Page 112 of Broken Beyond Repair

“And you. Look after my girl for me. She’s all I have.”

“You can rest assured I will.”

“And thank you for making all her dreams come true with your book.”

Beatrice smiled as she pulled away from Rhona. “She was more than up to the job and earned every success that will come from it too.”

Turning to Sydney, Rhona opened her arms wide to receive her daughter.

“I know you don’t want to move from here,” Sydney said, giving her a squeeze, “but I’m still sending you the money I would have given you. No arguments.”

“Thanks, love. You’ve always looked after me.”

She wouldn’t need to if she’d left the wheelhouse five minutes earlier and insisted her dad come inside. She pushed the thought away. There was no changing the past, only living with it.

“I gave Gertie a clean inside for you and washed all the bedding. I didn’t make the bed up; I didn’t think you’d be needing it.” Rhonda blushed a little.

“Thanks, Mum. I’m sure she appreciated her bath.”

“Your uncle looked her over. Said Sam had done a superb job. I’m glad you two are back in touch. I always liked Sam.”

“I know. I am too.”

After a final hug, Sydney and Beatrice made their way back to Edinburgh, Beatrice’s legs covered in a blanket. Sydney tried to reassure her that she would get used to Gertie’s inadequate heating. Freezing her passenger’s butts off in winter was just another part of her charm.

“I’ve missed you, old girl,” she said as she clambered into the driver’s seat.

Beatrice scoffed good-naturedly. “Sydney, you two have been apart a week. If you’re planning on accompanying me on my travels as you make your millions as a successful writer, you are going to be apart longer than a week. Months at a time even.”

“I know.” She couldn’t bear the thought of Gertie abandoned behind the garage at Highwood, rotting away, though it was more bearable than being away from Beatrice for more than five minutes. A pang of guilt hit her. Had she just chosen between Gertie and Beatrice?

Beatrice’s hand rubbed her leg. “I’m sure Sam will babysit for you.”

That brightened her mood; Sam would be up for that. He’d already messaged to congratulate her on her fortuitous relationship and wish them both all the happiness this life could summon.

“The sea air will do her no good, though,” she mused. “She might rust.”

“Then we’ll fix her.”

Sydney nodded, forgetting that she was now considered wealthy. It was going to be odd not worrying about all the problems that she might once have had. They were now all fixable in an instant, with the tap of a card.

Back at the hotel, their private butler laid out afternoon tea in their sitting room.

“Would you take a photograph of us, please?” Sydney asked, passing her phone to him.

“Of course, ma’am.”

Her initial excitement at being called ‘ma’am’ fell flat — it totally didn’t suit her.

Beatrice sat beside her, and they posed in front of the extensive spread of goodies. The butler passed the phone back to her and made his exit.

Sydney flicked through the photographs he’d taken, finding one where they were both looking the right way with their eyes open. She hated to admit it, but they did make for a cute couple. It was still unbelievable to think of them as acouple.

“I thought we could send this photo to Alex,” Sydney said, showing Beatrice the phone. “I assume you haven’t told him yet.”

“No. I was going to earlier, but I wasn’t sure what to say.”

“He’ll be overjoyed. He told me he wanted me to stick around forever.”