Page 18 of A Summer House on Arran (Scottish Romances #3)

Gently opening the door, Kitty tiptoed back into the house, careful not to wake Olivia up.

Until they got used to each other’s rhythms she wanted to make sure she was as respectful as possible.

Placing the bread on the worktop, she wondered if Olivia would actually eat it.

She didn’t seem the type to touch carbohydrates, given how slim she was.

She was glad she’d packed some provisions, including a package of oats.

Deciding that she would have that and save the bread for later, she tipped some into a saucepan, topping the pot with some water and a sprinkle of salt.

It was her go-to method of making porridge — all she needed were the oats and some water.

Some of her friends swore by using milk, which made her feel sick.

Others added syrup and sugar, but she always preferred salt.

Stirring it with the spurtle she found in the utensil pot, she kept a close eye until the oats turned creamy.

Then she tipped them into a bowl and sprinkled the top with some flaxseed.

As she sat enjoying her breakfast, she made a list of things she could do while she was on Arran.

She was definitely up for giving Amy’s class a go, and maybe the art class.

She would like to do lots of walking, so in a way the tour was perfect.

Fergus had also insisted that she go up to the outdoor centre while she was there, to make use of the kayaks.

She had drawn the line at sea swimming though, and shivered involuntarily at the thought.

As she finished her porridge she wondered if she should just get on with the day. Then she heard the toilet flush. Olivia was awake and up then, but would she come through, or would she hide in the bedroom until Kitty went out? Getting used to someone else’s routine was going to take some time.

‘Good morning,’ Olivia said brightly as she wandered into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. ‘Wow, when did you get up?’ She stifled a yawn.

‘I always wake up at seven and it seems it’s a habit that’s stuck.

I mean, how typical is that? For the first time in years I can actually lie in.

I don’t have to rush to get up for my son or get to work, but here I am, up and about.

I’m still on my mum clock.’ She laughed.

‘Mum clock has me unable to sleep past seven and on constant edge in case anyone needs some food, money, a lift somewhere or some laundry washed and dried at the very last minute.’ She hoisted her elbows on the table and sunk her chin into her hands.

‘How about you? What’s your routine like normally? ’

Olivia looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘It depends,’ she said hesitantly.

‘If I’m on tour then it’s all go and I’m up sharp, ready for rehearsals and the show .

. . but when I’m not working, I do love to sleep.

I have the comfiest bed back home and it’s my happy place. The space I go to rest and recharge.’

Kitty raised an eyebrow at her and waited expectantly.

‘My bedroom is a bit of a refuge,’ said Olivia briskly. ‘It can be quite common to have to share rooms when away, so I appreciate my space alone even more.’

Kitty was a bit taken aback at her matter-of-fact tone, and didn’t know whether to be offended.

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean that as it sounded. Sometimes I forget I can be a bit blunt,’ said Olivia sheepishly. ‘It wasn’t meant as a dig.’

‘That’s okay,’ said Kitty. ‘Can I make you a cup of tea? Mind you,’ she said jokingly, ‘I won’t be making a habit of this. So don’t get used to it.’

Olivia pulled out a seat at the table and sat down. ‘Thank you. I just take it black, and you can leave the teabag in.’

Kitty chuckled. ‘I take it black too, though I need the bag out pronto before it looks like tar. Aren’t we funny with our little routines and ways of making things? And I have to admit, when I offer to make tea at work, I don’t get a great take-up, so I hope it’s okay.’

Olivia laughed.

‘So,’ said Kitty, ‘when you say you go on tour . . . what is it that you do?’

‘I’m a dancer.’

‘Oh wow,’ said Kitty, her interest piqued. ‘How interesting. What kind of dancing is it that you do?’

Olivia laughed. ‘To be honest, a bit of everything, though mostly commercial stuff now. I started dancing when I was three when my mom enrolled me in ballet. Then I did tap and contemporary and even a bit of ballroom.’

Kitty’s eyes widened. ‘How interesting. When did you decide to make it your career?’

‘I don’t know if I decided as such. I just didn’t know how to do anything else. I needed to do it. I loved being on stage. I practised all the time, copied the dance routines from MTV and then started getting lucky with auditions.’

Kitty was transfixed as she listened to Olivia talk. It was clearly still her passion, which made it even more surprising and random that she’d ended up on Arran. ‘Do you mind if I ask what brought you here?’ Kitty said curiously. She watched as Olivia finished her tea in a gulp.

‘I needed to have some time out. I just finished a dance tour and before that a stint at Disneyland. I didn’t have any teaching commitments over the summer, so it seemed as good a time as ever.’

Kitty tilted her head, still bemused as to what brought her to Scotland when she could have gone anywhere in the world.

Olivia must have read her thoughts as she continued.

‘My aunt and uncle were here last summer, and they stayed at Meadowbank Cottage and raved about it. I decided to see what all the fuss was about. I was on a trip to Italy and decided at the last minute to extend my travels. The Meadowbank place was full, but it was the owners there who said this place might be available.’ She shrugged.

‘It all kind of happened from that. I wasn’t planning on coming, it just happened that way.

’ She pushed a strand of hair back from her face. ‘How about you? What brought you here?’

Kitty cleared her throat. ‘My son is away for the summer, as you know. It’s always been just the two of us, and it’s the first time he’s been away for such a length of time.

Which is why I’m prone to being quite teary.

’ She smiled ruefully. ‘I also had some time off over the summer. I work in a nursery and have six weeks off. I was planning on painting our home and doing some DIY projects, which if I’m honest I wasn’t entirely over the moon about.

My cousin Fergus works at the outdoor centre here and he knows the owners of this place . . .’

‘Well,’ Olivia smiled brightly, ‘perhaps it’s fate that our paths have crossed?’

‘Indeed. I just wonder what on earth we’re going to get up to,’ said Kitty softly, as the reality of the next few weeks finally hit her.

Olivia gave her another bright smile. ‘I’m game for adventures if you are.’

Kitty nodded. ‘I definitely am.’