39
Effie found Fraser in the yard feeding raw sprouts to Ginger. The sky was a clear blue and the air crisp. She watched Ginger inhale another sprout from Fraser’s hand. ‘You know that’s probably not going to end well, don’t you?’
‘Sounds like the story of my life,’ he said.
Effie came to lean on the stable door next to him. ‘Why so glum?’
He sighed heavily. ‘I dunny know. I have a lot to be thankful for. Especially now the hotel’s not being sold and with a big heap of luck I should be able to get the restaurant off the ground. But you know when something feels off? Like you’ve forgotten something important but canny think what it is? I feel like that.’
‘Is it Callum? Do you need to give him a call?’
‘I don’t know. That still feels pretty raw. But I do know I’ll not be nagged into it.’ He gave her a look and she nodded. ‘We’d better get back inside.’ He gave Ginger one last sprout and roughly rubbed the top of her head, which she leaned into before he and Effie walked back across the yard. ‘What’s the deal with you and Robbie?’
An instant giddiness came over her at the thought of it. ‘I don’t know yet, but it’ll be fun finding out.’
‘He’s a great guy. A bit off the wall but nice all the same,’ he said shutting the door behind them.
‘I like off the wall. I guess I’m a bit like that too.’
Fraser looked up from pulling off his wellies. ‘You dunny say?’
She nudged him and he almost fell over. ‘It means he gets me. I don’t think many people do. They think I’m a bit dippy, daft, kind of wacky. A reindeer short of a sleigh ride. You know?’
‘You’re you and that’s a good thing,’ he said. ‘I’m going to check the roast tatties,’ he added pointing into the kitchen.
Back in the warmth of the library, Jock’O was twitching in his sleep, Winnie was enjoying a glass of Scotch and Dolly was studying her DNA kit. ‘Will this tell me all the clans I’m related to?’ She seemed interested at the prospect.
‘I don’t think it’s that detailed,’ said Effie. ‘But it will tell you different countries and civilisations and stuff. We might even be related to royalty or better still someone famous. I also read where this man found out his grandad had been switched at birth!’
‘That’s the sort of thing I’d not want to be finding out,’ said Dolly.
‘But you’ll do the test, Granny, won’t you?’ Effie put her palms together as if sending up a little prayer.
Dolly smiled. ‘If you want me to.’
‘I do. And I’ve paid for super-fast responses so if we all do them and post them off we’ll get the information really quickly as they upload it to an app,’ said Effie, bobbing up and down in her seat.
‘That’s good then,’ said Dolly although she didn’t sound that pleased about it.
Effie was seeing Robbie out and catching a quick kiss under the reception desk mistletoe just to undo any bad luck they might have triggered the day before.
‘Eww get a room,’ said Fraser, walking up the hall. ‘Is that what we’ve got to look forward to? You two being all loved up? Eurgh.’ He pretended to feel queasy at the prospect.
‘Truly sorry,’ said Robbie. ‘I’ve waited a lifetime to kiss your cousin.’
Effie spun around. ‘Have you?’
Robbie went all shy. ‘I think you’re amazing. Always have, always will. Did you not know?’
Effie shook her head. ‘You never said anything. All this time we could have been together.’
‘I guess I hoped one day it would just all work out and it did.’ He kissed her.
Fraser made retching noises behind them. ‘Sorry,’ he said with a grin as they pulled apart.
‘Ignore him,’ said Effie. ‘He’s jealous.’
‘Let’s call it a touch of envy. I’m really pleased for both of you,’ said Fraser, reaching forward to shake Robbie’s hand. ‘And nice touch with the case – great idea.’ Fraser’s expression changed. ‘I didn’t get Liv a Christmas present. But then I wouldn’t have known what to get her anyway.’
