‘Err…’ Liv looked at the hopeful faces of Effie, Dolly and Fraser all waiting for her reply. At that moment her mobile sprang into life and she’d never been so relieved for the interruption. Even if it was a scam call she’d be forever grateful. She looked at the screen. ‘It’s my sister. I need to take this.’
25
Liv rushed out into the hallway, letting the kitchen door swing closed as she put the phone to her ear. ‘Charlotte, you will never know how pleased I am to hear from you—’
‘What the hell are you doing? Mum is beside herself with worry. Is he holding you hostage? Actually don’t say anything because if he is then he’s probably listening in—’
‘Honestly, I’ve not been kidnapped. I’m here of my own free will. Well, that and the shitload of snow that came down. Seriously, I thought we had a lot of snow that year the shed roof caved in and we had to dig the guinea pigs out. But up here it’s on a biblical scale.’
‘Is my car all right?’ asked Charlotte.
Liv winced. ‘Don’t worry but—’
‘You know I’m now instantly worried. You’ve totalled it and that’s why you’ve not come home. Good grief, that’s it, isn’t it? You’re not in hospital are you? If you’re lying in a hospital bed and—’
‘Stop! I am fit and healthy and your car has a puncture but it’s being fixed tomorrow… hopefully.’
Liv heard Charlotte sigh into the phone. ‘Bloody hell, Liv. As long as you’re okay, that’s the important thing. So you’ll be coming home tomorrow?’
‘Um…’ Liv looked over her shoulder. She could just see Fraser through the glass in the kitchen door. ‘Thing is there’s a bit of a crisis here and they need me to stay and help out with this big event on the twenty-third.’
‘An online marketing crisis?’
‘No, a cooking one and—’ Liv didn’t get to finish her sentence because Charlotte was laughing so hard on the other end of the line.
‘You? Cooking?’ was all Charlotte managed to say before she dissolved into more hysterics.
It wasn’tthatfunny. When Charlotte had got her laughter under control Liv tried to explain. ‘Fraser is about to launch his new restaurant with a showcase dinner tomorrow night, but his ex has just hired all his staff in an attempt to sabotage everything.’
‘Good,’ said Charlotte. ‘That’s called Karma. It saves you taking him down but I can see why you’d be keen to watch him go down in flames.’
‘That’s not why I want to stay.’ She’d not heard herself say that out loud before and it solidified something in her. ‘I want to stay and help him.’
‘Why on earth would you do that? Why?’ Charlotte sounded exasperated.
Liv thought about the Fraser she’d got to know, him losing his uncle and his dad disappearing the way he had had definitely softened her view of him. Plus he had let her stay for free. ‘Nothing’s ever straightforward. And I’ve kind of got to know him.’
‘But this is the guy who ghosted you, right?’
‘Yep.’
‘Then he’s a shit. That’s as straightforward as it gets. Come home.’
Liv sighed. She understood Charlotte was only looking out for her, as she always had done, but sometimes you had to go with your gut and staying to help felt like the right thing to do. ‘I know you don’t get it, Charlotte, but I need to do this. I’ll be home soon and we’ll have a great Christmas. Give Mum my love.’ And before Charlotte could protest any more, Liv ended the call.
Fraser strode out of the kitchen pulling on his coat. ‘Everything okay?’ he asked.
‘Yes, I’m staying,’ replied Liv and Fraser smiled. ‘Just until after the showcase dinner, then I really need to get home and get ready for Christmas. Or we’ll be like the Cratchits.’
‘Thanks, I appreciate it,’ he said, moving to one side as Dolly joined them. ‘But I’m not sure it’ll be enough,’ he added.
‘But there’s us too,’ said Dolly pulling back her shoulders, which pushed her tummy out and gave Jock’O an unwelcome nudge up the bum.
Fraser looked at Dolly in her wheelchair and Effie, who was staring at the chandelier above them as she twirled her hair around a finger. Liv knew exactly what he meant. ‘The four of us can’t manage alone, can we?’ Liv looked from Fraser to Dolly.
‘No.’ Fraser looked defeated.
‘Goodness me, Fraser,’ snapped Dolly. ‘You’re a Douglas, with a large dose of McNab running through those veins. We do not give up.’
