Page 16 of A Summer House on Arran (Scottish Romances #3)

Olivia stomped her way back to Lilybank Cottage, anger fizzing inside her.

In a moment of stupidity she thought it would be a good idea to pull her phone out and switch it on in the pub, only to be greeted by a barrage of angry, accusatory voicemails.

She had fled hastily and, in the process, forgotten her bag.

She was still in shock as his words rattled through her head, though she reminded herself that it was her own fault.

She told herself that she didn’t need to switch the blooming thing on.

Why on earth had she thought it would be a good time to check her messages and emails?

All she had wanted to do was sit peacefully in the pub with a cold drink and to take stock of the situation at the cottage.

She sighed noisily, anxiously scratching her arm as she walked up the hill towards the holiday house.

Inhaling the delicate scent of lavender that lingered in the air, she stopped and turned to look back at the view.

The sparkling blue sea momentarily calmed the angry thoughts racing around her mind.

Shaking her head in frustration, she thought about what could have been.

It was such a lovely spot, and would have been the perfect place to hide away from the world.

Her world that she had left behind. It was so annoying that it hadn’t worked out that way.

She’d hoped the Arran retreat would give her space to walk and think and read and sleep and just be.

Alone. But she didn’t know how she and Kitty were going to resolve the living ‘situation’.

Olivia could hardly argue that because she got to the cottage first and had unpacked her things, she should be the one to stay.

That would make her sound like a complete brat, and it was clear that Kitty was feeling a bit frazzled and vulnerable too.

She had felt so conflicted as she watched Kitty dissolve into tears earlier.

She wanted to be kind and compassionate, yet she was tired of thinking of everyone else.

How she longed to be selfish and put herself and her needs first for a change.

That horrid, all-too-familiar feeling of walking on eggshells had invited itself back into her life, and as a result she was back to feeling on edge.

She scowled as she thought about that idiot at the pub who had completely humiliated her with his harsh words.

How was she to know that he was trying to help?

Okay, perhaps she had been a bit quick to jump down his throat.

In fact, now she thought about it, she felt mortified when she remembered just how sharp her tone was.

But let’s face it, her recent experiences of men hadn’t exactly left her feeling warm towards members of the opposite sex. What a disaster.

It was all so different to how she felt in Italy with her new friends, Margaret, Isobel and Bella, with sunshine and laughter and the promise of a new beginning.

Maybe she should contact them and find out if Bella’s offer to go to Corfu was still an option.

Though was that really what she wanted to do?

She shook herself. That wasn’t the answer either.

She couldn’t just keep running. Perhaps this was a sign that she needed to head back to New York and face the music.

As she walked through the gate and up the path towards the cottage, she couldn’t help but admire the way the sunlight caught the window.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

‘Oh, there she is now. We’re through here,’ called Kitty.

Olivia felt her shoulders tense and fear grip her. Who on earth was here now? Hadn’t there been enough surprise visitors already today? Taking a tentative step into the open-plan living room, she glanced over to see another woman, who she didn’t recognise, sitting on the sofa.

‘Hello,’ Olivia said, puzzled.

The woman stood up and pulled her dark blonde hair away from her face, scooping it into a ponytail.

She wore workout leggings and a white V-neck shirt.

A wide grin spread across her face as she extended a hand.

‘Hello, you must be Olivia. I’m Amy and I am so, so sorry about all of this. ’ She gestured around the room.

‘Hi,’ said Olivia politely, quickly shaking her hand. It took her a few seconds to work out who Amy was, then she remembered the welcome note in the kitchen from yesterday.

‘So . . .’ Amy watched her expectantly, as though she couldn’t quite decide what to say next.

Kitty started to talk. ‘It would seem that there has been a bit of a mix-up with the owners and communication.’

Amy nodded. ‘Yes, there has, and I am so sorry. I help my sister up at the B&B and we keep an eye on Lilybank Cottage for the owners. They’d decided not to re-let it, but the couple didn’t realise they had then each promised the cottage to someone.

’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Which is why you’re both here. I can only apologise.’

‘Okay.’ Olivia wrapped her arms around herself defensively.

‘Look, I’ve had a think about it and, if you can bear with me, Kitty, I will look into flights and see when I can book myself on one back home.

There’s no point in your trip being ruined and I, er, I have some stuff I need to deal with back in New York anyway.

’ She tried to sound as airy as possible, watching as Kitty’s smile turned into a frown.

‘But that doesn’t seem fair at all,’ Kitty replied.

‘You’ve never been to Scotland before, and this is a one-off trip for you.

You’ve come so far and it’s not right you feel you have to leave.

I can. It’s easy enough for me to get back to Inverness from here.

If I leave in the morning, then I can be back by tomorrow night. ’

Olivia bit her bottom lip, not quite knowing what to say. She felt so sorry for Kitty as, despite her kind offer, she looked crestfallen at the thought of her trip being cut prematurely short. She glanced over at Amy, who hovered between the two women.

‘Erm, I’ve just had an idea,’ Amy said. ‘Can I make a suggestion?’

Kitty shook her head. ‘It’s okay, Amy. It’s just one of those things.

I already had a look to see what else was free.

My cousin lives round in Lamlash, but his flat is having work done, otherwise I could have gone there.

Everything else is booked or a bit beyond my budget.

’ She paused. ‘Well, unless you have a spare tent, and I could head to the campsite.’

Olivia looked at her in horror. ‘Don’t be silly. That sounds horrendous.’

‘I agree,’ said Kitty, not missing a beat. ‘I would rather be in my own bed. That’s why it would be easier for me just to go home.’

Amy cleared her throat. ‘Can I make a radical suggestion?’

Kitty raised an eyebrow in expectation.

‘Well, how about you both stay?’

‘What?’ asked Olivia.

‘Why don’t you both stay here? Together?

’ She said it quite matter-of-factly and rubbed her hands together, clearly pleased with her suggestion.

‘The cottage is big enough. I mean, look at all the rooms, you can take your pick, and I’m sure you’ll respect each other’s space.

’ She looked squarely at them both. ‘To be quite honest, it sounds like you both could do with this break and you’re both here now.

It would be a shame not to stay and at least give it a go. ’

Olivia turned to Kitty, her mind a whir of possibilities and thoughts. It might work. It was the only time that she would probably do this trip, and if not now, then when ?

‘What do you think?’ asked Amy.

Olivia eyed Kitty thoughtfully. ‘Well . . . I suppose I am up for trying it, if you are. I mean, we could see how it goes . . .’

A huge smile spread across Kitty’s face. ‘Really? I mean, yes, we could just see how it pans out, and if we decide it’s not working then we can call it quits.’

Kitty’s smile was contagious, and Olivia couldn’t help but beam back.

Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions. She had been through them all in less than an hour.

‘Gosh. Yes. Why not?’ she said kindly. ‘I mean, I have to warn you that I might not be the tidiest of housemates and I can’t cook.

But other than that I’ll try and keep out of your way. ’

‘As long as you pick up your clothes from the floor,’ said Kitty, ‘then it’s a deal.’

‘Brilliant,’ said Amy. ‘That’s us all sorted then.

’ She clapped her hands together in excitement.

‘Okay, I will leave you to settle in. You know where I am if you need me. And if you ever fancy a yoga session while you’re here, do let me know.

I’ve started running classes down in the village hall.

Or if you just want to come up and say hello then please do. ’

‘Thank you,’ said Olivia, grateful for the warm fuzzy feeling that was now washing over her, rather than the anger that had threatened to bubble over and erupt earlier.

The thought of being part of something and belonging somewhere, even for just a few weeks, wasn’t actually too scary a thought.

Then a little nugget of worry wormed its way into her stomach — she tried to ignore it and focus on the positive.

But she felt her lips pursing in worry. There it was again.

That flicker of worry and doubt. Why did she have to always think of the things that might go wrong?

She noticed Kitty throw her a curious look, and she gave her what she hoped was a reassuring nod.

As if picking up on her worry, Kitty said, ‘We can take it a day at a time, Olivia.’

‘Yes,’ said Olivia. ‘And the yoga might be just the thing I need.’

‘Well,’ said Kitty, ‘I’ve never tried it, but I’m definitely up for giving it a go. Thanks for the offer, Amy.’

Glancing at her watch, Amy yelped. ‘I’d better go, or my sister will kill me.

I said I wouldn’t be long. I just hope she heard the oven timer go off, or the shortbread will be incinerated.

’ With that she turned round and lightly jogged out the door calling ‘bye’ as she went.

The door slammed shut. Olivia and Kitty were left standing in the kitchen, the sounds of evening birdsong chattering through the window.

Olivia turned to Kitty, who was smiling nervously at her. She returned her smile again. This would be fine. It had to be. ‘Okay then, I guess that’s all settled.’

‘And you are sure? You really don’t mind sharing?’ asked Kitty nervously.

Olivia shrugged and made sure she kept grinning. ‘Of course not. I’m sure it will all be just fine. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?’