Page 51 of A Scottish Island Summer

Hmm. This wasn’t the usual sunny Iona. ‘Is everything OK?’

‘Not really. I’m ringing from the shop. Rhona slept in—again—so I’m covering for her, but it’s like a library in here today.’

There was a charged silence. Then she erupted. ‘I love my brother so much, but there are times…’

I could hear her trying to reign in her frustration. ‘Logan’s a dreamer; a free spirit. He doesn’t want to face up to the fact that Rock God could do even better.’

‘Who’s that on the phone?’ called Logan from behind me.

I turned around. He was now back in his combats, t-shirt and fleece. He gave his wet hair a quick towel rub.

‘Wrong number,’ I joked. ‘No, it’s your sister.’

I lowered my voice, so Logan couldn’t hear and turned away again. ‘You sound fed up.’

‘Och, I’m just a wee bit frustrated.’

I felt sorry for her. She sounded almost defeated, not the usual, sunny Iona I recognised from the past few days.

‘I’ve tried to talk to Logan about undertaking some PR for Rock God, getting on social media and helping increase his profile, but he’s too bloody busy looking for pretty crystals and living in the past.’

I shot a look back over my shoulder again. Logan had laced up his walking boots and proceeded to stride over the swirling grass towards me. ‘Would you like me to have a word with him?’ I gabbled. ‘No doubt, it won’t make much difference, but I could try.’

‘Oh, would you? He might listen to you. Thanks, Ms Freeman. I’d appreciate it.’ She sounded desperate, then grateful.

‘No worries.’ I raised my voice in a theatrical manner. ‘And it’s Darcie. Anyway, good to catch up with you, Iona. Here’s your hypothermic brother now.’

I handed over Logan’s phone to him.

‘What were you two bumping your gums about just now?’ he asked me, one brow waggling like crazy as he accepted his phone.

‘No idea what you’re talking about,’ I breezed. ‘Now, please talk to your sister.’

* * *

After taking more recordings in and around the Fairy Pools, I filmed Logan giving his spiel again about the Fairy Princess and the selkies. Then we stopped at a café nearby for a snack.

It was all polished wooden floors, comfy, sea green tables and chairs and had panoramic windows with views of the hills.

Both of us opted for a delicious warm, buttered, cheese scone and shared a large pot of tea.

We set off back towards Portree later on that afternoon, with the ‘four seasons in one day’ weather still persisting but the glorious sunshine winning out when it wasn’t playing hide and seek with the Cuillin mountains.

My thoughts kept zipping back to my conversation with Iona earlier.

It really did sound like Logan’s shop could do with an injection of publicity.

I slid him a considered look from the passenger seat, as he drove us back in the truck to Portree. His poor sister sounded like she was running out of patience and ideas. ‘Would you ever consider undertaking more promotion or marketing for Rock God?’ I tried to make my voice sound airy. ‘After all, Iona works in PR.’

Logan sat up a little straighter behind the steering wheel, his fingers wrapped around the leather. ‘Ah. I get it. That’s what you two were gassing about earlier. I thought you looked shifty.’

‘Shifty?!’

‘Aye. So, come on then, Darcie. Out with it. What has my darling little sister been saying?’

I was keen to maintain a casual tone. ‘Iona said the shop is doing OK, but it could be faring even better.’

‘It’s fine,’ he answered, pushing an easy smile my way. ‘It’s doing well enough. Yes, I have leaner days but it all evens out.’