Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (20 page)

Harry had taken the Parmesan out of the fridge. She looked round for the grater and shrugged.

‘I just think we need to be braver. We’ve got all sorts of weapons in our armoury.’ She started grating the cheese violently.

‘No magic,’ I said firmly. Harry didn’t answer.

‘Harry,’ I said. ‘No magic.’

There was a pause. Harry grated even more vigorously.

I took the cheese from her and she sighed.

‘Fine, she said. ‘Do it your way. But if it doesn’t work, you have to let me have a go.’

‘It’s a deal,’ I said.

I smiled at her and she smiled back.

‘Ooh, I almost forgot,’ she said. ‘I thought you might be interested in this.’ She picked up the copy of
The Scotsman
that was lying on the table and turned to the legal section.

‘Look’ She thrust it towards me. ‘What do you think? Interested?’

I looked. And I thought. I was most definitely interested. I just had to make a few calls. Harry winked at me.

‘I’m not all bad,’ she said. I was starting to believe her.

Chapter 40

The next day, Mum and I opened the café though I couldn’t really see the point, while Harry stayed at home to look after Suky. She’d finished her antibiotics and was getting stronger, though she was still very frail. She could get out of bed now, and I enjoyed just sitting with her, chatting about life, love and everything. Mentally though she was struggling. I knew she was finding it hard to cope with her diagnosis and treatment, and this delay, and I was more worried about her state of mind than her physical health. I couldn’t help but brood about what Harry was planning for Halloween. Was she messing about with voodoo? It seemed very risky to me. But Harry was a good witch, and I knew she wouldn’t harm her mum.

After our first day ‘fighting back’, Nell came crashing through the back door, just as I was heating up soup for Suky.

‘Flipping heck,’ I laughed as I poured chicken noodle into a mug. ‘How did you get on?’

Nell had somehow managed to befriend Stringy Hair and had tagged along to one of the Housewives’ Guild’s breakaway meetings with Brent in charge.

‘Brilliant,’ she said.

‘Hold on,’ I said. ‘I’ll just take this up to Suky and I’ll be back to hear your news.’

I delivered the soup to Suky, who was dropping with tiredness after being out of bed all day, and when I came back into the kitchen Eva and Mum had arrived. The mood was strangely, given the circumstances, celebrational.

‘What’s happened?’ I asked, suspiciously.

‘It’s a whispering campaign,’ Nell said. ‘They’re just going to say a few nasty things about us, that’s all.’

I slumped on to a kitchen chair, dizzy with relief.

‘Are you sure? It seems a bit easy.’

‘I’m sure,’ Nell said. ‘They’re just being a bit bitchy, that’s all. They’re toothless.’

‘Toothless CLAWs,’ said Eva and she and Mum shrieked with laughter.

I felt uneasy though. Sure we could cope with a few nasty rumours, but Brent seemed more determined than that. And what was this event on Halloween? Were they just going to sit around and say mean things about us?

Sadly, I was right. As the next day passed, the whispers got louder. The café didn’t get any busier. It wasn’t worth opening really but Mum stubbornly refused to give in. Two days before Halloween, Harry went back to Edinburgh, to sort out some work bits she couldn’t do over the internet. As she left she gave me a meaningful glance.

‘When I get back, we’ll do it my way,’ she said. She meant to be reassuring, I think, but it just made me feel even more uneasy.

Worse than the lack of customers at the café was the bad feeling in town. In a few short days people who had been our friends had turned on us. Some of them whispered on corners and stopped talking when we got near. Most of them just hurried by with an embarrassed half-smile, as if to say they were sorry about what was happening, but didn’t want to get involved. And oh is that the time, I must go and collect the kids… But a small group of women – led by vicious Stringy Hair from the newsagent’s – were becoming openly hostile.

The day Harry went, we ran out of milk at home and I wandered down to the newsagent’s to buy some more. Stringy Hair was behind the counter, chatting with a couple of other women. Hating myself for feeling intimidated I took a pint of milk out of the fridge and put it on the counter. The women stopped talking and stared at me.

‘Just this please,’ I said in a cheerful, if slightly shaky, voice.

There was a pause, then slowly and deliberately, all three women turned their backs on me. I stood and looked at them for a moment, not sure what to do. They didn’t move. So I left the milk on the counter and rushed out of the shop.

The one bright spot in all this was Jamie. He popped by every day to see how Suky was feeling. Then he’d sit with me for a while and chat about his day and listen to my worries about Brent. I found myself looking forward to his visits and even –in my unguarded moments – daydreaming about what would happen if my enchantment had actually worked. Against my better judgement I couldn’t help wishing it had. Or if not, that I could enchant him myself with just the force of my dazzling good looks and sparkling personality. I wasn’t hopeful.

After the milk incident I let myself into the house and leant wearily against the front door, gathering my thoughts before I faced Mum. Jamie came down the stairs and stopped when he saw my white face.

‘You look like you need a cup of tea,’ he said.

I managed a weak smile.

‘There’s no milk.’

‘Wine, then,’ Jamie said. ‘There’s always wine in this house.’

I giggled, despite the horrible day I’d had.

‘It’s not even lunchtime,’ I said.

Jamie screwed up his face.

‘Ah, you’re right,’ he said. ‘In that case, lovely lady, I will return later.’

And true to his word, he did. He came back that evening with a pint of milk and a bottle of Pinot Grigio.

We sat in the living room, side by side on the sofa, and wrote a list of ideas to get rid of Brent. They ranged from tell immigration he was here illegally, to persuade him there was a monster in Loch Claddach like the one in Loch Ness, and get him to go and look for it.

‘Honestly,’ Jamie said, earnestly. ‘Americans love Nessie. He’ll be wading in before you know it.’

I giggled, heady with wine and the fact that I was sitting with Jamie and we weren’t hating each other.

Jamie was watching me, a small smile on his lips.

‘What?’ I said.

‘You’re so sweet,’ he said. Was it my imagination or was his leg pressing against mine? I made a face at him. Sweet was not a description I liked.

‘Don’t be patronising,’ I said, slightly sniffily. The pressure on my thigh eased a bit. I shifted so I was closer to him again.

‘I just mean that you really care about your family,’ Jamie said. He leaned his head back on the sofa cushions and looked at me sideways. ‘It’s nice, that’s all.’

I threw my head back, too.

‘Well, they’re nice,’ I said. ‘I just want things to be OK.’ I lolled my head sideways so I was facing him.

‘I haven’t always been very supportive. I’m kind of making up for stuff I did a long time ago.’

Jamie tilted his head towards mine.

‘Is that why you’re being so nice to me?’ he asked. His face was close to mine.

‘Nope,’ I said with a smile. ‘That’s because you’re being so nice to me.’

His kiss, when it came, was just as I remembered, only without the timidity of teenage snogs. It felt exactly right and I wondered why I’d ever wasted more than a decade not
kissing him. But as I relaxed into the kiss, doubts crowded into my mind. Even though this time I knew there had been no love spells involved, the fact was if I got too close to Jamie I’d have to tell him the truth about us. He was a doctor, for heaven’s sake, a scientist, I just couldn’t see how we could ever have a future.

Pushing him away, I stood up.

‘I can’t, Jamie.’

He stood up too and took my hands.

‘What’s the matter?’

I wondered what he would do if I told him the truth. For a moment I thought it might work, that me being a witch wouldn’t matter. Then I came to my senses.

‘I’m so sorry,’ I said. Then I turned and walked away.

Chapter 41

The next day was horrible. I couldn’t stop thinking about the look on Jamie’s face when I left him. My mind was racing and I couldn’t make sense of my feelings.

Thankfully, Harry arrived back, all guns blazing and determined to take Brent on. Suddenly I had something else to worry about, and my concerns about Jamie had to be put to one side.

‘It’s Sunday,’ I said as Harry plotted her approach. ‘So he’s bound to be at home – there’s not much to do in Claddach on a Sunday.’

I hadn’t seen anything of Brent since we found out he was behind the campaign and we hadn’t heard from him either. Now I wondered if he knew we knew.

‘I’ll text him,’ Harry said. ‘I’ll pretend I want some advice about the spa. I’ve got some new bits I can show him actually.’

I eyed her suspiciously.

‘You know you’re not actually getting business advice from him?’

‘Well, yes,’ she said. ‘But if it’s a way into the conversation then I’m not too proud to ask. And if it’s useful advice then so much the better.’

I gave up. I didn’t even bother trying to talk Harry round. I knew better than to take her on when she was in this sort of mood. Instead I just shrugged. I was so heartbroken over Jamie that I was past caring.

Harry marched off down the hill towards the flat that Brent was renting and I dragged myself into the living room, where I lay on the couch and watched
Come Dine with Me
repeats. Eventually, what felt like hours later, the door slammed and Harry came in.

She shoved my legs out of the way and sat down on the couch, her face like thunder.

‘What happened?’ I asked, turning off the TV.

‘That man is an arse.’ Harry said.

‘Well, obviously,’ I said, but slightly upset that he’d taken me in so thoroughly. ‘What did he do?’

Harry harrumphed.

‘He made a pass at me,’ she said.

I stared at her, open-mouthed.

‘No. Way.’

‘Way.’ Harry shook her head. ‘Why do men always try it on with me?’

I had an idea it was to do with her shiny hair, long legs, curvy figure and perfect skin, but I kept quiet. Instead I patted her hand reassuringly.

‘He was quite frosty at first,’ she continued. ‘I wondered if he’d heard that we knew.’

‘Do you think he does?’ I asked. ‘If he knows, we’ve lost the element of surprise.’

‘I’m not sure even that can help us now,’ Harry pointed out. ‘Anyway, I piled on the charm and did my thing, you know.’

‘Did it work?’ I asked, remembering how tricky she’d found it to read his aura.

Harry made a so-so gesture with her hand.

‘A bit,’ she said. ‘He started to open up and tell me about how he’d been putting feelers out for businesses here, but I couldn’t keep it up. So in the end I gave up. I swear he sensed weakness and thought he may as well have a go.’

I made a face.

‘So anyway, I told him I was gay…’

‘Woah,’ I interrupted. ‘How did he take that?’

Harry grimaced.

‘Not great,’ she said. ‘He asked me if I was sure. Then he told me I was too pretty to be a lesbian. Then he tried to kiss me again.’

‘God loves a trier,’ I said. ‘Why didn’t you do some magic?’

Harry wasn’t having that.

‘Because you told me not to,’ she said.

I shrugged. She had a point.

‘So how did you leave it with him?’

‘Not good. He was really put out. I can’t imagine anyone says no to him very often – women or men,’ Harry sighed. ‘Oh Ez, I think confronting him might have made things
worse. He’s bound to realise we’re on to him now and step up his game.’

I felt like I had nothing left to lose. Our home and our business were under threat, Dom was back with Rebecca, I’d pushed Jamie away… It was my turn to try.

‘Is he still there?’ I asked. ‘Still at his place?’

Harry nodded.

‘I guess so,’ she said.

‘I’m going.’

‘Really?’ Harry said, doubt etched on her face. ‘Is that a good idea?

‘I don’t care,’ I said. I picked up my coat. ‘I’ll be back in a bit.’

Chapter 42

Brent’s flat was right on the town square, above one of the tourist tat shops. I averted my eyes from the Nessie hats – they only made me think of Jamie. I rang the old-fashioned pull bell then realised there was a new buzzer, so I rang that as well and waited for him to answer. He didn’t speak, just buzzed me in. I climbed the stone stairs nervously – he’d opened the front door so I went right in.

Brent was sitting in an armchair, drinking a glass of whisky.

‘I thought you’d come,’ he said. ‘Have a seat.’

‘No thanks,’ I said, then regretted it and sat down anyway.

‘So, Esme McLeod,’ he said. ‘What can I do for you?’

‘You can start by telling me what you’re up to,’ I said. ‘Why are you doing this to us?’

‘Oh Esme, it’s nothing personal,’ he said. He smiled his perfect smile. ‘It’s just business.’

‘It is not just business,’ I said. ‘It’s our lives.’

He shrugged.

‘Time to toughen up, sweetheart.’

‘How dare you,’ I said, angry now. ‘How dare you swan in here and ruin my family?’

‘I’m not ruining you,’ he said. He looked hurt at the suggestion. ‘I’ve just been emailing my lawyer, actually. Tomorrow she’ll be in touch to offer your mom and your aunt a not inconsiderable sum to take the café off their hands.’

‘But less than you’d have to offer if business was booming,’ I said.

‘Oh you are clever, Esme McLeod,’ he said. ‘Maybe I’ll find a position for you in Portland Property.’

‘I wouldn’t work for you if my life depended on it,’ I said, disgusted.

Brent looked delighted.

‘It’s going to be a retreat,’ he said. ‘Hunting, fishing, ceilidhs, you know the sort of thing. The real Scotland. Those guys back home are going to love it.’