Sunday's Child by Clare Revell

shelves under the window by the door. Laundry, bathroom and kitchen stuff on the other wall. Behind the main counter were all the other groceries, fridge, and stationery supplies. But her favorite section by far was the shelves next to the small post office counter.
    Jar upon jar of every sweet you could imagine and then some. All the ones she remembered from her childhood.
    Bonbons, fruit salad, rhubarb and custard, pear drops, jellies, chocolate éclairs, lime éclairs, toffees, fudges, and even shoelaces and the chocolate buttons with hundreds and thousands on them. Wow. This place really hasn’t changed at all. Time stands still here.
    “Harriet, is that you?” The deep voice was familiar, yet at the same time wasn’t.
    She turned to find a tall, ginger haired man with green eyes grinning at her. Oh, but she’d recognize those eyes anywhere. Part of her hoped he wouldn’t still live here. For all she knew he’d tell Steve he’d seen her and that wasn’t at all a good thing. Of all the people she could run into here, it had to be him. The one bloke Steve was determined to set her up with and marry her off to, purely on the basis he was the richest man on the island. “Hello, Markus.”
    Strong arms enveloped her in a bear hug. “My goodness, you’ve changed.”
    She hugged him back, not wanting to be rude. Maybe if she were nice to him, he’d keep her secret. “So have you.”
    He kissed her cheek. “Let me look at you. Still the same on the inside no doubt, but far prettier on the outside.”
    “Flatterer.” She grinned, pulling back from the over familiar and too long hug. “Think you’ve changed more. You’re a lot taller now for one thing.”
     
    ****
     
    Cal edged towards the door, not wanting to see any more. His heart had leapt when he saw Hattie at Laurie’s place. For a few short moments, he’d allowed himself to hope he could see her again. And properly this time. But it looked as though she was on more than friendly terms with Markus.
    He was almost out onto the street and safety when Alba called to him. “Cal, here a minute.”
    He slowly went back over to the counter, glad Hattie and Markus were too wrapped up in talking to each other to notice him. “What’s up, Alba?”
    “That package came for your dad yesterday. I meant to get Fraser to bring it over, but he had to go to the mainland. The wee bairn was taken sick.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that.” Cal knew full well that the ‘wee bairn’ was thirty-two with his own gardening business on the mainland, but guessed all kids remained kids in their parent’s eyes, no matter how old they got. “I hope he feels better soon. I can take the parcel if you like. I’m heading that way now.”
    “Thank you. Bring your truck around back into the yard.”
    “Will do.” He turned around to find Hattie standing right behind him. He smiled. “We must stop meeting like this. People will talk.”
    “Let them.” She grinned at him. “But we do seem to be making a habit of bumping into each other. But it’s a wonderful habit to have.”
    “It sure is.”
    Markus came up behind her, a paper and box of washing powder in his hands. “Callum.”
    Cal nodded. “Markus.”
    “You and Harriet know each other?”
    “Yeah. We’ve known each other a while.” Well that was true, just not as long as Hattie and Markus had evidently known each other. Cal took a small measure of comfort in the fact that Markus called her Harriet and not Hattie. Not that he could read too much into it, as Markus was formal with almost everyone. Very old school, he still addressed the majority of the village folk by their title and surname, except people his own age or his own circle of friends. Cal wasn’t in either category, but because he was famous, Markus considered them to be on first name terms.
    Cal smiled at Hattie. “I’ll see you around. A lot.”
    Hattie returned the smile. “I’m looking forward to it already.”
    He headed to the door.