‘Oh.’ Bex glanced down at the table only to find there was no sign of any menu.
‘Just let me know what you fancy, I’ll let you know if we’s got it,’ Julie replied.
As hungry as she was, Bex discovered that deciding what to eat with someone standing over you wasn’t the easiest thing. And so she said the first breakfast item to come into her head. ‘Could I get a bacon bap, please?’ she said. ‘With a fried egg in there too?’
‘Ye takin’ tea or coffee?’
This one didn’t take any thinking. ‘Coffee, please. A strong one. Oh, and, if it’s possible, could I get some scrambled egg and bacon, too?’
‘Bacon and egg bap, with egg an’ bacon?’
‘Yes, on a separate plate.’ She could already feel her cheeks warming. ‘I… I don’t like my foods mixing.’
Julie scoffed. ‘All right. Coffee’s coming up. Food’ll take a minute.’
‘Oh, I think I need to pay for my room,’ Bex said, not wanting to forget. ‘Is there any chance I can do that now too?’
Julie crinkled her nose. ‘Aye. I’ll fetch the machine.’
A moment later, she was standing next to the table, with the card machine in her hand, as Bex pulled her purse out of her bag.
‘Bit small ain’t it?’ Julie said, nodding towards the embroidered leather item, inside which Bex kept all her cards.
‘Fits everything I need in it,’ she replied, not sure why Julie thought it was okay to judge Bex’s choice of accessories. ‘Driver’s licence. Credit cards.’
‘One of them too-good-for-cash types, are you?’
‘Just one of those likes-to-watch-where-I’m-spending-my-money types.’ Bex tapped her card against the machine, not sure if she was keen on Julie or not. Still, she wasn’t going to risk being rude. Not with her hiding Ruby upstairs.
As Julie headed back to fetch her drink, Bex slipped her card back into the purse. It was actually a gift that Eilidh had made for her and one of the reasons she loved the little purse so much. And its size meant it was easy to carry in her pocket or any bag.
Her coffee had just arrived when she noticed someone staring at her. Not someone at a table, but peering through from the kitchen. The young woman looked around twenty, and while it was possible that she worked at the White Hart, it seemed unlikely she was doing a shift now, dressed in a thick knitted jumper with a hat that came down over her ears.
When she saw Bex looking at her, she smiled timidly, before walking over.
‘Hello?’ Bex said, hesitantly.
‘Hi. Sorry to interrupt.’ The young woman had removed her hat and revealed a mass of deep auburn hair. ‘I’m Fi.’
‘Fi?’ The name was familiar, but Bex couldn’t think why.
‘Roddy’s girlfriend. And Niall’s cousin.’
‘Oh, right,’ Bex said, nodding. ‘Do you work here, too? Because everything is great, and I’m so grateful to Roddy?—’
‘I’m sorry for interrupting your breakfast,’ Fi said, cutting her off, her voice breaking. ‘I really am. But I need to ask you something and I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t important, and Roddy said you’re good at this sort of thing, but… but…’ Her words faltered, and before she could finish, tears rolled down her cheeks. Bex looked around her, unsure what was happening but certain there must be someone else who could better deal with the situation than her. Yet the couples were all immersed in their conversations and Julie was nowhere to be seen. She was on her own.
‘Are you all right?’ Bex stood up and placed a hand on Fi’s shoulder while simultaneously picking up a napkin off the table and handing it to her. ‘Is it Roddy? Niall?’
‘No, no, it’s fine. I’m so sorry.’ Fi sniffed. ‘It’s just… it’s been causing so much stress, you know? And I’ve been so worried about it. I spoke to Niall last night, and he mentioned you. And then Roddy said you were staying here. I know you probably won’t be able to do anything, but I had to ask.’
‘Okay, wait,’ Bex said gently, feeling like several stages of the conversation had been missed. ‘Start from the beginning. Tell me why you’re here. Niall told you to come and see me?’
Fi nodded. ‘Yeah, he said you’re good with finances and stuff. That you can help people.’
‘I’m an accountant, so I guess you can say that. Go on. What’s the problem?’
‘It’s my dad.’ Fi’s voice cracked as fresh tears welled up. ‘He’s got himself into a bit of a pickle. Debts and things. But I don’t understand how. The garage is full non-stop. He works night and day. Everyone recommends him. But he lets people put stuff on tabs, and now the bills are piling up. Bailiffs the other night. Burns Night of all nights.’
