Page 25 of A Summer of Secrets on Arran (Scottish Romances #5)

‘Guess what,’ said Isobel a few mornings later as she and Rosie walked Coisty along the beach in Kildonan.

‘What?’ said Rosie. ‘Tell me more?’

‘I think my wee mum has come up trumps with a possible job for Bella.’

Isobel had been a bit agitated that morning and Rosie wondered if she was finding the cottage claustrophobic with the three of them staying there.

Or if she was just in panic mode about Bella’s employment prospects.

Fortunately, Bella hadn’t raised the issue of her dad again.

It seemed other issues had superseded that. For now.

Rosie and Isobel were walking side by side, keeping an eye on Coisty to make sure he didn’t roll in anything smelly or dead.

‘Well . . . you know her man friend, Bill? His daughter, Beth, is a reporter on the paper here and apparently knows everyone and everything.’

‘You didn’t tell her about Luke, did you?’ said Rosie, taking a sharp intake of breath.

‘No, don’t fret,’ said Isobel, shaking her head. ‘I managed to keep schtoom. I mean, I love my mum but you know as well as me that little snippet of information would stay a secret for about three seconds and then the whole of Scotland would know where he was . . .’

Rosie placed a hand on her chest and smiled in relief. She knew Margaret meant well but she could be a bit of a loose cannon when it came to confidential information.

‘Beth had phoned to speak to her dad who told her Mum was upset about Bella losing her job. Then she said that she knew the big hotel in Brodick was looking for a beauty therapist. And the position also has live-in accommodation which is brilliant.’

Rosie frowned. ‘Yes, but do you think that’s what Bella would want? I mean, it’s one thing to come here for a visit, it’s different to actually live and work here.’

Isobel tutted at her. ‘You made it work though. And Ben enjoyed working here over the summer, didn’t he?

‘I know, I suppose so, but our circumstances are quite different. I’m much older than her and I was ready to settle here. She’s young and at a different stage of her life. Ben was just here for the summer and then took off.’

Isobel threw up her hands in exasperation. ‘I know but she doesn’t have a job at all right now, does she? Maybe it’s the change that she needs.’

‘But she might want to go back to Glasgow though to try and look for work there,’ suggested Rosie.

‘Och, I know, but being in Glasgow hasn’t exactly worked out for her, has it?

’ said Isobel testily. ‘She’s lost one job and the other job she has working at the bars is totally erratic.

If she applies for this job and gets it then it might just give her something to focus on.

She always functions much better if she’s got a routine.

Otherwise, I’m worried she will get bored and have too much time to think about things .

. . she doesn’t have to worry about finding a place to stay here and then it might tide her over until she decides whether to go travelling or not. ’

Rosie nodded thoughtfully, noticing that Isobel’s brisk walk had slowed down to a trudge.

‘That’s true,’ she said, looking at her.

There was something about Isobel’s expression that made her stop.

‘You’re looking awfully worried. She’s young and resilient.

She’ll find another job soon. Are you sure this isn’t about something else? ’

Isobel shrugged. ‘Ignore me, it’s just this awful anxiety I have. I was lying in bed last night, worrying that she might never get a job and would be unemployed forever and stuck living with me.’

‘So you were catastrophising things again then?’ said Rosie gently.

Isobel nodded. ‘You know me too well. I’m just overthinking a lot of stuff right now.’

‘Coisty,’ yelled Rosie and sprinted over to him as she saw him sizing up a dead bird lying on the pebbles ahead.

She managed to grab his collar just before he threw himself onto it and did his own little dead bird dance.

‘Phew,’ she said to him. ‘I didn’t fancy having to shampoo you again.

You are such a mingin’ wee dog at times.

’ He looked up at her and barked. Clipping his lead onto his collar, she walked back towards Isobel.

‘I suppose all you can do is suggest it to Bella and be led by her. The blessing is the timing of all of this has been quite good.’ Then she noticed Isobel’s confused face.

‘I don’t mean actually losing her job. I just mean the fact that she has been here with you when it happened.

At least you can support her.’ She was hit by a sudden pang of sadness when she thought about Ben.

He looked happy, though, whenever she spoke to him and that was all she could wish for.

Isobel must have read her mind as she patted Rosie’s arm. ‘I know. I’m so aware of how much you must miss your boy. But he’s having a great time and you should be proud. You raised him to be independent and confident enough to go off and explore the world. At least he didn’t take after his dad.’

Rosie chuckled. ‘Very true. Anyway, did you see that Ash has updated the WhatsApp chat?’ she said, quick to change the conversation and steer it away from the topic of Dermot.

Isobel nodded. ‘Yes. I was starting to wonder if this reunion would actually happen. The plans have been constantly changing.’ She shook her head fondly. ‘What is Ash like? I can’t quite believe that by the middle of next week the gang will be reunited.’

‘Indeed,’ Rosie said, exchanging a glance with her friend. ‘There’s a lot to catch up on.’

They walked in a companiable silence for a moment before she spoke again. ‘Tell me when you are next seeing your new best friend and neighbour?’

Rosie felt her spirits lift at the mention of Luke. ‘We are making good progress with his writing so far. He’s a very good student.’ She giggled. ‘But he finds it hard to focus. He seems to relax more when he can just chat and tell me about things, as though I were an old friend.’

Isobel winked. ‘I bet he does,’ she said with a dirty laugh. ‘Though to be fair, he is good company. When he was round for dinner the other night he just seemed like a normal bloke.’

‘As opposed to what?’ said Rosie.

‘Like, you wouldn’t think he was a celebrity, would you?’

Rosie shrugged. ‘I’m not sure he thinks of himself like that either. He’s just a guy. I think we all get a bit obsessed these days about labelling people. But he is very unassuming. If you were meeting him for the first time then you would have no idea about his background, would you?’

Isobel nodded. ‘Aye, I suppose not. He’s certainly very down to earth for someone who was such a heartthrob.’

‘Anyway,’ said Rosie. ‘I’ve suggested we go for a walk tomorrow to the library in the forest.’

‘Is that a euphemism?’ she said, with a wicked grin.

‘No. It’s a place, Isobel. And you and Bella are also invited to come along.’

‘I don’t know . . . I think we might feel like we’re interrupting your date.’

‘Isobel, will you stop that. It’s not a date. I’m just trying to help him out. Sometimes it’s better just to walk and talk about things rather than be stuck in front of a computer.’

‘Why are you grinning then? I know you, Rosie, and I know when you’ve got that dreamy look in your eyes.’

She sighed and momentarily wondered if she had ever looked dreamy when she was with Dermot.

‘Seriously,’ said Isobel, ‘whatever it is that you’re doing just enjoy it as it is agreeing with you. It’s about time you had some fun.’

Should she be having fun with another man just now? She wasn’t sure she would ever be ready for a new man in her life. Especially someone like Luke.