‘I can imagine.’ A long sigh reverberated down the phone line.
He paused again and Bex’s nerves hitched higher. It didn’t matter that Nigel believed her, or how much sympathy he felt for her; if the big bosses still wanted Bex to come back, then that’s what she would have to do.
‘Nigel, I really don’t think I can leave now,’ she said. ‘It’s why I asked for time off, so I could try to help my friends through this. I swear, I didn’t know Kieron was going to pull this stunt when I did that. I swear on Ruby’s life.’
‘Ruby?’ he questioned.
‘Long story. I’ll explain soon.’
This time, as Nigel contemplated what he was going to say, a slight hum reached Bex’s ear. She just hoped he’d got durable lenses on those glasses of his, otherwise this conversation was going to be enough to wear them thin.
‘HR won’t agree to the month now, Rebecca,’ he replied. ‘Even if I tell them it’s extenuating circumstances.’
Bex’s shoulders dropped, a sense of hopelessness cascading over her. ‘I get it, I do.’
‘But maybe I can persuade them to a week?’
‘A week?’ A spark of hope fluttered within her. ‘Do you think there would be any chance you could stretch it to seven working days?’ she asked hopefully.
Grabbing those extra days would at least mean she got another full weekend and a bit extra to stay here.
‘I’m sure I can push them to that,’ he replied.
‘Nigel, you’re a star,’ Bex said, relief washing over her. ‘You have no idea how grateful I am for this. And I’ll get Gordon the solicitor up here to ring you too. Just to corroborate everything I’m saying.’
It was yet another thing she probably should have checked with Gordon before mentioning, but she was sure he wouldn’t have a problem with it.
‘That’d be helpful. You do what you need to do. Just keep me in the loop with things like this next time, so I have a bit of a heads-up.’
If Bex never heard the phrase heads-up again, it would be too soon, she decided. Still, the weight on her chest lifted slightly as she hung up the phone. Now she just had Duncan to deal with.
20
Ruby had clearly seen Bex’s disappearance into the bathroom as permission to climb into bed and curl up at Duncan’s feet. It was an adorable sight, although she couldn’t help but think how angry Kenna would be if she found out. Never had Bex known a cat love their owner as much as Kenna loved Duncan. Unfortunately, that also came hand in hand with her moody, sulky side that reared its head whenever he wasn’t there. She had no doubt that when Duncan got back to the lodge that day, Kenna would have knocked her fair share of picture frames and books onto the floor, just to make a point. Although given that all Fergus’s other dogs were also in there, it would probably be hard to tell in all the chaos.
‘Are you just going to stand there all morning looking at me?’ Duncan groaned.
Bex’s heart jolted in surprise. As her pulse continued at an unexpectedly quick pace, she momentarily debated what to do, before she crossed the room and took a seat on the edge of the bed.
‘Sorry, was just thinking, that’s all.’
Her chest fluttered as Duncan offered her a lazy smile. She’d always loved morning Duncan, with his scraggly hair, sleepy eyes and the lopsided smile from the pillow creases on his face. Then again, she loved midday Duncan, strolling over the glens completely at one with the land he knew and loved so well, and evening Duncan, who sat on the sofa giving her foot massages as the fire crackled and the smell of wood-smoke filled the air. There hadn’t been a version of Duncan she hadn’t loved. But now didn’t seem like the right time to tell him that.
‘Who were you talking to in there? Sounded serious.’
Bex shook her head. There was no way she was filling Duncan in on the contents of her conversation with Nigel. She’d worried about what Duncan would do if he learned Kieron had threatened her. She dreaded to think how he’d act now Kieron had seen good on that threat.
‘No one. Just Daisy. How are you feeling?’
‘I like seeing you when I wake up,’ he replied. ‘I’ve missed it.’
‘I’m not sure I’ve missed your morning whisky breath,’ Bex said jokily, trying to distract from just how much she enjoyed it too. ‘You look like you need some coffee. Or some breakfast.’
‘My head hurts.’ He winced. ‘A lot.’
‘So does that mean you don’t want food or coffee?’
A smile curled up at the corners of his lips. ‘Will you snuggle back up in bed with me if I say no?’
