‘Yeah, I noticed that,’ said Liv.
‘But it’s a good thing. He tends to bottle things up but not with you. I mean you fight far too much to be healthy, but I am grateful for you pressing his buttons, so to speak.’
‘Right.’ Liv wasn’t sure what to say. ‘You’re welcome?’
‘And my last point,’ began Dolly.
Thank heavens for that,thought Liv.
‘Maybe rethink rushing off in the morning. It would be better for my grandchildren if the last interaction with you was a positive one.’
‘Okay. Like what exactly?’ asked Liv.
Dolly set off down the hallway. ‘I didn’t have anything specific in mind. It was just an idea. You’ll have to figure the details out for yourself. Goodnight,’ said Dolly, leaving Liv standing at the bottom of the stairs bewildered and wide awake.
The next morning Liv was up bright and early. Partly because she knew she had to be up and ready for the mechanic, but mainly because Dolly’s words had got her thinking and trying to figure out what she could do for the people of Lochy House Hotel so that she was remembered positively. Seeing as everyone had taken her in, she felt doing a little something in return would be nice. Liv fired off an email to an old friend who was a complete whizz when it came to computers and who had got her out of sticky situations with lost documents a number of times. He was quick to respond and excited about taking on the challenge that Liv had set him. One down. The others would need a bit more thought. She was getting herself a cuppa and some toast when the doorbell sounded. She took a slug of slightly too hot tea and grabbed her toast and dashed to the front door.
‘Morning. You Olivia with the BMW?’ asked a jolly man in a Rangers bobble hat.
‘That’s me.’
‘Let’s take a look then and we’ll have you on the road in no time,’ he said happily.
It turned out his optimism was misplaced because ten minutes later he sucked his teeth and declared that the battery was deid. Some phoning around established that the nearest one that would fit this particular model was at a garage near Inverness.
‘Is that far?’ asked Liv.
‘About an hour and a quarter.’
‘That’s just one way is it?’ asked Liv.
‘I’m afraid so.’
She wasn’t going to be getting away anytime soon. But perhaps this was the opportunity she needed to do as Dolly had suggested. ‘Are there any shops on the way?’
‘Erm, what like ladies’ shops?’ He seemed flustered at the prospect.
‘Not exactly. I need to buy some last-minute gifts.’
He grimaced. ‘There’s a DIY store and a boat specialist.’
Maybe she could work with those. ‘Okay, any chance we could call in at those on the way?’
‘We?’ He jerked his head like a seagull waiting for a chip to be thrown.
‘Yes, I was hoping you’d take me with you. Please?’
‘As long as you don’t mind me having my music on.’
‘Of course not,’ said Liv. But once she was in his van and Nicki Minaj was playing at high volume, she knew it was going to be the longest journey of her life.
Despite the terrible tunes, Liv had a productive morning. She’d dashed in and out of the couple of shops on the way, they’d picked up the car battery and the journey back had given her a chance to take in some more of the stunning scenery. While the mechanic swapped over the batteries, Liv’s plan was to get to work on the hotel sign with some rubbing alcohol she’d bought at the DIY store. She walked down to the hotel entrance and was taken aback to find someone was already scrubbing at the sign with a foamy brush. That was a bit annoying. She’d not banked on Fraser paying someone to clean off the graffiti.
‘Hello!’ she called and the man spun around, looking startled.
‘I can explain,’ he said, holding up one palm and a foam dripping brush in the other.
Liv’s spider sense was piqued. ‘You’d better explain and quick before I report you,’ said Liv, trying hard to look like someone of authority.
