She stood at the double vanity, aggressively smoothing lotion down her neck and over her chest. Her stunning eyes flashed angrily at me in the reflection of the mirror over the sink.
Not taking the hint, I slid my arms around her waist, drawing her back against my chest as I rested my chin on her shoulder. She was stiff in my embrace as we stared at each other in the mirror. “If that’s important to you, we will find another solution to the cooking school idea. But I will never, ever see you accepting my support as youtakingfrom me. You would be accepting something that’s important for me togiveto you. And there’s a huge difference, London. I don’t work this hard, my phone going off a million times a day, to not give my family the best life ever.
“I understand that doesn’t mean I have to shower people with material things. Just look at Mum and her refusal to move out of her house. If I’d wanted to, I could have convinced her otherwise, but I didn’t. It’s not about thestuff… it’s about being able to provide you and Kelly with opportunities you might not have otherwise.” I felt London melting into me and almost sighed with relief. I hated being at odds with her. “We need to learn what’s right for us without falling out over it. I would never use my money to control you.”
She let out a small sound of distress, whirling in my arms. London placed her palms on my pecs as she searched my face frantically. “I never, ever thought that. I promise you, even with all my issues with money and Nick and my parents, that never crossed my mind with you. It’s not about cutting you out of thisor not wanting your support. Starting a new venture, whatever I decide to do, I for sure will need your support. But I have savings that I brought with me and I’ve added to since being here, and I think it’s enough to get started.” She pressed her luscious body to mine, smiling slowly, seductively. “I promise to ask for help when I need it. You’ll be the first person on my list.”
Sliding my hands down over her pert wee arse, I growled against her lips, “I better be.” Her giggle was cut off by my rough kiss as I hauled her up into my arms and carried her back into the bedroom.
There was no more discussion as I lay London down on our bed to distract us from life’s worries for the rest of the evening.
49.London
As the drizzle clung to our hair and Murray’s beard, Kelly and I tried to lighten Murray’s mood by taking “drowned rat” pictures on the ferry before it docked at Oban. He smiled absentmindedly as he took the photos of Kelly and I clasping our hands in dramatic despair at the wreckage the light rain had caused our hair.
I’d never experienced anything quite like Scottish drizzle. You looked out, saw it was “spitting,” as my Scots called it, and thought you’d be fine. What’s a little rain, right?
Yeah, that Scottish drizzle could soak you through in five minutes.
Considering it was horribly humid, Kelly and I wore only light jackets over our summer dresses. Thankfully, we had a change of clothes with us since we were staying in a waterfront lodge Murray had booked.
The back-to-school shopping weekend was supposed to be fun, to remind Kelly that she’d gotten through the worst school year of her life and out the other end to start anew. However, Murray was so tense, and whileIknew why, Kelly was completely flummoxed by his odd mood.
When he didn’t laugh at the impromptu photo shoot, she snatched her phone back and grumbled, “You know, if you didn’t want to come, London and I could have done this weekend without you.”
Murray winced. “M’eudail, of course I want to be here.”
“You’re not acting like it.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and bent his head to kiss her temple. “I’m shaking off my grumpiness, I promise.”
“Why are you grumpy?”
“We had an issue with a shipment, and I didn’t sleep much last night,” he answered semi-truthfully. Thathadhappened.
But I knew his uncharacteristic taciturnity was more about us leaving the safety of Glenvulin for the weekend. I’d reminded him that morning we had to start living our lives. Otherwise, people like Nick and Dorian Walsh won.
“I’m sorry you had a rubbish night.”
Murray softened at his daughter’s concern. “I’m sorry I was grumpy. C’mon. Let’s get to the car and go drop off our luggage at the lodge so we can start this shopping malarkey.”
Turned out that the lodge was even prettier than the photos. Kelly and I oohed and aahed as we wandered through the modern property that sat on the water’s edge. It had a glossy high-spec kitchen like something out of a magazine and an open-plan living area with a plush corner sofa and a huge TV mounted on the wall opposite. There was a wraparound deck accessed through full-length sliders that provided a view over the loch. Even on a dreary day it was stunning. The bedrooms were kind of small, but they were beautifully presented and the bed passed my bounce test.
After we changed into dry clothes, jeans and T-shirts (it still felt too humid for jeans despite the rain), and hung up the clothes we’d been wearing to dry for tomorrow, we got back in the SUV to drive into town. I discovered there weren’ta ton of clothing options in Oban beyond a lot of hiking/mountaineering-type retailers. There were a ton of cute gift shop type boutiques but clothing wise for a teen girl, options were limited. We found a few cute things and got her a new backpack. Still, I made a mental note to plan a cool girls’ weekend in Glasgow next year for back-to-school shopping.
Murray’s phone rang while we were looking at fall coats for myself and for Kelly. At his heavy exhalation, I glanced over my shoulder.
“It’s the customer from last night,” he explained apologetically.
I waved him off. “Take it.”
Kelly wasn’t even paying attention; she was too busy pulling her favorite choices from the racks. Murray was obviously displeased by the interruption but gave me a nod before heading out of the store to take the call.
Fifteen minutes later, Kelly was in the changing room trying on a couple of sweaters, as well as a few coats, and Murray was still outside somewhere on the phone call. I’d wandered back into the storefront to give Kelly some space but kept close so I could hear her shout for me over the Celtic music that played through the shop on low volume.
My heart jolted when I thought I heard a muffled yell. Thinking Kelly was calling for me, I called out her name. There was no response and I forced myself to relax, shaking my head as my pulse raced. Murray’s tension was rubbing off on me. Strolling back to the changing rooms, I called out Kelly’s name again, only to hear a muffled squeal.
That got my feet moving.
