by Lisa Hobman
Seth laughed, a loud, head-thrown-back, blood-curdling laugh like some horror movie villain. ‘Oh, you’ve done it now, Mackenzie. You’ve played right into my hands, my friend. I will be pressing charges unless you see sense and seriously consider my offer. I have the best lawyers and you’re going to need every penny you can get your hands on.’ And with his final threatening words he backed away, still smirking.
Mac’s chest heaved and he glanced down at his bloodied chest, shaking. What the hell had come over him? He was the least violent person ever. What the hell? Seth Guthrie was right. He’d played right into the bastard’s hands. His knuckles began to swell and he staggered back in to the van to shower away the remnants of his heinous act of aggression.
*
Cassie
‘Doesn’t anyone knock anymore, Cliff?’ Cassie asked the little dog who was growling at the front door as it vibrated with the force of whoever was at the other side.
She pulled the door open and gasped. ‘What the hell happened to you?’
Seth staggered in through the door and across to the kitchen table where he lowered himself on to a chair. ‘That… that lunatic… All I did was call to pay my respects and he attacked me, Cassie. He attacked me for no reason.’
Cassie shook her head in disbelief. ‘Mac? No… no you must have provoked him. In fact what the hell are you doing in Coldingham again? You were told he wasn’t going to sell.’
He shook his head vigorously. ‘No, you’re wrong. He’d called the office. He said that now he’d inherited his uncle’s property he would be interested in talking. Said he didn’t need both places. I asked when would be the best time to call and he said his uncle’s funeral was yesterday so I simply called there to offer my condolences, bury the hatchet and make a fresh start, Cassie. He’s obviously grieving, but I mean… there’s no excuse for his behaviour. None whatsoever.’
Cassie walked to the sink and soaked some paper kitchen towels in cold water before handing them to Seth. ‘Here, do I need to take you to a doctor… or I could call Doctor Cairns to come here if—’
‘No, thank you, all I want to do is get the hell out of here. I won’t be making any kind of deal with a man who behaves in such a preposterous manner. That’s not how I do business, Cassie. Maybe you should think twice about who you befriend. He’s a vicious animal. And vicious animals deserve only one fate.’
Cassie gasped and clutched her chest. ‘Hey, stop that. I’m sorry he hit you but you can’t say things like that.’
Seth snorted. ‘Oh, for goodness sake, Cassie. I’m talking about suing the bastard not having him put down. God, what do you take me for? How could you even think such a thing? Don’t you know me at all? After all the time we—’ His voice was strained with distress.
Cassie dropped to her knees before him. ‘Okay, it was uncalled for. I… I misunderstood. I’m sorry. Now are you sure you’re okay? I can’t believe he did this to you. He’s just not like that. I don’t…’
Seth reached out and cupped her face with his blood-spattered hand. ‘My sweet poppet. You always did try to see the best in people.’ He sighed. ‘Please, Cassie. Just come home to me. It’s been long enough. Can’t you forgive me? I know I made a stupid mistake. But you’re all I want,’ he whispered. ‘You’re all I need. I promise you that.’ He pulled her closer and the familiar smell of his cologne infiltrated her nostrils; for a moment she was carried away to a time in the past when she adored the man before her; when she would’ve done anything, given anything to him. He lowered his head and gently touched his lips to hers, slipping his hand around her head and forcing her nearer, trying to increase the ardour of the exchange.
She gasped and struggled to get away. ‘No! Seth let go. Stop!’ He freed her from his grip and she scrambled to her feet.
‘Stop teasing me then!’ he shouted. ‘I can’t cope with the mixed messages, Cassie. It’s not fair!’
She shook her head. ‘What mixed messages? I told you ages ago that we were over.’
‘And yet today you kiss me! There’s no wonder I’m confused, Cassie. It’s your damn fault. But I should’ve guessed you’d take his side.’
‘That wasn’t a kiss. It was… it was reminiscence. A momentary lapse in my sanity. And it won’t be happening again. Regardless of what’s happened between you and Mac, you and I are over.’ Her chest heaved and she felt the conflict roll like a tumult inside of her. Why had Mac hit Seth? Had it been provocation? Were Seth’s words true? Had Mac agreed to sell the land? She gripped her hair and closed her eyes. ‘Please, just leave. And please don’t come back, Seth. I need to be left alone now. Enough is enough.’ She opened her eyes and fixed him with a determined stare.
Seth rose from the chair and shook his head. ‘Maybe you should try telling the same thing to your lover. Unless you want to become his next victim,’ he spat the words viciously and threw the wad of bloody tissue in to the rubbish bin beside her fridge. With heavy footsteps he walked out, slamming the door hard behind him.
Once Seth was gone Cassie locked the door, walked over to the couch and sat. She lowered her head and heaved a sigh. When did life get so damned complicated? What did Seth have against Mac? And why the hell had Mac hit Seth? So many bloody questions that she wanted answers to but didn’t at the same time. Maybe staying in Coldingham wasn’t the best idea after all. Maybe she needed a completely fresh start somewhere new where no one knew her. Where Seth wouldn’t find her and where she wouldn’t be confronted with growing feelings and attraction for a man who could potentially be violent.
Chapter Thirty-four
Mac
Sleep evaded Mac the night after his altercation with Seth Guthrie. His behaviour had been so out of character that it had completely unnerved him. He was angry for lowering himself to such a despicable level. He had even struggled to look at his own reflection in the bathroom. Rab would’ve been so ashamed of him and that’s what hurt more than anything. Although… surely Rab would’ve defended Cassie too? But maybe he would have handled it differently. God he wished Rab was here.
Through the night, every noise he heard made him flinch. He was anticipating a visit from the police or a court official to come and issue a subpoena. When nothing happened he still didn’t relax, knowing that Guthrie was the type to strike with his venomous revenge when his prey had been lulled into a false sense of security. As misplaced as his revenge was. He had never once told Guthrie that he and Cassie were an item. But then again, he hadn’t tried to correct his presumptions.
After a fitful night of dozing and fighting with the duvet, he’d risen early and gone around to Rab’s empty house. Walking through the front door for the first time since his uncle’s funeral was difficult. He still expected the man to shout through from the lounge for Mac to get the kettle on. But instead he was greeted with an eerie silence and heaviness in his heart when he realised that everything appeared exactly the same as it had been on that awful day. Not that he really thought that things would look different. He just didn’t know what to feel or expect if the truth be told. All he knew was that he missed the man more than he could express. There was a hole inside of him now that would take some healing. Rab had helped that healing process so much after his parents’ death but this time the healing would be down to him. He would have to get through this by himself.
Rab’s glasses sat on top of the book he was reading. The book lay on the little side table beside his favourite chair. The familiar, comforting smell of home was still detectable and as he closed his eyes he could imagine Rab walking through from the kitchen with a tray full of sandwiches—his favourite food. A lump formed in Mac’s throat as he opened his eyes and walked over to the wall of photographs, proudly displayed for any visitor to see; every one of Mac’s achievements was there from school awards to a photo of him holding his Surf Instructors’ certificate that he had travelled to the south of England to achieve.
One thing was clear, Rab had been very proud of the boy he considered a son. An
d not a day went by that the man didn’t tell him that. After the tragedy of his parents’ deaths Mac could have gone off the rails, become some dropout delinquent, but instead Rab had encouraged him to do something good, something worthwhile. He had never been exceptional academically but he had a good head on his shoulders and with Rab’s help he had discovered a talent for surfing and for passing that passion on to others.
As he wandered around the house he had called home for so long he knew that, at some point, he would need to go through all the paperwork and personal possessions. The solicitor already had the most important documents but Mac was going to be faced with a huge decision about the house. Would he move in? Would he sell? A shiver travelled his spine at that last thought—okay so I won’t be selling. But still, he would have to address these matters at some point soon. But for now, he needed to clear his head.
He left the house, locked the door and went for a jog along the beach, pounding the sand with heavy footsteps as The LaFontaines’ music filled his mind. There was nothing he could do to prepare for the inevitable Seth Guthrie shit storm looming on the horizon. He would simply bide his time and deal with whatever came, when it came. At least he knew it would come and that was something. He felt sure that a man like him would seek some kind of revenge. There would be a court case or an attempt at blackmail. He chuckled when he realised his train of thought. Coldingham, Mac. You teach surfing and live in Coldingham. Blackmail isn’t exactly rife around these parts.
As he jogged, he wondered if Cassie was okay. Had Guthrie visited her after he’d left Mac’s? Was any of what the snake had said been true? Surely Cassie wasn’t such a two-faced bitch? If she was then she deserved an Oscar for her performance because she had certainly reeled him in, hook, line and sinker. Although deep down he knew the truth; that she had been hurt by Guthrie and that her story about the bastard’s ill treatment of her was bona fide. She wasn’t a liar. She wasn’t manipulative. He knew it in his heart. She was caring and sweet and funny. And god he had it bad for her.
He stopped and rested his hands on his knees, his breath heaving from his chest and his pulse thrumming a fast rhythm through his veins. Realisation hit him. He’d fallen for her. This aching in his chest, this need to be near her, to check in on her, to help her. This was love.
Shit. That’s all I need. She comes with too much baggage. Too many complications. I don’t have the energy, he told himself, knowing that his inner monologue was futile. Memories of her face highlighted by the candle flames appeared in his mind. Her smile, her scent and the way she glowed when she talked about her father. She loved fiercely—that one thing was clear—but he knew how damaged she was and that the chances of her giving her heart to him were infinitesimally small.
His chest tightened and he placed a hand over his heart. So this is what it feels like, eh? Un-fucking-requited love. Great.
*
Back home again, he showered and dressed in a t-shirt and board shorts before rifling through the fridge to find something to eat. I really need to do a food shop, he thought as he assessed the meagre contents therein and pulled out a plate with leftover pizza on. He placed the plate down on the table and was about to sit when he lifted his head and spotted Cassie walking in through the gate. Her head was low and her arms were hugged around her body as she walked with purpose. Something was wrong.
She knew about the fight.
Shit. He opened the door and greeted her with a forced smile. ‘Hey. To what do I owe the pleasure?’ Her nostrils flared and she stopped just before the steps up to the van. When she didn’t speak he continued, ‘Are you coming in? I’m just about to eat some cold pizza but you’re welcome to share if you’ve not eaten.’
She lifted her face but struggled to make eye contact. ‘I’m not coming in, Mac. I think we need to talk. Can we go to the beach?’
He kept the smile in place even though he wasn’t feeling it any more. ‘We can talk here if you like?’
She tightened her arms defensively across her chest. ‘No, I think we should go for a walk.’
He nodded, trying to act nonchalant. ‘Sure thing. Let me grab my trainers.’ He walked back into the van and to his bedroom but left his main door open in the hope that she would come in anyway. She was acting weird and he had a feeling he knew why. Guthrie had got to her with more lies.
Once his shoes were on his feet he stepped out of the van. ‘Okay, I’m all yours.’ He held his hands out to his sides as if to show he was unarmed. Her face remained expressionless and she set off walking.
He followed and they walked in silence down the slope only this silence wasn’t like the comfortable ones they had shared in the past. There was an edge of hostility to the air and Mac tried to conjure up something to say to lighten the mood. Words failed him and instead he simply followed Cassie down onto the sand until she came to a halt outside the closed down café. She sat on the small wall that edged the building so he followed suit.
‘Cassie, are you okay? You said you wanted to talk but haven’t said two words to me since we set off.’
‘How did you bruise your knuckles, Mac?’
He glanced down to where the fresh purple tinged his tanned skin. ‘I’m guessing you know the answer to that question.’
Still without looking him in the eye she continued, ‘Why did you hit him?’
Mac closed his eyes for a moment. How did he tell her all the things Seth had insinuated without making her feel cheap and uncomfortable, even though he knew deep down that none of them were true? ‘He said some very cruel and unpleasant things and I lost it.’
She turned to face him now, her face pink with anger. ‘Oh, and do you hit every person who says things you don’t like? Is that the kind of person you are?’
‘No, Cassie. You know that’s not how I am. But… the things he said…’
‘What things? Hmm? What things did he say that were so bad you had to punch him in the face?’ Her voice rose with every word.
He lowered his gaze to the ground. ‘I can’t… I don’t want to repeat…’
‘Whatever, Mac. Bloody hell. You messed him around. You rang him to say you’d sell and then when he came to pay his respects and to arrange a time to talk to you about the land at your convenience you attacked him.’ Her voice trembled and he could hear the disappointment in her words. ‘I thought I knew you but clearly I don’t. I think it’s probably better if I find somewhere else to live. And I think you should stay away from me from now on.’ She stood to leave.
Mac laughed without a shred of humour to the sound. ‘You just can’t let him go, can you? After everything he’s done to you, you still can’t accept that he’s a manipulative bastard.’ His voice began to mirror Cassie’s now as it grew louder. ‘I’ve never said I’d sell my land to him. It’s just more lies, can’t you see that? He’s trying to play us off against one another and you’ve fallen for it. He’s winning.’
She scrunched her brow. ‘But he said that you… and you hit… he said you attacked him for no reason, Mac.’ Her voice was small now as realisation clearly began to dawn on her.
He raised his arms and let them fall to his lap. ‘I wanted to spare you the details of what he’d said. But if it’s what I need to do then I’ll spell it out for you, shall I? If you must know, the things he said were about you, Cassie. He insinuated that you were trying to sleep with me to convince me to sell my land to him. And that would make you a whore, wouldn’t it? Something I know you’re not. He said that you were his little spy, running between us to pass on information. And that every time you had been with me with me you then went home to shag him. That’s why I hit him. Because I knew it was all lies. Every damn word! Unlike you, I trusted the friendship we had. Any doubts I had were so fleeting that I didn’t even need to acknowledge them. I knew he was making shit up to try and get a rise out of me. But you… you’d choose to take the word of that arrogant, stuck up, self-centred prick over mine and that hurts, Cassie. That breaks my fucking heart. I honestly
thought you knew me better. Really knew me. Turns out I was wrong. And to think I’ve gone and fallen for you. What the hell was I thinking? I must be absolutely bloody crazy.’
He pushed himself off the wall and began to walk towards the slope but stopped with his back towards her. ‘Oh no. Oh no, no, no! Please no!’ He cried as he set off running up the hill.
*
Cassie
Still reeling from Mac’s admission of his true feelings and the fact that she’d fallen for Seth’s lies yet again, she watched in disbelief and confusion as he ran towards the slope screaming ‘No!’ at the top of his lungs. She stood but was frozen to the spot for a moment, struck dumb. What had gotten into him? Why had he run away like that?
It was then that she lifted her gaze and noticed the plumes of acrid, black smoke billowing into the early afternoon sky from the direction of Mac’s land.
Chapter Thirty-five
Mac
When Mac reached his van, he was greeted with the horrible sight of a twisted, gnarled, contorted shell of a building. The cloud of smoke initially disguised an awful truth from him, but a gust of wind caused the cloud to shift sideways and to Mac’s horror he could see that Rab’s house was also engulfed in flames. He let out a blood-curdling scream and ran out of the gate and around to his uncle’s house.
The wailing siren of a fire engine gained volume as it approached and with his t-shirt covering his nose, Mac kicked at the front door. After several kicks it flung open and he tried his best to get inside but the heat was so intense that he couldn’t make headway. Every memory of his childhood and his parents lay in that house. The plans for his parent’s cottage, every single photograph ever taken of them, it was all in the burning building before him.
