Page 48 of A Summer House on Arran (Scottish Romances #3)

‘How about you all mind your business?’ Patrick snapped.

Olivia glanced at Margaret and could tell she was ready to explode. She knew very well that Margaret wouldn’t let anyone be rude to her daughter. She watched as Margaret passed her handbag to Bella and stepped forward.

‘Right, sunshine. Do you think we’re all buttoned up the back or something?’ She stood glaring at him, her hands planted on her waist. ‘I know exactly what your game is. I know your type. I’ve seen it all before. You’re full of it, but we all know you’re talking pish.’

Patrick stared back confused.

‘No need to look so glaikit. You know exactly what I’m talking about. There are places for bawbags like you. Away an bile yer heid.’

Patrick shook his head. ‘Will you speak English? Or can someone translate? I have no idea what the hell you’re saying.’

‘Aw, that’s my gran for you, she gets totally Glaswegian when she’s angry,’ explained Bella. She spoke very slowly. ‘What Gran is trying to say is that you’re a bully, we see you and it doesn’t take an expert to work out what you did to Olivia.’

Kitty took a step forward. ‘You’re just lucky that you’ve not been arrested yet.

The law in Scotland comes down hard on domestic abusers.

If I were you, I would think about leaving as soon as you can before we call the police and you get thrown in jail.

In fact, there are a couple of officers here. I can go and find them if you want?’

Patrick’s face turned white. ‘And you’re happy with this, Olivia, are you? Letting this bunch of old women tell you what to do. I mean, I don’t even understand what you’re all talking about.’

‘Less of the old, you total numpty,’ said Margaret crossly.

Olivia looked at Patrick, trying to remember why she had got together with him in the first place.

She was suddenly filled with remorse for wasting so much of her life with this man.

She didn’t think she had ever been happy with him.

He might have told her he loved her and bought her flowers and chocolates — which he then rationed — but he didn’t care about her.

Not at all. He just wanted to control her and break her spirit.

And he almost killed her. Another thought had been niggling her.

How on earth did he know she was here, on Arran? ‘How did you find me anyway?’

‘Your phone ,’ he said cruelly. ‘You must have forgotten I was able to track you on it. Then when you switched it off, those dancing brats gave it all away, boasting about you on social media and confirming you were still here. Anyway, Olivia, don’t forget that you need me.

Without me your career is over,’ he said, his tone menacing.

‘Are you going to spend the rest of your life teaching brats? When you could be dancing with the stars? I think it’s time you stop this nonsense and come home, Olivia. ’

She shook her head. ‘I’m going nowhere with you.’

‘Olivia,’ he said, a warning tone in his voice.

‘Aw, just bolt ya rocket,’ said Margaret.

Olivia could hear Kitty stifle a laugh, especially when she saw Logan and James’s eyes widen in a mixture of admiration and fear. Margaret was some woman indeed.

‘For your information, that means go away,’ said Olivia, now feeling strangely calm.

‘I mean it, Patrick. Just leave me alone. I have nothing to say to you. I never want to see you again. And if you dare come near me, then I will r eport you to the authorities here, and in New York too. And while you’re at it, go and get some help.

You clearly need it. Now please just go. ’

‘Gaun yersel, Olivia,’ said Isobel proudly.

‘The next ferry is due to go quite soon,’ said James, his voice steady and firm. ‘Why don’t Logan and I walk you round there to make sure you get on it, okay?’

Patrick scowled at them as they stepped closer and put a hand on each arm.

He shrugged them off, turned to stomp away, but slipped on the damp grass and fell onto his knees.

When he stood up, his red jeans were splattered with mud.

He turned and kept walking and didn’t look back.

James and Logan kept their word and followed closely behind, making sure that he was definitely leaving the island.

Margaret guffawed with amusement, and soon Olivia and Kitty were also crying tears of emotional release — but also laughter. Olivia threw her arms around Margaret and Bella and Isobel and they huddled close.

‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I don’t know what I would have done without you.’

‘Well,’ said Margaret, ‘as I said earlier, we’re not daft and, well, I’ve been around long enough to know heartache when I see it.

I knew in Italy that you were a wee soul and that something nasty had happened to you, and that a bloke was most probably responsible. Call it my pensioner’s intuition.’

‘Aye,’ said Isobel drily. ‘You should see what she did to my ex . . .’

‘Well, I can’t thank you enough. I love you and will always think of you as my Glasgow girls . . .’

‘Aw, I’ll totally take that as a compliment. I mean, I’m sure that’s a musical or a play or something, is it not? The Glasgow Girls ? But listen, you would have been fine, love. It looks like you’ve got some good friends here as well.’ Margaret pointed to Kitty.

‘Sorry, Kitty, I didn’t mean to exclude you ,’ said Olivia apologetically.

‘I know you didn’t, I’m just glad they were here. You’re not women to mess with,’ said Kitty, chuckling. ‘That was a masterclass in how to deal with an eejit. I feel like I’ve learned a lot.’

‘Well, we are experienced in it, isn’t that right, Isobel? You’ve had your fair share of eejits these past few years.’

‘Thanks, Mum,’ she said, in mock indignation.

‘Can you believe we saw that bampot on the ferry on the way over?’ said Margaret, who was now on a roll.

‘He tried to skip the queue when we were getting our cups of tea, remember? I told him to get to the back and he started gibbering on about how he’d just flown in from New York and was exhausted.

I was like, Did ye, aye? Doesn’t mean you’re coming between me and my cup of tea.

I think we were supposed to be impressed by him or something. ’

Tears of laughter and relief were now streaming down Olivia’s face.

She would never be able to tell these women, these friends, just what they had done for her.

It had been transformational. ‘You are my Scottish girls,’ she said, pulling them all into a group hug.

‘You too, Kitty. Come on, you’re part of this. ’

‘And by the way,’ said Margaret, ‘I pure take it back what I said about there being no talent over here. Are those two young men single?’

‘James and Logan?’ asked Olivia.

‘Aye, the ones escorting that tosser to the ferry.’

‘I’m afraid they’re taken,’ she said.

‘Well, isn’t that just typical?’

‘Aw, Granny. Honestly, will you behave?’ said Bella. ‘If it’s a new man you’re after, you’re in the wrong place. You need to get yourself to Corfu.’

‘I might just do that, darling. You watch this space,’ said Margaret.

‘Aw, Mum, you’re off your head and still a pure embarrassment.’ Isobel shook her head, then grinned. ‘But we still love you.’

Olivia was quiet, feeling completely overwhelmed with the surrealness of what had just happened.

‘Are you okay?’ asked Kitty.

‘I think so . . . I mean, I will be, once I’ve got over the shock,’ she said slowly.

Then she looked at her watch. ‘Oh shoot, I’d better go and see the kids.

I should have been there ages ago. I can’t let them down.

Will I see you all in a bit?’ she asked Margaret, Isobel and Bella. ‘Sorry, I need to dash off.’

‘Don’t you worry, love. We managed to get booked into an Airbnb. We’re here for the weekend. You’re not getting rid of us that fast,’ said Isobel. ‘And we’ll be there cheering the wee ones on.’

Olivia grinned. ‘Brilliant. Make sure we can hear you.’ She turned to walk away, then ran back to Kitty and gave her a hug. ‘Thank you, Kitty, for everything. But most of all for believing in me and reminding me who I am.’