Her dad grunted. ‘We took them slowly, love,’ he replied.
‘Besides, we wanted to be able to get out and see the place,’ her mother joined in. ‘And hiring a car seemed like the most sensible thing to do. After all, the last thing you need is us hanging around when you’ve clearly got a lot going on.’
There was a twinkle in Bex’s mother’s eyes as she spoke, and Bex tried hard to ignore it. Still, it was a little relief to know that even with what she’d just witnessed, Bex’s mum was still rooting for them.
As the conversation lulled, Bex turned to Duncan, watching the way he was holding the peas to his jaw and clicking it from side to side, wincing with every small movement.
‘How does it feel?’ she asked.
‘Like I need another drink,’ Duncan replied.
‘Well, I think it’s my round to get in, isn’t it?’ Bex’s dad stood up, only before he could leave the table Bex grabbed him by the wrist.
‘No, there’s no need for more drinks, Dad. At least not for me and definitely not for Duncan. He’s had enough.’
‘Don’t be silly, another quick whisky will take the edge off the pain,’ her dad said. ‘I’ll just be a minute.’
Duncan shook his head. ‘Aye, she’s right, thanks though, Mr Barker. Don’t think it’s wise if I have another. I guess I’d better make my way back to the lodge.’
‘You’re not planning on walking, are you?’ Bex’s mum said, a look of concern furrowing her brows. ‘It’s nasty out there. Looked like it was trying to snow when we arrived.’
Duncan sucked his cheeks in. Drunk or not, he knew what the weather was like here. And with what had nearly happened to Bex, there was no way she was going to let him walk home either.
He glanced over his shoulder to where Lorna was behind the bar, and Bex was sure he was thinking the same thing she was; the walk back to his sister’s was infinitely closer to the lodge. But it was still over cobblestones, and all it would take was one slip for Duncan to finish the job Craig had started. And as quiet as he had been since her parents arrived – other than the apologies – one pint of water, a right hook and a twenty-minute conversation hadn’t been enough to sober him up.
‘I’ll ring Roddy,’ he said, leaning down to pull his phone out of his pocket, only to catch his foot on a chair leg and stumble forward. Yup, the cobblestones were a definite threat in his state.
‘You are not ringing Roddy on the first day off he’s had in lord knows how long.’ She turned to her parents. ‘I’m sorry, I know you’ve just got here, but I think I should take him upstairs and put him to bed. You don’t mind, do you?’
‘No, dear, of course not,’ her mum said with a small smile. ‘We’re here to help you. And if that means supplying you with frozen ice packs, then that’s what we’ll do.’
‘Thanks, Mum,’ Bex said, kissing her on the cheek, before moving to kiss her dad.
‘Oh, and Duncan.’ Bex hadn’t even stood up straight when her mother spoke again. ‘I’m so sorry about Fergus. I know he meant a lot to you. And I’m sure it hurts now, but it’ll get better. I promise. As long as you keep yourself surrounded by the right people.’
Duncan’s eyes flashed as Bex glared at her mother. Why on earth had she thought now was a good time to bring up Fergus? It could well be the thing to push Duncan down the last fifty feet of the cliff he was trying to cling to. And yet, rather than getting angry, or just simply clamming up the way Bex had expected him to, a sad smile flickered on Duncan’s lips.
‘I’m trying my hardest, Mrs Barker,’ he said instead. ‘I’m really tryin’. Just gotta hope the right people want to stay by me too.’
18
‘I can come and pick him up after I finish my shift if you want? Take him back to mine,’ Lorna said as she tried to give Bex a hand with Duncan, but he wasn’t having any of it.
‘I’m fine, I’m fine,’ he said before slamming his shoulder against the door frame.
‘Honestly,’ Bex said, ‘I think we should probably leave him here.’
‘I can see if there’s another room free if you want?’ Lorna suggested. ‘Oh crap, no I can’t. Rory accidentally locked the key box.’
‘It’s not a problem, honestly. He can sleep in Ruby’s dog bed.’
She flashed Lorna a smile to show that she was only half joking, but Lorna didn’t reciprocate. She was worried about her big brother, seriously, and Bex could understand why.
‘You don’t think Kieron can really kick him out of his house like that, do you?’ Lorna whispered. ‘With no real warning.’
Bex bit down on her bottom lip, but before she could reply, Duncan growled.
‘That man is vermin,’ he said. ‘Fergus hated him. The dogs hate him. I hate him. But you…’ He pointed a finger at Bex. ‘You kissed him.’
