‘Sorry?’ Bex frowned, not sure she understood the question.
‘We love you more than anything. You’re our oldest friend, and nothing will ever change that. But… if you decided you want a life up there, and that the view from the fancy new corner office maybe isn’t as good as the view you’d get waking up to a hunky Scottish man each morning, we’d get that too. We’d understand. And it wouldn’t change a thing.’
Tears welled in Bex’s eyes. ‘It’s not something I can think about right now,’ she started.
‘Well, maybe you should,’ Daisy replied. ‘And Claire’s right. Whatever you do, we’ll support you.’
So much for thinking she’d got through the conversation without descending into a blubbering mess. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
‘You guys are amazing.’
‘So are you. And if—’ Claire’s voice was drowned out by the shrill ringing of the landline phone, tucked in the corner of the room.
‘Sorry, guys,’ Bex said. ‘I think I need to go. My parents must be here.’
‘Okay, no worries. Give them our love, won’t you?’
‘Will do.’
Bex hung up the call and picked up the landline.
‘Hey, Bex.’ It took Bex a second to recognise the voice as Lorna’s. They’d never spoken on a landline before.
‘Hey,’ she said. ‘Is everything okay?’
‘Sorry to disturb you.’
‘That’s okay. Have my parents arrived?’
‘What? No, no. We’ve got a bit of an issue down here. Eilidh and Niall already left and I’m the only one at the bar, so I really can’t deal with it. I could do with your help.’
An issue? Bex’s throat tightened.
‘What is it?’
‘It’s Duncan,’ Lorna said, her voice low and tense. ‘He’s here. And he’s not in a good way.’
15
So much for lying low. Duncan was at the bar, a whisky bottle – three-quarters empty – in front of him. From the way his body swayed slightly, it was clear he’d already had more than a few.
When the hell did he get into such a state? She’d only been home a couple of hours, but now she remembered spotting an open whisky bottle in the house earlier, when Kenna had been lying on the table.
‘I’m sorry,’ Lorna said. ‘I’d take him home, but there’s no one else to cover the bar. Obviously I’ve not served him, but at this point, it’s not like that matters.’
‘It’s fine. I’ve got this.’
With a deep breath in, Bex pushed back her shoulders and marched over to Duncan.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked. ‘What happened to hunkering down and lying low?’
‘Kieron’s fired me.’ His words came out slurred.
‘What?’ Bex shook her head.
‘He came by after you left. Gave me a written dismissal.’
Anger surged through Bex. ‘He can’t do that. Nothing’s been finalised. Right now, he’s not in charge of anything.’
