Before I can embarrass myself any further, Finn appears at his father’s elbow. He’s also in uniform, a neat little school outfit with a tiny blazer and tie that makes him look approximately seventeen times more adorable than he did yesterday. And he was adorable yesterday.
“Blair!” He beams at me. “It’s my last day of school before the holidays. I’msoexcited!”
He bounces from foot to foot, and I can’t help grinning back. Growing up in New York, our strictest dress-code rule was no crop tops. Otherwise, it was a free-for-all. The formality of British school uniforms is both charming and slightly surreal—little kids dressed for board meetings.
“Thatisexciting,” I say. “Ready for summer adventures?”
“Yes! We’re going to have a lot of fun, right?”
“Somuch fun.”
“All right.” Lachlan pulls a key from his pocket and holds it out to me. “You’ve got today to get settled. The granny flat is around the back, just follow the path through the garden.”
Granny flat?Is that what they call it here? It sounds like somewhere you’d store elderly relatives rather than house a temporary nanny.
“Oh, and here’s a key to the main house too.” He produces another key. “I do have one task for you today. Give Gus his lunch at half twelve and take him for a walk. His bowl and lead are on the kitchen work surface. Flora usually does it, but with her wrist...”
“Of course. No problem.” I nod confidently, like I’m totally prepared to handle an enthusiastic golden retriever and definitely know what “half twelve” means. Is that twelve thirty? Or eleven thirty? Or something else? I should probably ask, but admitting I don’t understand basic time references seems like a poor start to my employment.
Gus himself chooses this moment to make his entrance, tail already wagging like he’s powered by pure joy. He pushes past Lachlan’s legs to greet me, and I give him a pat on the head.
“Is that you finished your breakfast, Gus?” Finn asks, crouching to ruffle his ears.
“Normally, Gus would be first to the door,” Lachlan observes. “But food wins over guests. Every time.” He checks his watch—an actual watch, not his phone, because of course he’s the kind of practical, masculine guy who still wears a watch—and frowns. “Right, we need to go. Finn, grab your bag.”
Finn hurries back into the house, leaving me alone with his father for a moment. The silence stretches, tipping into awkward.
“I hope the granny flat is okay,” Lachlan says finally. “It’s been a while since it’s been used.”
Something in his tone makes me pause. “Oh. Okay. How long is ‘a while’?”
“A few years.”
A few years?“Right. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Famous last words, Blair. Famous last words.
Finn reappears with his backpack, and Lachlan gives Gus a scratch behind the ears before shooing him inside and locking the front door. As they walk down to their car, Finn gives me an enthusiastic wave, like I’m already part of the family.
“See you later, Blair! I can’t wait for tomorrow!”
I wave back, smiling at his excitement. At least one of us is confident this is going to work out.
After they drive away, I stand in the sudden quiet for a moment, keys in my palm, doubt creeping in. What the hell am I doing? Twenty-four hours ago I was a tourist. Now I’m about to move into the backyard of a man who I suspect believes tourists are a minor plague upon Scotland.
This is either the most spontaneous, adventurous thing I’ve ever done, or the most spectacularly stupid. Guess time will tell.
I follow the gravel path around the side of the house and through the backyard to the “granny flat”. The small building mirrors the main house’s architecture—same grey stone, same slate roof, just scaled down. Its front door is even painted the same red as the main house’s. It’s charming, at least from the outside.
I slide the key into the lock, turn it, and push open the door.
Oh.
The smell hits me first, a musty, stale dampness, like air that’s been trapped for years. Dust motes swirl in the sunlight. Cobwebs decorate the corners like unwelcome party streamers.
My heart sinks a little as I step inside and survey my home for, potentially, the next six weeks.
It’s a studio layout, with the bedroom, sitting area, and kitchenette all sharing one main room. A small table and two chairs sit by the window. The sea view is spectacular, though currently filtered through glass that hasn’t seen a cleaning clothin a long time. There’s also a tiny shower room with a toilet and sink.
