Josh resisted the urge to thump his forehead on the bar. Apart from the fact he would have to look up the word agnostic when he got home, he really didn’t want to talk about church. “Have you seen Caroline or not?”
Dougal looked around to make sure no one was listening. The action made the hairs on Josh’s arms stand to attention. Dougal leaned towards him and lowered his voice. “You’ve only just missed her. She came in not ten minutes ago to pick up her order. If you hurry you can catch her at Patrick’s house.”
Josh stilled. Order? Patrick? “Caroline is with a guy?”
Dougal nodded. “Every Sunday afternoon, regular as clockwork. But keep it to yourself; she doesn’t want anyone to know.”
Josh felt the muscle at the corner of his jaw tick. She accepted his proposal when she had a standing date with some other guy? He couldn’t keep the growl out of his voice. “How do I find this Patrick?”
Dougal considered him for a moment before nodding to himself. With a twinkle in his eye, the bar owner gave the directions he needed, and Josh shot out of the pub. Forgetting all about paying the man or eating the food he’d ordered.
Ten minutes later, Josh was confused. Dougal’s directions had led straight to Shady Pines nursing home. Someone with a sense of humour had named the place, because it was nowhere near shade or pines. The building looked a lot like the community centre, the same utilitarian cube structure from the seventies. The same grey walls. And the same complete lack of character.
The woman at the front desk seemed to be expecting him. “Dougal called. She’s in room five.” She pointed down a puke-green corridor.
Josh followed her direction, passing several open doors along the way. Families were visiting the people in hospital beds. There was laughter and light. But it didn’t make up for the stink of hospital disinfectant and the underlying aroma of urine. The door to room five was open too, and Josh heard Caroline before he saw her. She sounded indignant.
“You did this on purpose, Patrick Harris.”
There was a croaky chuckle. “That book came highly recommended, Caroline. They even made it into a TV show. Not that I can watch it, mind you.”
Josh peeked in the door. He found Caroline standing with her back to him, hands on hips. She was giving hell to a tiny, wrinkled blind man who was lying in bed—with a huge grin on his face.
Caroline picked up a copy of Game of Thrones, which was on the bed in front of her. “This book is full of violence and sex. You chose it just so you could make me read those scenes.”
She turned slightly, and Josh saw she was smiling.
The man in the bed held up a hand. “Come on, Caroline, you come here to read to people. This is what I want to hear.”
“I bet you do, you dirty old man. Well, next time I’m bringing some Jane Austen with me. Let’s see how funny you find that when I read it to you.”
His face fell. “You’re not serious, are you? That’s a women’s book. Come on. I’ll be good. I won’t laugh when you stutter through the sex scenes or sound disgusted in the fight scenes.” He put a palm over his heart. “Promise.”
Caroline struggled to hide her laughter. “We’ll see. I’ll think about it. Right now I have to go see if Elsie needs any more wool. You behave yourself until I see you next week.”
The man’s whole face lit up. “Now why would I want to do that?”
With a shake of her head, Caroline turned to leave the room. She didn’t see Josh until she had stepped into the corridor, and the smile dropped from her face.
“What are you doing here?” She folded her arms over the pretty pink shift dress she was wearing.
“Looking for you. You’ve been avoiding me.”
She rolled her eyes. “No. I haven’t. I’ve been busy.”
She strode past him and down the corridor. Josh jogged to catch up. “Every time I call I’m told you’re in a meeting, or have gone off to sit on some committee somewhere.”
She stopped short, making him trip over her. “That’s because I am doing those things. Just because you waltzed into my life and disrupted everything, doesn’t mean I don’t still have responsibilities.”
He folded his arms and pinned her with his stare. “Are you sure you aren’t avoiding me after we got a little physical the other night?”
“Get over yourself, Josh McInnes. Not everything is about you. Stick a pin in that ego of yours and deflate it a little.”
He frowned. “So what are you doing here, if not avoiding me?”
“I’m doing what I usually do: reading to Patrick, helping out with anyone else who doesn’t have a visitor. Which I need to get back to.” She headed towards another open door. Josh followed her.
The woman inside was tucked up in an armchair, knitting. She grinned when she saw them. “Oh good, you brought company.”
“No,” Caroline told her. “I didn’t. He’s leaving.” She gave him a pointed look.
Caroline stood in the doorway to block his entrance. Josh glanced around the room and did a double take when he saw the place was filled with hand-knitted bears. All the same size and shape; only the colours varied. He blinked a couple of times before turning back to Caroline. “I’ll wait for you. We’ve got dinner with my parents tonight.”
“No. You won’t. I have things to do after my visit here. Don’t worry. I’ll be at dinner on time.” She didn’t seem pleased by the thought.
“I’m happy to wait. I haven’t seen you for days.”
She let out a long sigh. “Josh, don’t take this the wrong way, but I am a very busy person and I can’t deal with you right now. I promise to make time for you after the wedding. Okay?” She patted him on the chest, patronisingly, then took a step back into the room. A second later, the door slammed in his face.
Josh stared at the door. “Is there a right way to take that?” he shouted.
People in the corridor stopped to stare at him. The woman behind the front desk was laughing hard.
“Fine.” Josh struggled to regain his dignity. “I’ll see you later, then.” There was silence from the room.
Having no other option, Josh turned on his heels and went back to the castle.
Caroline waited until she was certain Josh had left the building, before she peeked out of the door.
“Don’t worry,” Grace called from the reception desk. “He’s gone.”
“Why are you hiding from this man anyway?” Elsie wanted to know. “If I had a boy chasing me with a bum like that, I wouldn’t be hiding. If you don’t want him, send him in here. I can think of some things to keep him busy.”
Caroline took a deep breath. “What is it with the seniors in this centre? They have sex on the brain.”
Elsie gave her a wicked smile. “When you’re my age and as bored as I am, you’ll be just the same.”
Caroline didn’t think so. “Right. I have to go. I have things to do before I meet Josh’s parents.” She inwardly cringed at the thought. “I’ll get Kirsty’s mum to drop off your wool. If you need anything else let her know.”
“I’ll be fine. You concentrate on the sex god who’s following you around.” She winked. “And don’t forget to fill me in about it next time you come.”
Caroline sighed and left Elsie to her knitting.
To make sure that she didn’t bump into Josh, she followed the back roads and lanes up the hill to the graveyard. The cobblestone road was hot beneath the soles of her shoes, and the sun was heavy on her head. There was something about summer in Invertary that enticed a person to laziness. All around you meadows full of wild flowers and fragrant heather called out, demanding that you lie in the shade with a book. Or doze in the warmth of the sun. It took all of Caroline’s formidable will to resist the call. There were things to do. There were always things to do and the summer season was no exception.
She let herself through the old wrought iron gate and into the graveyard. She negotiated her way around the myriad of old headstones, some covered with ivy, others so worn that you
couldn’t read the writing on them. In the corner, under the oak tree, Caroline stopped at the graves of her parents. She knelt down in the lush grass between the two graves. Her chest constricted at the sight of her parents’ names. Even though she long ago stopped wishing they were still with her, the pain of seeing them there made her ache.
“I know you’re not really here,” she said to the stones. “I know you’re in heaven and you can’t hear me. But I still needed to talk to you.” She pulled the skirt of her pink dress over her knees. This was silly. She knew that. But now, more than ever, she felt their absence. “Anyway.” She felt her eyes beginning to sting and blinked several times to clear them. “I wanted to tell you that I’m getting married. His name is Josh and he’s American.”
She took a deep shuddering breath and brushed her fingertips over the stone of her mother’s grave. “I know you wanted me to marry a nice local boy, but it seems that the men in Scotland aren’t interested in me.” She lowered her eyes. “I probably didn’t turn out the way you wanted me to. I’m not as easy to get on with as you might have liked. And I’m not as pretty as you were.” She straightened her back. “You should probably know that this isn’t a love match. It’s an arrangement. Josh wants a wife that isn’t famous and a non-romantic relationship. And I want a family.”
It became hard to swallow. Caroline watched the breeze play with the leaves above her head until she could speak again. “I miss being part of a family. I miss you both so much. And now that Elaine and Emma have moved away, and Granddad is with you, it’s just me here. Alone in Granddad’s house. And I’m fine with that. Really I am. I just want a family of my own. Children to take care of. People to love.” She smiled at her father’s headstone. “Dad, you would understand, you were always the practical one. You’d see the sense in accepting this deal from Josh. Mum,” she turned back to her mother’s grave, “you might have struggled. I know how romantic you were. I know you would worry that I’m not going to have the same sort of relationship you and dad had.”
She chuckled. She wasn’t sure anyone could have the same sort of relationship her parents had. The way they loved each made them glow. She remembered their stolen kisses and the looks filled with longing that they’d shared. She cleared her throat and picked a daisy from the grass beside her.
“So, I’m meeting Josh’s parents tonight and wanted to include you too. If you were here, we would be facing this together. But you’re not.” She paused for a moment. “I don’t think they’ll like me. I’m trying to be practical about that. They probably imagined Josh with some glamorous American woman, someone who knows how to dress and how to behave in public. Someone who isn’t socially awkward, and who doesn’t order people around when she feels nervous. Instead, they’re getting me.”
She turned her face towards the sun that flickered through the trees and closed her eyes. “I hope.” She swallowed hard. “I hope that you aren’t too disappointed in me. I hope you understand why I’m doing this. I’m sure if you were here that you would like Josh. He can be very funny and sweet.” She stood and brushed some grass from her legs. “So that’s it. I’m going to dinner with Josh’s parents and I’m taking you with me. In my heart.” She touched each stone in turn. “I love you both,” she whispered, before turning away from them.
She sniffed, wiped her eyes and straightened her shoulders. It was time to get home and change into her only other dress. It was time to head to the castle and meet Josh’s parents.
Helen didn’t know what she’d expected of Josh’s fiancée, but Caroline Patterson wasn’t it. She was tall, slender, with golden hair cut into a sleek bob that skimmed her shoulders. Her dress was plain, but pretty and, by the looks of it, an original piece from the fifties. It sat at mid-calf, just above dainty flat pumps. She didn’t have any jewellery on, and barely any makeup.
Josh had walked her into the kitchen, holding her hand as though he was clinging on to a prize. Maybe he was. Josh stepped forward. He put an arm around Caroline’s shoulder. She tensed slightly before relaxing into his touch.
“Mom, Dad, this is my fiancée. Caroline, this is Andrew and Helen.”
Caroline held out her hand to Helen. She managed a weak smile. She thought she saw a flicker of insecurity in Caroline’s eyes before she turned to Andrew.
“Pleased to meet you.” Caroline held out her hand.
“I don’t think so.” Andrew folded his arms.
“Dad,” Josh said in a tone Helen hadn’t heard before. It made the hairs on her neck stand to attention.
For a moment Caroline stood there, hand untaken in midair. Then she dropped it to hold on to her clutch bag. “I understand. You’re angry. You don’t know me and you don’t trust me. If I were in your position I’d be livid too.”
And Helen felt herself give the girl a genuine smile.
“Sit here.” Josh put a hand on Caroline’s arm while he scowled at his dad.
Josh sat at the head of the table with Caroline by his side. Helen was on the other side of Josh, facing Caroline. While Andrew sat like a disgruntled king at the other end of the table.
“This is pretty.” Caroline smoothed her hand on the white linen tablecloth.
“Don’t get any ideas.” Josh had a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “I hired the pub to cater.”
Caroline’s eyes darted to the kitchen area behind her, noticing the staff for the first time. The staff who were riveted to the action, as though it was an episode of The Bachelor. Her cheeks flamed red.
“Hello, Caroline, love,” the man who looked like Santa Claus boomed.
“Dougal.” Caroline stumbled over her words. “It’s lovely to see you. The food smells wonderful.”
“Only the best for our new wee bride to be.” Dougal wagged a finger at her. “You’ve been keeping secrets, lassie.” He cast a mischievous glance in Josh’s direction. “That explains why he shot out of the pub this afternoon looking for you. He was moving so fast I thought the devil was on his tail.”
Josh shot Caroline a sheepish look, and she pursed her lips at him. Her son was in trouble already. No surprise there.
“So.” Helen found her voice and turned to Caroline. “Tell me, Caroline, do you have family in Invertary?”
She shook her head. “My sister lives in Dubai with her husband. She’s about to have a baby. Her second. She already has a ten-year-old girl. But there’s no one in town.”
Dougal and his servers approached with the food. “Caroline’s parents died in a car accident when she was just a wee lass. Terribly tragic. They lost control on the road to Fort William.”
Caroline studied the tablecloth in front of her. Dougal seemed to cotton on to the fact he’d said something out of turn. His voice grew louder as he changed the subject. “Our new chef trained in France. Tonight we have coq au vin.”
Andrew muttered about pretentious food, but everyone else praised the meal.
“Caroline.” Helen speared some chicken. “What do you do for a living?”
“I run the community centre. It houses the town library and the local council office.”
“That’s impressive,” Helen said.
Andrew snorted. Caroline flicked a glance in his direction while Josh scowled. Dougal was back in the kitchen area, but cleared his throat loudly and gave Andrew a disapproving look.
“Caroline and I are going to London next week.” Josh smiled at Caroline. “We’re shopping for a wedding dress.”
“With whose money?” Andrew demanded.
“Mine.” Josh gave his father a steely stare.
Caroline played with her food as her face paled. “I can afford my own wedding dress.”
Helen felt her heart ache for the girl.
“I’m paying.” Josh’s tone softened. His hand went over hers on top of the table. “This is my idea. I’m paying for everything. I already added you to my bank account; we can pick up your bank cards while we’re in London.”
Her eyes went wide. “I can’t take your money.�
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“Yes. You can. Married couples share.”
“I have my own money. I work.”
“Then we’ll share that too.”
Helen couldn’t help but grin at her son. She wanted to cheer him on, but instead she sipped her wine quietly.
Andrew smacked the table in front of him, making everyone jump. “Why don’t you hand your money over to her now? She’ll just take it all in the divorce anyway.”
Caroline looked horrified. “I wouldn’t. I don’t want it.” She turned to Josh. “We should get a prenup.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Mitch said as he entered the room. “Sorry for gate crashing, but I thought Caroline could use some moral support.”
“She has me, dumbass.” Josh glared at his best friend.
“Yeah.” Mitch pulled up a chair on the other side of Caroline. “I factored that into my decision making.” He grinned at Josh.
Helen tutted at them. They’d still be winding each other up when they were eighty and living in the same rest home.
“Back to Caroline’s wise suggestion,” Mitch said. The servers put a place setting and a full plate of food in front of him. “As your lawyer, I’d say a prenup was a great idea.”
“No.” Josh met each person’s eyes in turn. “No prenup. You only need that if you are going to get divorced. We’re not getting divorced.”
“I raised a bloody idiot.” Andrew pointed a finger at his son. “She’s taking you for a ride.”
“Andrew!” Helen wanted to smack the stupid man.
Josh’s voice became dangerously low. “You will have some respect for my fiancée.”
“Why should I bother? This whole thing is a sham.”
“I’m serious.” The look Josh gave his father made Helen worry. She flicked a glance at Andrew and wondered if she was going to see her son hit her husband. A sight she’d never thought to see.
Caroline shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I can sign a prenup. I really don’t mind. And I don’t need, or want, your bank cards.”
Goody Two Shoes (Invertary Book 2) Page 9