Page 52 of Chasing a Highland Dream

Bella swallowed a lump of emotion that had found its way to her throat. ‘She definitely would have been proud of you, Liv. You’ve created an amazing legacy here. Something people will enjoy for years to come, and it’ll keep your mum and dad’s memories alive.’ She reached over and hugged her best friend.

Olivia cupped her face and fixed her with a stern gaze. ‘Now tomorrow you can relax. Brodie and I have got this.’

Bella stood. ‘Another day off? You can’t keep doing that. I have to earn my keep.’

‘You’ve put loads of extra hours in, and taken on things that don’t really fall under the remit of PA, so not tomorrow you don’t. It’s Sunday and I don’t want to see you unless you’re taking a casual stroll without your iPad. I mean it, Bells. You deserve a rest.’

‘So do you! I’m worried you’ll run yourself ragged with the grounds being open four days a week.’

‘Yes, but the castle is only open for tours on weekends at the moment, so it’s not that bad.’ Bella wasn’t convinced and her expression must have spoken volumes, as Olivia smiled and said, ‘Honestly, don’t worry, Brodie won’t let me run myself ragged. He’s been checking on me all day. He even sneaked me away for an ice cream down by the chapel. And now the staff have been thrown in at the deep end, I think they’ll be fine. I might take a step back tomorrow anyway. I’m always on site if anything happens but I really do think they’ll manage. They’ve impressed me today. They’ve really pulled together as a team, and I mean everyone, from the shop to the guides to the café.’

Bella agreed wholeheartedly. ‘Right, I’ll probably see you tomorrow at some point, during my day off.’

Olivia stood too. ‘That’s my girl. I’m off to see if there’s any food on the go. I haven’t eaten since that ice cream and I’m famished.’

Bella took a steady walk back to the apartment. The sky was a little overcast now and drizzle hung in the air – this was more like the Inverness weather she knew and loved. The castle still looked magnificent as the stone darkened with the moisture and the bulbous grey clouds overhead created an ominous backdrop. The windowpanes appeared painted black now, as most of the lights in the castle were off for the night. Bella shivered and made a dash for the front door as the heavens opened and she managed to get inside without getting too wet.

‘Come on, hen, and get warm,’ Granny Isla said as she met her in the hallway. ‘I’ve made a pot of tea. You must have sensed it.’ She smiled and reached up to kiss her cheek. ‘I bet you’re exhausted after today.’

Bella slipped off her shoes and it was only then she realised her feet were throbbing. ‘I am now I’ve stopped, Granny. But it’s been so good. It was amazing to see the crowds of people in the grounds. I think all my work on social media must have helped. And the castle tours have been very well received. The local paper even came and took some photos, so that will be good publicity too.’

‘Olivia must be over the moon.’

‘She is. She was so worried Kerr would turn up and sabotage things but thankfully he was nowhere to be seen. Which is worrying in itself.’

‘Ugh. That’s the last thing she would’ve needed, Kermit showing up. He’s probably off somewhere with Miss Piggy.’ She sniggered at her own joke. ‘So, what are we watching tonight? I’m thinking Gone with the Wind. I do love a bit of angsty passion.’

Bella smirked. ‘Angsty passion? You’re such a dark horse, Granny.’

Isla smiled innocently. ‘Aye, never judge an old lady by her sweet manner, eh?’ Says the sweet old lady who whacked Kermit in the head with a handbag, Bella thought with a grin. ‘So, what do you think?’ Isla asked. ‘Rhett Butler and homemade popcorn, and we can put our feet up.’

Bella narrowed her eyes. ‘When you say homemade popcorn, do you actually mean we should open that bag of Butterkist we have in the cupboard and put it in a bowl?’

‘Well, obviously,’ Isla replied with a chuckle. ‘Who actually makes popcorn these days?’

‘In that case, you’ve got a deal.’ Bella went to her room and changed into jogging bottoms and a hoodie and returned to the living room, where there was a large bowl of sweet, buttery popcorn waiting for them. Her granny was searching on the smart TV for the movie. For an eighty-five-year-old, she did amazingly well with technology and Bella couldn’t help but be impressed.

Bella had just got comfy and breathed a sigh of relief when there was a knock at the front door.

‘Oh no, who can that be?’ Isla said, her voice tinged with disappointment. ‘I was looking forward to Rhett and Scarlett.’

Bella pushed herself up from the sofa and walked to the front door. When she opened it, she was greeted by a giant bouquet of flowers with a man’s body poking out from beneath them.

‘Please forgive him, he’s a dick and he knows it,’ came a fake, high-pitched squeaky voice from behind the brightly coloured, sweetly fragranced display of roses, alstroemeria, green bell and freesias.

Bella tried not to be amused but couldn’t help smiling. When she didn’t reply, Aiden’s face appeared. ‘I was an idiot. I misread signals that weren’t even there and I was horrible to you. You didn’t deserve that. Please accept my apology, even if you don’t want anything to do with me any more, which I would totally understand. Although I really hope that’s not the case.’

Bella sighed. ‘You were a bit forceful, if I’m honest, and then quite mean, and you made me feel so stupid. It changed the way I saw you and I didn’t like the new view.’

He nodded and, to his credit, his eyes were filled with regret. ‘I know. I genuinely am sorry. But I got these pretty flowers and I hope they will go some way to making it up to you.’ He handed them over and she took them.

‘They’re beautiful. Thank you.’

‘So how has today gone? I could see lots of people when I went out to my car earlier.’

‘It’s gone really well, thank you. Everyone seems to have enjoyed it. I thought you might have come along to do the tour.’

He scratched his head. ‘Ah, yeah, sorry about that. I’ve been really busy writing. But maybe you can give me a private tour sometime?’