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‘Yeah, well. I’ve been in a dark place, I suppose.’
‘But you still don’t want to talk about it?’
‘Not really.’ She sighed. ‘Though, to be honest, I guess everyone else in the village knows already. I told Dotty, and I suspect she’d told everyone else.’
‘Oh, for sure. Dotty’s the nexus of all gossip in the village,’ Rory chuckled wryly.
‘Hm. Well, maybe she’ll tell you, then. I’m not really up for talking about it right now. You know that I lost someone very close to me and… it’s not been easy.’
‘I know, and I’m sorry.’ Rory looked over at her for a long moment. ‘I mean, I don’t know the details. But it’s rough.’
Ahead of them, a farm truck was approaching. It was the first large vehicle they’d seen on their journey, and though it was on its own side of the road, it was wide, and Carrie could see that Rory would have to pull over a little to the verge to make way for it.
Yet, he was still looking at her.
‘Keep your eyes on the road, for goodness’ sake!’ Carrie raised her voice in panic.
‘Okay, okay.’ He gave her an odd look and slowed down, seeing the truck and pulling aside just as Carrie had imagined he should.
It wasn’t a big deal. It was just a normal moment, on a road, in a car. Yet Carrie’s heart was banging wildly in her chest.
‘Are you okay?’ he asked, looking alarmed. ‘Because you don’t seem okay. Do you want me to stop the car?’
‘No. Sorry. I’m kind of anxious in cars,’ she said, not wanting to explain. ‘Just carry on. I want to get back.’
‘Okay. I can see that.’
They drove on in silence; Carrie concentrated on the road ahead and on breathing plenty of lungsful of the cool, calming highland air. Neither of them said anything else until they pulled up outside the restaurant.
‘Well, here we are,’ he said.
Carrie opened the car door gratefully and jumped out. ‘Thanks,’ she blurted, then stood there awkwardly, realising that he’d promised to make her lunch and that she’d agreed. And that they still had to get the crates of fruit, veg and herbs out of the car.
She took a few deep breaths as Rory straightened up the jeep. He probably thought she was a complete headcase, but there wasn’t much she could do about that now.
‘You all right?’ he repeated, as he got out of the jeep. ‘What just happened?’
‘Nothing. I told you, I’m anxious in cars, that’s all,’ she said.
Oh, babes, Claire’s voice sighed.What are we going to do with you?
Carrie ignored her sister’s voice.
‘Bring those bags in, if you don’t mind, and I’ll do the crates. They’re a bit heavy.’ Rory picked up one crate, his biceps bulging, and carried it into the restaurant.
Carrie looked away so that she didn’t end up staring at them inappropriately. She followed with a couple of bags of potatoes and dumped them on the worktop. Rory had taken the crates of vegetables he’d brought into the large, cold larder. He went back out to the car and brought in another; Carrie followed and brought back a hessian sack of carrots.
‘That’s a nice top, by the way. Suits you,’ he observed.
Carrie had put on jeans with a white top she’d got from Fiona’s Fashions today; she’d worn walking boots with it, though, so it didn’t exactly feel dressy. The top had a scoop neck and long sleeves, but fitted nicely.
Tight, you mean, Claire’s voice interrupted.
‘Oh. Thanks.’ She dumped the sack on the counter.
‘Now. Are you going to tell me why you’re as skittish as a horse, or will it remain a mystery?’ Rory folded his considerable arms over his chest and gave her a patient frown. ‘You said you’d lost someone close to you. Is that why you’re here? What you’re so upset about?’
‘Yes,’ she whispered.
