Kate smiled affectionately. “I know, I have no idea where he puts it all.”
Jack, not being one for mixing his words got straight to the point with Kate. “I’ve been doing a bit of measuring and weighing things up.”
“OK,” said Kate, bracing herself in case Jack had had a change of heart.
“There’s more to this DIY than meets the eye,” he explained. “If we’re going to do this then it needs to be done right.” He hesitated briefly whilst he rummaged in his pocket. He pulled out a scrap of paper that was covered with measurements and numbers. “So, I’ve had a word with Adam.” Adam was the local odd job man that Jack knew. “I’ve given him the list and he’s agreed to do the work.”
Kate was taken aback. “Oh, OK, but won’t that cost money?” Though Jack wasn’t tight-fisted she didn’t want to see him out of pocket.
Jack rubbed his hand across his wiry beard, once a fiery red but now heavily flecked with grey. Kate knew he always did this when he was thinking. “Aye, it will cost but will save you money in the long run and you’ll turn a profit quicker.”
“But Jack, I can’t afford to pay for the work. I had planned on doing much of it myself, with your help of course.”
“Nah, it’s too much lassie. I’ve agreed a deal with Adam and he’s starting on Monday.” Jack was very matter of fact and Kate knew better than to argue. When Jack made a decision he very rarely went back on it.
“Oh right, that’s good then?”
“Aye. Now that’s sorted can I throw this to-do list away?” He crumpled it in his hand.
Kate laughed. “Yes of course, unless you want me to write you another one?”
“Away with ya hen, I’ve enough to do without your lists.” He pushed back from the table. “Mighty Joe and I have things to do, isn’t that right wee man?”
Joe took the last bite of his tea and nodded his head. “Aye.” ‘That Scottish accent,’ thought Kate.
Joe left the table and followed Jack over to the huge windows at the front of the café that looked out onto the expanse of the Loch. He climbed onto the chair that Jack had pulled up for him and the two of them looked out with binoculars firmly in front of their eyes. Bird spotting had become a habit that the two of them enjoyed, and Jack encouraged Joe to keep a notebook full of the birds that they saw. Kate knew that they would be there until the light faded, so she left her seat and started to clear the tables.
A lovely warm glow of muted orange light filled the café as the sun began to sink behind the mountains across the way. Kate looked through the windows and thought she would never tire of the view, or the feeling of contentment that settled around her. She felt a rush of love for her son, and for the old fisherman who had done much to bring peace to their lives.
3
From his position on the bench outside the local shop he had a clear view of the school gates. If they followed their usual routine, then Joe would come rushing out of the school gates and Kate would be there waiting. He knew he needed to time his approach carefully. Too soon and all his plans would be for nothing.
He couldn’t believe his luck at first. Having abruptly left Leeds to return home a couple of weeks ago, it was only by chance that he’d overheard barmaid Janice gossiping with the locals. He’d quizzed her afterwards and was convinced they were talking about Kate and Joe. A few days of snooping and he was 100% certain that it was, in fact, them. He hadn’t given either of them much thought since the court case. He knew she’d moved away, and he had no idea where, but he also had no feelings either way. Their affair had been brief, and a massive mistake, but it had all worked in his favour in the end.
What were the chances of them turning up in his home village? He knew Kate had holidayed there as a kid; she’d told him one day when they talked about their past. They’d laughed at the coincidence, Kate believing it was a sign, one that he quickly dismissed.
Right now, the biggest question he had was what to do with this piece of good fortune. That he would profit from it there was no doubt. He had enough over Kate to ruin her new life, and he wouldn’t hesitate to use what he knew to his advantage. But Kate was smart, so he knew that he had to think carefully.
He watched closely as Joe came running across the playground, waving a piece of paper above his head. He saw Kate take his hand and turn to leave the school grounds. His eyes followed them as they headed back towards the harbour and into the café. Flicking his cigarette into a nearby puddle, he left the bench, mind working overtime, convinced there was a way to manipulate the situation he found himself in.
Back at The Kingfisher, his family home until he’d left at 15, Ryan let himself into the rear entrance and had hoped to sneak upstairs without attracting his dad’s attention. Too late, Len was stood there waiting for him.
“Where the hell have you been?” he demanded.
“Out,” said Ryan, offhandedly. He was sick of his father already. He’d always been a bully, and despite his age and ill health he still thought he was the big man. When Ryan had phoned up out of the blue and asked if he could stay for a while, it had worked out well for Len. He was due in hospital for a knee operation and had been fretting over what to do with the pub whilst he was out of the game.
“You were supposed to help with the beer delivery,” snapped Len, following his son as he headed upstairs to the flat above the pub.
“Yeah? You should have said.”
“I did say, you useless piece of shit. I knew it was a mistake letting you back here.”
“Whatever.” He paused. “I’ll sort it out in a bit.”
“Do it now. The barrels are off.”
‘Oh for fuck’s sake,’ he thought. All he wanted to do was figure out how to approach Kate but he knew his dad wouldn’t let up so he turned and pushed him out of the way, heading for the cellar.
Len limped along behind him. Years of bar work and standing on his feet all day had taken its toll on his knee and he would be glad when he’d had the op. Ordinarily, Ryan would be the last resort he would ever turn to for help. Their relationship had always been strained. Ryan’s mum had died when he was 13 and his behaviour, which had never been perfect, went from bad to worse. His older sister Molly had been a breeze to raise and though losing their mum had been hard on all of them, Molly had stepped up and taken on much of the work that she used to do. When Molly met Steve at 18 she’d moved out and now lived over in Inverness, only visiting occasionally and speaking to Len maybe once a month. Len had no worries about Molly. She was a sensible girl, a loving mother and though he thought her husband was a bit of a prick she seemed happy enough. He’d told her about the knee operation, but she was yet to learn that Ryan would be running the place. Len knew she’d disagree, but he really had no choice. He made his way to the top of the cellar steps and watched as Ryan rotated the barrels and moved the new stock.
“Keep the new stuff separate, and make sure you’ve connected the barrels properly,” he shouted down.
Ryan closed his eyes and muttered under his breath. He’d been doing cellar work since he was old enough to lug a barrel, he didn’t need constant supervision. And he was 27, not 15.