Page 16 of Chasing a Highland Dream

Once Isla was halfway up the stairs, she paused and glanced down at the flooded hallway, shook her head and placed a hand on either side of her ashen face. Worry creased her wrinkled skin further and her shoulders hunched. ‘What are we going to do, Bella? Everything’ll need replaced. Carpets, sofas, curtains… not to mention the cooker and fridge freezer.’

Bella smiled. ‘Don’t worry, Granny, it’s all insured and we’ll figure something out. We’ll pack up the important stuff and bring it upstairs. We could go to Mum and Dad’s until they get home from holiday but this is likely to take more than two weeks to sort out, so we might have to go to a hotel after that, but hopefully the insurance company will be able to help with the arrangements.’

Isla peered up at her, her eyelids drooping, and the corners of her mouth, usually turned up in mischief, were on this occasion pointing downwards. ‘But I can’t take Beau to a hotel, and I’ll no’ be parted from him, Bella, I’d rather live on the street.’

Bella rested her forehead on her granny’s. ‘We’ll sort something, please don’t worry.’

Bella fired off a brief text message to Olivia to let her know she would be late to the castle and would explain later, then once 9 a.m. rolled around, she began making the necessary calls to sort out their dire situation. Just over an hour later, as the sun seemed to be reluctantly hanging in the sky but hiding behind a heavy grey cloud, there was a water authority van parked outside and a friendly plumber inside the house trying to figure out what had caused the flood, how to get rid of the water and, most importantly, how to set about drying the place out.

Bella instructed Isla to pack some clothes and to get ready to leave the house. The insurance company had arranged a stay at a local budget hotel rather than staying at her parents’ but, as suspected, Beau wasn’t welcome. The insurance company had suggested booking him into a kennels to stay until the house was habitable again.

Isla was, not unexpectedly, horrified at that thought. ‘But he’ll miss us. I can’t dump him with strangers for goodness knows how long, Bella, that’s not fair,’ she said as she ran her hands over the dog’s smooth black and toffee-coloured back. ‘He’s never stayed at a kennels before. Not since I got him from the rescue centre. He’ll think I’m giving him up.’ As if on cue, Beau raised his head and stared at her with those big chocolate-brown eyes, filled with love. It appeared to cement her resolve. ‘No, it’s not going to work. I can’t do it. We’ll have to go your dad’s until they come home.’

Bella sighed. ‘But then what? Granny, Mum and Dad just don’t have the space, I’m afraid. That’s why I moved in with you, remember? It’s only temporary, though. I’m sure he’ll be fine at a kennels, won’t you, Beau?’ As if the dog understood, he rolled away so his back was facing her, and he gave a deep, dejected sigh.

‘I’m just not happy about it, Bella. He’ll think we’ve abandoned him. It’ll break his little heart… and mine.’ Isla’s chin trembled.

Bella huffed. ‘I know it’s not ideal, Granny. And I promise I’ll try to find somewhere that’ll accept dogs so you can be reunited as soon as possible. In the meantime, I could ask if Beau can stay at the castle. He gets on well with Olivia and Brodie’s dogs, Wilf and Marley, and I’m sure they’d have him for a while until we’re sorted.’

Isla’s face brightened. ‘Oh, do you think so? That would be so much better. I’d be happier knowing he’s with friends instead of in some shelter all by himself.’

Bella smiled. ‘I’ll see what I can do. We’ll call at the castle on our way to the hotel and I’ll speak to Olivia.’

Isla reached out to squeeze her hand. ‘Thank you, hen. I don’t know what I would do without you. Did they say how long it will be before we can move back home again?’

Bella shook her head. ‘No, they can’t tell at this stage. I think it’ll depend on how long things take to dry out. But it could be a long while. We need to be prepared.’

It was Isla’s turn to sigh now. ‘My lovely home.’

Bella hugged her granny tightly. ‘I know, Gran… I know.’

Bella, Isla and Beau arrived at the castle at noon. Heavy rain pounded at the lush green leaves on the oak trees lining the long driveway and the clouds overhead were still a strange grey colour that threatened a storm.

In inclement weather such as this, the castle took on a bleak eeriness to its façade, the likes of which wouldn’t look out of place at a Halloween attraction. Bella wondered how on earth the original occupants, hundreds of years before, had coped with the cold on the inside when it matched that of the outside. There was evidence of fireplaces in most rooms but some of those rooms were vast, with lofty ceilings, which would have no doubt been very difficult to keep warm. She was certainly grateful for their modern heating system and other luxuries that meant the stone floor was warm to the touch now, instead of icy underfoot.

‘Hi! Is everything okay?’ Olivia asked as she stepped back to let them inside the large double doors of the castle. ‘I’ve been so worried.’ She hugged Bella and Isla before bending to stroke Beau. Marley and Wilf appeared from the direction of the kitchen, their fluffy, pale golden tails wagging and long pink tongues lolling as they greeted Beau like a long-lost brother.

Bella huffed through puffed cheeks. ‘Where to begin? There’s been a flood at Granny’s caused by an eroded and cracked pipe. The ground floor is currently under several inches of water.’

‘Aye,’ Isla added, ‘and I never did fancy an indoor pool. Definitely not one that’s unheated anyway.’ She chuckled.

Bella smiled, impressed at how her granny was handling the situation. ‘Yes, it was a bit of a shock this morning.’

Olivia gasped. ‘Oh, my word! That’s terrible. Can I do anything to help?’

Bella winced. ‘Actually, I was wondering if Beau could possibly stay with you here until things are sorted. He won’t be any trouble. I’m going to take Granny to the hotel the insurance company have booked so⁠—’

Olivia’s eyes widened. ‘A hotel? You’re having to move out? It’s that bad?’

Isla folded her arms across her chest. ‘Oh, aye, it’s that bad and worse. My carpets are ruined. My kitchen might need replaced. The wiring too according to the water chappy.’ Isla’s voice wavered and Bella’s heart lurched. Okay, so maybe she’s not handling it as well as I thought.

‘Oh, Isla, that’s awful,’ Olivia said. Then she suddenly held her hands up. ‘Wait a minute! You have to move in to one of the new apartments! It’s the perfect solution! There’s plenty of room for you in the two-bedroom ones.’

Isla waved a dismissive hand. ‘Och, I shall not, don’t you be worrying about us, Lady Olivia dearie. Bella and I will be fine so long as we know little Beau is being looked after.’

Olivia placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head. ‘Isla Douglas, you must call me Olivia, and you will not be setting foot in a hotel, not while there’s perfectly good accommodation for you here. I won’t hear of it. That way Beau can stay with you, and you don’t have to worry about him.’

Isla’s chin trembled and her eyes became glassy. ‘You’d do that for us? But… what about your business? Your income?’