Page 84 of Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop
Nothing else to be said.
It had happened so fast and now we both had bigger problems on our hands than our miscommunication. Alexander had to save another puffin and I had to see if my ankle was broken.
This was not how I’d planned my apology tour.
“Come on, lass, lie down. The rain’s coming on something fierce.”
Lying back, I blinked at the storm clouds as the rain sheeted over me and I was loaded into the ambulance.
“Do you have someone we can call, lass? An emergency contact? Or will your husband meet us?”
“He’s not my husband,” I said, weakly, as they slipped my boot off and stabilized my ankle. “And no, there’s nobody to call.”
I couldn’t help but feel so wildly alone as I was driven to the hospital, realizing I didn’t even have an emergency contacts list. I’d been alone so much of my life, but this was the first time I felt so bereft. I might beimportant to Alexander,but I wasn’t his to claim.
I was still a stranger in a strange land. I desperately wished that Jessica would be here, my one person I could rely upon, giving the comfort I so desperately wanted.
Instead, I’d just have to figure this one out on my own.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Alexander
They decided to amputate her leg.
Niall assured me that the puffin was otherwise in good health, but because of the nature of the break and how infection was setting in, losing the leg was the best choice.
I’d also decided to keep her. Niall had gently asked if I wanted to put her down, but once I explained that I’d already built a large enclosure for Tattie and was prepared to give this puffin a new home if she survived, we’d agreed that euthanasia was out of the picture. The vet would be keeping her for the next few days after the surgery, and then she’d be on limited movement for the two weeks following that. All told, she should be fullymobile and functioning within six weeks, if everything went smoothly.
I’d just returned home from the vet and was making myself a cup of tea before I showered to warm up, and then I could check on Rosie. I’d made sure the Book Bitches knew where she was and what was happening, but I wasn’t sure she even wanted me around her. I’d said some pretty harsh things to her in our argument, and maybe she wouldn’t be all that forgiving of me.
Spying the gift bag she’d thrust at me, I plopped down at my kitchen counter and opened it while I waited for the water to boil.
Inside was a card and another mini puzzle tray for Tattie. Handmade, with an even more intricate puzzle system, the tray would present new challenges to keep Tattie busy.
The card was addressed to me.
Slotting the envelope open, I pulled out a card with a puffin wearing a Santa hat on it. Inside, I found Rosie’s loopy handwriting.
Alexander,
I want to start off by saying just how sorry I am for not telling you about the matchmaking and the magick. It was all very new to me, and I was trying to learn more about the magick, while also trying to help these random strangers who kept walking in the door and ordering a Highland Hearts Special. I think I also wanted to keep it to myself for a bit, just tosee how I felt about it, before I shared this with more people. I hadn’t thought about how it would make you feel to be on the outside of this, and for that, I’m very sorry. I truly never wanted to hurt you or give you any reason not to trust me.
As for what you said about big adventures and allowing others to make choices for me, again, you weren’t entirely wrong there either. And that’s okay. I don’t mind when someone calls me out for something that I do need to work on. Because you’re right, I have sort of drifted along and allowed others to dictate my future. Coming to Scotland was the first time in a long time that I’ve made a significant decision for myself. And to me, this is my big adventure. Being here, meeting new people, and running my own shop—that is the adventure that I’ve been craving. So, no, I won’t be running off and looking for more. I found what I’ve wanted here, in the bookshop, in this community, and with you—if you’ll have me.
Love,
Rosie
My stomach twisted and my heart dropped,but at the same time that hope bloomed.I had been too black and white about this situation.What Rosie said made sense to me. Of course if I’d just taken a huge leap on a new life and then discovered that magick existed on top of all that, I’d probably be cautious with whom I shared that with as well. At least until I understood it better. And I was still withholding judgment on whether magick actually existed or not, but I was Scottish, so I believed that there was often more than meets the eye.
A knock sounded on the door, and I stood, flipping the boiling kettle to off.
“Esther,” I said, opening the door to the bedraggled woman. She stepped inside, shook off her rain jacket, and hung it up on the coat hook.
“I’d really hoped that the snow would stick but seems rain it is,” Esther said without preamble and wandered inside.
“Ah, yes, I suppose that would have been nice.” Esther stood by the window, hands behind her back, and looked out at where Tattie huddled in his wee house in the enclosure. “How’s the wee lad doing?”