Page 81 of A Scottish Country Escape

Chapter Fifty

While Nadia occupied herself with rearranging my display of tartan bookmarks, Elsa sat by the counter and gratefully sipped her drink.

Neither Gran nor I quizzed her about Nadia. We waited to see what she might divulge, which, to her credit, was very little. No doubt Dexter had insisted she sign some sort of confidentiality agreement when she began working with him.

She must have noticed our meaningful glances at one another as we admired Nadia’s quirky giggle and glossy black hair.

‘She’s up visiting,’ was all she would offer in a protective rush. ‘Her mother is a friend of Mr Grayling’s.’

I managed to push a smile out. ‘That’s lovely. I’m sure Nadia will love it around here.’

Grandma added, ‘You’ll have to take her to the nature reserve. I fear it won’t be here for much longer.’

Elsa gasped and clutched at her mug of half-finished hot chocolate. ‘Oh, please don’t say that. If it’s up to some of that council lot, her generation won’t have a clue what a roe deer is.’

Sensing she was the hot topic of conversation, Nadia glanced over her shoulder at the three of us and twitched her nose.

‘Yes, well,’ I ground out with determination, ‘the fight isn’t over yet.’

* * *

The rain had vanished by the time Elsa had finished her hot chocolate and coaxed Nadia back into her yellow jacket.

I dropped down in front of her, keeping my hands behind my back. ‘Here,’ I offered, handing her two of the unicorn erasers and a fluffy pink pencil case. ‘These are for you. Now, no more running away from Mrs Bennett, all right?’

Nadia’s eyes popped and she clutched the gifts in both hands. Elsa whispered something into her ear. ‘Thank you, Miss Cassidy,’ she sing-songed.

‘Elle. Just call me Elle.’

‘OK.’

Gran escorted them to the shop door.

‘I’ll take missy here to the playpark for a little while,’ said Elsa. ‘It’s been a bit fraught up at Hawk West Hall of late.’

Gran shot me an eyebrow raising look. ‘Oh dear. Why’s that then?’

Elsa waited till Nadia was hopping from foot to foot on the shop step and admiring her new pencil case. She dropped her voice so the little girl couldn’t hear. ‘Mr Grayling is having issues with his agent and publisher. I have to say, I haven’t seen him writing much recently.’

Elsa collected her umbrella from the stand and fastened it up.

‘Anyway,’ smiled Elsa, disappearing out the shop door. ‘Thank you again for the hot chocolate.’

Chapter Fifty-One

Arrangements were beginning to come together for the autumn fair.

I’d honed in on Saturday 1st September, which was a little over a week away now and, although a tight timescale, was doable.

The last thing I wanted was to allow the protest momentum to slide.

The end of the week arrived in a flurry of confirmatory emails for a dozen stalls, as well as a list of the crafts, art, and baking that would be on sale.

The local businesses were looking forward to a surge in footfall that day, thanks to the event being held along the main street.

September was on the horizon and was often a pretty time of year in the town, what with the leaves transforming into firebrand shades and the sky managing to deliver sleepy sunshine. There was also the seasonal hint of what was to come, in the shape of air promising the scent of pumpkins and fireworks, before Christmas descended.

The thought of the impending festive season pressed down on me. This would be our second Christmas without my parents.