if so, that emotion was hidden beneath a thick sheet of ice.

Silence reigned as the other woman struggled for words. I tried to feel sorry for her. Knowing what I did of the past, she was on my list of top ten bitches. Sadly, Finley had not lied about her resemblance to me. Vanessa was a slimmer, more sophisticated, slightly older version of me. Actually, it was hard to guess her age. She was definitely older than I expected. Maybe even older than Finley by a few years.

She shot me a look as if wanting to ask me to leave. I started to ease sideways out of the room. Finley took my arm and tucked it through his. His icy calm was preternatural. The man I knew was full of life. Grumpy, sometimes, but vivid and real.

Where my fingers rested on his forearm, the muscles were rigid. He stared her down. “I’ll repeat my question. Why are you here?”

Vanessa’s hands twisted at her waist. The diamond solitaire on her left hand had to be five carats at least. I couldn’t help noticing the way it caught the light. Was that how Mr. Craig senior had lured a younger woman into marrying him? Had he showered her with expensive jewelry and gifts?

At last, she found her voice. “Your father has come to Scotland to make amends with you. I hope you’ll meet him halfway.”

Finley’s lips twisted. “If he’s so anxious to see me, why the hell are you here? Since when does my father need to send out a scouting party?”

Grief darkened her eyes. “Since he’s been too weak from chemo to get out of bed most days. He’s dying, Finley. Your father is dying.”

Finley went white under his tan. “Does Bella know?”

“Not yet. He didn’t want to worry her. The chemo isn’t working. He has a few months at the most, maybe weeks. I wanted to ask you to come home. He said you wouldn’t. So here we are. He’s back at the hotel. We can go there now if you will.”

The naked entreaty on her face almost made me feel sorry for her. Still, my first concern was Finley. “How long will you be here?” I asked quietly. I sensed that Finley was in shock. He would need time to absorb this…both the shock of the visit and the news that his father was on the way out.

Vanessa shrugged. “As long as it takes. You know Donald. He’s the most stubborn man on the planet.”

“Not too stubborn to die, apparently.”

“Finley!” I jerked my arm away, stunned at his callous comment.

Vanessa was less shocked. If anything, her expression carried resignation. “I know how badly we hurt you, Finley. And I deeply regret my part in it. We should have mended the rift long ago. If it makes any difference, I want you to know that I truly love your father.”

“Of course you do.”

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