Page 14 of Summer in the Scottish Highlands (The Scottish Highlands #5)

Marty drew closer. ‘Oh, that wasn’t me. It was already in pieces. I was just, you know, finishing the job.’

Faye looked at the sledgehammer, and then turned her attention to Marty. ‘I’m sorry, have I missed something?’

‘How do you mean?’

‘The memorial stone for Eleanor …’ Faye didn’t get it.

Eleanor Campbell-Ross wasn’t dead. Then again, from what little Jake had confided in her about Eleanor’s condition, it was an awful thing to think, but perhaps she might as well be.

She could just imagine, in a fit of anger and despair, and grief, that he’d had this erected.

Then, realising what a terrible thing it was to do, he’d destroyed it – or tried to.

‘I think he was having some sort of breakdown,’ confided Marty. ‘I asked him if he wanted me to try and fix it. I’m not a stone mason, but I thought I could ask around town. Perhaps Mr Gillespie knew someone. But he was adamant it had to go.’

‘Of course it had to go. She isn’t—’ Faye stopped abruptly.

‘She isn’t – what ?’

Then it dawned on her. No one knew, outside the family. They’d kept Eleanor’s condition, even whether she was alive or dead, a closely guarded secret. The presumption was that she’d died. And that’s the way the family, the way Jake, had left it.

Faye shook her head. He’d confided in her, and it wasn’t her secret to tell. ‘Nothing … nothing.’

‘But it is – something, isn’t it?’ remarked Marty, looking at the gravestone.

‘Really, it isn’t.’

‘You know something, don’t you?’

Faye dropped the sledgehammer. ‘Now, where is that daughter of mine?’ said Faye, swiftly changing the subject as she marched out of the little memorial garden, thinking of that blasted frisbee.

‘Mummy! Come and play.’

Faye marched over and took her hand. ‘No, the game is over.’

‘Why?’

‘We’ve got to get back to Gayle’s for dinner, remember? You said a moment ago you wanted to go back to Gayle’s and see Jake. You want to do that – right?’

Natty kicked a tuft of grass. ‘I suppose.’

‘Good.’ Faye glanced over her shoulder. Marty was following. ‘Marty, can you lead the way please?’ She wished she knew where the shortcut was so that she could just take Natty and Olive back herself.

‘This way,’ Marty said.

They walked in silence through the gate and down a narrow lane between houses. It led into Gayle’s street. Faye was relieved they’d walked in silence. Marty had not asked any awkward questions about Eleanor. She did not want to put her foot in it.

Marty seemed to sense that the subject was closed. ‘So, I expect Gayle will be wondering where you were. I think perhaps best not mention Olive getting through the hedge into the garden. Don’t want to get Nick’s dog into trouble.’

Faye got the idea that Marty was good friends with Nick and didn’t want him to leave because of his naughty dog.

Marty added, ‘Olive has become a big part of the family at the guesthouse. She is so gentle and friendly. You can’t help falling in love with her.’

‘My lips are sealed,’ said Faye.

‘So are mine,’ said Natty, making a show of zipping her lips together. She didn’t want Olive to leave the guesthouse either. ‘Besides, it wasn’t really Olive’s fault, it was yours, Mummy, because you threw the frisbee too high.’ Natty had the frisbee in her hand. She held it up.

‘Yes, I’ll own up, of course. I just hope I haven’t spoiled dinner.’

Marty quipped, ‘I think Gayle can manage that all on her own.’

‘What was that?’ Faye asked.

Marty sighed. ‘Ah, you didn’t eat at the guesthouse last night. I’m afraid that unless Gayle is cooking stew, you’d better be prepared to sneak in a takeaway later.’

Faye stared at him. Jake had forewarned her. ‘Sounds bad.’

‘Yeah, I’m afraid so.’

‘What’s bad?’ Natty asked. She’d been busy playing around with the frisbee behind her back, taunting Olive. Now the dog had it in her jaws playing a game of tug-of-war with Natty. Natty let go of the frisbee and looked at her mum.

Faye was not in the habit of lying to her daughter. ‘Apparently, Gayle’s cooking.’

Natty frowned. ‘Can I have fish fingers instead, then?’

‘We’ll have to see if Gayle has any in her freezer. I think I might join you,’ Faye joked.

‘Count me in,’ said Marty. He was not joking.

Faye said, ‘Gayle is cooking a pie, apparently. Sounds as though she’s going to a lot of trouble.’

They both knew they’d be duty-bound to eat it. Faye just hoped that Jake had managed to help bake the pie, otherwise who knew what they were in for.

As they approached the front door, Natty said, ‘Does Jake know the white stone was broken?’

Faye came to an abrupt halt at the front door. She rolled her eyes. She should have known that Natty wouldn’t let it go.

Marty said, ‘I think Jake was having some sort of break—’

‘In!’ Faye quickly said. She turned to Natty.

‘Someone broke in and damaged it. Now it’s beyond repair and needs removing.

’ Faye inwardly groaned. So much for not lying to her daughter.

She glared at Marty, who clearly didn’t spend much time around children.

She’d rather he didn’t go saying things about Jake having a breakdown in front of a nine-year-old.

Even though she wouldn’t understand what that meant, she would ask, and most likely ask Jake.

‘Right – Marty?’

He looked at her quizzically.

She reiterated, ‘It must have been a break-in – right?’

He looked from Faye and Natty. ‘Okay, I get it.’

Faye turned to Natty once more. ‘Now look, it’s not nice when that sort of thing happens.

’ Faye was thinking of Jake’s breakdown, but as far as Natty was concerned they were talking about the break- in .

‘I’m sure Jake won’t want to talk about it or have you ask him more questions.

So, can we agree to keep this between us – our secret?

’ That was another thing Faye hated – secrets.

But sometimes you just had to keep them for the greater good.

Natty nodded. ‘Yes, Mummy.’

Faye turned around and eyed Marty.

He nodded too.

Faye said, ‘Good. Now that’s settled, are we ready for that pie?’

‘I want fish fingers!’ Natty said.

‘So, do I,’ Marty murmured. They all trooped into the house and were surprised by a rather lovely smell of home-baked pie wafting from the kitchen.

Natty turned to her mum. ‘Can I have the pie instead?’