Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
HIGHLAND HOTTIE
Callie wants to fast-forward her next five years?
She already told me she was tired of being in school and dealing with a teacher who supposedly doesn’t like her, so I imagine it has something to do with that.
I wouldn’t know the first thing about managing such a situation, as I’ve been my own boss for years.
Ever since I sold the concept for my children’s book series about a dog and squirrel, Leo and Johnnie, I haven’t had to answer to anyone.
Except my agent, of course. Sometimes she gets these mad ideas about creating another national phenomenon of a book and children’s television show, but I know nothing will take off quickly like Leo and Johnnie did. I struck gold, and you only strike gold once.
No one gets hit by lightning twice.
I’m not even sure why I took the meeting this week when I went to Inverness, but I did, and the ideas I brought were all soundly rejected. I only want to draw silly stories for children. Can I not simply do that? Does everything need to be the best book Britain has ever seen?
Shayla seems to think so.
I wouldn’t know the first thing about being stuck in the middle of a school program I’m unhappy in. It seems to me America has plenty of universities; Callie could move to a different one.
My boots crunch in the snow as I make my way toward the barn.
My horses are snugly tucked away, but I need to check their water and food and make sure they’re in good spirits.
The door to the barn whines as I push it open, and I let myself inside.
The smell of dirt and wood and manure fills my nose.
Elephant neighs, greeting me. Piggie just huffs.
“Good morning, ladies. Bit of a cold one, eh?”
My phone rings, and I drop my head back, letting out a heavy sigh. I don’t have to look at the screen to know who it is and exactly why they’re calling. You’d think, after three years, the babysitting would cease.
Sliding it from my pocket, I debate not answering, but that would only lead him to drive to my house, and we can’t have that in this kind of weather.
“How about this snow,” I say, running my hand along Elephant’s mane. Her name should be Gerald like the children’s book character she’s named for, but since she’s a female, I didn’t go that far. In my head, she’s Geraldine.
Rory breathes into the phone. “Not the best timing with all the travel, I’d wager. How’s your guest?”
I glance back at the house through a dusty window and think about Callie’s affronted attitude yesterday. “Nowt like her sister described her. I was expecting a ball of sunshine, but I got Nessie instead.”
“Strange. Women usually like you.”
My back straightens. Piggie nudges my shoulder, so I move toward her stall and scratch where she likes at the lower end of her neck. “She doesn’t dislike me. Not that it matters. You know you don’t need to call as often when I’ve people in my house, eh?”
“Accept it, Gav. Some habits are unbreakable.”
I would grumble more, but it feels pointless.
“How was the meeting with your agent?” he asks.
“Fruitless. She hated every idea.”
“I still think you need to draw the kid crashing his bike in the fence and fixing it with the old man’s prosthetics.”
My laugh rumbles through my chest. “You’re mental.”
“Aye, but I’m not wrong.”
“Things can be true, Rory, but that doesn’t mean folk will believe them.” I pat Piggie and cross the barn to climb into the loft where the hay is kept. “None of my ideas are really hitting right.”
“It’ll come to you. Don’t force it.”
Easy for him to say. His work is entirely left-brained. “Is your office closing for the week?”
“We’ll have to. My receptionist is using this time to post about maintaining health through the holidays. Have you been online recently?”
“No.”
“Probably good.”
I grow still at the top of the ladder. Ice pools in my stomach while I force myself to finish climbing into the loft and open the trap doors above each of my horse’s troughs. “What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Just tell me, Rory.”
He sucks in a breath through his teeth. “She posted with a new guy.”
“Your receptionist?” I imagine the happily married Patricia stepping out on Tom, but I can’t see it.
“No, of course not. I’m talking about Blair.”
Wham!’s “Last Christmas” immediately plays in my head, even though it’s not as applicable for me as it is for Callie.
My partner didn’t abandon me during the holidays, and it wasn’t last year, but the sentiments are relevant.
I can feel my heart being torn in two all over again. “Is he one of ours?”
“No. But it looks fairly serious.” Rory clears his throat. “Katie seems to think Blair might be coming home for a visit soon.”
“Add it to the heap, mate,” I mutter, reaching for the pitchfork and tucking my phone between my ear and my shoulder. I really should have brought my AirPods. I spear some hay with extra force and carry it to Elephant’s trough door, letting it fall through. “Was Liv in the snap, too?”
“No.”
Silence sits between us while I finish feeding both horses and put the pitchfork back.
“Maybe you should live a little, Gav. Embrace the American. Have some fun. It might be good for you.”
“You sound like her,” I mutter.
“Oh, do I?” he asks through laughter.
Crivvens. “I’ve said too much.”
“Not nearly enough, actually,” Rory argues. “Has she come on to you?”
“Only when she didn’t know who I was.”
“Well, good on that. Then you know she’s interested, and not just because you’re rich and famous.”
“I am neither of those things.”
“You forget how much I know about you, Gav,” Rory says.
It’s true, which isn’t endearing right at this moment. “I need to run.”
“Wait. Are you cross?”
“No, of course not. Blair doesn’t have that power over me any longer.
” My broken heart isn’t about Blair as much as it is the things I lost when she left me.
He knows this. I let out a sigh. “My parents, on the other hand. Ugh. They want to stay here this Christmas. At this house. I don’t know how we’ll all coexist. It’s a bad idea, innit?
” I give an uncomfortable chuckle, but it’s met with nothing.
The silence on the other end of the phone makes me want to groan.
He knows something. “What aren’t you telling me? ”
“Are you certain they want to stay with you?”
“No. Not at all. Granny seems to think so, but I think it’s mad. We’ll know when they get into town.”
“They’re already in town, Gav. They’re parked up at your grandparents’ house now. Saw the campervan this morning.”
My stomach bottoms out. I knew they wouldn’t want to stay here.
Ever since Dad lost his job and all their money and they’d asked me to buy the house, they’ve been weird about being on the property in general.
I can’t imagine them parking on this land or sleeping in one of the extra bedrooms. Not when the primary room was always theirs.
It would be weird for all of us, and they would be miserable.
Besides, they never do what they say they’re going to do, so why should this be any different?
“Figures,” I say. “Guess it’s better than us walking on eggshells around each other.”
“You could have a conversation about—”
“They won’t, and you know it.”
Rory lets out a breath. “Well, ring if you need anything. I’m off for the next few days. Canceled all my appointments for the storm. Don’t want my patients trying to drive through the snow.”
“That’s wise. We’ll be here if you need anything,” I tell him before ringing off.
Rory’s been my best friend since we were skinning our knees and climbing trees together as kids.
We look out for each other—or, we always have in the past. Since my ex-girlfriend fully wrecked my world, he’s mostly been the one looking out for me.
I close the trap doors over the troughs and climb back down the ladder.
Callie will probably be awake soon and she’ll need the news.
Her sister isn’t coming today. She’s going to be devastated, but she’ll just have to spend the day with me.
I wish I could say we started off on the wrong foot and try to right it somehow, but that’s not even true.
We began on the right foot, got thrown way off the path, and now need to find our way back to it again.
But I have hope and an endlessly cheerful disposition. I believe in my ability to bring her around.
The movie last night ended up being a great idea. It’s been years since I’ve watched White Christmas, and while the humor and the music were both entertaining, Callie’s dreamy expression was really the brilliant part of the evening.
She fell asleep on the sofa, and I left her there with a blanket for the night.
It’s where she is now, so long as she hasn’t woken yet.
I feel eagerness to return to the house and check on her, see if she’s up and ready for breakfast, and I don’t know why.
My policy on no relationships with tourists isn’t an old rule.
It’s something I’ve made up because it’s suddenly applicable.
It’s not like we have Americans coming through our little town every day.
But this American is sticking around for a couple weeks, and I’ve made very little progress in my attempt at becoming her friend. The movie was a step in the right direction, but we’ve still got a fair trek to go.
I pull out my phone and text Granny.
Gavin
They parked at your house, I hear
The next half-hour passes as I finish my chores, but when I head back to the house, my feet crunching through the snow, I have a text from her.
Granny Mackenzie
Arrived late last night. Didn’t know were coming here. Thought coming to your house.
Gavin
They’re probably happier there. I’ll see them when I see them. Shall we come up for dinner tonight? I can bring something
Granny Mackenzie
Elbow acting up. Another storm coming.
I pivot, looking at the clouds in the distance, but everything is white, and it’s impossible to see anything beyond the immediate yard.
I turn toward my neighbor Rhona’s house instead, pulling my coat tighter.
She’d not turn down help with her animals, I reckon.
She’s fully capable, but her farm is much larger than mine, and with this storm, I doubt her help is coming in for the day.
I text again as I walk.
Gavin
Another time, then
Granny Mackenzie
We’ll come to you.
Gavin
Not a good idea if it’s storming
Granny Mackenzie
I’ll be judge of that. You’ve plenty of beds.
I chuckle as I put my phone away and finish my walk to Rhona’s property.