Free Glasgow Grace by Marion Ueckermann

the adornment from her hair and threw it to the floor. Turning, she ran for the door and disappeared into the night.
    ”Caught in the act.” The words settled in Skye’s gut, and yet all she could think was “Thank heaven, I ditched the bow.”
    “Katie…” Callum dashed across the room, stopping at the door. “Skye, wait for me. Please.”

6
    Callum spotted Katie’s car parked in front of the Beetle. She stood beside the driver’s door.
    “Katie. Wait,” he called from the doorway. He needed to get her to understand. Sever this…one-sided friendship, once and for all. Fast. “We need to talk.”
    “No.” Fingers shaking, she tried without success to unlock the car door.
    Callum held out his hand. “Here, let me help.”
    She turned her face away but allowed him to take the keys.
    He opened the driver’s door.
    Without a sideways glance, Katie slid into the seat. But she wasn’t going anywhere—he still had the keys.
    Callum walked around the car, opened the passenger’s door and slipped inside.
    For a moment they sat in silence.
    She stared through the windshield. Tears trickled down her face.
    Callum kept his eyes fixed on her profile. This was hard. He’d never wanted to hurt her, but perhaps tonight was exactly what she needed to accept that it was over between them. Had been for several months.
    Her chest heaved as she sniffed.
    Callum pulled a clean cotton handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.
    She hesitated, probably wanting to refuse.
    “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible as she took the white fabric from him and dabbed her eyes. She stared at the hanky, twirling it between her fingers. “Wh-who is she?” A tremor warped her voice.
    “Skye Hunter.”
    Katie chewed her lip as fresh tears fell. “Is-is she the reason you broke up with me?”
    No. And yes. How should he answer?
    “I have been in love with Skye almost my entire life, so indirectly I guess the answer’s yes. I never fell out of love with her, and that’s the reason why I couldn’t love you as you deserve to be loved, Katie. But no, she’s not responsible for our breakup. I only knew two weeks ago that she was coming to Glasgow and did not expect her here until next year. Even so, I had no idea if we would reconnect.”
    Katie’s eyes narrowed. “But you did.”
    “She flew in from Sydney yesterday morning. We bumped into each other at the tavern.”
    “You didn’t waste any time, did you?” Her voice was as cold as the window that had misted from her breath.
    No. Because he’d already wasted sixteen years. But there was no point in telling her that. It would only hurt her more, and he needed to end this conversation and get back to Skye and explain.
    She glared at Callum, drawing a long breath. “And what about you and me now?”
    “Katie, there is no you and me. I’ve been telling you that for three months. We’ve not had one date since then, and we’ve only met by accident in that time. I’ve been as plain as I can be. You have to accept that it was never to be and it’s over.”
    She began to sob.
    Callum’s placed his arm around her and whispered. “I am sorry. I never meant to hurt you. But you will find love again. You’re young, and beautiful, and intelligent. Someday, someone will come and sweep you off your feet, and you’ll wonder why the name Callum McGuire ever meant anything to you.”
    She offered a weak smile. “You think?”
    “I know.”
    “H-how can you know?”
    “Because you and I were never soulmates. Your soulmate…he’s still out there searching for you. Just give it time, you will find each other.”
    “I feel like such a fool. I-I thought if I tried hard enough, I could win you back. Now I know I’ll never be able to.”
    Yes. At last.
    “Forgive me, Callum?”
    “Of course.” Without another word, he stepped out of the car and walked away, ready to find Skye, and that sprig of mistletoe.
    By the time he entered McGuire’s, Ma and Da had