Page 12 of A Summer of Secrets on Arran (Scottish Romances #5)

The words had tumbled from Bella’s mouth before she could stop them.

And now she wished she could claw them all back.

Especially as Luke’s eyes widened in utter shock.

Meanwhile, the walls of the bar seemed to close in on them, making Bella feel as if they were the only two people in the room.

She traced a bead of water which was running down her glass, willing him to say something. Anything.

‘Sorry . . . but can you, can you say that again?’ he whispered, looking at her in disbelief. ‘I’m not sure, I’m not quite sure I heard you properly.’ He leaned in towards her digging his nails into the table.

Bella’s heart was now thudding and her mouth felt as though it was full of marbles. She took a long drink of water and it caught the back of her throat causing her to choke and splutter.

‘Here,’ he said, reaching over and gently patting her on the back.

When she had caught her breath, her voice was soft as she repeated the words. ‘I have reason to believe you are my father . . . I think you might be my dad.’ She watched as he swallowed hard and cleared his throat several times.

‘O-k-a-a-y,’ he said, drawing the word out. ‘And what makes you think that?’ He sat back and narrowed his eyes, frowning.

‘Because you and my mum had a thing many years ago. In Australia. In Sydney, to be precise.’

Luke was looking irritated now. ‘You’re going to have to be a bit more specific than that and unless you have something particular to prove this then I think our conversation is over,’ he said curtly. ’Tell me why I should believe what you’re saying?’

‘I don’t make a habit of doing this type of thing,’ said Bella, now feeling a bit tearful.

She wasn’t quite sure how she had expected him to respond.

Had she been na?ve enough to think he would welcome her with open arms?

Especially when it seemed obvious that he had no idea her mum was pregnant.

He had every right to be short with her.

She had just launched a huge grenade at him.

She took a steadying breath and then started to explain.

‘My mum — she’s called Isobel — was travelling in Australia and in Sydney when she fell pregnant with me.

I happen to know for a fact that she was having a bit of a thing with you when you were there on tour. ’

Luke groaned out loud. ‘Look I’m not proud of any of my behaviour back then. I was young and single and there were a lot of women. Many.’

‘So, you’re saying that you don’t remember my mum then? You used to go to the Q bar together.’ Bella sat back too and crossed her arms.

‘Well, um, not off the top of my head. You’re talking about over twenty years ago. It’s a very long time ago and my memory isn’t always as sharp as it used to be.’

‘I know it happened a long time ago . . . but please think. Her name is Isobel and she is from Glasgow. She looks like me, she can’t sing to save herself and apparently was head over heels in love with you and you had several nights of passion together when you were in Sydney.

And you told her she was special .’ Bella pulled a face.

’ You got chatting in a bar after one of your gigs and that was that.

Until you then did a midnight flit and buggered off to the other side of the world without telling her. ’

Luke was quiet as he sat thinking. Bella watched him, waiting for a glimmer, even a tiny one, of some kind of long-lost memory to unearth itself.

Maybe he was one of those popstars who had taken far too many drugs in their youth and their brain had been fried as a result and wiped their memories. That would just be typical.

‘I do remember a girl from back then,’ he said softly.

‘I’ve always had a soft spot for Scottish accents.

’ He gazed beyond her as he seemingly tried to remember more details.

‘There were a few women in Australia,’ he said with a shrug.

‘But I do remember one who was from Glasgow, I think. Though I’m sorry but I don’t remember her name being Isobel.

But, yes, I do vaguely recall that we had a few nights together.

She was really pretty . . . and funny . .

. and, damn, that’s all I remember . . .

’ his voice trailed off. ‘I’m really sorry that I don’t remember your mum exactly.

As I said, my memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be.

I’m not proud of it now but there were many women back in the day.

’ He shrugged helplessly. ‘That was just the way it was then.’

Bella sighed. She could feel tears starting to trickle down her face. Maybe her mum hadn’t even told him her real name. What a mess.

‘Hey,’ he said, passing her a napkin. ‘Please don’t cry.’ He paused. ‘If you are my daughter then I had no idea. And I am sorry. Especially as I don’t even know your name.’

‘It’s Bella,’ she said, through her tears.

‘Okay, Bella. Well, I think we need to find out a bit more from your mum. And find out the facts. Are you sure she is telling you the truth?’

Bella glared at him. Then she reminded herself that her mother hadn’t told her any of this. And she would go absolutely mad once she found out what Bella had done. ‘Um, she doesn’t actually know that I’m here.’

He tilted his head at her. ‘Right.’

‘She will go absolutely tonto when she finds out what I’ve done.’ Bella’s stomach tightened at the thought. ‘Tonto means crazy by the way.’

‘Yes,’ he said with a nod. ‘I gathered that.’ He shrugged. ‘But I do think if this is the case and you do think that I might be your dad then we need to find out either way. Where is your mum now? Could you call her and ask her?’

Bella hesitated, wondering whether she should phone her mum.

But for a start it wasn’t the type of question she could just slide into a phone call.

It really was the sort of conversation she needed to do face-to-face.

But she wasn’t sure it could wait until her mum returned home from Arran.

Just then the man at the bar, who Luke had spoken to when they had first arrived, came over to the table.

She wondered if he was his security guard.

‘Hey, sorry to interrupt. Luke, can I have a quick word?’

Luke nodded and excused himself, walking out of earshot to talk with the man.

Bella watched him and he looked grim-faced as he listened to what the man said.

A few minutes later, they shook hands and the man left the bar.

Luke sat back at the table with his hands steepled together. He worriedly glanced over at the door.

‘What now?’ she said, looking at him questioningly.

‘That’s my caddy, Andrew. He was just filling me in on what’s been happening up at the main hotel where all the players are staying.

It looks like my golfing partner has disgraced himself.

Again. I saw a photographer earlier who I know will now be all over it, desperate to get some shots to sell to the press.

He’ll be looking for me, too, and wanting a reaction.

If I’m honest, I’d rather not be here. I’d rather be as far away as possible. ’

‘Who is he?’

‘My golfing partner? Warren Bruce. The footballer,’ he said grimly.

‘Oh dear,’ said Bella, rolling her eyes. Everyone knew who he was and all about his off the pitch antics. Even her gran knew who he was. Whenever he was on TV, she called him a big dunderheid, which wasn’t a compliment.

‘Exactly. I could do with getting out of here ASAP before the place is swarming with journalists. I’m sure his wife is playing in Glasgow tonight, which will give the press even more ammunition.’ He gave her a wry smile and tipped his head to one side as though he was formulating a plan.

‘Yup, she is in Glasgow tonight. She’s playing at the Hydro. I got a message this afternoon to ask if I could work at one of the bars. I turned it down,’ she said, by way of explanation as to why she was still here.

‘Hmmm, is your mum in Glasgow just now?’

Bella shook her head. ‘No, she’s on holiday at the moment on Arran. The island. Not too far from here.’

‘Okay,’ he said suddenly, his eyes flitting across to the door. ‘Let’s go and see her then and try to get some answers.’

‘Seriously?’

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Apart from anything else I need to get out of here fast and Arran is a place I have always wanted to go.’

Bella nodded, so swept up in the moment and relieved that he was taking her seriously. She didn’t even stop to think about what he had actually agreed to. She just nodded and took a deep breath. ‘If you are sure?’

‘I am,’ he said. ‘I’m happy to come and talk to your mum .

. . and I believe there are some great golf courses there .

. .’ He shook his head. ‘Although I am seriously considering quitting,’ he said as a bit of an afterthought.

But Luke knew this was the opportunity he had been secretly wishing for.

If he was being entirely selfish then this would give him the chance to escape the press, and his manager, and hide out and get the book written.

He smiled at Bella. ‘I’m up for it if you are? ’

‘Sure,’ said Bella in disbelief, not quite wanting to believe that he wasn’t winding her up.

‘I’m game for an adventure and it sure beats going back to London.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘How long do you reckon it will take us to get there?’

Bella quickly did some mental calculations. ‘It will take us half an hour to get to Ardrossan. But the last ferry is at six.’ Bella looked at her watch. ‘So, we’d better get a bend on. We might not even get on it. Especially as we haven’t booked.’

He glanced over at the door. ‘If you’re game, then let’s just get on the road and hope for the best. Do you have a car?’

Bella nodded, glad that they could be inconspicuous in her mum’s small Peugeot.

‘I just need to work out how to get into the hotel to get my stuff without anyone seeing me. It’s all packed and ready to go.’ He frowned. ‘Apart from my toothbrush.’

‘You can leave that to me,’ said Bella firmly. ‘Give me your room key and I’ll go and collect it. Nobody will recognise me.’

He grinned. ‘You’re on. Let’s go, Bella. Let’s do this.’

Hope bubbled up in Bella. Maybe things would work out okay.

Her mum might be angry to begin with but she would understand.

Bella tried to ignore the niggling voice in her head that said, will she though?

Bella had always wanted to know who her father was and now she had hopefully found him, she felt a sense of relief.

At least the journey to Arran meant they would have time to get to know each other a bit more.

It would be quality father and daughter time.