Page 17 of Chasing a Highland Dream

Olivia reached out and patted her arm. ‘Don’t you worry about that. We have that author moving into one of the flats towards the end of July, and the others are up for short-term rentals but they don’t start until August and September, so it’ll be fine. Please let me help you.’

Bella hugged Olivia. ‘Thank you so much. You’re an absolute lifesaver.’

Olivia’s cheeks coloured. ‘Don’t be daft. And in future, please ask for help,’ she told her in a half-joking, half-chastising manner.

Bella tucked her hair behind her ear nervously as she felt her face warming. ‘I didn’t like to after what happened with the Kerr thing.’

Olivia scoffed. ‘Come on, Bella, I said that was forgotten, so why are you still dwelling on it?’

Bella shrugged. ‘I just didn’t want to put you out.’

‘It’s my pleasure, honestly. Now you know where the keys are. I’ve earmarked apartment one for our author guest as it’s a one-bedroom, so why don’t you take apartment two? And let me know if you need me to come and help you pick up more of your belongings. Or perhaps I can get Brodie to pick you up some shopping while he’s out. He’s just in Inverness collecting some large-print copies of his book for the gift shop.’

Bella hugged her friend once more. ‘Don’t trouble him with that. I can go after work. Now what’s on the agenda today, boss?’

Olivia grinned. ‘It’s gift shop stock delivery day!’ She clapped her hands excitedly. ‘We only had limited stuff at the Christmas market event, so we’ve gone all out and have some amazing things to sell. Not long to go now!’

Bella’s stomach flipped, Olivia’s giddiness was contagious. ‘I can’t believe we’re only a couple of weeks away from opening. It’s been so fast and ridiculously slow at the same time.’

Olivia rolled her eyes. ‘Tell me about it. Uncle Innes has been desperate to get the place open so he can showcase his finds. He’s become an expert on local produce, bless his heart, and he’s sourced some beer from the Black Isle Brewery across the bridge, some cheese from the Connage Highland Dairy, and some honey and artisan breads from Druid Temple Farm, so I think it’s only fair we should have a tasting this evening. I thought I could gather all the new staff together seeing as they’ll need to know what they’re selling. What do you think?’

Bella beamed. ‘Count me in!’

11

Bella and Isla walked across the cobbled courtyard in the old stable block beside the castle and Bella unlocked the door to apartment number two. She stepped inside, closely followed by her granny. This one had burgundy-coloured walls and cream paintwork with old oak flooring throughout, apart from the plush mink-coloured carpet in each of the bedrooms. More of Reid Mackinnon’s artwork was displayed on the walls.

Isla sighed and shook her head. ‘It really is stunning. I can’t believe we get to live here for a wee while, Bella, in the grounds of a real-life castle. I feel like I’m fulfilling a dream that belonged to me when I was six.’

Bella smiled as she once again took in the scheme of décor she had chosen and had helped implement. A sense of pride washed over her. ‘It is a bit like a dream. I suppose if anything good can come of the flood, this is it.’

Isla chuckled. ‘I might refuse to leave when my house is dried out. I’ll be too used to living in luxury. And it’s all on one level, which is so helpful. The stairs were getting a bit much at home,’ she said as her expression morphed into one of sadness.

Bella placed her arm around her granny’s shoulders. ‘I know. We might have to start thinking about a stair lift. Now would be a good time to get one fitted, you know, while we’re out of the way.’

Isla shrugged off Bella’s arm and turned to face her. ‘You’ll be putting me in a home next,’ she said with a bony index finger randomly pointed towards the door. ‘I’m fit as a fiddle apart from my dodgy knees, a bit of arthritis and cataracts, I’ll have you know.’

Bella stifled a smile. ‘Of course, Granny. And don’t worry; I won’t put you in an old folk’s home. Not unless you decide you want to live in one.’

Isla folded her arms across her chest. ‘Aye, well, that won’t be happening any time soon. It’d ruin my love life.’

Bella’s eyes widened. ‘Granny, you don’t have a love life.’

‘And I don’t want one either, at the moment. But if I did, I wouldn’t want some auld gadgie. And that’s alls I’d find in that place.’

Bella grinned. ‘Oh, so you may be in the market for a younger man, eh, Granny? You dark horse, you.’

‘Aye, well, like I said, not at the moment but who knows if Tom Jones comes calling? Or that Gerard Butler. He’s a looker too.’ Isla pondered that then added, ‘I also like that Benadryl Cumberpatch from those superhero films I watched at the day centre. He’s a handsome chap.’

Bella nodded, her lips pulled in to fight a smirk. ‘Oh, aye, well, we live by a castle now, so who knows who we might encounter. I’ll be keeping my eye on you, Isla Douglas.’

‘Well, one of us should find love in a place like this, eh?’ Isla winked mischievously.

Bella giggled. ‘Absolutely. Look, you go unpack your things and I’ll head over to the castle kitchen. I’ll scrounge us something for lunch while you get settled.’

‘Bless you, hen. And if you see that Benadryl chappy on your way, you know where to send him.’ She chuckled to herself as Bella left the apartment.

Later that evening, Isla sat in the freshly decorated living room, watching a period drama on the brand-new flat-screen TV, with Beau curled up on his blanket at her feet. Mr Darcy had just emerged, sopping wet, from a lake and, along with Elizabeth Bennet, Isla was transfixed.