Page 53 of The Boathouse by the Loch (The Scottish Highlands #4)

‘Oh, you should see what Robyn’s done with the place. I couldn’t have set up Lark Lodge as a guesthouse if it hadn’t been for Robyn redecorating the house. You’ll have to come round and visit …’

Robyn was just walking up the stairs to let them know it wouldn’t be long until dinner was ready. The other guests would be arriving very soon. She smiled when she heard Gayle chatting. It sounded as though she and Judith were getting along.

She was going to pop her head in the lounge, but changed her mind. She didn’t want to interrupt the conversation, and besides, they’d hear the doorbell soon enough.

Robyn returned to the kitchen. She was just putting on some oven gloves to check the lasagne when she heard Gayle. ‘I’m just going to spend a penny.’

There was a bathroom on the top floor with the three bedrooms, and a cloakroom on the ground floor with a sink and loo across the hall from the study. She heard Gayle walking down the stairs.

Robyn checked the lasagne and had just taken off her oven gloves when Gayle walked out of the loo. Robyn walked over to the door before she headed upstairs. ‘Sounds as though you two are getting along.’

Gayle didn’t offer up the ready smile she was expecting at that comment. ‘What is it, Gayle?’

‘Oh, it’s nothing … really.’

Robyn frowned. That meant it was something. Robyn grasped her hand and pulled her into the kitchen, closing the door behind them. ‘What is it?’

Gayle breathed a sigh. ‘It’s probably just me reading too much into things.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, she’s been asking some odd questions.’

Robyn sighed. ‘She’s been acting a little … odd since we arrived here. What’s sort of questions?’

‘Robyn, your guests are going to be arriving any minute. Really, it’s so silly.’

Now Robyn was getting worried. Why was Gayle being evasive? ‘Gayle, please tell me.’

Gayle sighed. ‘She said that if you’ve lost your memory, how do you know that you’re …’

‘I’m …?’

‘Well, that you’re … you .’

Robyn was taken aback. ‘What sort of question is that?’

‘Well, exactly. I mean I told you it was so silly. You were driving your car. The police traced your licence through the DVLA.’

‘Did you tell her that?’

‘Well, of course.’

Robyn stared at her. ‘I don’t get why she would ask such a thing.’

Gayle turned her head at the sound of a convoy of cars turning up outside the house. ‘By the sound of it, everyone has arrived. ’

They both heard the clunk of several car doors slamming shut, quickly followed by the doorbell.

Percy started barking.

‘I’ll answer that,’ David said, poking his head into the kitchen on the way to the front door.

‘Don’t look so worried.’ Gayle put a gentle hand on Robyn’s arm.

‘Look, I’d ignore it. Judith has clearly had a bit of a turn.

It’s been a long day for her. Don’t forget, she’s just got off a flight, returning from abroad.

This all must have been quite a shock – your new life.

She’s just got to get her head around it. ’

Robyn smiled. ‘You’re right.’

‘Why don’t I go and fetch Judith?’

Robyn nodded.

‘Robyn!’ Evie came running into the kitchen, carrying a present.

She grinned. ‘Hey, what’s this?’ she said, crouching down.

Percy bounded over and sniffed the wrapping paper.

Evie moved the dog’s muzzle away from her present. ‘This is not for you, Percy.’

Robyn smiled. Evie had come over during her week off with Annie to meet Percy, and Annie had given Robyn an update on how things were going in the shop, much to David’s annoyance.

‘Oh, you didn’t have to bring a present.’

‘But I wanted to. It’s an engagement present.’

‘That is so sweet of you, Evie.’

‘Mummy helped me choose it.’

Five minutes later, there was a crowd of people in the kitchen, all talking at once and handing Robyn more presents.

They started to take their seats around the table.

‘Fancy,’ said Duncan when he picked up the little card with his name on.

‘I feel as though I’ve just stepped into an episode of Downton Abbey.

I hope this is silver service and I’m going to have my own personal waiter,’ he joked.

Robyn rolled her eyes at him as he guffawed and took his seat next to Alec. Joe and Annie pulled out a chair and were joined by Melissa and Brodie, all taking their seats on one side of the table.

Marty and Nick sat down the other side of the table, joined by Gayle and Doris. Judith appeared in the doorway, looking a bit overwhelmed.

Robyn immediately stepped forward. ‘Judith, come and sit here.’ She showed her the seat next to Gayle. That left four empty chairs – hers and David’s at either end of the table, and two for the mystery guests.

‘Oh, Evie, darling,’ said Robyn, ‘You’re sitting at this little table just over here.’

‘But I don’t want to sit on my own.’

Robyn glanced at David.

He looked at his watch. ‘I’m sure they’re going to be here any minute.’

‘Who?’ said Duncan.

Robyn replied, ‘Apparently we have three mystery guests.’ She turned to Evie. ‘I heard one of them is a little girl not much older than you.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes, would you like to make a new friend?’

Evie shook her head up and down.

‘Great.’

Evie took her place at the little table while David looked out of the kitchen window and frowned.

Robyn joined him while everyone chatted at the table. ‘Well, where are they?’

‘I don’t know.’ He turned around. ‘Gayle, they definitely said they’re coming?’

Robyn whirled around. ‘You’re in on this?’

Gayle grinned. She looked at David. ‘They’re guests at Lark Lodge.

They haven’t long arrived. I was going to pick them up at the train station this afternoon, but they’d managed to hire a car in Aviemore.

They’d just settled into their rooms, but left before me.

I think they were quickly stopping off in Aviemore.

I suspect they’re buying Robyn a present. ’

‘Wait – did you just say they are guests at Lark Lodge?’

Gayle nodded.

‘Who are they?’

‘You’ll see!’

Robyn turned to Marty and Nick, who were avoiding her gaze. ‘You two know too, don’t you?’ Robyn rolled her eyes. It was a stupid question. Of course they did. They lived there too.

At that moment, another car turned up outside the house.

David grinned. ‘They’re here.’

Everybody got out of their seats.

Gayle said, ‘Hey, everyone stay seated. You’ll see who it is soon enough.’

Robyn held back, lingering in the kitchen. She did not like surprises.

Gayle guessed what she was thinking. ‘Robyn, you’ll love this surprise.’

She heard David answer the door. ‘Hey, so glad you could make it.’

She heard the front door close. Then a couple with a child appeared in the kitchen doorway .

Behind them, David said, ‘I’d like you all to meet Faye Ames, her daughter, Natasha, and their good friend, Mr Jake Campbell-Ross.’

There were gasps from the people in the kitchen. They were all delighted to meet an actual Ross in the flesh. All of them apart from one. ‘Oh, my god,’ said Robyn.