His tally of son-points would climb while his promise to Ezzie would be intact.
Ezzie floated back down the hill to Fishermen’s Cottages as if weights had rolled from her shoulders. Perhaps she ought to be anxious about finally telling someone the truth but, despite his self-confessed impetuosity, the pragmatic yet sympathetic way Mats had dealt with her story made her confident that he’d keep her secret. Even the weather joined in her good mood as the sunlight burned through the mist, creating a golden glow that repainted the colours on the cottages around her.
As she neared Overlook, she saw a heap of dirty carpet outside and then Thea rushed out, her arms full of desiccated lino. Skin dusty, dark hair tied in a tight bun, she’d shed her coat despite the freezing temperatures and her green knitted jumper had developed a hole in its sleeve. With a furtive glance back through the open cottage door, she hissed, ‘What happened?’
Briefly, Ezz recapped, stressing how she’d come to make the decision to confide in Mats after keeping their secret for so long, then held up crossed fingers. ‘I think it comes down to take it or leave it. And if we leave it, we’re unemployed and will probably have to leave Skye.’
Thea’s eyes shone with tears. ‘Do you think we can trust him?Shh, here comes Valentina.’
Valentina arrived in the doorway, hands on hips in mock irritation. ‘You’re a fine one, Esmerelda Wynter, leaving us to the dirty work and then swanning up looking relaxed.Thea said you were on a work call. Were you sorting out what happened yesterday?’
Ezz found herself beaming. ‘Yes, I hope it’ll be OK now. I’ve brought the bin bags.’
‘Good,’ Valentina said. ‘The builder’s been and gone, but he’s returning with his truck at four to collect the rubbish, so we need to get a move on.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Ezz gave Valentina a salute, then hurried indoors to heave out the damp old kitchen units that Dev was ripping off the wall, grabbing a few seconds to pass on the gist of the good news to him, causing a huge smile to blaze across his face.
They could all stay on the Isle of Skye.
