His job meant corporate sponsor schmoozing and celebrity parties on a gobsmacking level, and Ally didn’t really enjoy parties. It’s amazing, Ally had observed, how some charities have to do so much of that sort of thing if they wanted to keep up their international reputation and bring in the donors. Though her brother always maintained that their entire spending on fundraising activities, no matter how lavish they appeared, was reaped tenfold in donations which went entirely towards the charity’s mission of bringing communities together to sustain their own small part of the planet.
Fortunately for Murray, he loved parties and schmoozing and celebrities. A bit too much maybe, if his sunken eyes were anything to go by.
Ally had missed her brother when he was suddenly far away. Growing up, he’d been her closest friend and her best advisor, especially later on when it came to men.
Murray only dated the most eligible guys in the European sustainability sector these days, and he’d been incredibly picky through college, barely condescending to notice anyone, in fact, especially if they were keen on him. Keenness gave him the ick.
If Murray had stuck around a little longer, he’d have got the read on Gray way before anyone else. He’d probably have told her to dump him. She wouldn’t have listened, but that’s beside the point.
Still, she was glad for her brother. He worked hard and played harder, and brought in millions in donations for Future Proof Planet and in turn that helped people and communities and ecosystems all over the world.
‘Putting the sus in sustainability,’ came their dad’s voice suddenly. ‘That’s what somebody called ClimateSceptic11329 says about us.’
All eyes turned to McIntyre.
‘I’m reading these comments under our cyber news story.’
‘I don’t think they call it cyber news, it’s just news,’ corrected Roz gently.
‘Outfits like this so-called repair shop are the reason people can’t trust do-gooders, says SusanneF1954.’ McIntyre lowered the phone. ‘This’ll be on the web forever, won’t it?’
No one liked to tell him he was probably right.
‘You could sue the news organisation for reputational damage,’ said Murray unhelpfully.
‘Anonymous keyboard warriors posting comments in their underpants on the other side of the world aren’t the people who matter,’ insisted Ally, giving her brother a stern look. ‘Half of them will be bots, anyway.’
‘Uh…’ Murray got the message. ‘Aye, Ally’s right. And it won’t make any difference here on the ground. Probably.’
‘What will you be wanting for tea tonight?’ Roz interrupted, doing her best to move things on.
‘How about I take you all out, eh?’ Murray was saying, before his phone rang and he carried it into the garden, speaking the broken French he’d picked up in Switzerland.
‘I think I’ll do some nuggets and hoops,’ Roz said decidedly, trying to lighten the atmosphere that had hung heavy since last Saturday and the police visit. ‘He’ll not have had those in a while.’
They all smiled at this, but the truth was they were worried. Cairn Dhu was a whispering place and neighbours liked to know everyone’s business while pretending they didn’t gossip. The McIntyres hadn’t ventured out to the hotel bar to face everyone all week, and nor had anybody called round to extend their sympathies and solidarity after the news report.
‘Maybe Morag Füssli’s right, and folks will lose trust in us?’ McIntyre was saying in a low voice to his wife.
Ally’s heart faltered to hear him so worried. Who knew what today would bring at the repair shed?
McIntyre checked his watch with a resigned sigh. ‘Well, it’s time to open up,’ and he was on his feet and out the door.
Ally stood too, stretching in her long, green summer dress with the little white flower sprigs all over; a Y2K vintage bargain from Cairn Dhu’s only charity shop, in aid of mountain rescue.
‘Just try, OK?’ her mum said, catching her off guard.
‘Eh?’
‘I know it’s not easy having Murray home and everything…’
‘Not easy eating our way through the Swiss chocolate he always brings with him?’ Ally tried, not liking that her mum was picking up on the part of her she was most ashamed of.
‘His doing well for himself doesn’t diminish your achievements.’ Roz’s voice was soft, not chiding.
‘What achievements?’ Ally couldn’t help it. She hadn’t even heard back from her brother’s boss about her application. Even twin nepotism wasn’t helping her get ahead.
Her mum cleared the table. ‘Oh come on, you’re doing well in life. Considering.’
