Page 21 of The Breakup Bookshop

Her eyes fill with tears again as I place the cup of tea in front of her. She grips the cup with her hands but doesn’t bring it to her lips.

‘You’ve separated?’ I ask.

She nods her head. ‘He had an affair. He’s been coming here to see the kids, but now he’s “settled” in Inverness. Settled with her. He was meant to be settled with his own family, but instead he buggered off to start a new one.’

My eyes widen. ‘A new family?’

‘Baby on the way,’ she says, her voice flat. ‘Due in December. A girl, obviously. I wanted our third to be a girl. Shit, sorry, I’m oversharing. I just… I haven’t really told many people about it.’

I suck in my breath. Poor Eilidh. I think my predicament with Seb is bad, but what she is going through is proper grown-up shit. Kids. Divorce. Heartbreak on another level. Looking around the perfect family home, you’d think she had it all.

It doesn’t seem right that Eilidh should be dealing with this all on her own. The death cafe at uni pops back into my mind – what she’s experiencing is another kind of grief. There should be somewhere she could go to share her story with people who are on hand to listen and help, rather than opening up to someone who just popped by for advice on their tax return.

‘I’m so sorry,’ I say. ‘I can’t imagine how hard that must be for you. You can talk to me about it. I’d like to help if I can.’

‘Thanks,’ she sniffs. ‘It just doesn’t seem fair, what he did. It should be illegal. You sign a legal document when you get married, don’t you? Shouldn’t you be locked up if you break it?’

I nod. ‘I can see your logic.’

‘Anyway, you’re not here for my sob story. Sorry, what did you say your name was?’

‘It’s Ava. Ava Campbell. But we can stick with 658 if it’s easier,’ I say, with a small smile. ‘I wanted to talk about business plans and finances, but we can do that another time. What are your plans for when the boys are away?’

‘To wallow in self-pity,’ she admits with a self-deprecating look.

‘You’re not planning on moping around in this big house by yourself all day, are you? When are the kids back?’

‘Tomorrow evening,’ she says. ‘But I wasn’t planning to—’

‘Grab your coat. Let’s go out.’

*

Eilidh puts up less of a fight than I expect. She grabs her trainers and jacket from a large walk-in closet filled with children’s wellies, shoes and backpacks. As she ties her laces, I study the family pictures on display all over the house. Mark is attractive, but Eilidh is much more striking, with her long deep-red hair flowing loosely around her shoulders in each picture, and her piercing blue eyes that her sons have inherited. The boys beam widely at the camera in various baby and toddler poses, their chubby cheeks replaced with boyish grins as they grow up.

‘Happy families,’ she groans, as she catches me staring at them. ‘I paid a fortune for those professional photos. It’s taken all my strength not to take a permanent marker to erase Mark’s stupid face.’

‘You look so happy,’ I say. ‘I can’t believe that he could turn his back on all this. What more did he want?’

Eilidh shrugs as she holds the front door open and gestures for me to walk in front. ‘Everything’s always been handed to him on a silver platter, so he thought he’d go for gold. Her family is eye-wateringly rich.’

‘And you’re not?’ I snort, before I can stop myself, gesturing to our beautiful surroundings.

Eilidh allows herself a small smile. ‘Some people are never content. Anyway, what brings you to Ullapool? Have you come here with a partner or on your own?’

‘I’m very much flying solo.’

I share my Seb story with Eilidh during our walk to the village. It’s only fair, a heartbreak for a heartbreak. I don’t mention the best friend element, though. I can’t seem to put Macy’s name in my mouth. Somehow, it’s the worst part of it all.

‘What an idiot,’ Eilidh says, shaking her head.

‘At least we’re in it together,’ I say in a cheery voice. ‘Both screwed over. Now, I’m not looking for your professional advice or anything. But I thought you might like to see my bookshop on the way and then we can head to the pub?’

Eilidh nods. ‘Sure. It’s better than anything I’d planned for the evening.’

We walk along side by side on the pavement until we reach the front of the bookshop. I gaze up at the building in front of me, filled with a sense of pride at my next chapter.

‘So, wait, you just bid in an auction for a shop and turned up here to get started?’