‘What does that mean?’ Liv glared at her sister.
‘It wasn’t a dig. I simply meant that you are more carefree than me, and while I couldn’t stand by and be treated badly you are able to pretend it’s not happening. It’s a good thing.’ Whilst it was hard to hear, Liv did know this about herself. She loathed conflict. Whether it came from the many shouting matches she’d witnessed as a child between her mum and countless useless boyfriends, she wasn’t sure. But she did know that the very thought of challenging someone brought her out in a sweat.
‘Oh well,’ said her mum, intervening before things turned into an argument. ‘Now did you want to come to mine for tea? I could do your favourite: tinned beans and sausages. You can help me wrap your nanna’s presents if you like. Now your birthday is over we can start getting full-on Christmassy. You should immerse yourself in all things festive and forget about that nasty boy.’
But it wasn’t that easy. Besides, an idea was forming in Liv’s mind, charged by a bubble of anger that had taken hold in her gut. She wasn’t going to wallow in tinsel and eat beans and processed sausages, no. She was going to do something about it.
‘No thanks, Mum. I’m going to Scotland.’
*
Effie was sitting on the window seat and scrolling through messages on her phone. This was her favourite place. It was peaceful but it was also warm and had a smidgeon of a phone signal, unlike the rest of Lochy House Hotel, apart from the middle of the kitchen, which was the most inconvenient place to use your phone. The view out of the window was stunning at any time of day but she liked it the most at midday, when the sun was high in the sky, assuming it was making an appearance at all. The lawns and the run of stone steps drew her eye down to the water’s edge and the hills beyond. The light was just perfect, the way it created a halo around the clouds that scattered a glow on Loch Lochy.
Her cousin walked in and she hastily put her phone away. ‘What are you up to?’ he asked.
‘Nothing.’ Effie plumped up the cushion next to her, somewhat alarmed by the puff of dust it released. ‘Up to implies I’m doing something that I shouldn’t be doing, which I’m definitely not because I’m allowed to sit here and look at the view and check my messages. And you can’t stop me.’ She glared at him. She didn’t have any siblings, so he was the closest thing she had to a big brother.
‘Euphemia Douglas, I’ve known you your whole life and you are the world’s worst liar.’
‘That’s not a skill I’d want to be good at anyway. And who says I’m lying? People can have secrets, can’t they?’ She knew as soon as she’d said it that it was the wrong thing to say.
His eyebrows arched. ‘Oh now I’m interested. What’s the secret?’ He sidled over and tried to get a look at her phone screen.
‘You need to get a life of your own. I thought you said you were crazy busy. You can’t be if you’re wandering around bothering folk. Anyway, some of us have important things to be getting on with.’ And with that Effie left the room. She’d walk around for a bit and then sneak back to the window seat and see if any new messages popped up. It wasn’t like she had anything better to do.
3
Liv threw some clobber and her wash kit into an overnight bag whilst her mum and Charlotte hovered, sharing the many reasons why her hotfooting it to Scotland was a bad idea.
‘Liv, listen to sense,’ said Charlotte. ‘I’ve googled the journey. It’s three hundred and forty miles and it’s going to take you at least six and a half hours. Probably nearer six days in your old car. I’m not sure you’ve thought this through.’
This fact did at least make Liv pause with a pair of pants in her hand. ‘Blimey that is a long way. Still. I need to do this face to face so it’s worth it.’
‘Liv, it’s okay to change your mind,’ said Charlotte.
‘Don’t try and talk me out of going. This is the only way I will get proper closure. Ihaveto go.’
‘Olivia, sweetheart,’ began her mum. ‘I know this was my idea but—’
‘Was it?’ questioned Liv. ‘I think this wasmyidea. It was me who said I need to have it out with him face to face. Prove to myself that it’s not me who has a problem. It’s him.’ She needed to do this for her own peace of mind and then she could move on. Plus after what Charlotte said about her dodging difficult situations she felt it was about time she faced this one, however uncomfortable it might be.
Her mum wobbled her head. ‘It was me who found the restaurant and suggested that you speak to him so…’
‘On thephone. This is different.’ She waved her pants at her before adding them and a spare pair to the bag.
‘I don’t think you should go alone,’ said her mum, biting her lip and looking at Charlotte.
‘I would go with her but I’ve got this big thing in London tomorrow. I could cancel?’
‘I don’t need babysitting, thank you very much.’ Liv was indignant. She’d made her mind up and wouldn’t be swayed.
‘ThenI’llcome with you,’ said her mum. ‘We’ll need to stop at mine so I can pack a case and—’
‘Definitely not,’ said Liv, feeling a nerve twitching in her neck. Even Charlotte was shaking her head. ‘Thank you but I really have to do this on my own.’ Her mother opened her mouth but Liv continued. ‘Completelyon my own. I’m a grown woman and you brought me up to look after myself. I’ll be back before you know it.’
‘Liv, you’ll have to stay overnight somewhere,’ said Charlotte. ‘If you leave now you’ll have to stop a couple of times so you’ll likely not get there until about eight or nine o’clock tonight. You can’t turn around and drive all the way back again – that’s madness.’
Annoyingly her sister did have a point.
