Page 24 of Back in the Saddle

Caroline laughed. ‘I’ve only sent you a few snaps of Oklahoma City. Haven’t had a chance to venture out yet.’

‘But you will, right?’

‘Sure. Anna said I can borrow her car whenever, she doesn’t really use it much. Thinking of checking out some of the state parks in the area over the weekends. Maybe venturing out somewhere for an overnight stay later.’

‘That’s great, Caroline.’ Clara beamed.

Caroline shrugged, twisting from side to side in her swivel chair. ‘Yeah, I’m glad I came here. Think this year’s going to be good for me.’

Clara nodded overenthusiastically. She didn’t know about Caroline and Finn’s split yet, but she was up to speed with how Caroline had been feeling with regards to her career.

‘And the work must be interesting! Remind me, what doyou actually do there? Victoria, honey, I’m on a phone to Auntie Caroline. What do you have on your face?!’

A head of blonde curls popped up in the camera view. Victoria, Clara’s six-year-old daughter, looked very pleased with herself and giggled loudly in response to her mother’s strained voice.

‘It’s chocolate,’ she crowed. ‘Yoummy, yoummy chocolate!’ Her face lit up with glee.

Caroline smiled and had to stop herself from laughing alongside her niece.

Clara, on the other hand, didn’t look remotely impressed. ‘I’m going to go get a towel to wipe this off.’

She disappeared from the video, leaving Victoria alone in front of the laptop.

‘What chocolate did you have, Vic?’ Caroline asked, feeling the familiar tug of homesickness.

Not being able to see her family more often was the hardest part of living in another country. Even though Scotland and Ireland were a short flight, with all her commitments it hadn’t been easy making regular trips to Dublin to see them. And that was how she’d felt in Glasgow – Oklahoma was even further away. She always tried to make up the distance with frequent video calls whenever she had time, but that was now even trickier due to the time difference.

‘It was milk an’ raisin! So tasty. I ate it all,’ Victoria said, starting to giggle again.

‘I’m jealous. I love milk chocolate with raisins.’

‘I can share with you when you visit us. When will you come? I want to see you.’ Victoria’s happy expression was replaced with a sad frown. She turned to check that her mother wasn’t back yet and moved closer to the screen. ‘I love you most of all my aunties.’

Caroline chuckled, warmth spreading in her chest. ‘Don’tlet Auntie Caitlin hear that. I love you too, poppet. But I can’t visit just now. I’m staying with Auntie Anna, remember? Mum told you about it.’

‘Yes. And Daddy showed me on the map. It’s all the way across lots of water!’

Caroline nodded. ‘It is.’

Victoria thought about it for a moment, and then she smiled again. ‘That’s OK then. But come soon?’

‘What do I hear you’re telling Auntie Caroline she’s your favourite? You said the same to Caitlin the other day.’ Clara walked back into camera’s view. She was holding a wet face cloth and started washing the remains of chocolate off Victoria’s face.

‘You did? I’m so, so sad now.’ Caroline put her hand on her heart, pretending to be deeply hurt.

Victoria patiently let her mother clean her nose and shrugged. ‘Well, I want all my aunties to feel special!’ As if it was an obvious answer.

Both sisters shook their heads good-naturedly.

Clara kissed her daughter’s cheek, now chocolate free.

Victoria pushed her away, appalled. ‘Mum! Not in public!’

‘Oh, my apologies. Go ask Daddy if you can help him with anything.’

‘OK. Bye, Auntie Caroline, love you.’

Caroline waved to the camera. ‘Bye, Vic, love you too.’