Page 32 of A Highland Family Affair

‘Chewie! Heel!’ came a boy’s voice from somewhere behind them. ‘Sorry, he’s not nasty, just very friendly.’

Olivia bent to fuss the dog as it wagged its tail frantically. ‘Oh, that’s okay. I like his name. It suits him with his colouring.’

The boy smiled. ‘Thanks, I chose it for that reason. I love Star Wars.’

‘Do you know where the artist’s studio is, please? Reid Mackinnon’s?’ Brodie asked the dark-haired boy.

He glanced over his shoulder. ‘Ugh, Chewie has knocked the sign over again! I do know, yes, because he’s my dad. You go down that lane there. The other sign is still standing so you should find it okay.’

‘Ah, grand. Olivia here is a big fan of his work,’ Brodie replied.

‘Oh, I am. His paintings are so beautiful,’ she gushed. ‘Are you artistic like your dad?’ she asked.

He scrunched his lips for a moment as he contemplated his answer. ‘I’m not as good as Dad but I like to have a go. I tried to paint Chewie once, but I actually ended up painting Chewie because he wouldn’t sit still. My mum and dad weren’t exactly happy with the mess.’ He laughed.

Brodie and Olivia laughed along, and Olivia could visualise the huge dog covered in paint splotches, it was the kind of thing Wilf would do.

‘Thanks for your help. Enjoy your walk with Chewie,’ Brodie said.

‘Thanks. And I hope you enjoy meeting my dad. Spoiler alert, though, he’s pretty normal. He doesn’t wear a beret or have a twiddly moustache or hold one of those fancy pallets, like the artists you see in cartoons.’

‘Good to know,’ Brodie said with a chuckle.

The boy and his dog carried on for their walk and Olivia and Brodie followed his directions. They came across a pretty double-fronted house at the end of a lane with a board outside that read STUDIO OPEN.

‘I’m so excited!’ Olivia said as Brodie took her hand and led her inside.

The studio wasn’t massive, but it was plenty big enough to act as a gallery for the artist’s work. At the opposite end to the door was an easel with a man’s mop of dark hair just visible over the top of it. When he heard them, he placed down his brush and stepped from behind the canvas. He was a handsome man wearing a T-shirt that was covered in a rainbow of splatters. His face appeared to be part of his canvas too seeing as he was covered in blobs of blue and white.

He smiled. ‘Hi there! Feel free to have a browse and if I can help at all let me know.’

‘Erm, actually, you can help. I’m Brodie MacLeod, I spoke to you a month or so ago about an important commission.’

‘Ah, yes! Good to meet you at last. I’m Reid and I guess this must be Olivia.’ He wiped his hands clean and left the canvas he was working on.

Olivia felt her cheeks warming as she shook his hand, a little awestruck. ‘It’s lovely to meet you. My friend bought some of your artwork for the newly renovated apartments at Drumblair Castle.’

He scrunched his brow. ‘That would be Bella Douglas, right?’ he asked.

Olivia nodded with a smile. ‘That’s right.’

‘Aye, and she’s officially a neighbour of sorts now. Small world.’

‘I know. She doesn’t know we’re visiting so keep it quiet if you see her, okay? We’re going to head up tomorrow.’

Reid made a zipping motion across his face. ‘My lips are sealed.’

Brodie was fidgeting and Olivia glanced at him. ‘Is everything okay?’

He nodded and swallowed hard before turning to Reid. ‘Is it ready?’

Reid smiled. ‘It sure is. It’s all wrapped and ready to go as you requested. Wait here one second.’

Olivia turned to give Brodie a questioning glance, but he appeared too nervous to notice.

Moments later, Reid returned with a canvas covered in brown paper. ‘I feel like I’m part of some secret scheme,’ he said with a chuckle.

Brodie continued to fidget, and Olivia continued to wonder what was going on.