Page 87 of Journey to the Scottish Highlands

I swallowed. ‘Evan did?’

‘Yes. He said we can’t do it without you.’

What was he doing? Did he mean it? Was this some sort of game Evan was playing? Or had he come to his senses about the tour and simply wanted to get things up and running as soon as possible? I gathered myself. ‘But like I just said, I’ve only just arrived at my grandpa’s.’

‘Och no! No!’

I turned around, to see my grandfather clutching a letter, which had just been slipped through the letterbox.

‘Hold on a second please, Alison.’ I lowered my mobile. ‘What is it, Gramps?’

He waggled the letter this way and that. ‘Bloody risk survey has been done after those two bombs, and the authorities have said this place is in the risk zone. They want me to temporarily relocate.’ He looked like he wanted to stomp over the letter. ‘They don’t think there are any devices here, but they aren’t prepared to take any chances.’

‘Oh no.’ This was just what we needed, poor Grandpa worrying about this cottage.

I returned my attention to Alison on the phone. Grandpa and his well-being came first. ‘Look, Alison, I don’t know if you heard any of that.’

‘Indeed I did, Daisy. What a worry for him. But there’s no problem. Bring your grandpa back with you. If he’s ok with that, of course.’

‘Sorry? You want me to bring my grandpa to The Ramblings?’

At this, my grandpa spun round, still gripping the council letter. ‘Aye. I mean, yes. Absolutely.’ He was nodding his white head so fast, he was giving me a migraine.

I lowered my phone and clamped my hand over it. ‘Do you mind?! You don’t even know what I’m talking about.’

Grandpa waggled his bristly brows. ‘I may be old, but I’m not senile. They want you back to that big house where the dishy Lord fella is, and by the sounds of it, they’ve said this old git can go for the ride.’ Grandpa tossed the letter down on the hall cabinet. ‘Just let me go and pack.’

I shot him a look and raised the phone back to my ear. ‘Er. Hello, Alison. Sorry about that.’

‘No problem. I’m sorry to drop this on you, Daisy, but your idea is fantastic, and you would be doing us such an enormous favour. Would that be alright to bring your grandfather?’

This was sending me into a mental whirlwind. ‘I mean, are you sure?’

Just as he was passing by me, Grandpa chirruped. ‘Just off to get my things together for tomorrow.’

Alison laughed. ‘He sounds adorable.’

‘That’s one word for him.’

‘So, is that a yes?’ Her voice rose with hopeful optimism.

A strange mix of emotions rattled through me at breakneck speed. This had all been my idea. I had to help, even if it meant it was happening rather faster than I’d anticipated. I just hoped I could talk Cayla round to playing Florence.

A loud clattering noise from behind me made me flinch. I turned round to see the hall cupboard door open and my grandpa bent forward, staring in at its contents.

I lowered the phone to speak to him. ‘Grandpa, what are you doing?’ I hissed.

He pointed one finger at something in triumph. ‘Ah. There it is.’ He jerked his head up.

‘What is it?’

He produced a battered, bottle-green suitcase that had seen better days. ‘If I’m coming with you, then I’ll need to start packing.’

I let out a groan. This was my fault. I was the one who’d come up with the Florence tour idea in the first place.

I shoved my mobile back up to my ear. ‘Sorry about that Alison. My grandpa has already located his suitcase and is beginning to pack as we speak, so I think the answer to your question is yes.’ I sighed. ‘Are you sure about this? I hope we aren’t inconveniencing you.’

‘Of course you’re not! Quite the opposite.’ She hesitated down the line. ‘I don’t suppose you could return to The Ramblings tomorrow morning?’