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Emma knew what was coming. It was one of the perils of being married to a criminal lawyer. Especially one who had been working on a high-profile murder case for months.
‘There’s been a delay and I’m having to stay on.’
‘Oh,’ she said. ‘What does that mean exactly?’
‘That I might not get back till Monday or Tuesday . . . we’re still working on a few more witness statements.’
Emma sighed, wondering if this was the universe’s way of helping her get her thoughts sorted out. ‘Don’t worry. I understand. It just means that I may be away before you get back.’
‘I know and I’m sorry, but I can’t walk away now. Not when we’re so close to making a breakthrough.’
Max and his team were actively working on a cold case from fifteen years ago and were representing the mother of a young woman who was strangled in woods in Aberdeenshire.
‘It’s okay, you don’t need to explain. I know this is important and I just hope you get what you need especially for that poor woman.’ She paused and tried to keep things light. ‘As long as you don’t miss the wedding! You will get away for the wedding, won’t you?’
He took a sharp intake of breath. ‘Don’t even joke. There’s no way I would miss it, Emma. I will swim there if I need to.’
She couldn’t help but laugh at that comment, but at the back of her head she could hear the voice growing louder.You need to tell him. You need to say something, it’s only fair that he knows. Her stomach lurched. The irony of being a family lawyer wasn’t lost on her. She always told her clients about the importance of honesty in relationships.
‘I love you, Max,’ she said, desperate to let him know that which she hoped would see them through.
‘Hey, are you okay?’ He’d evidently detected a change in her tone.
She bit her lip. ‘I’m fine. Just a bit emotional about the big day. And I miss you.’
‘I am sorry. If I could be there right now, believe you me, I would.’
‘I know and I don’t mean to make you feel bad. Look, if you’re not due back till Monday or Tuesday then maybe I’ll just head to Arran at the weekend. There’s not much sense in me hanging around here when I could be back home, making myself useful.’
‘Good thinking. And can I just remind you that you are the best thing that has ever happened to me and that I love you and can’t wait to be your husband.’
She smiled, feeling reassured by his voice. For a moment she wondered if she should just blurt it out. But bringing it up on the phone didn’t feel appropriate. It would have to wait until they were both together on the island.
Chapter Sixteen
Kirsty loved being up early. Steve had gone paddleboarding and she was quite happy sitting alone outside with her mug of coffee and listening to the birdsong and gazing at the view of the sea ahead. The salty tang in the morning air and the cool breeze tickled her cheeks. Even though it was early June, some of the trees still had late cherry blossom; clusters of pink flowers gently floated down to the ground like confetti. Beautiful. She closed her eyes and listened to the chirps and tweets of the birds.
‘Hi, Mum,’ said Tom, plonking himself down on the bench next to her.
Kirsty jumped. She had trained the twins to move as stealthily and quietly as they could when leaving for early shifts or returning late from work. She felt proud that they had the prowess of professional marksmen. ‘Good morning, love. What’s up?’
‘Nothing. Just waiting for Becky to do her hair and then we’re off.’
‘You don’t mind being on the same shift as her?’
‘Nah. Not really. When do the aunts arrive?’ He scratched his head and yawned.
‘Good question.’ She pursed her lips. ‘Emma will be here on Monday. And Amy should be here by Wednesday, I think. At least I hope so.’
Amy was still being vague about her arrival, but she said she would make her own way back home. Emma was secretly relieved as factoring in a trip to Glasgow Airport was looking like it could prove tricky.
‘It’s going to be mad around here, isn’t it?’ he said, wrinkling his nose.
Kirsty’s mind was racing ahead to the big day, never mind the lead up. ‘It will be amazing, and we will be so happy to see Emma settled and happy. For as long as I can remember, her life has been all about work.’
‘Well, she’s got a nice life, hasn’t she? Holidays abroad and a nice pad by the water?’
Kirsty nodded. ‘Yes, but that’s just stuff, isn’t it? It doesn’t necessarily bring you happiness . . .’
