‘I don’t know,’ Bex said. ‘I just feel too close to the whole thing right now. What he needs is you – his family – by his side.’
Lorna nodded. ‘You’re right.’
With that, she pulled out her phone and, as if Bex weren’t even there, began typing away. Even when she’d stopped typing, she kept the phone in her hand and pressed her lips together in concentration, staring at the screen as if willing a reply to come through. A moment later, a ping confirmed Bex’s suspicions. A smile spread across Lorna’s face.
‘Right. It’s arranged,’ she said.
‘What is?’ Bex asked, frowning.
‘A family meeting. We’re going to the lodge. Midday tomorrow. Mum and Keith are meeting us there. That includes you, too.’
Nerves flooded through Bex. ‘No. I’m not family. I’m not… I’m?—’
‘You’re the one he’ll listen to. And with you there, he can’t brush us off, because you know the truth. Midday. Don’t be late.’
With that, Lorna stood up, moved across to the bed and wrapped her arms around Bex. ‘Thank you,’ she said quietly.
‘For what?’
‘For loving my big brother. For telling me. For being my friend and for keeping all this to yourself. I’ll be very happy the day I get to call you my sister-in-law.’
A bitter laugh choked from Bex’s throat.
‘I’m sorry, Lorna, but I don’t think that’s ever going to happen. Not any more.’
Lorna broke away, a slight smile twisting on her lips.
‘We’ll see,’ she said. ‘Remember, don’t be late.’
7
Bex didn’t get her bath that evening. Before Lorna headed back downstairs, she popped her head back into the room and asked if Bex fancied going for a drink with her, but wasn’t surprised when the answer was no. After the bombshell Bex had just dropped on her, it was clear she could do with a little thinking time too. Hoping there would be no more interruptions for the evening, Bex set an alarm for the morning and headed to bed.
The first thing Bex did upon waking was head out of the room and downstairs. Hanging on the back door was a blue tea towel. She smiled to herself. Roddy’s system was working though she hoped it wasn’t him who had done it this time. There was no way he could be working the breakfast shift too.
‘Sorry, girl, we have to stay in for a little longer right now,’ Bex said as she ruffled Ruby’s fur. ‘I’m sure it won’t be long till I can let you out, though.’
As it happened, by the time Bex was out of the shower, hair dry and dressed, the tea towel had gone from the door.
‘Okay, come on, girl.’ Bex beckoned Ruby to her side. ‘We need to be quick. Just a wee now, and then I’ll let you out properly. Take you for a proper walk, okay? Maybe you could come with me to see Duncan. I could probably use the support.’
She was still torn as to whether she should go to Lorna’s pre-arranged family meeting or not. Whatever Lorna had said about seeing her as a future sister-in-law was lovely, but right now she just didn’t see any way that she and Duncan could get there. But her comment about Duncan clamming up was also completely true. If Bex wasn’t there to tell them the truth, there was a good chance he’d just brush over everything. Perhaps even pretend he had no idea what they were talking about. And she wasn’t going to let him get away with that – not when he needed them.
After letting Ruby out for a quick wee, Bex headed back into the pub, where the smells of frying bacon and toast filled the air.
Back when she first visited Highland Hall, the very first conversation she and Duncan had shared had been about breakfast. Specifically, how Fergus kept no food in the castle and, if she wanted to eat, she would have to go out for something. She hadn’t believed him and proceeded to waste copious amounts of time searching through the endless cupboards in the kitchen. Thankfully, over the next year and a half she’d slowly persuaded Fergus to get into the habit of keeping at least the essential foods stocked in his cupboards. Bread, milk, and obviously whisky. Although to be fair, he’d always managed that one.
Once again, she was struck with a wave of sadness at never getting to say goodbye to the old man. Dozens of times after she and Duncan had split up, she’d considered calling him, just to see if he was okay. But Fergus wasn’t really one for using a mobile phone and when he did use his, the only person he ever really spoke to was his sister. And besides, Bex hadn’t wanted him to feel torn, like he was somehow betraying Duncan by still being in contact with her. Now she realised how ridiculous that was, and what she would’ve given for just a brief, five-minute chat. With the way her heart throbbed, she could only imagine how Duncan felt.
‘You’re not going to have to stay in here for much longer,’ Bex promised Ruby as she let her back into the room. ‘And I’ll try to sneak a sausage or a plate of scrambled egg for you, okay?’
Given that she was already breaking the rules by having the dog up there, it seemed silly not to go the whole hog and have food too. After all, Ruby had to eat.
Down in the dining area, there were two other tables occupied, one with an elderly couple who Bex vaguely recognised from the Burns Night festivities, and another couple who appeared to be tourists – judging from the ‘We Love LochDarroch’ beanies and hoodies they were wearing, not dressed remotely appropriately for the Scottish winter.
As she took a seat at one of the spare tables, a woman in her mid-sixties with bright blonde hair came over to her.
‘Mornin’. You’ll be Bex, then,’ she said in a broad Scottish accent. ‘I’m Julie. What’ll ye be havin’?’
