“How? It would be hard to prove. There wouldn’t be anything unusual about denying someone an extension on their skilled worker’s visa, considering you got me that on a very loose definition ofskilled.”
“You’re a trained chef. That’s a skilled profession,” Tierney argued.
“You know what I mean.”
“Don’t panic,” Ramsay insisted. “There’s fuck all Nick can do. And he can’t go anywhere. Did you block his number?”
I nodded.
“If he calls again using another number, I want to know. In the meantime, I’ll start digging into the Hustons, see if we can’t find more incriminating information that might finally convince Nick it would be in his family’s best interests for him to forget you exist.”
Nee hugged me tight and Ramsay gave my shoulder a comforting pat, his brow furrowed, already in problem-solving mode.
As soon as they left me in the kitchen, I was swamped with guilt.
What was I doing?
I knew in telling them that they’d take it on themselves. That they would make it their mission to fix this for me. After everything my friends had been through, they deserved peace, not more problems. And certainly notmyproblems.
I felt as useless as I had when boarding the plane to Scotland, knowing that I couldn’t escape Nick without Tierney and Ramsay’s help.
By the time breakfast was over, my stomach was in knots with the guilt and failure. After cleaning up, I found Nee in the dining room that had massive windows and French doors overlooking the Sound of Glenvulin. She wiped down the now-empty tables, brows drawn together like she was deep in thought.
“Hey, I’m heading out.”
Nee looked up, and I saw the tension etched into her expression, tension I had put there.
Renewed guilt burned in my nose and eyes. “I don’t want you and Ramsay worrying about the Nick problem. I’m going to deal with it myself.”
My best friend scowled. “No, you’re not. I won’t and can’t leave you to deal with it yourself. And why should you have to? If Nick wants to play dirty and pull the strings he has, then we’re pulling the strings we have, and Ramsay’s strings are way better than Nick’s.” She stabbed the air aggressively with a fork, like she wished Nick was in front of her.
Overwhelming love flooded through me, and I gave her a watery smile. “I just wish I wasn’t so damn useless.”
“You are not and have never been useless. I don’t want to hear you say that again.”
“Okay, Mom,” I teased half-heartedly.
Instead of rolling her eyes or chuckling like I’d expect, Nee’s hand dropped to her lower belly. It was a subconscious move but one that made me gasp out loud.
Her eyes flared as I stared at her in shock.
“Are you … are you pregnant?”
Nee bit her lip, a smile prodding the corners of her mouth. “Maybe?”
“What?” I bridged the distance between us. “What does maybe mean?”
She blinked back tears. “I mean, I am pregnant, but I’m only twelve weeks, so we don’t want anyone to know yet. But I’m happy you guessed.”
“You’re pregnant?”
“I’m pregnant. You’re going to be Aunt London. Or Aunt Lonny. Or Aunt Lolo. I’ve been thinking about a bunch of cute—” Her words were cut off as I pulled her into a tight embrace, so happy for her I trembled with it.
Everything she’d lost … I couldn’t be more overjoyed that she’d come out the other side andfoundso much.
“Congratulations, bestie,” I whispered tearfully as Tierney returned my embrace. “You’re going to be the best mom ever.”
At her choked sob, I held her tighter.