Page 9 of The Boathouse by the Loch (The Scottish Highlands #4)

David sat back in his chair and folded his arms. ‘Just because I’m what?’

Gayle heaved a sigh. ‘Just because your ice hockey career went south after your injury.’

Jake looked at the kitchen door, wishing Marty would get a move on and walk in. He was feeling very uncomfortable.

‘Look, David, you know she’s been to London before to meet up with clients in their homes. Why are you making it such a big deal?’

‘Because as you well know, I always go with her,’ said David through clenched teeth. ‘But just lately she’s insisted on going to London alone. She doesn’t want me with her. And these trips are getting more frequent, and …’ He stopped abruptly.

Jake stole a glance at David; he was staring miserably at Gayle. His dark, wavy hair, swept back from his face, revealed equally dark eyes. ‘I’m losing her, Gayle,’ he said quietly, ‘and I don’t even know why. ’

Gayle turned around to say something as David got up from the table. ‘I’m not hungry,’ he said, and abruptly left the room.

Jake and Gayle stared after him in silence. Jake heard the front door open, as did Gayle.

‘David!’ Gayle flew out of the room.

Jake stayed where he was, sitting alone in the kitchen listening to the hushed voices of Gayle and David in the hallway.

He couldn’t make out what they were saying, and he didn’t want to.

He had enough of his own problems. Jake picked up the wooden spoon from the table where Gayle had discarded it on her way out.

He looked in the direction of the hallway, then got up and meandered over to the stove.

He plunged the wooden spoon into the hotpot and stirred. A feeling of calm descended on him.

He missed home. He missed the pleasures of cooking in his own kitchen while listening to the radio – it was a great way to relax and unwind after a tough teaching day. Jake scooped up a little of the thick mixture in the wooden spoon and bent his head slightly to taste it.

It wasn’t as bad as Nick made out. Jake took another slurp.

But then it wasn’t that great either. Jake left the wooden spoon in the pot and quietly opened some cupboards.

He knew what he was looking for. He just hoped she had some.

Three cupboards along, Jake found the spices and sauces.

Hunting through, he took out the condiments that might add a little flavour to Gayle’s rather bland stew.

‘What are you doing?’ Gayle’s voice startled Jake.

He turned to look at Gayle, wishing his arms weren’t laden with bottles and jars.

Gayle was standing in the kitchen doorway, her arms folded. ‘Were you going to mess with my stew? That’s a special recipe, you know. ’

Jake started to put them back in her cupboard. ‘You can tell a lot about a person by the contents of their kitchen, do you know that?’ said Jake, trying to lighten the mood.

‘Is that a fact?’ said Gayle.

Her deadpan tone of voice told Jake she was in no mood for banter. ‘Gayle, I’m sorry about David. I don’t think my presence helped.’ Jake was one of those rich people from London.

‘It’s got nothing to do with you, Jake.’

Jake wasn’t sure whether she meant it was none of his business or that it wasn’t his fault her friend was upset. ‘Do you still want my company for dinner?’

‘Of course I do.’ Gayle was adamant. ‘Now give me those condiments.’

Jake handed them over and watched her put them back in the cupboard herself.

Jake sat back down at the table. He watched Gayle ladle the stew onto two large plates. She brought them over to the table one at a time.

Gayle sat and picked up her spoon. ‘What’s wrong?’ Gayle noticed Jake hadn’t touched his stew.

‘I don’t want David to miss this delicious meal on my account.’ Jake looked up from his plate. ‘I’ll take this upstairs to eat. You call David back.’ Jake got up.

‘Will you just sit down and eat.’ Gayle waved her spoon at him.

Jake sat and picked up his spoon.

‘Besides he’ll be back.’

‘He will?’ Jake moved his spoon back and forward in the thick stew, making tiny ripples.

‘He’s staying here – in the room you were in just last night.’

‘Robyn’s room?’ said Jake, although he’d already guessed as much. He just wasn’t sure if David had changed his mind and decided not to stay at the guesthouse for the night after all.

‘That’s right; they normally stay there when they visit, even though they don’t live far down the road. Except this time, he’s alone.’

‘Is she really in London?’ Jake blurted, wondering if Gayle knew more than she was letting on and was covering for Robyn. The question was out of order, and he realised he was on first-name basis with somebody he hadn’t even met. It was none of his business.

He was about to say as much when Gayle said, ‘What makes you say that?’

Just rubbed his forehead. ‘I’m sorry, just ignore me. It’s been a long day.’

‘For your information, yes, she is in London. I’m not covering for her, if that’s what you think.’

Jake opened his mouth, but thought the better of saying anything further and putting his foot in it. ‘Sorry,’ he said in a small voice, and continued eating his stew.

Unfortunately, Gayle wasn’t finished. ‘She’ll be back from London quite soon, I imagine.’

Jake recalled part of the conversation he had overheard coming down the stairs – something about Robyn setting off to London unexpectedly.

‘Although she left in rather a hurry, according to David.’ Gayle stared into space, thinking aloud. ‘Little wonder David thought there was something going on because he’s right, they usually go together. But by the sound of it, she was insistent she took the trip alone. I have no idea why.’

Jake continued eating his stew, keeping his thoughts to himself. Namely, that she must be meeting someone that she didn’t want David to know about.

‘I expect her back in town sometime this week.’

‘Really?’ Jake was very pleased by this unexpected news; maybe he’d get to meet her.

Gayle pointed at her stew. ‘I think I’ve surpassed myself this time. It’s actually rather good.’ Gayle was clearly surprised.

Jake put the spoon to his lips. ‘Mmm … now this is a tasty stew.’ Jake smiled. The condiments had worked.