Rivers of Ink Page 10

  “I know. What else can I do though? We know that all the jobs around here are shit. Remember the job hunt we went on before I started at The Unbound Soul? Crappy holiday cover jobs or things that last two weeks before they realise I can probably run the whole department and get rid of me?” Alicia drained her glass and poured another. She had been drinking heavily; it was an easy way to dull the pain and helped her to sleep.

  “You could always come and work with me. I need a capable pair of hands to chase stuff up.”

  “Ooo, that sounds like fun,” Alicia teased. “I can be your secretary.”

  “You were happy enough playing secretary to Callan.”

  “Ouch, that’s low, Nell.” There were more than a few grains of truth to Nell’s observation. Alicia had been so happy with Callan that a lot of the things she said she wouldn’t do as a job—like getting coffee—she’d ended up doing anyway. The Unbound Soul had been easy and enjoyable, mostly down to the relationship she had with her boss. A relationship that was now in tatters.

  “Why don’t you try to speak to him, Ali?” Nell’s encouragement was somewhat tempered by the fact she had a noodle hanging out of her mouth. “Find out what really went on with Isobel.”

  “I can’t.”

  “What are you scared of?”

  Alicia didn’t know where to begin in answering that. The way things had developed so quickly and intensely in their relationship took her in one direction. The one where he could make her quiver simply by whispering in her ear or how he was so tuned in to her body that he knew exactly what to do to make her come. Had their relationship been based purely on the physical? She’d never really understood his past with Isobel, apart from the fact that she thought he hated her. What she’d seen at the wedding appeared to contradict that. Everything always came back to Isobel when there were issues.

  “I guess he’s not over Isobel,” she said, at last.

  Nell sighed. “And you’re not even going to fight for him?”

  “He can do the fighting for the both of us.” What Callan had done to Jason shocked her. She had no idea he had a such violent streak in him. Alicia sighed. “I have to make a change for the better now. I should move on.”

  She reached for her phone and found the message from her old contact. Before she changed her mind, she typed a response saying she was very interested in finding out more about the job in London. Almost instantly, she was sent a brief job description, salary information, and an invite to interview if she wanted it.

  “You might need to find a new flatmate.” She waved the phone at Nell.

  Nell grabbed it and scanned the message thread. “Wow, that was quick, you don’t hang around, do you?”

  “What’s the point? If I’m going to make a new start, it may as well be today.”

  A horrible sense of déjà vu settled over Callan as he worked through the day at The Unbound Soul. It felt like he was back where he had started the day before Xander’s funeral: down a receptionist and barber. This time, he was also down a best friend, albeit temporarily while he was on honeymoon. Miles and Aaron were rushed off their feet, covering both Aidy and Jason’s clients as well as their own. Marek and Pearl were also comfortably busy, although Pearl was making a fuss about having to cover reception again. Callan was at a loss where to start in sorting things out. He wished Alicia were there.

  “All right, son?”

  Drew’s voice broke into his reverie.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I spoke to Isobel. She told me what happened.”

  “Did she tell you everything?”

  Drew nodded. “Everything.” He patted his son on the shoulder. “Shall we go get a drink?”

  “It’s too early for beer.”

  “I meant a coffee. I spotted a shop in the arcade.”

  Callan sighed. “Okay, you go ahead. I need to let the others know what’s going on.” He watched Drew walk away. He needed someone to talk to.

  Books ’n’ Beans was busy, Drew had managed to find them a table. Callan ordered and headed over to him. He sat down opposite his father.

  “What happened? You’ve never done anything like that before.”

  So many things ran through Callan’s head that he wanted to say. Things about the past, his mother, his brother, Isobel. Losing Xander had hit him hard, and he didn’t know how he should react.

  “I’ve never lost a brother before,” he said finally. “I guess I haven’t dealt with that yet.”

  “Cal, no-one would expect you to simply move on from something like that. What happened between Xander and Isobel shouldn’t have. I told him he needed to be straight with you and tell you before you found out for yourself. Then you did and in the worst way possible.”

  “You knew about them and you didn’t tell me?” The betrayal hit Callan like a sack of bricks. His head reeled from his father’s confession. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Xander promised me he was going to talk to you and come clean. I believed him. I was wrong.” Drew looked up at the waitress as she set their drinks down. “Thanks, love.”

  Callan grabbed his coffee and took quick gulps, ignoring the fact the liquid was scalding the roof of his mouth. The fact his father had been complicit in Xander and Isobel’s deception was too much to take in. More than ever, he wanted to make things right with Alicia. If she was with him, he knew he would be stronger. He had to find a way to get through to her. If he talked to Nell, she could pass on a message.

  “Why didn’t you tell me when you first found out?” Callan asked.

  “It wasn’t my place. They had to take responsibility for what they’d done.”

  “If I’d have known, maybe I could have stopped it.”

  Drew laughed. “I don’t think there’s anything you could have done. Xander fell pretty hard, and Isobel can be quite persuasive.” He paused. “I’m sorry, Cal. I should have been straight with you.” He reached out and placed a hand on Callan’s arm. “I don’t want to lose another son.”

  The shaky emotion in Drew’s voice hit Callan directly in the heart. Despite everything that had happened with Xander and Isobel, his father had still suffered the same way he had, maybe more so. Now it was just the two of them, and they had to stick together, whatever had gone on in the past.

  “You’re not going to, Dad,” said Callan, and he thought he saw Drew choke back a tear. “You want to get a beer later? I have some things to sort out at the shop, but I can meet you at the Trackside Social around seven? We can talk about where to scatter Xander’s ashes. He always wanted to be a motorcyclist, so maybe we should take him to Donington Park.”

  “Sounds like a good idea,” said Drew. “Both the beer and your idea. I’ll see you tonight.”

  They stood and embraced in a slightly awkward hug.

  Callan walked back to The Unbound Soul feeling a lot lighter than he had done in a while. He and Drew needed to stick together now.

  “Didn’t realise you were coming back, Callan,” said Miles, as Callan entered the shop. “Do you want me to lock up?”

  “No, it’s okay. I’m going to hang out here for a while. Got a couple of things to look at. I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?”

  “Sure, boss, have a good night.”

  When he was alone, he locked the door and turned off most of the lights. He settled down on the sofa by the window, laptop open in front of him. He opened Alicia’s marketing strategy document and began to reread it. As he went through, he made notes on a pad beside him, highlighting things he wanted to action quickly. The hours slipped past, and Callan hadn’t noticed the darkness drawing in. Once he’d finished the business side of things, he got out his sketchbook and started working on some new designs. As usual, he was so absorbed in creating that he didn’t hear the crack as the capacitor in the upstairs fridge ignited, nor did he feel the heat of the flames.

  It was the smoke that did the most damage.

  18

  When a mobile number she didn’t reco
gnise flashed up on her phone, Alicia almost didn’t answer it. She was preparing to head up to London for her interview and didn’t want to be distracted by cold callers. For some reason, she decided to take the call.

  “Is that Alicia?” The voice was male.

  “Yes, who is this?”

  “I’m Drew Rivers, Callan’s father.”

  Alicia’s heart almost stopped. What was he doing calling her? “Um, hello?” She heard heavy breathing on the other end of the line before Drew spoke again.

  “There’s been an accident at The Unbound Soul. I thought you should know.”

  Her chest tightened. “What happened?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  “Fire broke out in the upstairs kitchen. There’s been quite a bit of smoke damage, although the emergency services did manage to get there in time.”

  She had heard sirens during the night, nothing unusual in that part of town though. “Callan, was he…?”

  “He was downstairs when the fire started.”

  Her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the bed, her pulse pounding, fearing the worst. “Is he…?”

  “Callan’s in hospital. He inhaled a lot of smoke and they think he’s going to be fine. He’s been asking for you.”

  “He wants to see me?”

  “You’re the one he’s been asking for, sweetheart,” said Drew. “He’s in St Andrews. That’s where I am.”

  “I can be there in about twenty minutes. I’ll call you when I arrive.”

  As Alicia disconnected the call, she took a few breaths to compose herself. She had been on the verge of heading off, in the hope of pastures new, and her past was calling to her. Was she doing the right thing by rushing to see him? Was she jeopardising her future by blowing off the interview? She ran a hand through her hair, wishing Nell were there. Nell would know what to do for the best.

  Alicia looked down at her phone and dialled the number she needed.

  The woman she had been due to interview with had sounded understanding when Alicia called to explain there had been a family emergency and she needed to rearrange. No doubt she had heard that same excuse a hundred times over.

  It took her longer than she thought to get to the hospital. Apparently three-inch heels weren’t the most comfortable when it came to walking across town at speed. She walked into the reception area and looked around for Callan’s dad. There was a chap fiddling with his phone sitting in one of the chairs. He had a similar bone structure to Callan and almost the exact same shade of dark hair, albeit peppered with some silver.

  “Drew?” asked Alicia as she approached him.

  “Alicia?”

  She nodded and held out her hand.

  Drew shook it solemnly. “Thank you for coming. Callan’s going to be so happy to see you.”

  Her stomach churned at the thought of seeing Callan as she followed Drew to the lifts and up to the second floor. It was like a rabbit warren, and she hoped she would be able to find her way out.

  Callan’s father acknowledged one of the nurses standing outside a ward and spoke quietly to her. He gestured to Alicia, and the nurse nodded, beckoning Alicia towards her.

  “Not too long now. Mr Rivers needs to get some rest.”

  All beds on the small ward were occupied, and Callan was in one on the far side. He lay with his back towards them as they went in.

  “Callan?” Drew said. “You’ve got a visitor.”

  Callan turned over, and as his eyes, already red and bloodshot, fell on Alicia they filled with tears. Alicia’s did the same.

  “Hey,” croaked Callan. His voice came out hoarse and he broke into a cough almost immediately after speaking.

  “What have we told you about talking too much?” said another nurse. “Take it easy,” she warned.

  Alicia was grateful for the opportunity to turn away and speak to someone else for a moment. It was almost as difficult for her to speak, so choked was she with emotion.

  “He’s very lucky. We’ve fully checked him over now and everything appears to be in order. We will keep him a bit longer to check he doesn’t have any adverse reaction, but I’m confident there won’t be any issues.”

  “That’s good to hear.” Alicia turned back to Callan. Lying on the bed, wearing a hospital gown, he was deathly pale, and his tattoos stood out in stark contrast to the pure white of the bedsheets. He gave off an air of vulnerability, and it took all of Alicia’s willpower not to gather him in her arms. She glanced over at Drew, who looked out of the window as if he were trying not to intrude. “Um, Drew, would you mind if I spoke to Callan alone for a bit?”

  Drew looked at Callan, who nodded. “Sure, I’ll go get a coffee.” He placed a hand on Callan’s arm. “I’ll come back to see you later.”

  Alicia sat on the edge of the bed. Callan reached for her hand, but she pulled it away. She needed to talk to him first.

  “I saw you with Isobel at the wedding. I saw you kissing her.”

  “She was kissing me…” Callan began. Alicia held up her palm.

  “Every time there’s been an issue in our relationship, it always comes back to Isobel. What she did to you was unforgivable, and how she ruined your bond with Xander, particularly when you had no idea what was going to happen, was deplorable. If you want it to work with anyone else, you have to get over her. It seemed that you would rather be in that destructive relationship than be with me.” The words came tumbling out and once she’d said them, Alicia felt better.

  “Believe me, I have no desire to get back with Isobel. That part of my life is over.”

  “I heard what you did to Jason, all because he brought Isobel to the wedding. While he was in the wrong, you should have spoken to him about it, not beaten seven shades out of him.”

  “I was angry and saw red. I think I still am. About Isobel and Xander, about Xander dying.” Callan’s tone was barely above a whisper, and Alicia had to strain to hear him. “Meeting you when I did, given the timing, was the best thing that had happened to me in ages and I would really like it if you would give us another chance.”

  Alicia’s heart constricted at Callan’s words. There was a huge part of her that wanted that, but another piece that told her to slow down, to take a step back, start again. “I had an interview today,” she said slowly. “For a job in London.”

  Callan’s face twisted in sadness and disappointment, and Alicia knew she’d hurt him.

  “How did it go?” he asked.

  “I didn’t get there. Your dad called me, and I cancelled it to come here to see you.”

  “Does that mean there’s a chance for us?” His eyes were full of hope.

  “I said I’d get back to her to rearrange.”

  19

  Three months later

  The grand reopening of The Unbound Soul was in full swing. Thankfully, the damage hadn’t been as bad as Callan first feared and it took less time—not to mention less money—to restore it to its former glory. The whole team, old and new, were congregated in the downstairs seating area where there were glasses of champagne and canapés. Happy, excited chatter filled the air, almost drowning out the music that played in the background.

  Callan surveyed the group, the people that had stuck by him.

  Aidy and Wren were there, arms wrapped around each other, both beaming, speaking to the newest member of the barber squad, a young apprentice named Troy. He was working out well under the guidance of Aidy, Miles, and Aaron. Callan had high hopes for him. Pearl and Marek were chatting about the new designs they were working on. And, standing with Nell, Rory, and another girl, was Alicia.

  “Showing her the way it’s done?” Callan asked, as he walked up to the group.

  Alicia laughed. “I think Lottie’s way ahead of me already.”

  “I learned from the best,” said Lottie. “Alicia set up loads of great systems when she was here.”

  “Someone had to.” Alicia rolled her eyes. “It was in a hell of a mess.”

  “The system wasn’t
the only thing in a mess when Alicia started.” Callan sought out her gaze, connecting with her beautiful green eyes. “Can I get a moment with you?” he asked.

  She nodded and followed him over to the reception podium, where it was quieter.

  “I wanted to say thank you,” he said. “You didn’t have to do what you did.”

  After she had come to see him in hospital, Alicia rearranged the interview with the company in London and came through it with flying colours. She started shortly afterwards, commuting from her and Nell’s flat each day. When she found out that The Unbound Soul was reopening, she offered to help out in finding her replacement, taking some holiday to do so.

  “I know I didn’t. I wanted to.”

  Callan couldn’t tear his gaze away from her, a whole raft of emotions coursing through him, having a hundred things he wanted to say, but none of them would come out. “I miss you.”

  Alicia looked down at the floor. “I know. I miss you too.”

  “Before, I asked you about whether there was a chance for us. Do you think we could try again? Properly this time, no drama, no Isobel; take it slow?”

  She raised her head. “I think I’d like that.”

  A smile crept across her face, and Callan sighed in relief. He wanted to kiss her, hold her, tell her exactly how he felt. As he was about to do any or all of those things, Marek approached them, breaking the moment. “Callan, it’s time.”

  Callan nodded. “Sure, I’m ready.” He took Alicia’s hand and they followed Marek upstairs. As he set up his station, Callan stripped off his shirt and settled down on the chair as Alicia looked on. He turned on his side, exposing the bare skin for Marek to place the design on. They had worked together to make sure it was exactly the right size and fitted into the space between Callan’s other tattoos.

  As the tattoo gun started, signalling the start of the work, Callan tensed, knowing that it was going to be painful. Just the outline almost brought tears to his eyes, not only because of where the tattoo was situated but because of what it was. Marek worked quickly, and within an hour the first part of the work was finished.