‘I’ll happily turn him down,’ said Liv with a smile.
*
Effie was rummaging in the cupboard when Fraser came into the kitchen. ‘What are you looking for?’ he asked.
‘Shortbread. I thought you made some.’
‘Top cupboard in a Tupperware. Are you still hungry after dinner?’
‘No, it was lovely. But Aaron seems unhappy and I thought one might cheer him up.’ Fraser’s cheeks twitched. ‘Stop being such a grump.’
‘It’s called being pragmatic,’ he said with a harrumph.
‘Whatever you call it you’ve been cranky with Liv.’
He waved his hands and his head trembled. ‘That’s all her doing. She’s driving me nuts.’
Effie pointed wildly. ‘This is just like Fiona Smith!’
‘What?’
‘You remember. Fiona with the wonky fringe and patent shoes? You used to throw paper at the back of her head on the school bus.’
‘So?’
‘You did it because you liked her but didn’t know how to talk to her. And this thing with Liv is the same. Just without the bits of paper.’
Fraser gave a croaky laugh like it was getting stuck in his throat. ‘Oh no. This is definitely not what this is. Fiona was shy and had jellybeans. Liv is completely unpredictable and…’ He stopped speaking.
‘Has no jellybeans?’ offered Effie as Fraser seemed distracted by the worktop. Fraser’s head snapped up. ‘Exactly. She’s just the same as the others.’
‘But these people are potential customers.’
‘You’ve got that from Granny and no they’re not. As soon as the snow melts they will clear off and we’ll never hear from them again, Liv included. Don’t tell me we’ll get repeat business because we won’t. Especially not as they’re all English. It’s like another invasion.’
‘You never know. If they have a good time here they might tell people about this amazing place in Scotland that you just have to visit.’
Briefly there was a smile on his lips. ‘You are an eternal optimist.’ He reached up, opened a cupboard and pulled down the box. ‘If you’re doing it then do it right. Put a couple of shortbread fingers on one of the fancy side plates and then dust them with icing sugar.’
‘Thanks, Fraser. You’re the best.’
‘I think that’s very much you, Effie,’ he said as she got on with what he’d suggested.
Effie was carefully transporting the biscuits upstairs when she saw Liv coming out of the bathroom. ‘Wait there, I need your help,’ said Effie.
Effie knocked on Shanie’s door. It opened to her stern face. ‘Yes?’
‘I thought you might like some of Fraser’s special homemade short—’ but before Effie had finished the sentence she’d taken it from her and shut the door.
‘Rude bugger,’ said Liv. She sucked her lip as she turned away and then back again. ‘I don’t like to see injustice and I’m not someone who dodges difficult situations.’
Effie wasn’t sure if Liv was talking to herself or not so she nodded anyway in case she was talking to her.
Liv lifted her chin, marched over and banged on Shanie’s door.
Shanie opened it again, looking bored. ‘What now?’
‘There’s no excuse for rudeness. The word you are looking for is, thanks,’ she said and she pointed at Effie.
