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Tab still had her arms locked around Bear. “I can help. I can make cookies.”
“Good. And don’t worry that we’re a little way from the village—” Mary glanced quickly at Brodie “—because we have everything we need right here. We’re so well stocked we could feed you for a month without ever having to leave the estate. And there’s plenty to do. Even if it’s snowing, we can—”
“They’re tired, Mum,” Brodie said. “Let’s save the list of activities until tomorrow.”
“All I’m saying is that we’re not that remote. Not at all.” Mary cleared her throat. “I think people are going to love it here.”
Another woman appeared in the doorway.
Brodie made the introductions. “This is my sister, Kirstie.”
“Welcome to Kinleven.” Her greeting was polite, but cool.
Despite the words, Samantha didn’t feel welcomed. She felt tension, and a certain reserve that she didn’t understand.
Sibling disagreements about having strangers join them for the festive season? Or something more?
She needed to figure it out, because she didn’t want to send clients to a place where the team wasn’t working well together. Family business this might be, but her clients would be paying for the very best service and that included a relaxed, smiling staff.
“Why don’t I show you your rooms,” Brodie said, “and then we can have a light supper. I thought a proper tour of the place could wait until tomorrow. It’s better seen in daylight.”
Samantha realized how tired she was. “Sounds good to me.”
They followed him up the wide staircase and along a carpeted corridor.
“Gayle, I’ve put you in here.” He opened a door. “You should have everything you need, but let me know if I can do anything to make your stay more comfortable.”
“This is charming.” Gayle walked to the window. “I love the way you’ve put the little solar lights along the drive. It means I can still just about see the mountains and the loch. It will be delightful after the crush and noise of the city.”
Samantha was starting to think she didn’t know her mother at all.
Brodie flicked on one of the lamps by the bed. “Samantha?”
“It’s a beautiful room, Brodie.”
And it was. The room had wood paneling and high ceilings. A fire blazed in the hearth, bookshelves lined one of the walls and a comfy chair encouraged the occupants to snuggle down and relax.
Someone had taken the time to arrange branches of holly and eucalyptus in a tall vase.
Leaving Gayle to settle in, he led them through a door that led to one of the turrets.
“There are two bedrooms on this floor.” Brodie pushed open a door. “I thought Tab could sleep in here, with Ella and Michael next door? Samantha, you’re upstairs.”
He’d taken the time to learn their names, Samantha thought, watching as Tab sprinted toward the canopy bed. He was making them feel like friends, not guests.
“It looks like a princess bed.” Tab climbed onto it and bounced a couple of times. “I love it.”
“I loved it, too.” Kirstie walked across to the window. “This used to be my room. It has the most spectacular sunsets. Be careful of the bathroom door. It sticks sometimes.”
“I fixed that.” Brodie stood in the doorway, watching his sister. “Why don’t you go and see if Mum needs help in the kitchen while I take Samantha to her room?”
Kirstie’s gaze held his for a moment and then her mouth tightened and she walked past him.
“We’re serving a light supper in the Loch Room. Do you have any allergies?”
Samantha had a feeling that the other woman would be tempted to add any allergens to whatever they were eating. “No allergies. We eat everything.”
“Except broccoli,” Tab announced.
