Page 7 of A Highland Family Affair

‘I know. I’m just sad knowing my best friend will be so far away from now on.’

Brodie scooped her into his arms and in one swift manoeuvre she was beneath him. ‘You’ll still have me.’

She gazed up at him. ‘I know and I’m happy about that. I just feel like my head is full of cotton wool just now. So many emotions, so many things going on. It’s all a bit overwhelming.’

‘Then why don’t you allow me to take your mind off everything for a wee while.’ He bent and placed gentle kisses from her ear down her neck to her shoulder and she shivered with anticipation.

The next morning, Bella opened the door to the stable-block apartment as soon as Olivia knocked. ‘Hey, you! I was worried I wasn’t going to see you before I left!’ She grappled Olivia into a bear hug.

Guilt niggled at Olivia. ‘I’m so sorry. Yesterday turned a bit… weird.’

Bella raised her eyebrows. ‘Oh? Do tell. I’ll stick the kettle on. I think there’s enough milk left for a cuppa.’

Olivia followed Bella through to the stylish kitchen with its exposed stone wall, tasteful teal units and recessed nook. It never ceased to fill her with pride when she remembered that Bella had designed the stunning stable-block apartments and was now going on to make a career from her interior design talents, although she was going to miss having such an efficient PA.

‘Well, this is a nice surprise, dearie,’ Granny Isla said as she pulled Olivia down to hug her too.

Isla was wearing a purple velvet maxi skirt and a lilac sequined jumper that toned with her purple hair. Ever the glamour puss, Olivia thought. ‘Isla, you’re looking fabulous. Are you excited about your relocation?’

Isla gave a single enthusiastic clap and grinned from ear to ear. ‘Och, I cannae wait. Pabay View is so homely for an old folks’ complex and just down the road from my Arabella and handsome Harris. Me and Beau are going to have such a wonderful life up there on Skye.’ On hearing his name, Beau, the beagle, stood from his bed and stretched before coming to say hello, his tail wagging so that his whole body followed suit.

Olivia crouched to greet the dog. ‘Hey, Beau. I’m going to miss you. I’m going to miss all of you.’

‘Aye, well, I’m sure you can make plenty of visits, dearie. You have an open invite. Anyway, I’m going to do one last check in my room, I’ll leave you two best pals to chat.’

‘Do you want a cup of tea, Granny?’ Bella asked.

‘Ooh, no, I’d better not.’ She leaned forward conspiratorially and whispered, ‘I’m a bit intercontinental these days and we’ve a long journey ahead. I don’t want us to keep having to stop for the loo.’ She smiled and walked towards her bedroom, closely followed by her canine as Olivia pursed her lips, trying not to laugh at Granny Isla’s latest malapropism.

Bella smirked. ‘She never changes. So, come on, spill the tea, MacBain. How did yesterday turn weird?’ she asked as she poured boiling water into two mugs.

Olivia stood and sat on one of the chairs at the oak kitchen table and sighed. ‘Kerr’s back.’

Bella spun around. ‘What? No way!’

Olivia nodded. ‘He’s been sleeping rough in Glasgow apparently. He didn’t look like himself at all. So pale and gaunt-looking. It was quite a shock. Very upsetting, in fact.’

‘Bloody hell, Liv! I bet it was! I don’t understand how he was sleeping rough, though. He has a house. The tenants moved out, didn’t they?’

‘They did. He says he felt too ashamed to come home. He apologised for everything he’s done to us.’

Bella narrowed her eyes. ‘Erm… Haven’t I heard that somewhere before? Oh, yes! That’s because he’s a manipulative shit! You didn’t believe him, did you? Tell me you haven’t let him stay at the castle.’ Olivia cringed and glanced down. ‘Oh, no, Olivia, seriously?’

‘When all’s said and done, Bella, he is still my brother.’

‘Did you not hear what I said about him being a manipulative shit?’

Olivia rolled her eyes. ‘I did. And I know. But you should have seen him, Bells. He’s so thin and pale and had the remnants of bruising on his face from being punched. And he was dirty and soaked from the rain. His hair was all matted and…’

Bella folded her arms defiantly across her chest. ‘So why didn’t he go back to the town house and clean up before coming to see you? Was he going for the sympathy vote? Because evidently it worked.’

Olivia smiled without happiness. ‘Brodie said the same thing.’

Bella huffed. ‘That’s because Brodie is a sensible man. I can’t believe you’re allowing yourself to be taken in by him.’ Her exasperation wasn’t easy to ignore.

Olivia’s heart began to race, and she felt her face flush. ‘He’s my brother, Bella! I can’t just abandon him. I’m not like that. And my mum and dad wouldn’t want me to turn my back on him either.’ She was aware she sounded defensive and angry, and she regretted taking her frustration out on her best friend, especially when it was the last time she would be able to hug her for a while.

Bella placed the mugs of tea on the table. ‘I know. I’m sorry. I’m just worried about you, honey, that’s all. I’m leaving today so I won’t be here to help you if he kicks off again.’ She reached across the table and took Olivia’s hand.