Page 40 of The Boathouse by the Loch (The Scottish Highlands #4)

Gayle was in the kitchen with Doris, doing the washing up after Marty had finished breakfast and returned to his room, when she heard someone walking down the stairs.

She spotted David walking past the kitchen door carrying Robyn’s cabin-sized suitcase, which she’d taken to London, and his own rucksack.

‘You leaving now?’ Gayle called out as Olive scampered out of the room, following David to the front door.

David appeared in the kitchen doorway without the case and bag. He nodded as he stroked Olive, who was standing beside him. ‘Just left our things by the front door.’

‘Where’s Robyn?’

‘She sent me ahead. Said she had some last bits to pack.’

Gayle frowned up at the ceiling, wondering if she was on the phone to that mystery person again, making plans to return to London.

David said, ‘Something the matter?’ He answered his own question before Gayle had to lie and say everything was fine. ‘I know you’d like us to have stayed for the weekend, but this is for the best. She’s actually looking forward to returning to the boathouse, would you believe? ’

‘Are you definitely having that holiday at the boathouse?’

‘Yes, right away, actually. I phoned Annie after breakfast. It’s all arranged. She’ll work in the shop for the coming week, starting today. Oh, and Robyn is on the phone to her clients in London as we speak.’

Gayle nodded. ‘That’s good,’ she said flatly.

‘I know. I didn’t expect her to agree just like that.

It’s great. She’s going to write to her mum, invite her to come and stay.

The last she heard, her mum was in Sicily …

or was it Italy?’ David shook his head, smiling.

‘Oh well, whichever it is, it’s only a short flight away.

The only thing is that if she sends a letter, then her mum might decide to write back.

That’s going to take time, and we wanted the party quite soon. ’

‘She might just come when she gets the letter. Ask Robyn to include your phone numbers, the one at the boathouse and Robyn’s new mobile number. That way she can get in touch as soon as she receives the letter.’

‘Hey, that’s a good idea. I suggested she could just send her a text or WhatsApp, but she hasn’t got her mum’s mobile number.

It was stored in her phone that she lost in the car accident.

It’s a shame because I think it would have been good for Robyn to speak to her, break the ice, before she arrived. ’

Gayle nodded. ‘Yes, from what I gather they weren’t getting along very well. Hopefully when they see each other, and talk, they can iron things out.’

David nodded. ‘Let’s hope so. I think she’s worried what her mum’s reaction will be when she finds out her daughter has dropped out of university and not told her.’

‘When is she sending the letter?’

David sighed. ‘I asked her that. She just said soon . I get the feeling she’s going to procrastinate, and keep putting it off, so I got her to promise that before she leaves, she sits in your dad’s old study and writes that letter. Otherwise our guest of honour will miss the party we’re planning.’

‘That’s a good idea, David.’

‘Have you got any writing paper and an envelope by any chance?’

Gayle grinned. ‘Of course.’

David said, ‘Will you do one more thing for me? I don’t know if you’ve heard whether Jake Campbell-Ross is returning?’

Gayle had answered the phone a moment earlier, before she’d started the washing up.

‘Now, it’s funny you should bring that up …

’ she said. Jake had phoned to say they’d found Natty safe and sound.

Gayle had been so relieved to hear it. And they were planning a week away together to Scotland.

He’d wanted to leave straight away, but his friend, Faye, had a course module she had to attend the next week for a headship qualification she was doing.

It meant they couldn’t leave for Scotland until the next Friday.

They wouldn’t arrive in Aviemore until late that afternoon.

Gayle had said she would pick them up from the station.

There was just one thing – he’d needed to book an extra room for Faye and Natty, and was hoping she had vacancies.

Gayle had just the room. It would mean turfing Nick out of the other bedroom in the attic, but she was sure he wouldn’t mind moving into the room Robyn and David were vacating that morning.

That way, Jake, Faye and Natty would all be on the same floor.

Although it was an interconnecting room, which was handy for families, the internal door between the rooms was presently locked.

Gayle wondered if they’d prefer it if she unlocked it.

David was still standing in the doorway. He glanced up the stairs and lowered his voice. ‘Look, I still want to invite Jake to the party, like we talked about, as a surprise for Robyn.’

‘I know. The thing is, he’s arriving next Friday, and only staying for the week. Any chance you can organise it soon?’

‘I’ll talk it over with Robyn – the party, I mean, not the surprise guest.’ He grinned.

Gayle smiled. ‘Perfect. As soon as you’ve set a date, let me know and I’ll ask him.’

‘Ask who?’ Robyn was walking down the stairs, and caught the tail end of the conversation.

Talk about déjà vu , thought David, thinking of earlier that morning when he’d nipped down first while she was blow-drying her hair.

He turned to her. ‘Oh, never mind. Look, Gayle is going to fetch some writing paper and a pen so you can write your letter. We’ll stop off in Aviemore and get a stamp, and post it. ’

‘Oh, okay. Do I have to write it now? Why don’t we go back to the boathouse?’

‘But where will we get a stamp?’

‘On the way through Aviemore, like you said.’

‘But when will you post it? I was rather hoping we could spend our week at the boathouse without venturing out.’

‘Ah.’

Gayle and David exchanged a glance. Robyn was clearly putting it off.

Gayle opened a kitchen drawer and handed her a notepad, pen and envelope. ‘Go sit in the study, why don’t you?’

David mouthed thank you to Gayle. Robyn left her handbag with David and walked across the hallway to the study door. She glanced at them briefly before walking inside and closing the door.

Gayle walked back to the washing up. David followed, picking up a dry tea towel and wiping up the dishes.

Gayle said, ‘Now, I’ve got a favour to ask you.’

‘Anything, Gayle.’

‘I went to do Rose’s hair the other day.’

‘David smiled at the mention of her name. He knew Rose and George, the retired couple, who had sold their old house in Aviemore and moved into a new-build on the development where Nick worked as the site manager. They had been Robyn’s first clients.

They had been the start of her business when she had changed their bare, soulless estate house into a cosy home.

‘Well, the thing is,’ continued Gayle, ‘a dear friend of theirs, a widower, has gone to live in a home, but he can’t take his pet with him. In his case, a dog.’

‘A dog?’

‘Yes. His son has taken the dog for now, but he’s got a family, and they are far too busy with work to take care of a pet.

The thing is, he really doesn’t want to send it to a dog shelter if he can get it rehomed.

Unfortunately, Rose and George can’t take the dog.

They’re far too busy socialising, and besides, they said it wouldn’t be fair for him to go to another elderly couple. ’

David nodded. ‘They’re fit and healthy right now, but I see their point. They wouldn’t want him to have to be rehomed again because they become too infirm to look after him.’

‘Yes,’ agreed Gayle. ‘I’d love to take Percy, and although he’d really be no bother, that would mean two dogs living at the guesthouse. I’ve got to think of my guests.’

‘Hold on. Is this favour you’re asking to do with the dog?’

‘Yes.’

‘Are you asking me to take the dog?’

‘Oh, god no. But I was wondering about Duncan … ’

‘My dad?’

Gayle nodded. ‘He’s on his own now, living in the flat above the shop, and he must be lonely up there …

I know a flat isn’t necessarily ideal for a dog, but Percy isn’t a puppy who needs house-training.

Puppies are hard work, a bit like having a baby.

He just needs two walks a day, somebody to make a fuss of him, and he’ll be no bother during the day when Duncan is at work.

I’m sure he’ll just doze in a corner like Olive does when she visits Robyn’s outlet in Duncan’s store. ’ Gayle looked at him hopefully.

David shook his head. ‘We’ve already suggested to my dad that he could get a pet, a dog for some company, but he said no. And besides, he won’t have dogs in his shop around food. He’s worried it will put off his customers.’

‘But what about Olive?’

‘Olive stays in Robyn’s side of the shop.’

Gayle sighed. ‘I guess Percy will have to go to the local shelter to be rehomed. Such a shame. He’s only three years old.

Apparently, they told their parents not to get another dog when their old dog died, but would they listen?

’ Gayle shook her head sadly. ‘This is exactly what they could foresee, apparently. That not too long down the road, their aged parents would have to give him up.’

David sighed too. ‘That’s just sad.’

‘Yeah.’

David furrowed his brow. ‘You said puppies are hard work.’

‘That’s right. Chances are that the first few nights in their strange new house they will cry, then there will be the dilemma of whether you bring puppy into your bedroom, or leave him downstairs. Then, of course, there will be several trips to the toilet in the night. ’

‘Pardon?’

‘You know, they’re still little, and can’t hold themselves the night, they have to be taken outside in the cold and dark to do their business. They’ll probably need paper training too, just so they don’t go all over your nice hardwood—’

David held up his hand for her to stop.

‘Floors,’ concluded Gayle.

David gave her a sideways glance, and lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘Are you trying to put me off my idea of getting Robyn a puppy?’

‘Of course not. I haven’t put you off – have I?’

‘No, I’m not put off getting a dog. But a puppy … I hadn’t thought through the reality.’

‘I imagine most people don’t, and they get a bit of a shock when they bring a puppy home.’ Gayle’s face lit up. ‘Now, adopting an adult dog is a whole other ball game. Already toilet-trained. No accidents indoors. Comes with all their bits and bobs, like bed, blanket, and toys.’

David stared at Gayle. ‘What sort of breed is Percy?’

‘A beagle. Very sweet boy. Rose showed me a photo. He is rather fond of water, apparently. Loves a good splash around. Now, if his new family happened to live near water, in, oh … I don’t know, a boathouse …

’ Gayle grinned. ‘He loves long forest walks and swimming, but he’s equally content cosying up to you on the sofa in the evening.

Does he sound like a pet made in heaven, or what? ’

David eyed her. ‘You’re doing a very good job of persuading me to consider taking Percy on.’

‘Am I?’ Gayle said innocently. ‘You know, you’d be giving Percy, who has lost his home through no fault of his own, another chance. I think Robyn would like that too, the thought that she’d rehomed a dog.’

Gayle wiped her hands dry on the dishcloth in David’s hands and took out her phone from the back pocket of her jeans. ‘Shall I call Rose? Check Percy still needs rehoming?’

David replied, ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this.’