Page 28 of A Highland Family Affair

‘Yes, I think he is. Has he… has he mentioned anything to you about…’

Charlotte narrowed her eyes. ‘About what?’

Olivia shook her head. ‘Oh, it’s nothing, forget it. Right, I’m going to head out for a couple of hours if you’re okay here?’

‘Absolutely. Plenty to do. Go and enjoy yourself. No need to rush back.’

‘Livvy!’ Skye said as she ran towards her, arms open. ‘It’s been far too long since we had a girls’ date!’

Olivia hugged her friend. ‘You’re so right. I’ve missed it. It’s a shame Bells can’t be here, though.’

Skye pouted. ‘I know, I miss her so much.’

Olivia giggled. ‘Me too. Don’t tell Bella but Brodie has booked a little break for us to go and visit as a surprise!’

Skye’s eyes widened. ‘I’m so jealous! We’re hoping to go in the spring, I think. Money’s a bit tight just now with the new house.’

Olivia nodded. ‘Understandable. I’m excited to see her new place. From her messages she sounds so happy.’

Skye grinned. ‘Oh, absolutely head over heels. And she deserves it after her run of disastrous arsehole boyfriends.’ She clamped her mouth shut. ‘Shit, I didn’t mean⁠—’

Olivia laughed. ‘Kerr? You did and you know it. And he was an arsehole back then.’

‘From your texts, you seem to think he’s changed, though?’

Olivia twisted her mouth for a moment. ‘Well… he seems to have turned over a new leaf.’

Skye scoffed. ‘He needed to turn over a whole bloody tree if you ask me.’

‘I know. And I’m really trying to believe that he has but I’m still so wary.’

Skye snorted. ‘No bloody wonder! After everything he did to you and how he treated Bella and that older woman, I think it’s amazing you’ve given him another chance. But he’s family so…’ They ordered coffees and a selection of mini cakes to accompany them as they continued chatting and catching up.

‘Kerr has the hots for my new PA,’ Olivia said with a wince.

‘Oh, no! I hope you’ve put a stop to that. The last thing you need is another woman being treated like crap and scared off by him.’

‘I did sort of tell him I’d rather he didn’t ask her out, but I felt pretty crap about it. He’s an adult and I can’t really be dictating his love life.’

‘Under normal circumstances maybe not, but this is a very unique situation, Liv, and he’s caused so much trouble in the past. Can you really trust him not to mess her about so she leaves and you’re in the shit again?’

Skye did have a point but, even so, Olivia felt a jolt of protection for her older brother. ‘People do change, though, Skye.’

Skye gave a half-smile. ‘They do. And I hope he has.’

‘Anyway, enough about my family. How are things going at the new house?’

‘It’s amazing! It’s so exciting to get up every morning and know that it’s our own place, you know? We can do whatever we want with it without restrictions. No more landlord to tell us the walls have to stay boring magnolia. I chatted to Bells about my ideas, and she made me a Pinterest board on each room with colours and styles that I like. We’re working towards that now which is so helpful. Although Ben still wants a La-Z-Boy chair like bloody Chandler Bing on Friends.’

‘Trust Ben.’ Olivia laughed as she imagined him and Brodie on a matching pair of chairs, beer bottles in hand. ‘So long as he doesn’t decide to get a chick and a duck.’

Skye almost choked on her coffee. ‘Whatever you do, don’t mention that! He can do without the encouragement!’

11

December arrived in a flurry of snow and minus temperatures but even with those possible obstacles the Christmas Countdown Fayre went off without a hitch during the first weekend of the month. Charlotte had taken over the final organisation of the event and had done an amazing job.

It was lovely to have so many people wandering around the stalls, smiles fixed on their faces and festive cheer almost palpable around the castle. The school choir took up one small corner of the long gallery and entertained everyone with their unique renditions of Christmas favourites. Dougie had been roped in to play Santa this year and, of course, Merry the Elf, aka Mirren, was fully in character as she introduced children to Father Christmas in the library. Charlotte had also donned an elf costume and stepped in to assist so Mirren could take breaks.