Eleni posed the question to Julia that also had crossed her mind during the night. ‘So this jilted friend of yours, Anais. Have you told her that Flynn’s turned up in the village yet?’
Julia shook her head. ‘I’ve been thinking about that but what’s the point? She’s moved on with her life. I’m not sure what she will even think about it. I know it’s a few years ago but I really don’t want to be upsetting her.’
Eleni nodded her agreement. ‘You may be right.’
After the serving of breakfast was finished and everything was cleared away Julia took the short drive to the dentist in Glensheil. After registering her arrival with the receptionist, she sat down in the bland-looking waiting room, where everything was white except the TV screen attached to the wall, which was flicking through adverts from local businesses.
The receptionist popped her head around the door. ‘Sorry, we are running approximately ten minutes behind,’ she said, looking straight at Julia.
‘No problem,’ replied Julia politely, but wishing they would hurry up. The toothache was driving her insane and the painkillers were wearing off. She really wasn’t a fan of the dentist and knowing that more than likely she needed a tooth extraction, the queasy feeling in her stomach began to escalate. Leaning forward and picking up a pile of well-thumbed magazines from the table, she tried to block out the ache in her mouth by flicking through the first celebrity gossip mag. ‘Who are these people?’ she muttered under her breath, not recognising anyone from the photos staring back at her. Julia glanced at the date. ‘Two years old,’ she mumbled again before tossing the magazine back on the table.
Next in the pile was the magazine Scottish Life. ‘This is more like it,’ she thought, noticing it was actually a recent issue. Julia began to turn the pages in awe of the dream kitchens, oldey worldey living rooms with soft furnishings to die for. In the past she’d used this magazine to help her style her own B&B. Julia loved interior design; she had a flair for style and soft furnishings and everyone who stayed at the B&B always complimented her on her bespoke furniture and luxury designs.
As she turned the page Julia stared. She couldn’t believe it, there he was again – Flynn Carter, staring back at her. The headline: ‘Business Tycoon Creates The Perfect Wedding Venue After Being Jilted’.
Julia felt her heart racing as her eyes quickly scanned the article. Wearing an expression of scepticism, she read and re-read the article, shaking her head in disbelief. Flynn Carter was telling the world that being jilted on his wedding day had given him the drive to focus on his business empire and create the picture-perfect five-star hotel to host the perfect wedding, so people could have their happy ever after, after he’d missed out. Julia’s jaw dropped somewhere below her knees. This wasn’t what had happened. The article described how Flynn Carter, the up and coming Scottish business tycoon, had been left heartbroken on his wedding day after being jilted by the love of his life, five years previously. He described how his weight had plummeted, how he had lain in bed for days after, with no motivation to get up, and how he’d isolated himself from his friends and family.
Mystified, Julia knew that wasn’t the truth, so why had Flynn twisted the story? Was it to gain popularity, take advantage of the situation? Was he simply misleading everyone to entice more people to book his hotels for their weddings, increasing his profits? Julia was confused, she didn’t know what to think. Taking her phone out of her bag, she was about to take a screenshot to send to Anais but then took a slow, steady breath. Even though she wanted to understand what was going on here, what was that going to achieve? Anais was happy now with her new family, and Julia would only be opening up old wounds. She remembered the beautiful wedding dress cut to shreds and how, alongside Mia, they had cancelled the whole wedding. He’d smashed Anais’s heart into tiny pieces and walked away. And here he was, telling a totally different story in the magazine.
‘This just doesn’t ring true,’ muttered Julia to the empty waiting room.
‘Sorry, did you say something?’ asked the receptionist now standing in the doorway, causing Julia to jump.
‘I was just talking to myself, sorry,’ replied Julia, feeling a little embarrassed.
The receptionist held the door open. ‘We are ready for you now.’
Julia was still clutching the magazine as she stood up, then stuffed it safely into her bag. Still in disbelief at the article, she followed the receptionist down the corridor towards the room at the far end.
‘How are things with you?’ asked Charlotte the dentist, giving Julia a wide smile showing the most perfect set of pearly-white teeth.
‘All good,’ Julia answered, knowing that wasn’t strictly true.
‘Any problems?’ asked Charlotte, ushering Julia towards the large chair in the middle of the room.
Julia brought her hand up to her jaw. ‘Immense toothache. It comes and goes but at the minute it’s back with a vengeance.’
‘Let me take a look,’ said Charlotte, passing Julia a pair of plastic glasses before lowering the chair. She pulled the overhead light towards Julia, who reluctantly opened her mouth as wide as she could.
Charlotte took a minute to poke and prod Julia’s teeth and gums. ‘You have an abscess, but there’s good and bad news.’
‘And the abscess isn’t bad news?’
Charlotte shook her head. ‘Afraid not.’
‘Go on then, hit me with the bad news first.’
‘You need a tooth extraction.’
Julia wasn’t in the least bit surprised. ‘And there’s good news after that?’
‘There is. Luckily for you my next patient has cancelled, so I can fit you in now instead of coming back, and I’ll prescribe antibiotics for the infection.’
‘Lucky me,’ replied Julia, lacking enthusiasm. ‘I suppose at least I don’t need to come back.’
‘Just relax, I’m going to numb your mouth and you won’t feel a thing.’
Julia spent over thirty minutes in the dentist’s chair with the bright light shining straight in her eyes. As she lay there her mind was fixed on Flynn and the article. If it was true that Starcross Manor was going to be a hotel, this was going to have an effect on all their livelihoods, and all the villagers needed to know. As soon as she got home, the first thing on her agenda would be to arrange a village meeting to share the information.
‘Okay, you’re all done,’ came Charlotte’s words at last. ‘It’ll take a few hours for the anaesthetic to wear off, so be careful, don’t go chewing the inside of your cheek or your lips. Here’s your antibiotics too.’ Charlotte handed over a small white package. ‘The instructions are on the label. Come back and see me in ten days.’
Julia nodded and headed towards the reception to pay, paid, then stepped outside. She rubbed her numb jaw and took a deep breath, gulping in the fresh country air. The weather was changing and dark clouds were beginning to gather in the sky, a far cry from the beautiful sunshine yesterday. As huge drops of water began to fall, Julia pulled out the umbrella from her bag and hurried towards the car. Feeling sorry for herself, all she wanted to do was to go home, curl up with a blanket and dribble in peace.