Free Winter's End by Clarissa Cartharn Page B

befriended her and become quite
close… I thought you would tell on me.”
    “Well, I didn’t,”
said Emma, matter-of-factly.
    “I know that now. I’m
sorry. And of course, I was a tad bit jealous as well.”
    Emma smiled.
“Jealous?”
    “Yeah.   I was your first friend here in Skye and then
that old Mrs. Kinnaird took over.”
    Emma burst out
laughing. “Mrs. Kinnaird didn’t take over, Lisa. You pulled back.”
    “Okay. Well, there
were rumours as well.”
    “Rumours? What sort
of rumours?”
    “Just that…,” Lisa
quietened, thinking. “Just rumours. Silly come to think of it now. Don’t worry
about it. You know what, let’s drop Mrs. Kinnaird here. There’s something else
I want to ask. Who’s the handsome fella that’s moved
into your house?”
    Emma was stunned by
her directness. She never had really given a thought of how she was going to
explain her relationship with Richard. She didn't think she owed an explanation
to anyone. Not ever did she have to in London. But this was Skye. This was
different.
    What should she say?
That Richard was her brother-in-law? Her deceased husband’s elder brother, who
maintained close ties with her and her children and coincidently was single?
    She gulped nervously.
“A friend from London.”
    Lisa’s eyes widened
with excitement. “Really? Any potential love interest?”
    “No!” Emma almost
screamed it out aloud. “No, just a friend.”
    “Oh, alright. If you
say so. Listen, there’s a dance party for couples at The Gaelic Inn in Dunvegan . We would love it if you and your friend could
make it. Bill and I will be going and we would love to have you both as
company.”
    “I don’t know, Lisa,”
Emma said, wondering if Richard would be interested in going to a dance with
her at all. Not after the row she had three days ago. But she also had no idea
how long he was intending to stay.
    “Well, here are the
tickets anyway. Forward me the money whenever you’re ready, as long as it’s
before the twentieth of March.” She pulled out two grey tickets from her wallet
and handed them over to her.
    Emma took them
hesitantly.
    “Our differences
aside, it is for a good cause, Emma. They’re trying to raise funds to buy
computers for the local school. I do hope you’ll go.”
    Emma smiled. “I’ll do
my best. And if Richard won’t accompany me, I might just take along Mrs.
Kinnaird.”
    Lisa almost gasped.
    Emma burst into
laughter. “Oh Lisa. I won’t. I promise.”
    “About Mrs.
Kinnaird,” Lisa said. “I didn't mean to describe her as a devil woman or
anything. People have just kept away from her. That’s how it has always been.
Please, don’t take me wrong.”
    Emma put her hand
over hers. “Don’t worry about it Lisa. Really.”

Chapter 8

 
 
    When she arrived
home, the children were watching television and Richard was in the conservatory,
reading.
    He must have heard
her because he followed her into the kitchen. “You’re late,” he said, watching
her unpack the groceries.
    “Yeah. I got chatting
with Lisa Johnston. She lives at number 17 down the road,” she mumbled. She
wasn’t quite in the mood of an explanation.
    “You could have
called,” he said, gruffly. “You have a phone.”
    “So do you Richard,
if you desperately wanted to find out,” she retorted.
    He walked over to her
in two quick steps and grabbed her by the elbows. “Do you know how worried I
was?” he whispered, angrily. “Not knowing where you were. Where you had gone.
Don't you think of anyone else other than yourself?”
    She shut her eyes,
not wanting to see his riled ones. She would have shut her ears if he had not
been holding onto her arms so tightly. Unable to restrain herself anymore, she
let her tears flow from her eyes.
    “Is that how you see
me, Richard?” she quivered. “Selfish and uncaring?”
    His eyes softened on
seeing her tears and pulled her into his arms.
    They stood there
silent for a while, her head resting against his chest,