AllFreeNovel
Share Us
James sidled up. “What are ye thinking, man?”
I opened my mouth to tell him where exactly he could put his unsaid but clear opinion, but he turned away to kiss Gran on her other cheek.
I let out a long breath and took a step towards the McAlister matriarch. Using superhero reflexes, she whacked me in the ribs with the wooden spoon.
“Ow!”
“Like that hurt the Beast.” Gran scrutinised me. “Eyes don’t lie, ye ken.”
I gulped.
Legend had it the old woman could see into your soul, and ye couldn’t tell a lie under her gaze. I reckoned her superpower was the art of scaring the shit out of people, and with that, the truth, with her stare.
“Ye like her.”
My shoulders sagged. “I do. A lot.”
“De ye love her?
“It’s too soon. I mean, it’s only been a couple of weeks, Gran.”
“When ye know, ye know.” She leaned towards me, staring into my eyes. “And I can tell ye do, with all ye heart.”
Whack! The wooden spoon stung on my bicep.
“So, cheer up!” Maisie stepped away from the doorway, waving me inside.
“And who’s this now?” My father’s voice carried down the hall, like the bang of a gong. I hurried past Gran to find Amanda and my father facing off in the dining room.
“They didn’t have spreadsheets in 1734,” my father grunted.
“Well, no! They had ledger books,” Amanda laughed. “The Excel of the eighteenth century. I had the opportunity to look at eighteenth century ledgers in the Oxford University Library last year, where they had a fraudulent copy and the original leader of a printing business. Fraud always finds a way, no matter the method of record keeping.”
“So, ye what? A financial cop? Going over our figures and questioning everything?”
Everyone was quiet, except for Angus dribbling yoghurt down his bib.
“In some respects, yes. Records also show effort and the passion, in my opinion. Sometimes my role is of a storyteller.” Amanda’s eyes lifted briefly to mine. “Someone once told me I had a way with words and I denied it, saying my gift was with numbers. But sometimes it’s both. If your numbers don’t tell the story of your knowledge and passion, you need better numbers.”
To my surprise, my father smiled. I let out a breath I didn’t realise I was holding.
Amanda had impressed Old Mac. My chest swelled.
“So, Stuart. I hear ye have another chance with the hotel rep this week.”
“Aye, Da. I leave Monday afternoon for Balnain and I’m taking a couple of bottles of my whisky.” I turned to Amanda. “Sorry, hen. Got the text confirming the trip just after we arrived her.”
“The rep said the hotel chain has just bought the lodge in the Highlands at Balnain,” Robert added. “Converting it to a boutique luxury stay near Loch Ness.”
Mum raised an eyebrow at Da and his gaze shifted back to me. “Ye’ll do fine, son. Ye made a fine dram and I’m proud of ye. The hotel rep will sign up Gallanach. Mark my words.”
I swallowed hard, emotion seizing my throat. While Dad had obviously been proud of me at Burns Night last night, hearing his praise at the dinner table left me stunned. “Thank ye, Da.”
Amanda squeezed my thigh and I glanced at her.
“How long are you in Balnain?” she asked softly.
“A day, tops. I’ll stay the night for the tasting and head straight home at first light.”
