Page 110 of Broken Beyond Repair

“What is it?” Sydney enquired. “You didn’t buy a gift for her, did you? She’d hate the fuss.”

Beatrice’s face dropped. “No, I didn’t. Should I have? Oh, I never thought. We can pick something up on the way.”

Sydney put her hands on Beatrice’s shoulders. “Didn’t you hear me? I said she’d hate it if you did.”

Beatrice nodded. “Okay.”

“Are you all right? You’re not nervous about meeting my mum, are you?”

“Of course I am.”

“Why?”

“What if she doesn’t approve?”

“We’re a little past needing parental approval, Bea. You certainly are. Anyway, I told you Mum was fine with it, more than fine with it. She’s elated. She knows you make me happy, and that’s all she can ask of anyone.”

Beatrice let out a breath. “Okay.”

“Shall we go then?”

“Yes, could you bring the bag?”

Sydney strained as she lifted it. “Crikey. It’s a dead weight. Are you going to tell me what’s in it?”

“Just something I need to deal with.”

Sydney rolled her eyes. She couldn’t even recall there being a holdall amongst the luggage. Beatrice must have packed it inside one of her suitcases.

An hour later they drove into the small fishing town to an overture of seagulls. Sydney was beginning to feel a little nervous herself. What if her mum didn’t like Beatrice? She was a very down-to-earth woman and might not appreciate the stiff nature of her daughter’s girlfriend.

“Thank you,” Beatrice said, tipping the driver. “We’ll make our own way back.”

“As you wish, ma’am.”

Sydney wondered why no one ever called her ‘ma’am’. Did you have to have a certain elegance about you to be called it? If so, she wouldn’t hold her breath waiting.

“Be yourself,” Sydney said, taking Beatrice’s hand, straining with the heavy holdall in the other. “Scrap that. Try being a more relaxed version of yourself — if that’s possible.”

“Sydney,” Beatrice growled.

Taking the hint to shut up, she knocked on the door. Although she had a key, it didn’t feel appropriate to let herself in and catch her mum unawares. It wasn’t every day you hosted an international film star in your tiny cottage.

Rhona opened the door in a flash, pulling Sydney into her. “Good to see you, love.”

“Hi, Mum. This is Beatrice.”

Beatrice offered her hand. Rhona ignored it and instead pulled her into a hug as well. Sydney stifled a laugh as Beatrice blinked. She should have warned her that her mum was a hugger.

“Mrs MacKenzie.”

“Oh, we’ll have none of that! It’s Rhona. Come on in, both of you.”

They stood like compacted sardines in the small hallway as they tried to remove their coats. Sydney was relieved to see her mum had tidied and cleaned before their arrival. The hallway smelled fresh; she hoped the rest of the house was the same.

“Should we go for a walk?” Beatrice suggested. “I could use the exercise after the flight and drive here.”

“Okay.” Sydney replied, sensing she was uncomfortable with the lack of space. There were cupboards at Highwood House that were bigger than the hallway, and bathrooms bigger than the entire cottage.