Page 21

With a shake of her head, Lorna let out a sigh.

‘Probably,’ she said eventually. ‘Even so, that was still no reason to make you uncomfortable.’ She shook her head again, although this time much more vigorously, as if she was trying to dislodge all thoughts of her brother and the evening before. When she looked back at Bex, her broad smile was back on her face. ‘Anyway, ignore that. The other reason I came was because I brought you a little housewarming gift. I realise it’s not your house, and you’re not staying here forever, but I thought it would be nice.’

Lorna reached into her bag and pulled out a large candle. Embedded in the side was the image of a thistle, the rustic purple flower that was one of the most well-known Scottish emblems.

‘The thistle’s Scottish, even if the candle’s not technically traditional,’ Lorna said. ‘Though Eilidh makes them, and they smell divine.’

Bex took a sniff. ‘Wow, you’re right. Your friend is seriously talented.’

‘Oh, you have no idea. She’s the most amazing seamstress too. If we’re honest, I think she took all the talent I was supposed to have.’

Bex laughed at the comment. Daisy was a phenomenal painter, and Claire was a pretty fantastic musician, so she knew what it felt like to be the under-talented friend. ‘That’s really sweet, thank you.’

‘You’re welcome. Hopefully, we’ll manage to meet up for some drinks again in the future, though I’m a bit run off my feet with work at the moment.’

‘Yeah, you’re not the only one,’ Bex said, a heavy sigh freeing from her lungs.

‘Is it that bad?’ Lorna asked.

‘Do you want to see?’

Lorna looked to the oven, where the croissants still required much, much longer to cook, then turned back to Bex and shrugged. ‘Why not?’

23

Before Bex took Lorna through to show her the state of the study, there was one more thing she needed to do in the kitchen, and that was to find coffee.

‘I just don’t understand how he doesn’t have something. Just a jar of instant,’ she said once she had opened every cupboard in the new section, only to find several cloth napkins and half a dozen mugs – which seemed to have been placed there with the sole purpose of mocking her need for caffeine.

‘I think Fergus is more a whisky and water person,’ Lorna replied.

‘Well, I am very much a coffee person,’ Bex said. ‘I guess I’ll just have to drive up to the village later and get some. Come on, let me show you the chaos I’ve got to work through.’

Ruby had now taken up a spot in the hallway outside the study, as if she knew that was where Bex was going to be for the rest of the day. After shuffling the dog to the side, Bex opened the door, and Lorna let out a little whistle as she stared at the scene in front of her.

‘Wow. I mean, wow. You’ve got to go through all this?’

‘I do. I thought I was just coming up here to deal with the finances, but everything has to be organised before I can even think about doing the accounts. I’ve no idea how long it’s gonna take.’

‘Wow, well, I should probably let you get on with it. And go and apologise to Duncan. After I give him another bollocking, that is. Don’t forget about the croissants, will you?’

Bex smiled. ‘Don’t worry. I don’t forget about breakfast. Ever. And thank you again for the candle. It was a really lovely gift.’

* * *

It turned out that Bex wasn’t the only one who didn’t forget about breakfast, and once again, the end of her croissant went to Ruby, although given that she had over-cooked them slightly, she wasn’t fussed at all.

‘I take back what I said,’ Fergus said, poking his head around the doorframe a little later. ‘Eight o’clock, and you’re already in here. Let me guess, you’re planning on clocking off early, then?’

‘Clocking off?’ Bex laughed, gesturing to the stacks of paperwork, notebooks and general detritus around her. ‘With all this? I think I’d be here all night if I’m not careful.’

‘Good plan,’ he replied without a hint of humour. ‘Well, if you need anything, I’ll be just next door.’

‘Thank you,’ she said, turning back to her work, although when she looked up again, Fergus was still in the same position, staring at Ruby.

‘Funny thing,’ he said, gesturing towards the dog. ‘Doesn’t normally take to people, that one. Wonder if that’s a good sign or bad.’

With that, he turned around and left. He really was a strange old man, with his constant blowing hot and cold, but she guessed that could happen when you lived on your own as long as he had done.