Page 48 of The Boathouse by the Loch (The Scottish Highlands #4)

They travelled the rest of the way along the main road in stony silence, punctuated by David trying his best to make conversation with Judith. Eventually, he gave up.

Robyn would have preferred it if Judith had said something – anything at all – rather than blank her after she’d been forced to tell her all about the accident, her amnesia, and deferring university, eventually deciding to drop out for good.

It was the amnesia bit that was bothering her.

Did Judith believe her, or did she think she was faking it to garner some sympathy?

Robyn stared out of the window, trying to enjoy the scenery once more, but it was impossible. She kept being drawn back to the passenger in the front, wondering what she was thinking.

They neared Aviemore. It reminded Robyn that she had been intending to phone Gayle to see if she had time to do something with Judith’s hair before the party.

Robyn pursed her lips. She imagined Judith was now not interested in having her hair done or coming to her party. Unfortunately, this was exactly what Robyn had feared might happen when her stepmum found out she’d made such huge decisions without at least talking them through with her first .

Robyn took a deep breath and said, ‘Judith, we’re coming into Aviemore. This is where Gayle lives. Do you still want your hair cut for this evening, if she has the time?’

Robyn held her breath, hoping that Judith was still coming to her party. Judith turned in the seat to look at her. She said, ‘You mentioned that Gayle is a good friend.’

Robyn nodded. ‘The best.’

‘Is that where you stayed, at her guesthouse, after the car accident?’

‘Yes.’ Robyn tried to keep her smile in check and not get her hopes up.

Judith was speaking to her. That was a good sign – wasn’t it?

Robyn tried to put herself in Judith’s shoes.

It must have come as a huge shock to not only discover her very changed appearance, but how much her life had transformed in the last few months.

She should have written to her months earlier.

But what if Judith had read about her amnesia, and the fact that she’d dropped out of college, and had chosen not to visit?

As things were, at least she was still there and hadn’t asked David to turn the car around and take her straight back to the airport.

‘I should like to see this place, Lark Lodge, and speak to the woman who took you in.’

‘It wasn’t a guesthouse when I moved in with Gayle.’

‘It wasn’t?’

Robyn shook her head, smiling to herself, thinking how wonderful it was that Judith wanted to meet her friends. There would be no shortage of those at her party.

David glanced at Judith. ‘It was Robyn’s idea to turn it into a guesthouse. She did it up for Gayle. My fiancée is really something, isn’t she?’

Robyn caught Judith staring at David for a long moment as he faced forward, keeping his eyes on the road.

Robyn said, ‘I’m going to phone Gayle and see if she’s free to do your hair.’

Judith flicked her hand. ‘Don’t bother.’

‘You don’t want your hair done for the party?’

‘Yes, of course I do.’

Robyn was so relieved to hear it. That meant Judith was definitely still planning on attending. She got out her mobile phone. ‘It will be a wasted trip to Lark Lodge if she doesn’t have enough time free.’

Judith shook her head. ‘It won’t be a wasted trip if I get to meet her. Like I said, I’d like to speak to her.’

What about? Robyn had it on the tip of her tongue to ask. But it was obvious. Judith wasn’t going to take Robyn’s word for it. She wanted to check with her friends that her life was working out, and perhaps ask them about the man she was marrying. Robyn had no problem with that – no problem at all.

‘So, we’re going straight to Gayle’s?’ David asked.

‘Yes, please,’ Robyn said enthusiastically. She just hoped Gayle did have time to do Judith’s hair while they were having a chat. She wanted her to feel and look her best so she would enjoy the party without feeling self-conscious.

They had just reached the outskirts of Aviemore when Robyn’s phone rang. She looked at her phone and commented, ‘Oh, what are the chances?’ before answering it. ‘Hi, Gayle! We were just talking about you …’ Robyn listened and smiled. ‘It was all good things, I promise.’

She was about to ask Gayle if she was free to do a haircut for her special guest, when Gayle said, ‘I’m out shopping in Aviemore.

I thought I’d just phone you in case there were any last-minute odds and ends you needed for your party.

I know you’re picking your stepmum up today, so I thought I’d check, in case you couldn’t get to the shops. ’

Robyn looked at Judith. There was something she needed, but Gayle wouldn’t be able to get it at Mr Gillespie’s store. ‘Are you going to be home soon?’ Robyn asked.

It turned out that Gayle was milling around in town, waiting for Doris to finish having tea and biscuits with old friends. They all went along to the community centre to sessions run by volunteers, giving people like Gayle some respite from caring for their relatives.

Robyn was disappointed that Gayle wasn’t home and wouldn’t be for at least another hour.

‘No, I don’t need anything last-minute, apart from one thing …

’ Robyn asked whether she could spare an hour to do Judith’s hair.

It would mean taking Judith straight to the boathouse, and then going out again to Lark Lodge.

It wasn’t ideal. Robyn wanted to get the dinner on for her guests.

‘I can take Judith to Gayle’s myself while you’re getting the dinner on,’ David offered, listening in to the conversation.

Robyn nodded, although she’d rather hoped that she and Judith could spend some time together before the other guests arrived. Perhaps she’d like to keep her company in the kitchen, having a chat with a glass of wine, like she imagined mothers and daughters might do.

‘Why don’t I come along a bit earlier, and do Judith’s hair before everyone else arrives?’

Robyn hadn’t thought of that. ‘Oh, would you?’

‘Of course. And if I brought my mum along a bit earlier too, we could get her settled into a nice armchair, so she can acclimatise to her new surroundings before everyone arrives. ’

‘That’s a good idea, Gayle.’ Robyn had wanted Doris there too.

Gayle’s neighbour had offered to pop in and keep an eye on her so that Gayle could go out for the evening, but Robyn at least wanted Doris to join them all for the meal.

They’d come to a compromise. After dinner, Gayle was going to run her home and put her to bed, leaving the neighbour with her, while she returned to the party.

If there were any problems, Gayle was just a phone call away.

Robyn added, ‘Judith is really looking forward to meeting you, and all the rest of my friends.’ They weren’t just friends to Robyn; they were family – but she felt a little awkward referring to them as such in front of Judith.

She hoped that once Judith got to know them all, she’d grow to love them as much as Robyn did.

They were all part of the fabric of her new life now.

She hoped Judith would become part of her life too from now on.

Robyn put her phone in her bag and smiled, letting Judith know the plan.

David said, ‘So, we’re heading straight home?’

Robyn looked at her phone, thinking of the call.

Perhaps it was for the best that she wasn’t taking Judith to Gayle’s.

Lark Lodge would always have a special place in her heart – it was where her new life, with her new friends and the man she loved, had truly begun – but it wasn’t her home. Not anymore.

‘Robyn?’ David’s eyes locked with hers in the rear-view mirror.

‘Yes, take us straight home, please.’ She couldn’t wait to show Judith the boathouse.