Chapter 44
After a warm bath, she was toweling her hair dry and wondering if Bertie could come to the cottage for a visit. She’d been here over a month and still hadn’t seen her. Fact is, Edwina didn’t even know where she was or how to get back to Edinburgh should she need to go.
She’d been foolish to lock herself into this deal, assuming she’d have full run of her life. She would go to Edinburgh at least once. She hadn’t come this far . . .
But she reminded herself, You were the one who agreed to the terms.
Ah, the conscience. Guilt pinched her spirit. He was right to be angry with her.
A knock sounded. Surely Mrs. Gillespie had gone home, and the Scot was in bed. Perhaps it was little Paige in need of comfort.
Edwina went to the door and cracked it. The Scot. And her in her robe, hair mussed and wet.
“I apologize. I neglected to hand you these while you were in the office.”
He slid two letters through the crack. One from Cecelia, and one from Spencer.
“Thank you. And—”
He had already started to walk away, but he stopped and turned slightly.
“I’m sorry if I upset you. I agreed to the terms. I will see to them.”
“Aye,” he said.
Edwina shut the door. At least she had cleared her conscience.
Quickly she tore open Cecelia’s letter and read. She’d bought a new complex, small but very good location. Made an obscene amount of money on the sale of a building she’d redecorated. And the Scot was coming to see her.
So she’d been right. He was interested.
Edwina put the perfumed envelop up to her nose. Cecelia.
Spencer’s letter was hilarious. He’d raised his price to clean Cecelia’s condo, and she had agreed after a short burst of utter frustration that he should dare do such a thing. But he had reminded her she could get someone else to do her dirty work, and she had acquiesced instantly. In addition, he was to become her partner in the acquisition of this new venture.
Spencer? He was not serious about money. It seemed he had negotiated a deal that would allow him to set up his own restaurant on the entire second floor of Cecelia’s new apartment building. Tenants would have their own restaurant, and it would be open to the public as well. They would split the profits in exchange for rent-free space.
Another feather in Cecelia’s cap. Edwina was proud of her. Giving the entire floor to Spencer meant giving up a good income. Perhaps the message that Sunday at church had touched her.
It had certainly brought Edwina to her senses. Go and live or wait to see what happened. She’d had to overcome some things, given up a little to gain a lot, she realized now.
Paige needed her more than she thought possible. The little girl didn’t realize it yet, but Edwina did. Especially now that her father was to be gone for several months. How could he leave his child for that long and not feel anything? What was so important that it would keep him away from his daughter?
She shook her head. It was none of her business. He paid her well to do a job, and she would do it.
Smiling, she went to bed, thinking of Spencer and Cecelia.
The smell of ham frying wafted to her nose. Tossing the covers back, she dressed quickly and headed for the kitchen. She walked in calling, “Rose, what smells so wonderful? Are you trying to put more weight on me? I’ve just lost a few pounds walking these lovely hills and now you—”
The Scot and Mrs. Gillespie came from the back of the kitchen where they’d obviously been talking. Serious, from the look of it.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She turned on her heels and shot out of there. Off to the hills with you and your mouth Edwina Emily Blair. She shut the door quietly and started down the long drive.
Lord, I always seem to open my mouth at the wrong time.
She’d made it to the end where the drive intersected with the main road and started back. The black car drove slowly past her.
She took a detour and wandered out around the barn and listened. Was that bleating of the lambs... or sobbing? She hurried inside. Up the ladder to the hayloft she went. It was Paige.
“Sweetheart, what’s the matter?” she cooed, dropping to her knees.
No answer. Edwina waited. “Father’s leaving and won’t take me with him.”
“Ah,” she smoothed the soft hair. “Your father can’t take you.”
“Why?” she sobbed. “Why can’t he?”
Edwina had walked herself right into that one. “Well, he would if he could, wouldn’t he?”
The child’s crying slowed.
“See, now there’s the answer. He would, but big people must make decisions that their children don’t understand because they’re not old enough. That’s why God gave little ones, like you,” she tickled her ribs, “a mom and dad.”
“My mom’s not here. Where did God put her?” She’d walked into another one. “Well, God is even bigger than our moms and dads, and He has even more love than they do.”
“Oh.”
It must have made sense to the little girl in her because she stopped crying.
“Should we go and see your father off? Wouldn’t it be nice if we were smiling as he left, so he won’t think we’re mad at him?” Edwina tried.
“Aye.” The child rose.
Edwina gently pulled the straw from the mussed hair and took Paige’s hand. Together they walked to the cottage and through the back door.
“Run and wash your face and hands,” she encouraged.
“How did you get her to come down, lass? She wouldna budge even for Mr. Gillespie.”
“We just talked, Rose.”
“Ah, ye have a gift with the lass.” Edwina smiled. Her calling became more certain at that moment.
“There now.” Edwina inspected her charge, then knelt. “Check my hair for straw, please.”
Edwina, on her knees, bent her head and noticed two black shoes in the doorway. Caught again.
She waited, face red, while Paige dug through her hair, then looked up.
The Scot was not angry. Her breath came again. All she needed was to send him off angry at her foolishness. It would not bode well.
In fact, he looked away as soon as her eyes had courage enough to meet his. “I’ll be in my office,” he said quietly.
She and Mrs. Gillespie exchanged a look. What was there to do but go on about their business?
Her chopping knife working viciously, Mrs. Gillespie said, “We are to meet out front for the send-off at nine sharp.”
“We’ll be there, right Paige? Right now, let’s take a walk. The sun is shining through blue skies and white clouds today.” She tried to lift the spirits of the little heart that was surely still breaking inside.
Craning their necks to view the sky, Edwina finally decided it was time to lie in the grass, dresses or no. “Come on. We’ll look at the sky this way.” She lay down first, tucked her skirt beneath her and Paige scrambled to copy.
“Look there, an elephant sure enough, with two trunks.” Edwina pointed.
“Aye, I can see it.” The child laughed. “And a horse with two tails!”
Thus they lay until they heard Mr. Gillespie’s loud whistle signaling them to come.
Edwina picked the grass out of Paige’s hair and said, “Now we’re going to smile. Even if we feel sad. Right?”
“Aye.”
“You’re just like your father, Paige. Strong.” Edwina picked up her pace. “We’d best not dawdle.”
“No, or Father will raise his voice.”
“That he will.” Edwina laughed out loud.
Alexander stood watching them from his office window laying in the grass, laughing. Something turned mushy in his heart. He’d done the same as a lad. The closer they came to the cottage, the harder he made his heart. This was not a trip he was going to enjoy.