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‘He doesn’t have a girlfriend.’
‘But the girl at the fair. She told everyone that she was his girlfriend.’
Edie’s lips pursed. ‘Well, she isn’t. Wishful thinking on her part.’
‘Though Fergus must have given her that impression?’
She shrugged. ‘None of our business. Anyway, you don’t need to worry about her. She’s away back to the mainland.’
Amelia thought it best not to push things, and she clasped her hands in her lap and focused on the scenery as they drove along the tree-canopied road. When they came round the corner and reached the top of the hill, Amelia gazed contentedly at the view of the Holy Isle. ‘That’s also on my to-do list.’
Edie chuckled. ‘I’m glad to hear it, though I would leave it now until the spring when the crossing will be a bit calmer.’ She indicated to turn into the drive of Coorie Cottage. ‘Home sweet home. And I know someone else who will be delighted to see you.’
‘Molly?’ Amelia smiled.
Chapter Sixty-One
Amelia took her time to unpack her bag and arrange her things in the cabin. All she needed was right here. A wave of excitement rippled through her. This place was home. She stared out the window at the view she would never tire of and wondered how she could ever have left. The last couple of days seemed so surreal.
She still couldn’t get Fergus out of her head and wondered if they would go back to being friends. She felt a flutter of excitement at the thought of seeing him. Yes, she was annoyed he hadn’t exactly fought off Kelly when she’d turned up. She hadn’t thought it would be so hard seeing him with someone else. Perhaps that was why she had been so quick to leave with Declan. Anyway, what right did she have to be jealous? His love life was none of her business, and she would much rather have him as a friend than not in her life at all. She could still be happy without a man to complicate things; this was all about her now and her future. She had to do what was right for her.
She’d left the door of the cabin ajar as she bustled around arranging her belongings, and it was a moment or two before she realised someone stood watching.
‘Oh,’ she gasped, when she glanced up. ‘You gave me a fright.’
‘Are you going somewhere?’ Fergus pointed at her rucksack.
‘Um, no, just sorting a few things out.’
‘You decided to come back?’
‘What do you mean?’ She was surprised at the tone in his voice.
Fergus smiled, but it wasn’t his usual relaxed grin. They regarded each other for a moment, both unsure what they should say next.
‘I heard you were on the mainland . . .’
Thank goodness Edie had given her the heads-up, otherwise she might have been rendered speechless. ‘Yes. I had something to deal with . . .’
‘I thought you’d left,’ he said abruptly, ‘without saying goodbye.’
Now Amelia did feel a bit mortified, as he was correct. ‘Of course not. I wouldn’t have done that,’ she lied.
‘Did you forget something?’
‘What are you talking about?’ She desperately hoped he hadn’t put two and two together.
‘Well, you left.’ He leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded, confusion and sorrow in his eyes.
‘I did. And now I’m back.’
‘You’re not going to London then, with your “husband”?’
Amelia paused as she weighed up how to respond. She wasn’t sure she appreciated his quizzical approach. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, he was obviously here to try to win you back and it seemed to be working.’
She stood with her hands on her hips. She wouldn’t feel happy until she’d cleared the air with him. However, she could have done with a bit of preparation time. ‘Yes, he was here. He arrived out of the blue. You happened to walk in at the wrong moment and read into it. But there’s nothing left of our marriage and that’s not what I want anymore . . .’
