Sealed With a Kiss by Rachael Lucas Read Free Book Online Page A

Susan looked at Kate, who nodded. ‘I need the caffeine to keep me awake. Oh, thank God. A sanity break.’ She ran her fingers all the way through her long, dark
hair. ‘Tom always comes back, round about now, for a cup of tea. Some days I’m counting the minutes. The wee one is asleep in her cot, but Jamie never stops talking and it drives me
round the bend. I just want five minutes’ peace, like Mrs Large in the story . . .’ She burst out laughing. ‘Sorry. Here I am, ranting like a madwoman, and we’ve not even
properly met. I’ve been so looking forward to having someone to talk to during the day who doesn’t want to analyse the latest episode of
Thomas the Tank Engine
.’
    Kate smiled, understanding. When the twins had been smaller, Emma had found it hard to cope with the incessant demands of small people and had been desperate for company, escaping most days to
toddler groups and music classes – anything to avoid the endless hours until Sam returned.
    She was still feeling faintly embarrassed at having swooned at Susan’s husband, and was lost for words. Susan didn’t seem to notice, and was happily filling her in on the things
there were to do on the island (not much to speak of) and on the reasons why Kate must be insane to come and live here (countless).
    ‘Oh, I don’t really mean that. It’s a gorgeous place. And with another grown-up to talk to, it’ll be even nicer. And you’re staying in Bruar Cottage all by
yourself? Maybe I can sneak down with a bottle of wine and we can have a little house-warming party? I haven’t had a girly evening for God knows how long.’
    ‘Have you let Kate get a word in edgeways yet?’ Tom appeared bearing a tray of coffees and a plate of delicious-looking shortbread.
    ‘Um, maybe one or two,’ laughed Susan. ‘Now, it’s your turn, Kate. So, what on earth made you leave civilization and come up here to the ends of the earth?’
    Realizing this question was going to be a frequent one, Kate took a breath and began again.
    ‘I finished a job, and split up with my boyfriend, and thought it was time for a bit of a change. I spent four years living in Edinburgh, and I’ve always wanted to spend time on an
island, and this seemed the ideal opportunity.’ Kate was pleased with her summary, and wondered if it might be worth putting a piece to that effect in the local paper. It would seem that
everyone on the island knew everything about everyone, so there was no point in trying to be enigmatic.
    ‘Ooh, so you’ll be on the hunt for someone new?’ Susan’s eyes lit up with the glint of the perennial matchmaker.
    ‘Nope.’ Kate shook her head, and took a slurp of coffee. ‘I’m getting a dog instead.’
    ‘A dog?’ Susan grinned at her. ‘Well, you’ve come to the right place.’ Standing up, she called her little boy from his game in the hall.
    ‘Jamie, come and show Kate what we’ve got in the garden.’
    The little boy smiled at her shyly and took her hand. He led her through the kitchen and a back porch cluttered with wellington boots, raincoats and a filthy three-wheeled pushchair, into a
fairy-tale garden. There was a playhouse that had been decorated by hand and was covered in fairies, toadstools and butterflies. Mirrored glass hung through the branches of an apple tree, and the
air was filled with the sound of wind chimes.
    ‘This is beautiful.’ Kate stood, transfixed. She turned to Susan. ‘It’s like a secret world out here.’
    ‘I don’t get time to paint much any more, so I suppose the garden is my canvas at the moment. I can get it done while Jamie plays and Mhairi is in the pram.’
    ‘Come on!’ Jamie tugged at Kate’s hand impatiently.
    They went through a tall gate and into the second half of the garden. A stone building, traditionally constructed with a pointed roof and chimney, was fronted by a metal pen. This cage-like
structure had a gate, which led to a sturdy, painted wooden door. Jamie opened the door,