Highlands Homecoming (A Highlands Christmas Romance #3)

Chapter 3

M elissa loved walking past the line of old brick two- and three-story brownstones in the Back Bay, and as luck would have it, Colin’s office turned out to be in a particularly quaint brownstone right across from the Charles. She wondered when and how her ex, Dave, had found Colin. This part of Boston wasn’t Dave’s cup of tea, but Colin’s law firm probably was well known and well-advertised.

She climbed up the snowy steps and opened the heavy wooden door. What must have been an entryway for the original home was now a small lobby with signs for the various offices and where to find them. She read Colin MacGregor - Attorney at Law, Suite 303 . She eyed the tiny elevator warily and decided to take the stairs instead.

Melissa hefted herself up the two flights of stairs and finally reached the office. She decided to do the “old school” trick—calling him from a few feet away and then popping in while they were chatting. In fact, it was kind of how they first met.

She dug into her purse, found her phone, and dialed.

As the phone rang, her heart pounded in anticipation. Finally, he answered.

“Uh, hi …”

“Hi, Colin! How are you doing? I’ve been really missing you. Don’t you just wish we could get together for coffee or something in person? Long distance relationships are so hard.”

“Uh, yeah … that sounds good. Listen, I have a client here.”

“I sure would love to see your office. I bet you have a great view of the Charles,” Melissa said.

Melissa was still standing outside Colin’s office when she heard a commotion from within. Her stomach twisted into knots as she recognized her ex-husband’s voice.

“Enough with the personal phone calls. I’m a paying customer,” said Dave in his flat, always-annoyed voice.

“Thank you for that, but I’m with a client now. I’ll, uh, talk soon,” said Colin.

“Oh my God. I’m here, too,” whispered Melissa. Her face flushed as she turned and raced toward the stairs, her heart pounding.

“Fine. You’re on the phone? I’m leaving!” snapped Dave.

Dave brushed past Meghana and opened the door to find Melissa standing at the top of the stairs.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I, um …” Melissa’s thoughts raced as she tried to come up with a plausible explanation. How could this possibly be happening?

“Are you spying on me or something?”

Melissa glanced around the signs and spotted a dentist opposite Colin’s office.

“Why would I spy on you? I was just, um … looking for my dentist,” she said lamely, walking toward the door.

Dave blocked her path.

Meghana stepped into the hall. “My mistake,” said Meghana. “This woman came in looking to use the restroom, and I wasn’t very clear with my instructions. She must have taken a wrong turn while I was on the phone. Ma’am, the restroom is just down the main hall. We don’t have public restrooms in the offices.”

Relief washed over Melissa, and she nodded a silent thank you to Meghana. Dave looked from Melissa to Meghana, knowing something was up, but still trying to put two and two together.

“What were you even doing here?” Dave asked.

“I was just out and about, taking a walk and … Well, you know me. I had to go. This seemed like a place that would have a restroom, so … ” Melissa winced, realizing her story had changed.

“I thought you’d moved to Scotland.” Dave’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Melissa nodded. “I’m just back to collect some things from storage, see friends and family. So I’ll just be on my way.”

“Where are you staying?”

“That’s none of your business,” said Melissa, crossing her arms in front of her.

“So was it the dentist or the restroom? Why would you come back here to the dentist?”

“I lost an aligner and needed a new one,” said Melissa. “Remember? You were mad they cost so much. Silly me.”

“They can’t mail them?”

“Uh, they needed to check the fit. Remember, they did a scan of my mouth. They needed me to come in and check that it was the same. It’s like when you need to see the doctor before they can refill a prescription … you know?” She knew she was a terrible liar, and this was getting her nowhere, but for whatever reason she couldn’t stop.

He was still blocking her way. When they were married, he’d been gruff, but he’d never been like this. Melissa had never been scared of him before, but now she was.

“I need to get by, Dave,” said Melissa in a voice that she knew sounded weak and meek. But she was a different woman now. She was independent. She could face this oaf.

Gathering her resolve, Melissa pushed past him like he was a high school bully blocking her path to the locker. Astounded, he turned and watched as she hurried down the stairs.

Dave called after her, “Don’t you need to see the dentist?”

“I already did,” she called back.

She walked with purpose down the street in case Dave could see her. Then, shaking, she pulled out her phone and texted Caitlin.

M - Can you pick me up or should I call a ride?

C - I’m in Kenmore Square. brB.

M - I’ll wait on the corner.

Caitlin was already waiting in her car at the corner when Melissa arrived, shaken but proud that she’d made it through her first face-to-face confrontation with Dave. Baby steps. But she had taken them.

“That was fast,” said Caitlin as Melissa hopped into the car.

“Yeah. It didn’t exactly go as planned.”

As Melissa explained what happened, Caitlin tried to comfort her.

“I mean, I’m just too impulsive. I should have let Colin know I was in town.”

Caitlin shook her head. “There’s no way you could have known Dave would be there.”

“Yeah. He’s just getting worse. Now that I’m away, I can’t believe I was ever married to him.”

“You were kind of … sheltered. I’m not sure what the word is, but you didn’t know any better.”

Melissa groaned. She knew Caitlin was right, but the gut punch of being called out was a wake-up call.

“But now you do. So we’re going to celebrate you all weekend. First stop? Shopping on Newbury Street. We can get together with Colin once he’s off the clock.”

Caitlin parked in the structure underneath the Boston Common, and they emerged to the grand park blanketed in soft, giant snowflakes. Melissa tucked her hair into a lavender knit cap and wrapped a matching scarf around her neck.

Melissa’s phone rang. It was Colin.

“Hey, Melissa ...” Melissa drew in her breath at the sound of his lovely Highland accent, as she always did. “So, you’re coming to Boston?” he said with amusement.

She flushed with embarrassment but was grateful that he was always so laid back and understanding. The complete opposite of Dave.

“I don’t know what I was thinking trying to surprise you at work like that. I’m so sorry,” said Melissa.

“It was a wonderful idea, just bad timing. And, well, you know how Dave can be.”

“No kidding.”

“I get off at six tonight. Shall I meet you and Caitlin for dinner?” asked Colin.

“That would be wonderful. I’m so sorry,” said Melissa.

“It’s okay. I just hope you’re all right. Meghana said he really had you rattled,” said Colin.

“Yeah. I’m good,” said Melissa.

“See you soon.”

Melissa hung up and took a deep breath.

“Does dinner at the North End sound good?”

“You know, thinking of you and Colin and all that amazing Italian food, I’d rather let you have your Lady and the Tramp spaghetti moment. I can sit at the bar at the Iron Brew,” Caitlin said with a playful twinkle in her eye.

“You sure?”

“Absolutely!”

As they walked down Newberry Street, Melissa and Caitlin passed by rows of colorful storefronts, each adorned with unique window displays. The boutiques and high-end stores they visited were filled with racks of clothing in all different styles, and the cozy corner cafe had a homey atmosphere with wooden tables and chairs and a cheerful view of the snow-covered park.

They each ordered a coffee and sat at a table by the window.

“Shopping therapy works every time,” said Caitlin.

Melissa looked at their collection of little bags and packages. “You’d think it was Christmas,” she said, sipping her coffee.

“Nothing like January sales. You’ll probably be needing winter hats and gloves well into March in the Highlands,” said Caitlin. “So what have you missed most?”

Melissa thought for a moment. “I mean, mostly friends and family. You always hear about Americans living abroad and sending away for American foods like peanut butter or something. But really, anything I want is available, and if it’s not, I can order it. That said, it’s good to walk down a familiar street and know what the shops are.”

“What do you want to do next?” asked Caitlin, biting into a biscotti.

Melissa thought about it. She’d lived in the Boston area for a while. “Well, I think I’ve done all the touristy things: Paul Revere’s home, the Old North Church, Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, the Freedom Trail …”

Caitlin nodded. “What’s something you can only do in Boston that we haven’t done?”

She thought for a moment. “Duck boat tours?”

“Not in this cold!”

“Museum of Fine Arts? Isabella Stewart Gardner museum?” Caitlin asked.

Just then, Melissa’s phone buzzed. Dreading the idea that it could be Dave, she didn’t even want to look at it. It buzzed again. Then it rang. Melissa reached for her phone, then breathed a sigh of relief. It was her sister, Emma.

“You’ve been in town nearly a whole day, and we haven’t made plans. Why don’t we meet up at the golf course and do a little cross-country skiing, and then you can have dinner at my house?” Emma had a way of jumping past pleasantries and getting to the point.

“Great idea, Emma! And I was going to call you. I just haven’t had a chance yet.”

“A likely story …” said Emma, her tone teasing and warm. “I’ve got a pot of clam chowder that Thomas will keep an eye on. I can be at the golf course in fifteen minutes.”

“Perfect!” said Melissa. “But can I ask a favor?”

“Of course.”

“Can Colin join us for dinner? We can bring more?—”

“Absolutely! And don’t bring a thing. I definitely want to meet this guy!”