It’s been ages since Isla wanted to play dolls with me like this. She’s moved on to books and facts and card games and chess—which is brilliant, don’t get me wrong. I’ve no wish to turn back the clock and be at this stage again every weekend. But as a one-off? Revisiting something Isla and I used to do together but don’t anymore?
Aye. It’s kinda nice.
My phone buzzes on the floor beside me. I glance at the screen. Ainsley.
“Right,” I say, setting Sparkle down carefully, “I’m going to get this, okay?”
Lily fixes me with a look so stern it’s comical on her wee face. “Don’t be long. The school’s closing soon.”
“Aye aye, teacher.”
I push myself to my feet and step out onto the landing, pulling the door almost closed behind me.
Ainsley texted about half an hour ago to say she’d made it to Raigmore. She promised to call the moment she found out the state of things.
I swipe to answer. “Hey. How’s your da?”
“Better than we thought, thank God.” Her voice is tired but relieved. “No surgery needed after all—just a fracture and a nasty cut that required stitching. They’re putting the cast on now and will probably keep him overnight for observation, just to be safe. But all going well, he’ll get out tomorrow.”
“That’s good news. Proper relief, that.”
“Aye.” A pause. “How’s Lily been?”
I glance through the gap in the door. Lily’s brushing the toy pony’s hair with a tiny brush, murmuring something to it in a soothing voice.
“We’ve been playing Barbies for almost two hours,” I say. “She’s keeping me right.”
Ainsley laughs softly, the sound light and warm. “You’re playing Barbies with her? That’s... actually very sweet.”
I grin and rub the back of my neck. “Sweet, aye?”
“Aye. Sweet.”
From her tone, I reckon she’s smiling. I certainly am.
“And also, did you say two hours? You deserve a medal. Lily can be bossy at the best of times, but when it comes to her dolls, she’s next level.”
“Och, I don’t mind. She’s a proper wee Spielberg in the making. Got the whole thing scripted down to the last line.” I pause. “Oh, I hope you don’t mind, but when I picked Lily up, she asked where her grandparents were. I just told her Grandad wasn’t feeling well and Gran was looking after him.”
“That’s exactly what I’d have said. Thanks for handling it. I owe you for this, Struan.”
“Seriously, it’s no bother.”
“It might be late before I get back. Blair said she could pop over and sort Lily’s tea and bedtime?—”
“Och, don’t be daft,” I cut in. “No need to get Blair out when I’m already here and have a free evening.”
A bit of a lie, that last bit. I was meant to play at the Ferryman’s Rest tonight with Rab and Ellie, but I messaged them earlier to cancel. Figured Ainsley wouldn’t be home any time soon, and I wasn’t about to palm Lily off on someone else.
“You sure?”
“Aye, I’m sure. Lily and I are just fine.”
Through the gap in the door, I watch Lily settle the toy pony into a makeshift bed made of tissues.
“Okay,” Ainsley says quietly. “Thank you. Really.”
“Stop thanking me. Focus on your da, aye? Everything’s just grand at this end.”
