“I don’t know, Tabby.”
“You still want your bakery don’t you?”
“Am I asking too much?”
Before Tabby could answer, the letterbox flapped in the hallway. “That’s early,” Tabby said with a frown. “Don’t get up. I’ll drag my dying body toward it.”
“You must be getting better,” Daisy called after her. “You’re back to whinging.”
“Cheeky sod,” Tabby replied, coming back through with a card in her hand.
“I was only kidding.”
“Not you, the mail man. He’s put one of those tried to deliver cards through the door.”
“But he didn’t try, he didn’t even knock.”
“I know. Oh, look, it’s for you.”
She passed the slip over before heading back to the kitchen to make the drinks. Daisy looked down at it. Daisy Stone. There it was, in black and white. But she wasn’t expecting anything.
Collect from the depot between eight and twelve today,it read. She looked at the clock on the wall. Quarter to eight.
“You might as well go get it now,” Tabby said when she came back through with the drinks.
“The mailman will still have it in his bag,” she replied. “I’ll go later on.”
“Pick up some more coffee on the way back, would you. I’ve just used the last of it.”
“No coffee? This is a disaster.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve already summoned the war council. Full defcon five. Or one. Hang on, which is worse?”
“I’ve no idea.”
They sat together on the sofa, Tabby blowing her nose every couple of minutes. Daisy continued looking through the classifieds, becoming increasingly pessimistic. Everything required years of experience she didn’t have.
“You’ve got quite the look on your face,” Tabby said. “What’s up. Thinking about the laird again?”
Daisy sighed, putting down her cellphone. “No, I was thinking about jobs. I don’t spend all my time thinking about him.”
“Yes, you do. You’ve a huge crush on him.”
“I’ve not got a crush on Jock MacGregor.”
“Yes, you have. You’ve been moping ever since you delivered that parcel. Why not go up there and ask him out on a date?”
“Sure. I’m sure the laird of an entire clan with a castle of his own would leap at the chance to date me. After all, I’ve still got all my own teeth and my bank account nearly reaches four figures. If you count the decimal place.”
“Stop it.” Tabby gave her a shove in the arm. “You’re always putting yourself down. You’re a catch and if I were him, I’d jump at the chance of getting to know you.”
“No you wouldn’t.”
“I would. What is it you like about him anyway? I thought you said he was rude to you when you saw him.”
“He is rude.”
“And handsome, I’m guessing?”
