Rory didn’t have time to answer. Drew threw his arms up in the air, ‘Oh bloody marvellous, now I’m going to be landed with a vet’s bill for an animal we don’t even own … Isn’t life just great?’
‘I don’t think it’s much fun for the alpaca either,’ Isla answered, throwing Drew a dark look.
‘Have you got the money to pay for this?’ asked Drew, his lips flatlined as he stared at Isla. ‘Did you factor in the extra costs when you bought these animals?’
This was the breaking point of Isla’s patience and, before she could stop herself, she hurled the towels she was carrying right at Drew. He stared at her in amazement. In all the years they’d been married she’d never lost her temper like this before, but this time he’d pushed her to her limits.
‘You know what …’ she threw her arms up into the air. ‘Rory, book the scan, and you …’ she pointed at Drew, ‘dry off the animal before she dies of pneumonia, and Fergus …’ she took a breath, ‘I’m sorry you have to work with such an unreasonable individual. He’s being a total idiot and I wouldn’t blame you if you decided to find another boss. God knows, I’d love to do the same!’
Having the last word, Isla tossed back her hair and stormed out of the stable block without as much as a fleeting glance behind her.
Chapter 11
With the anger flowing through her veins, Isla found herself standing outside the pub, dripping wet. She thumped on the door and was taken aback by her own strength. Since she’d flounced away from the farm her phone had been ringing constantly … seven missed calls from Drew. She switched it off and plunged the phone into the pocket of her overalls. ‘Go away,’ she muttered under her breath. ‘Leave me alone.’
Thud … thud … thud …
Isla banged hell out of the door again.
‘Hold your horses, we aren’t even open yet,’ bellowed a disgruntled Allie from inside the pub. ‘Who is it?’
‘Allie, it’s me.’
Isla waited, shielding herself from the rain under the porch as the bolts clanged and the key jangled in the lock.
As soon as Allie opened the door Isla was overcome with emotion and burst into tears.
‘Whatever is the matter? And you’re drenched.’
‘I hate him … urghhhhhh.’
Allie was taken back; it took a lot to rattle Isla, who was usually the level-headed one of the group, hardly ever lost her temper and always saw the good in every situation.
‘Hate who?’ asked Allie, bewildered.
‘Drew … he makes me so mad.’
‘Drew? Don’t be daft, you don’t hate Drew.’
‘I do … I bloody do and especially at this moment in time.’ Isla was that mad, she was tripping over her words. ‘And I’ve left the kids with Gran, but I can’t face going back just yet.’
‘Isla, breathe,’ insisted Allie, pulling out a bar stool. ‘What on earth is going on?’
Isla peeled off the top of her wet overalls before tying the arms around her waist, then she plumped herself down on the stool, and with her arms folded on the bar she stared at Allie.
‘At the minute it’s about alpacas, but that’s not how it all started.’
‘And how did it all start?’
‘You know what, Allie, I’ve no idea,’ said Isla, feeling frustrated. ‘I think he’s fallen out of love with me.’
Allie narrowed her eyes, and the two women stared at each other for a moment before Allie broke the silence. ‘You need a drink.’
‘Large G and T, please.’
While Allie was pouring the drink, Isla updated her on the morning’s antics. She listened and slid the gin across the bar.
‘It’s like his body and mind have been taken over by aliens. He looks like Drew, but he doesn’t act like the Drew I know.’
‘Do you think there’s more to this than the alpacas?’
‘I do. Allie, my marriage is in trouble and I really don’t understand the reason why.’ Isla was close to tears again. Every possible scenario had been spinning around inside her head. Was Drew cheating? Did he not find her attractive anymore? Had they grown apart? Was he hiding something from her? Isla was beginning to drive herself insane with worry. To everyone else they seemed the perfect couple. In the past her friends had joked that they wanted to bottle the special kind of love that they shared.
Allie’s phone buzzed with a text message. ‘It’s Rory, he’s checking if I’ve seen you. He says he thinks you might need a friend right now.’ Allie turned the phone towards Isla so she could read the message.
‘Bless him. I did flounce off after throwing a pile of towels at Drew.’
‘You threw some towels at Drew?’
‘I’m feeling ashamed about that now,’ admitted Isla. ‘But he made me so mad! I kind of lost control and I’m not proud of that, but the way he was talking to me …’ Isla’s voice trailed off as she wiped away more tears that were rolling down her cheeks.
‘Rory mentioned that the Kerr brothers are about to be released from jail, but surely they aren’t going to show their faces around these parts again. They wouldn’t have the nerve.’
Isla drained the gin from her glass. ‘Of course they would. What do they care about anyone or anything? If I had just been released from jail and someone was handing me Clover Cottage, Clover Farm and a prize-winning herd of alpacas for absolutely nothing, I would think I’d won the lottery. I wouldn’t give two hoots what anyone thought of me.’
Isla knew she couldn’t predict the future and yes, she was feeling stupid and helpless about her decision to hand over such a large amount of money before making more checks on David O’Sullivan. Drew would have insisted he visited the farm to view the alpacas in their environment as well as asking Rory to give the herd a quick once over, but Isla didn’t need reminding what a mistake she had made, especially by Drew and in front of their friends.
‘We were a team once,’ Isla sighed. ‘But now I feel like we are worlds apart.’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘I don’t know, I haven’t thought that far ahead,’ Isla answered, digging deep in her pocket and switching her phone back on. The second it received a signal it pinged in quick succession with text messages.
‘Gran’s in the teashop looking for me. I feel even more awful now, leaving her with the boys.’
‘She’ll understand, and whatever is bothering Drew, it will come out in the wash. He can’t keep it bottled up forever. Remember, this is good old dependable Drew we are talking about.’
Isla nodded, but wasn’t convinced. She hadn’t seen good old dependable Drew for some time now.
‘Go home and talk to him tonight.’
‘I’ll try, I know I need to apologise for throwing the towels at him, at least.’
‘The way he’s behaving, I’m surprised you didn’t beat him with a pitchfork.’ Allie walked around the bar and hugged her friend. ‘Love isn’t always easy, it’s not always hearts and roses, but I’m always here for you.’
‘I know,’ said Isla, feeling close to tears again. ‘Thank you. I better go and face the music.’
Isla stood in the doorway of the pub and exhaled. Slipping her arms back inside her overalls, she shivered. Her dark mood was a perfect mirror of the black sky grumbling above. As Isla ran from the pub there wasn’t a soul in sight and the rain lashed down, soaking her through in seconds as she headed towards the teashop.
The only thing on her mind was Drew. Allie’s words playing over in mind, love isn’t always easy.
In all of their married life Isla had always been willing to compromise and she’d stood by every decision Drew had made – even the terrible ones. There was no need for him to treat her this way, even though she’d made a mistake buying the alpacas. She was a person with feelings too, but somehow in the last few weeks she felt Drew’s feelings towards her had changed irrevocably. He’d crossed the line, raising his voice at her the way he had, and she wouldn’t stand for it. She thought they were good together,
understood each other, but after today, Isla knew this wasn’t the way love should feel. She’d lost a little respect for him, and not only that; possibly a small piece of her heart too.
Chapter 12
Isla shivered as she pushed opened the teashop door. The wind and rain had whipped furiously through her hair as she’d pushed it back out of her eyes. Felicity was issuing the bill to a group of ramblers sat on the comfy sofas in the corner of the shop, while Rona battled with the coffee machine. After dropping Finn off at school, Martha was sitting reading a magazine, enjoying a pot of tea while Angus was quite happily chomping on a teething ring. The teashop was busy, the serious hikers all kitted out in the latest walking fashion. Without a doubt the hiking shop over in Glensheil made a small fortune from the walkers that frequented Heartcross Mountain.
‘Are we ready?’ bellowed a confident elderly gentleman who stood up and banged his walking poles on the floor. ‘The storm is coming, so make sure you stick with a partner.’ He sounded like a sergeant-major rallying together his troops.
Isla quickly moved out of the way as they trundled out of the shop. Martha looked up and spotted her. ‘About time, do you not answer that phone of yours? And look at you, you’re drenched.’
‘I know. I’m sorry, Gran, for leaving you in the lurch, it’s brutal out there,’ said Isla, catching her breath as she sat down.
‘This weather is sticking around for a couple of days according to the latest weather reports,’ added Rona, who appeared at the side of the table. ‘Can I get you anything, Isla?’
‘Just some tea, thank you.’
Once Rona had left the table, Martha leant towards Isla and discreetly sniffed.
‘Gran, what are you doing?’ asked an embarrassed Isla, looking suitably offended.
‘Have you been drinking?’
‘Just the one. I needed it.’
Martha eyed her granddaughter carefully. ‘Is this what you and Drew are arguing about? Have you got a drinking problem?’
For a second, Isla was stunned and shook her head in disbelief. Martha was waiting for an answer.
‘I’m here to help, you know. You can tell me anything.’
Isla opened her mouth, but no words came out. Feeling humiliated and hurt, finally Isla spoke. ‘I can’t believe you, Gran. I have not got a drinking problem,’ she shouted louder than she’d intended, causing the customers in the teashop to look over in her direction.
‘Shush now, keep your voice down, we’ve had enough scenes caused already today,’ Martha soothed, patting Isla’s arm gently.
Almost immediately, a worried Felicity appeared at the side of the table. ‘Is everything okay?’
‘Oh, absolutely hunky-dory. My husband has lost the plot and I’m the worst wife in the world, and apparently now I have a drink problem.’
Felicity glanced between Isla and Martha, clearly worried about her friend.
‘Felicity, can you leave us for a moment, please?’ asked Martha with a polite but firm tone.
Felicity looked towards Isla for confirmation, who rolled her eyes while nodding.
‘Drew’s told me, Isla. He said you were violent towards him today and that sometimes, very early in the evening before he’s home, you have a glass of wine and rinse the glass out, hoping he doesn’t notice.’
Isla couldn’t believe what she was hearing. ‘Violent? That’s stretching the truth. As God is my witness, my husband spoke down to me in front of my friends, so yes … I admit he pushed me to my limits, and I flung a pile of towels at him … That does not make me a violent person or an alcoholic,’ fumed Isla.
‘And as for having a glass of wine in the evening, why not? I don’t smoke, I rarely go out, and after coping on my own with two small children and a boring mundane routine every day, it relaxes me. And why the hell am I feeling the need to explain myself? I’m a grown woman. So, I like a glass of wine while I’m cooking the dinner, nothing more, and nothing less. I’m hiding nothing and don’t give me that look like you know best … because …’ Isla was physically shaking with anger. ‘And he’s turning you against me now,’ she said, feeling frustrated.
‘He’s doing no such thing,’ Martha squeezed Isla’s hand. ‘And I’m not taking sides, but you have to admit it’s out of character for you to throw something. Don’t go getting upset.’
‘What do you expect me to do, sit here and laugh about it all? Did Finn get to school okay?’
‘Yes, but he’ll start picking up on the tension in the house, kids aren’t daft.’
As Isla picked up the menu which she knew off by heart she pretended to look over it to give her time to gather her thoughts. She couldn’t quite believe how her morning was panning out.
Isla wished that, whatever was bothering Drew, he would get it out in the open sooner rather than later, but she knew tonight they were in for a hell of a time. Whether he liked it or not, she was going to have it out with him once and for all.
While Isla was perusing the menu, Felicity visited the table again. ‘Is it safe to come over now?’ she asked, keeping a careful eye on them both.
Before they could answer a sudden fierce gust of wind funnelled in through the door where a man stood, grinning from underneath his dripping wet hood.
‘Now that’s a storm and a half brewing out there.’
Isla and Felicity looked over towards him.
He was undeniably good looking, with a mane of blond hair swept back from his tanned face, a chiselled jawline and piercing blue eyes.
‘And it doesn’t look like it’s passing anytime soon. We’ve not seen you around these parts before,’ pointed out Felicity.
The guy gave her a cheeky smile. ‘I’m Nate, and my guess is you are Felicity.’ He stretched out his hand while an amazed Felicity shook it.
‘Do I know you?’ she asked, looking confused.
He towered above her, his bright-blue eyes looking down at her. There was a softness to his gaze and a gentleness to his voice.
‘Where have you come from?’ she enquired. ‘I kind of detect a slight Irish accent.’
‘And you’ll be right,’ he answered, not giving any more away. ‘You’re the legendary girl who single-handedly raised the money for the temporary bridge. I’ve seen you on the news quite a lot,’ Nate replied and Felicity blushed.
‘All I did was post a video … actually I didn’t … but that’s another story,’ Felicity paused, thinking of Esme who had accidentally uploaded the video that had started the fundraising. ‘Anyone would have done the same.’
‘But they didn’t, did they?’ added Rona, feeling proud of her daughter. She put her hand forward, ‘Welcome to Bonnie’s Teashop.’
‘And you must be Bonnie?’ quizzed Nate.
‘Rona, I’m Rona … Bonnie was my mum, she’s sadly passed away … and this is my daughter Felicity, as you already know.’
‘Surely not … you two could be …’
‘Sisters,’ chipped in Martha in a sarcastic tone. ‘Full of the Irish charm,’ she added, laughing.
‘Take a seat, Nate, and I’ll get you a menu,’ Rona said, smiling at Martha comment.
‘May I?’ he asked, looking directly at Isla and pulling out the empty chair next to her.
‘Be my guest.’
He peeled off his sodden coat and stretched his shoulders, his muscles rippling along his damp skin. He placed his phone on the table in front of him, and Rona handed him a menu. ‘Can I get you a drink?’ she asked.
‘Coffee would be great … thank you. You have a wonderful place here, such a quaint little teashop, and quite famous, I believe,’ said Nate before ordering a sandwich.
‘What brings you here? Looking to hike the mountain?’ asked Felicity, placing his drink in front of him.
‘In this weather, not a chance.’
‘It takes a few hours to hike to the top … but it’s worth every step.’
They all looked towards the window, and the sky seemed darker and unwelcoming. Through the haze of
the rain the mountainous terrain was barely visible.
‘It is truly impressive, fancy waking up to this spectacular scenery each day,’ said Nate. ‘I’m actually here looking for work. Would you pass me the sugar, please?’
Isla nodded, handing him the bowl.
‘Work, you say?’ asked Martha.
‘Due to the coverage on the news I thought there may be an increase in tourism? Maybe some jobs going?’
‘Believe me, tourism has increased, Julia at the B&B is turning people away left, right and centre, but as for work, most of the businesses in Heartcross are family run … just like this place,’ said Felicity.
‘What about farming?’
‘Isla’s your girl.’ Felicity nodded towards her friend.
‘Isla, what a lovely name,’ Nate looked towards her.
‘Sorry, there’s no jobs at our place.’
‘Just my luck. Can anyone recommend somewhere to stay this evening?’
‘If you turn left at the bottom of Love Heart Lane, Julia’s B&B is on the right,’ said Isla. ‘And if Julia is full, I’m afraid you’ll have to head over the bridge into Glensheil.’
‘Thank you. I’ll try Julia’s B&B.’ said Nate, sipping his coffee.
‘Look at that rain,’ said Isla, glancing once more towards the window. She knew she had a hundred and one things to do back at the farm but didn’t relish the idea of walking back in the torrential rain.
Angus was still happily chewing on his teething ring, his bib soaked with all the dribble. ‘Pass him over, Gran, there’s a clean bib in his bag.’
‘And who is this fellow?’ asked Nate, smiling towards the baby.
‘This is Angus,’ answered Isla, dropping his bib. Nate caught it and handed it back to her.
Nate grinned and tousled the boy’s hair.
‘We need to make a move soon,’ said Martha.
Isla was reluctant to move, she didn’t want to bump into Drew just yet but knew she needed to rally some enthusiasm together, otherwise she’d be sat there all day.
‘I thought we were done with this bad weather,’ chipped in Flick, staring out of the window.
Foxglove Farm Page 9
