A Christmas Wish on Arran (Scottish Romances #4)

Chapter Forty

Callum, soaked to the skin, had started pacing around the kitchen. ‘What if someone’s taken her?’ he shrieked. ‘Or if she’s got lost or hurt herself and is out there?’

Beth winced. He looked so lost and deflated, but she couldn’t blame him. Those were her usual lines of thought for a missing child. But this was different, surely? Even so, she wasn’t quite sure what to say. She knew she had to calm Callum down and reassure him, but it was all so surreal. What she wanted to do was put a comforting arm around him, but she didn’t think that would be appropriate.

‘Okay,’ she said slowly. ‘Let’s stay calm and think about her other friends. Who else would she usually hang out with aside from Zola? Are there any other numbers we could try?’

Callum scrolled through his mobile. Then he grabbed the phone handset on the kitchen counter. ‘I don’t believe it.’ He slammed it down in frustration. ‘The bloody landline is down too.’

Beth moved about the room, holding up her phone. She could have wept with relief when she saw that her mobile still had some reception if she stood in the far corner of the kitchen. ‘What about Murray? Shall I try him?’

‘Jim’s son?’ Callum’s head suddenly snapped up. ‘Of course. Why didn’t I think of that?’ His dark brows were drawn together.

‘I’ll try their landline first,’ she said. He looked subdued as she dialled the number on her mobile and waited to see if the call would connect. She gave him the thumbs up. ‘Hey Freya. It’s Beth. Sorry to bother you. But . . . no, don’t worry, I don’t need to speak to Jim. It’s just that I’m with Callum and he’s trying to get hold of Daisy.’ There was a pause and Beth put a hand on her heart. Callum moved closer to Beth. ‘Oh that’s great.’ She felt the worry seep from her. ‘I’m so glad she’s okay.’ She put her hand over the phone and looked at Callum. ‘She’s with them and she’s safe.’

‘Oh thank God.’ He was visibly relieved. He put his hand on Beth’s shoulder and squeezed it gratefully. Giving him a small smile, she turned her attention back to Freya who was still talking. ‘Ah, I see, well, listen, shall I put Callum on? It sounds like there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding. But as long as she is safe and okay that’s the main thing. Tell Jim I hope he feels better soon and I’ll be in touch. Here’s Callum.’

Callum took his hand off her to take the phone, but he stayed standing close. ‘Shall we put her on speakerphone?’

‘Good thinking,’ said Beth.

‘Freya, what’s happening?’ he asked. ‘We should both be able to hear you. I’ve put you on speakerphone.’

‘Hi Callum. I was just saying to Beth that the kids came home at lunchtime and Daisy wasn’t feeling well. I know she was trying to call you but couldn’t get through. Did you get the text from the school saying they were closing early because of the weather?’

‘No,’ he said. ‘But I’ve got no reception on my phone and the landline is down.’

‘No wonder you were worried. I know I would have been frantic. She said she had let Beth know she wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t see her after school. She did say she had texted you and that she couldn’t get through on the house phone. But the poor soul’s been fast asleep for the past couple of hours. I thought that was the best thing for her. I’m so sorry. I just assumed you knew.’

Beth watched as Callum’s shoulders sagged with relief and exhaustion. She could only imagine how horrendous this had been for him, not knowing where Daisy was.

‘I’m just glad she’s okay and that she’s safe. She was probably wondering why I didn’t reply to her text, poor wee thing. I’ll head over to get her now, Freya, and thank you. I can’t tell you how glad I am that she’s with you . . .’ There was a catch in the back of his throat.

‘You would do the same for me Callum if it was Murray,’ said Freya. ‘No need to thank me. You know how fond of her I am. But I don’t think it’s a good idea to go out in this. Please, will you wait until the weather is more settled? It’s horrendous over here. The road out of Lamlash is flooded now. You won’t get to us anyway. The last thing you want to do is get stuck . . . Beth I hope you’re hearing me too.’

Callum pulled up the zip on his jacket and grabbed his beanie from the back of the chair.

‘Yes, I’m still here Freya.’

‘Beth, I don’t think it’s a good idea for anyone to be out. Please tell Callum. I know what he’s like. He’s probably got his jacket on already and is sitting in the car. Tell him that Daisy is safe with us. She’s tucked up in the spare room and cosy.’

Beth was now struggling to hear everything that Freya was saying — her voice was breaking up. ‘Okay. I hope you can hear me. But we will stay put. Thanks Freya. Take care.’ She ended the call.

‘I need to go,’ he said to Beth.

‘You can’t,’ she said, pleadingly. ‘You heard her. Freya said the road is flooded and that Daisy is tucked up in bed. It would be crazy to go out there. In fact just stupid.’

Callum sighed in frustration. He pulled off his wet sweater and threw it onto the ground. Ruby, sensing that something was amiss, barked and jumped up on him, placing both paws on his chest. ‘Down girl,’ he said sharply. Immediately her tail went between her legs and she started to whimper.

‘There,’ said Beth, ‘that’s her also trying to tell you that she thinks you’re a plonker for wanting to go out in the storm. She’s telling you that she doesn’t want you to leave. She’s trying to protect you. Stop being so stubborn.’

He looked at her incredulously. ‘Are you joking?’

‘Not at all.’ She realised that she had maybe said too much. Her comments clearly hadn’t landed well from the way he was now glaring at her. ‘Anyway, the main thing is that Daisy is okay.’

‘Yes,’ he said, his voice softening a bit. ‘That is true.’

‘Right,’ she said, feeling a shift in the energy of the room. ‘Now we know Daisy is okay, I would really like to get home. But I’m worried about the road. Is there another route?’

‘And you’ve just accused me of being stubborn? You heard Freya. It’s flooded. And going the long way round would be plain silly. I think you’re just going to have to sit this one out with me.’

Beth felt her heart skip a beat — she felt lightheaded. Was being stuck here with Callum a good idea? Especially as all she could now focus on were his muscles, outlined very clearly through the long-sleeved wet top that clung to him.

‘Are you warm enough?’ He threw another log on the fire. ‘Here, why don’t you take your coat off and I’ll lend you a dry jumper.’ A sweatshirt lay over the back of one of the kitchen chairs and he threw it to her. She pulled it on and breathed the scent of him on it.

‘I’ll go and get changed.’ He pointed at his wet clothes.

Beth had imagined them catching up over a drink or a coffee. Not holed up in his cottage in the middle of nowhere. It was a very lovely kitchen though, and she gazed at the lights on the Christmas tree in the corner of the room. She could smell the scent of the pine needles and felt incredibly relaxed. She smiled, a bit embarrassed, and felt her cheeks redden when he walked back into the kitchen wearing dry clothes and towelling his hair.

‘We’ve got lots to catch up on,’ he said.

‘I guess so. This isn’t quite how I imagined it though. I was imagining we might meet at the pub.’

‘No time like the present.’ His gaze was on her face. ‘Anyway, it’s not like we can go anywhere else, so we may as well make the most of this. Unless you fancy a game of Scrabble?’

Beth shrugged. ‘Or Monopoly?’ She’d suddenly remembered it was a game he’d always detested.

He chuckled. ‘I still hate that game.’

Beth sighed.

‘Shall I put the kettle on?’ Callum asked. And right at that moment all the lights went out.