Chapter Seventeen Orkney
Chapter Seventeen
Orkney
Liv was taking a quick fag break from work outside the pub. She sat enjoying the sunshine and puffing furiously on her cigarette. She’d thought about quitting altogether, but instead had cut down drastically. She couldn’t be expected to give up all her bad habits.
She tossed the fag end away and made her way back to the empty pub. Trade was slow in the afternoon, just a few tourists and a couple of regulars. Liv busied herself wiping down the gantry and the sticky counter.
The door flew open and Liv saw a woman stride up to the bar. She did a double take. Was that Evie with dyed black hair? She blinked and quickly realised her mistake, but this woman was the double of her sister.
The woman smiled at her. There was something about that smile, so smug, perfect and white that put Liv on edge.
“Hi there,” she drawled.
“Oh Christ,” thought Liv. “It gets worse. She’s a fucking Yank.” Liv had complete disdain for most people, but especially Americans, who she considered offensively cheerful and over-friendly.
The woman in front of her bucked that trend and demanded imperiously, “I’d like a glass of decent red wine. Is that possible around here?” Liv quickly got over her shock of the sight of her and managed to reel off the choices from the wine list.
The woman ordered a large Malbec and asked if she could smoke. “Nope. You have to go outside and as you can see it’s started to rain and there’s a fair breeze blowing. I’d not advise it.”
“Actually, I hope you can help me. Is it … Liv?” Liv was immediately on her guard.
She growled warily. “How do you know my name and what the hell do you want?”
“I’m Amelia. Now don’t freak out, but I know all about you. My dad was your grandfather. So, we are sort of related I suppose. It’s complicated.”
“What the hell are you going on about?” said Liv, completely confused. She got a lot of drunks in here talking crap but this was on another level.
“Sorry, I blurted that out. Do you have time to sit down?”
“No, I’m busy,” snapped Liv. Who was this woman? What the hell was she going on about?
“Don’t get all antsy. We’re family. We can be civil. Your mom, Cara, was my half-sister. We both shared the same dad. He left Orkney when he got your grandmother Sheila pregnant and sent them money. He never properly told me I had a half-sister. I only discovered it after he died.”
Despite herself, Liv was interested, but instead said coolly, “Well good for you. But I really couldn’t care less. My mother told me her dad buggered off before she was born, so I really don’t have anything to say to you.”
“Well, I think it would be worth your while to hear me out,” said Amelia. “I know all about you, Liv, and much more importantly I know all about your sister.”
Liv remained silent. The two women stared at each other. Eventually, and much to her annoyance Liv cracked first. “OK. What’s your game? You obviously know you look just like her. Apart from the hair, of course. What the fuck do you want with me?”
Amelia replied, “I just need to know that I can rely on your help.”
“My help, for what?”
Amelia took a large swig of her wine. “Look, I know I am just a stranger, but we are family Liv, and something doesn’t feel right or fair to me. Can you tell me why Evie is swanning around with her own art gallery and is the sole owner of that cute cottage? And you’re working here?”
She looked around the bar, her nose wrinkled in distaste.
“I’m guessing you don’t own a house of your own?”
Liv replied tightly: “That’s none of your fucking business. I don’t know who you think you are or what your beef is with my sister, but you can fuck right off.”
“Oh come on, Liv. Be smart. She’s living the dream. I ask you, is that fair? Where is our share of good fortune – why does she get to have it all?”
Liv swallowed hard. She couldn’t help the old feelings of resentment and rage against Evie welling up inside.
And then there was Brodie. He was just a boy, but Liv had loved him and had to watch as he became besotted with Evie and barely registered her existence.
She was deeply ashamed and overwhelmed with guilt after that fine young man had died on that terrible night.
“Look I just want a quiet life and no hassle. I don’t know why the hell you think I would ever want to help you. I don’t know you from a bar of soap and I don’t know what game you are playing here.”
Amelia looked at her levelly. “Oh, I think you do, Liv, and once you hear what I have to tell you, I guarantee you will be fully on board. What have you got to lose?”
Liv grunted. “The will to live for a start.”
Liv was genuinely torn. This woman who looked so much like her sister had intrigued her and she wanted to hear more. But she had also worked so hard to get her act together and leave the past behind. Was it really worth raking it all up again? Eventually curiosity won.
She sighed, “Oh go on then. Say your piece. You are obviously desperate to tell me your little scheme. Then you can fuck off.”
Amelia leaned in and revealed her plan.