Page 19 of The Boathouse by the Loch (The Scottish Highlands #4)

‘As I said, an unfortunate set of circumstances. If he’d been there any other day, then who knows? Perhaps …’ he trailed off.

Perhaps the accident would never have happened , thought Jake.

‘Who was he?’ Jake wanted to know the name of this man who had taken not one, but two lives that Christmas.

Mr Gillespie thought hard. ‘I don’t recall … but my son might remember.’

‘David?’

‘Yes, I’ll be sure to tell him to stop by on the way to his next delivery – The Lake House, wasn’t it?’

‘No.’ Jake hesitated. ‘I’m staying at Lark Lodge, actually.’

Mr Gillespie nodded solemnly. ‘I understand.’

Jake doubted that he did. He thanked Mr Gillespie.

‘Call me Duncan.’

Jake nodded and turned to go. Then he had a thought. ‘Duncan … you don’t have to worry about asking David to stop by Lark Lodge. He’ll be there later. But he said he’d be in The Winky this evening, so I’ll expect I’ll see him there first.’

‘What do you mean – he’ll be back there?’ Duncan frowned. ‘He hasn’t got any deliveries at Lark Lodge today.’

‘Well, no. He’s staying at the lodge.’ Jake realised he’d put his foot in it. David and Robyn’s relationship was none of his business, but now he had to tell Duncan something was up. Or perhaps he didn’t have to. ‘Look, it sounds like David is stopping at Gayle’s while Robyn is in London.’

Duncan’s frown deepened. ‘What do you mean – stopping at Gayle’s?’

‘You know, he’s taken a room.’

‘In her guesthouse?’

‘Well … yes.’

‘What’s wrong with his boathouse?’

Jake knew there was nothing wrong with the boathouse, apart from the fact that Robyn wasn’t there.

‘What is going on?’ Duncan’s frown deepened.

Jake stood up from the stool and looked at the door.

‘Annie!’ Duncan shouted across the shop.

It didn’t sound like a request; more like an order.

Jake remained rooted to the spot, eyes wide, wishing he could just leave.

He did not want to get drawn into whatever was going on between two people he barely knew, or in the case of Robyn, didn’t know at all.

Jake’s followed Duncan’s gaze to the interior design outlet.

A slim young woman, dressed in tailored trousers and a blouse, left her customers to report to Duncan at the desk. She looked from Duncan to Jake. ‘I’ll be with you in a minute,’ she said to Jake, mistaking him for one of her customers.

‘He is not one of your customers,’ Duncan said.

‘Then what is it, Duncan? I’m busy.’

‘It’s David. Jake here says he’s staying at Lark Lodge, apparently.’

Jake looked at Annie. This was awkward. He’d thought Duncan would introduce him. ‘I’m Jake.’ He held out his hand. ‘I’m staying at Lark Lodge too. That’s where I met him.’

Annie shook his hand. ‘Um … pleased to meet you, Jake.’ She paused. ‘Have we met before? Your face seems familiar. ’

‘No, no – we haven’t met before.’ Jake really didn’t want to divulge his full name.

‘Of course his face is familiar,’ Duncan boomed. ‘His name is Jake Campbell-Ross.’

Jake rolled his eyes at Duncan. As he did so, he caught sight of the young couple who had been choosing curtains, oblivious to the conversation in Duncan’s grocery shop. Now they were looking in his direction, all ears.

Jake heaved a sigh. ‘Well, it’s been very nice meeting you, but I really ought to get going …’ He looked at Duncan, who had the keys to the locked shop door in his hand.

Duncan ignored him and turned to Annie. ‘So, did you know he’d moved out of the boathouse?’

‘He hasn’t moved out. He’s just staying with Gayle for—’

‘Oh, so you did know.’

Jake pursed his lips, looking over at the door and wishing he could escape the awkward conversation.

‘Have David and Robyn split up? I knew he shouldn’t have got together with an out-of-towner.’

‘Look, do we have to do this now?’ She glanced over at her customers.

Jake noted they’d quickly returned to looking through the curtains samples, probably feeling as embarrassed as he did at overhearing the conversation.

‘I warned him he knew nothing about her. She appears out of nowhere on Christmas Day…’

Jake looked at him.

Duncan continued. ‘And why has David moved out of the boathouse? Why hasn’t she?’

‘She’s not at the boathouse. And David hasn’t moved out. He’s just staying with Gayle for a bit.’

‘As good as,’ Duncan scoffed. ‘So, where is she?’

‘In London on another assignment.’

‘Oh, right. Another assignment.’ Duncan slowly shook his head from side to side. ‘A likely story. David obviously doesn’t believe that either.’

Jake stole a glance at Duncan’s deepening frown. He was just wondering how long he’d have to stand there, listening to their personal problems, when the young couple walked over. The woman sheepishly said, ‘Um, we’ll come back later.’

Annie said, ‘No, don’t go! I’ll be right over.’

‘Nah, it’s fine.’ The young couple exchanged a glance. ‘We’ll, um … pop back later. Promise.’

Jake guessed they probably would not.

Annie folded her arms and threw Duncan a black look as they walked to the shop door. Jake heard one of them say, ‘The door’s stuck.’

‘Just give it a yank. I want to go.’

Annie said, ‘Did you lock the shop door?’ looking at Duncan in surprise.

Jake caught her looking around the shop floor. ‘Where did all your customers go?’

Before he could answer that question, she held out her hand. ‘I can’t believe you chucked your customers out. For goodness’ sake. It’s no big deal. They’re just going through a little rocky patch, that’s all. You’re making a drama where there isn’t. I can’t believe you shut the shop over this.’

Jake bit his bottom lip, really hoping that Duncan did not correct her and tell her the real reason he’d got rid of his customers and locked the shop. Jake did not want to get drawn into talking about his personal issues with a total stranger.

Duncan glanced at Jake and kept his mouth shut as Annie took the keys.

She unlocked the door, and the young couple hurriedly exited the shop.

As soon as they were out of the door, the customers who’d been in the middle of shopping when Duncan had unceremoniously kicked them out stepped straight in and picked up their shopping baskets. They’d obviously been waiting outside.

Jake took that as his cue to leave.

Duncan called after him, ‘Remember, have a word with David. Perhaps he can tell you who was up there.’

Jake paused at the door and nodded. He was just stepping outside when he heard Duncan call after him, ‘And Jake – welcome home.’

‘I’m not—’ Jake turned around to find the door closed and Mr Gillespie standing inside the shop, his hand still on the doorknob, having words with Annie. Jake heard him say, ‘All these trips to London … do you think she’s meeting someone from her past? Is that what David thinks?’

Jake couldn’t have heard Annie’s response or the rest of the conversation even if he’d wanted to. Another customer had walked up to the door. Jake stepped aside and walked back to his car, thinking about what Duncan had said about Robyn: She appears out of nowhere on Christmas Day …

Jake shook his head. That was none of his concern.

He deposited the sledgehammer on the back seat and drove home.