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‘But I’m here to work, Edie. Honestly, I am more than happy just to get started.’ When Edie didn’t say anything, Amelia quickly filled the silence. ‘Or let me know if there is anything I can help you with here? I don’t want you to think that I’m taking advantage.’
‘There will be plenty for you to do but, in the meantime, just humour me. Think of the next couple of days as staff training or something like that.’
A few minutes passed as the women sat in comfortable silence sipping their mugs of coffee. ‘You mentioned that your parents spent their honeymoon here?’
Amelia nodded. ‘Yes, they stayed in a B&B in Brodick. Though I can’t remember the name.’
‘Can you ask them?’
‘Well, my father is dead . . . and my mother has since remarried. I don’t really want to bring it up in case it upsets her.’
‘Does she know you’re here?’ Edie asked softly.
Amelia nodded, though she could feel the tears that never seemed to be far away threatening to appear. ‘Yes. She lives in New Zealand now. But I let her know about my plans.’
The truth was that Amelia and her mother weren’t close, and when she’d mentioned her plans to visit Arran, her mother hadn’t really said much at all, other than, ‘I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.’
She swallowed hard to stop herself from crying. ‘I’m just keen to explore and have some time on my own.’
Edie drained her mug and stood up. ‘Okay, well, don’t worry about that. I don’t think that will be a problem. First things first. I need to show you your new staff quarters.’
‘Oh, okay,’ said Amelia uncertainly.
‘Come on, you’ll need your jacket, and slip your shoes back on.’
Amelia followed her to the shoe rack by the front door where she’d left her trainers. She reached up to the peg and pulled off her jacket. She didn’t want to leave this cosy cottage. Where on earth was Edie, who had pulled on her wellies and raincoat, going to take her?
‘Come on, follow me.’
Amelia did as she was told and walked behind Edie, who marched down the path. But instead of opening the gate, she suddenly veered to the left and down towards a large grassy area which was tucked away and which Amelia hadn’t noticed earlier.
‘Well,’ said Edie excitedly. ‘What do you think?’
Amelia gasped in astonishment. This was not at all what she’d been expecting.
Chapter Seven
‘So . . . what do you think?’ Edie said again, twirling around in excitement.
‘Well, erm, I think it’s . . . lovely?’ Amelia said, completely taken aback.
‘You’re my first guest!’ Edie’s eyes shone and she clapped her hands together.
‘Oh, okay.’ Amelia managed to squeeze out a smile. In front of her were steps leading up to a veranda and a small oak cabin.
‘Do you want to look inside?’ Edie didn’t wait for a reply, instead turning to walk up the steps. ‘It’s a shepherd’s hut. Luxury and handcrafted with love.’ Edie giggled. ‘I think it’s quite cosy and I hope you’ll enjoy staying here. I’m quite tempted to move in myself.’
Amelia tried to seem enthusiastic but inwardly she grimaced. This would be like camping . . . which she didn’t mind in the summer somewhere like France when it was warm and dry. But the thought of roughing it in Scotland in winter didn’t inspire her at all. Especially if she was going to have to swaddle herself in a sleeping bag and hundreds of blankets. Not to mention the lack of facilities. Was she going to have to get up in the night to go back inside the cottage to use the loo? Or, worse still, squat in the corner of the garden?
‘Come on and see inside,’ Edie said, gesturing to Amelia. ‘And don’t worry, there’s an en-suite shower room, in case you were wondering.’ She opened the door and Amelia’s eyes widened in surprise when she looked inside, blinking wildly as she took it all in. The hut was painted white and had watercolours in pale, chalky blue frames artfully hung on the walls. The solid oak flooring shone in the early morning sunlight. At one end of the hut was a small double bed with built-in storage underneath. The bed had a thick white duvet, lots of pillows and several scatter cushions in a duck-egg blue along with a chenille throw. The large windows, with pale blue curtains, were at the end of the bed and looked right out onto the beach.
‘Look — you can leave the curtains open at night if you want and let the sunrise wake you naturally.’
‘Wow,’ said Amelia, her feelings of doubt evaporating. Just along from the bed was a small wooden breakfast bar, with a jug of yellow roses, and another window looking out on the same view over the beach. A couple of stools were tucked below. Along from the bar and by the door were pale blue wooden coat pegs. At the other end of the cabin was a tiny but well-equipped kitchen with oven, hob, fridge and small Belfast sink with a large wooden chopping board on top. Next to the kitchen area was a log-burning stove and a comfy tub chair.
‘It is beautiful, Edie. So cosy and welcoming,’ she said, turning around in awe. ‘Just incredible.’
Edie beamed. ‘You could be in the middle of nowhere and you’re only a stone’s throw from the beach.’
