Chapter Seven
Iris was thrilled to have Flora staying and the first couple of days had quickly passed by as they spent time walking and popping out for coffee.
Though every time they left the boathouse, they would inevitably bump into someone Iris knew and she would proudly introduce Flora to them.
So far, they had met Moira from The Bay gift shop, Catriona and Angus whose daughter Jessica managed the bakery, Emmet from the sauna and Agata, the hairdresser.
It was an in-house family joke with Flora and her parents, to gently tease Iris about being like wee Isa, the character from the TV show Still Game who was a bit of a blether.
Though at times, Iris had had to explain to confused bystanders that her family didn’t call her that because they thought she was a small tax-free savings account.
Earlier that morning they had bumped into the owner of The Wee Bookshop, Aisling, and now, while Iris paid for a loaf of bread, Jessica swapped numbers with Flora insisting that they all must get together.
It was so lovely having Flora’s company and Iris was quickly realising that her granddaughter needed to lean on someone, too.
When she had arrived at the beginning of the week, she had seemed more fragile than usual, which was to be expected.
Iris hoped that her advice and wisdom — one advantage of being in her senior years — was helping.
She was worried that the job loss might impact Flora’s confidence, especially as Flora had told her it had been her dream role.
But she had definitely noticed that a few days by the loch in the sunshine had helped her unwind.
Her shoulders were less hunched than on Monday and there was colour in her cheeks again. The loch was working its magic.
It was also great to have Flora’s perspective, energy and enthusiasm on her decluttering project.
As well as giving Flora a focus, she had been such a help to Iris tackling everything that needed to be done in the old boathouse.
There was so much to do that Iris had become overwhelmed but Flora had organised what they should do first. The study was filled with books that belonged to her late husband, Frank, and that seemed a good place to start.
Now as they sat outside in the garden with their morning tea, she watched Flora’s eyes wander to the boat slipway and jetty at the end of the garden.
There was a faint scent of lavender and the wildflowers, which had flourished the past couple of years, nodded in the breeze.
It had been such an enchanting childhood garden for her, the perfect place to explore, although she had always been warned to stay away from the jetty.
Frank had often taken Flora out rowing on the loch and if the weather was especially fine, they’d go across to Inchcailloch Island for picnics.
She held magical memories of those idyllic times and could remember bluebells blanketing the ground there.
So many bluebells, now one of her favourite flowers.
Gazing across the garden, she wished she could do more to keep it all neat and tidy.
‘It’s such a beautiful space, Gran. I love this garden.’
Iris nodded. ‘Yes, I know. I’ve always loved it too.
I’ve so many happy memories of you playing there and your dad when he was a wee boy.
It really has been my sanctuary . . . And now I’m just a bit embarrassed that it’s become such a mess.
’ It was terribly overgrown, with weeds and flowers battling to bloom.
‘Maybe I could help?’ Flora looked doubtful as she crinkled up her nose.
Iris chuckled. Gardening had never really been something Flora had enjoyed, even as a wee girl. ‘Don’t worry, I know how much you hate weeding. Did I tell you I’ve got a chap coming in to start garden work on Monday?’
‘You didn’t, Gran. But that’s not a bad idea. At least he can get things started and then . . . I could maybe lend a hand.’
‘Flora, you’re already helping me enough with the decluttering. And anyway, Brodie has loads of ideas. He’ll be here for a while, I think.’
‘And what is he going to do exactly?’ asked Flora.
Iris shrugged. ‘I suppose I’ve left it up to him. He’s got a vision.’
‘But surely he could do anything and charge you an absolute fortune for things you don’t even want.
You have to be careful, Gran. I’ve heard too many stories of pensioners taken in by smooth-talking workmen who try to overcharge and cut corners.
That’s why I prefer doing as much as I can myself.
You just never know who you’re inviting into your house . . . or garden.’
Iris raised an eyebrow. ‘I know, dear. If you don’t know how to do something, then you look up a video on YouTube and learn. But I think landscape gardening is beyond you and me regardless of how many YouTube or TikTok videos we watch.’
Flora crossed her arms, a quizzical look on her face. ‘What’s this vision that he has?’
‘Well,’ Iris said, the excitement in her voice growing, ‘the whole shebang. He’s going to cut all of that back—’ she pointed towards the overgrown flowerbeds ‘and trim all the hedges to begin with. Then he’s going to landscape the lawn to give it more design and shape and add some raised beds and a path.
’ She shifted in her chair and looked down at the cracked paving stones on the patio, sprouting tufts of weeds.
‘And he’s going to replace this old paving which I’ve been wanting done for years.
I’ve found some lovely Indian quartz which is the bee’s knees. ’
Flora pursed her lips as she listened. ‘Well, I just hope he does a proper transformation, Gran, and not some half-arsed job.’
Iris clapped her hands together enthusiastically.
‘Of course he will. He comes highly recommended by friends. Jeannie used him for her garden and you should see it — even Monty Don would be green with envy. Anyway, it is wonderful having you here, dear. I honestly think this will be the best summer ever.’ She felt her eyes welling up as she looked at Flora.
‘I’m extremely glad to be here with you, Gran. Even more so now I can be on hand to keep an eye on the gardener.’
Iris gave her a knowing look and managed to suppress a smile. ‘Oh, Flora, always so suspicious.’
She had a feeling that when Flora finally met Brodie she might be in for a pleasant surprise.