‘Win win!’ her mum echoed, delightedly.
Peaches searched for something to say that would get her out of the date as quickly as possible and back on track with Euan.
‘You didn’t delegate Euan Sparks a job to do at the bonfire.’
‘Hmm?’ Carenza rearranged her hair in the rearview mirror. ‘Didn’t I?’
‘Everyone else was given a job to do.’
‘Oh, well, I’m sure he could help Cary with the litter-picking. I won’t be letting him anywhere near the bonfire! Can you imagine! Hah!’
Delighted with this, Carenza repositioned the mirror and pressed the car ignition button. The engine hummed softly into electric life. ‘Do you want me to drop you off at home, darling? It’s on my way.’
Peaches found she couldn’t say another word, but she knew the last thing she wanted to do was go back inside the shed now that Euan wasn’t there. His Beltane costume must still be in there along with their mugs of tea, probably still warm.
Carenza didn’t notice Peaches’ dejected looks, only pulling silently away, carrying her daughter along with her, irrespective of her deepest wishes, just the same as she always did.
10
Euan pulled the entire drawer right out of the old dressing table and tipped his socks and underwear straight into the suitcase.
‘How will you fit a case on the back of the bike? Think, lad!’ appealed Clyde from inside the bedroom doorframe, where he watched his frantic grandson.
‘I won’t be taking your bike, Grandad. It’s yours. I’ll get the bus to the train station, and I’ll be at Mum’s by the time it gets dark.’
‘What will you do there?’
‘I’ll find something. I might be able to get my old job back at the petrol station.’
‘You hated that job.’
‘Doesn’t matter.’ Euan caught sight of himself in the winged dressing table mirrors. His face was pinched and angry.
‘I told you Carenza was a big bully, a right scunner. You’re better off without working for her.’
Euan shrugged this off and kept packing.
‘So, you’re giving up?’
He swung the wardrobe doors open. ‘How can I stay? I’ve ballsed up two jobs and every single person in town knows it. I’ve made myself unemployable.’ He pulled his t-shirts free from their hangers.
‘You know they say never to quit on a bad day?’
It was no good. Clyde couldn’t make him change his mind. ‘Cairn Dhu’s been a total washout, sorry, Grandad.’ He folded his shirts, laying each one in the case.
‘We werenae a washout, you an’ me. We’ve had a rare time!’
‘I need to get my toothbrush from the bathroom.’
Clyde barred his way. ‘Son. Come on. Sit wi’ me.’
Euan watched as his grandad wandered off towards the living room where the muted TV was making the room glow multicoloured.
When Euan put his head round the frame, Clyde was already sitting with his feet up and the remote in his hand.
‘I can’t watch any more movies, Grandad. I need to be making a new start.’
‘Sit.’ Clyde pressed a button and the old VHS machine whirred and clunked, and on the screen came a video, dark with age, but unmistakably a recording made in this very room.
