AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Oh-oh, thought Edie.What on earth do I tell him?‘Cup of tea?’ she said, turning to fill the kettle.
‘Erm, okay, though I wasn’t planning to stop. I’m just keen to see Amelia. We didn’t leave things on great terms . . .’
Edie ignored him. ‘Fergus, dear, while you’re here, would you mind awfully checking the smoke alarm for me at the top of the stairs, please? It’s been beeping away and I’m worried the batteries need replacing. It’s a wee bit too high up for me to reach.’
‘Of course, I’ll do that now.’ He scratched his head.
Edie mentally made a list of other tasks she could give him to do to wave him off Amelia’s scent. It wasn’t her place to tell him, yet she also felt awkward about lying.
He walked into the kitchen. ‘I’ve checked it over and the batteries seem okay. I wonder why it’s been beeping.’
‘Perhaps I dreamt it or imagined the noise? Thanks anyway . . . So how are you, dear? I heard you had an unexpected visitor at the fair.’
He cocked his head to the side.
‘News travels fast,’ she said, her voice warm and amused.
His face darkened. ‘That’s what I want to talk to Amelia about. I called in earlier and her husband was visiting. I’m desperate to apologise. When will she be back?’
‘Um, I’m not quite sure.’
‘Are you sure you don’t know where she is? I mean, it’s dark and getting late.’
‘What kind of tea do you want? Your usual? Builder’s?’ Crikey, this was getting awkward.
‘That’s fine.’
‘Biscuits?’ Molly looked up. ‘Not for you, silly, for Fergus.’
‘Tea is fine, thanks. Edie, is something wrong?’
‘No, no, what makes you say that?’
‘You’re acting strangely.’
‘Nothing new then.’ She forced a laugh. ‘Sit down.’ She placed a mug of tea beside Fergus. ‘Are you going to tell me about the mystery lady? Seems Doris is in a right fankle wondering who she is.’
He rubbed his hand over his jaw. ‘A friend I hadn’t seen for a while from the mainland.’
‘Afriend?The rumour is that the mystery lady is your girlfriend.’
‘Well, she isn’t. At least not anymore. We broke up ages ago. Look, it’s all a complete misunderstanding.’ He sighed. ‘Edie, what’s going on? Where’s Amelia?’
She paused while she took a sip of tea, then bit into a square of shortbread. She chewed slowly.
‘Edie . . . look, forget it. I’ll phone her later on. That’s probably easier.’
‘No, don’t do that,’ she said. That was the last thing Amelia needed. The girl could do with a night’s rest. ‘Sit down and I’ll tell you . . .’
He looked at her quizzically.
‘She had to go to Glasgow today on some business. She hoped to catch the last ferry home but missed it. She’ll be back in the morning.’
‘Some business? With her husband?’
‘Yes. That’s all I know.’ Edie blinked furiously. She was rubbish at lying.
‘Right.’
