“He’s making a fool of himself.”
Helen felt her back tense. “He’s thirty-five, he can do what he wants, how he wants to do it.”
“But marrying a woman he doesn’t even know? A woman who clearly doesn’t have a clue about life? What use is that going to do him?”
Helen put her fork down carefully. “I like Caroline.”
“She’s not for Josh. What good is a librarian going to do him when he’s wheeling and dealing in Hollywood? She’s never even been out of the country. All she’s going to do is slow him down.”
Helen felt her hackles rise. “Slow him down in regards to what?”
“His career.”
She leaned towards him. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but Josh’s career is already where it was supposed to be. There’s nowhere else to go. Sure, he can do the same thing better, or slightly differently, but he has nothing to prove anymore. Not to anyone. So how, exactly, is a lovely girl like Caroline slowing him down?”
“She doesn’t even know how to dress. How is he going to take her on the red carpet? He’ll be a laughing stock. Hell, he is already. Have you seen the news? She’s got the old folk manning barricades at the edge of town. There’s a group of women who sit and knit while they ‘screen’ people.”
Helen stood up. “I know. I met them this morning. I invited them for coffee.”
He scoffed at her, making it clear he thought she was a fool.
“That’s it, Andrew McInnes, I’ve had enough. You’re old and mean and bitter. You don’t see Caroline for the woman she is, the woman who is lovely and kind and good for Josh. You don’t see me for the woman I am either. This dinner isn’t about spending time with your wife. It isn’t about mending bridges. It’s about you trying to salve me so that you can get things back the way you want them to be. Well I don’t want them like that. I don’t want you like that.” She pointed a finger in his face. “You’ve got fifteen minutes to pack up and get out of the castle. Fifteen minutes and then I’m calling in people to turf you out. Because unlike you, I’ve been making friends here in Invertary. I haven’t been spending my time alone and bitter and miserable. So pack up and get out. I’ve had enough of you.”
She spun on her heels and walked towards the door. Then she had another thought and turned back to him.
“I don’t know what happened to you. You used to be strong, daring, fun. I liked that man. I loved that man. If that man came back, he might have a chance. This one”—she pointed at him again—“isn’t worth my time.”
And then she stomped up the stairs to her bedroom.
Caroline and Josh waited in the meeting room for the vicar to stop faffing about and join them. A sharp elbow hit Josh’s side, making him flinch. “What was that for?”
“You can’t kiss your way out of trouble, Josh McInnes.” Caroline’s voice was low, even though they were the only two in the room.
“That’s not what I’ve been told.” He couldn’t help but smirk. His lips had gotten him out of all sorts of trouble.
“So,” the vicar said as he entered the room. “How did you two get on with the homework?”
Caroline was all business again. “We did well. We’re working our way through the book. I think we have about half answered now. Right?”
She turned to Josh, who couldn’t begin to express how much he didn’t care about the homework. “Right.” Even he could hear it lacked conviction.
The vicar didn’t seem convinced, but he limited his criticism to a glare. He smiled at Caroline. “Caroline and I had a chat this week about the ceremony. She’s agreed to the common vows, although she refuses to vow to obey.”
Josh burst out laughing. “Sorry.” He held up a finger, asking for a minute. “That’s better. I’m fine now. It’s passed. I’m serious. This is serious.” He cleared his throat. “It would have been surprising if she had vowed to obey.”
Caroline glowered at him. “No woman vows to obey these days.”
Josh patted her knee. “Especially you, baby. I’m pretty sure you’re genetically incapable.”
She gave him the evil eye. “Do you want me to vow to obey?”
He tried to swallow the laughter that bubbled up as he held up his hand in surrender. “I want you to vow what you’re happy with and then stick with it.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
“No.” Josh was struggling to keep it together. “No, I don’t want you to vow to obey.”
She stuck her little nose in the air, pleased that he’d clearly come to the correct conclusion. Josh started to laugh again as his stomach muscles began to cramp.