Chapter Fifteen
Brodie was in his element. He was happiest digging outside alone.
He found plunging the spade into the soil repetitively quite meditative.
It was satisfying to feel the earth give way, with only the sounds of the birds for company.
Occasionally he would stop to watch them hop around, collecting twigs and feathers in their beaks.
He was glad that the weather had stayed dry as it made his job easier: there was still give in the soil, though he was getting hot.
He wiped his forearm across his brow, smearing a streak of soil and sweat across his skin.
His T-shirt clung to his back, damp with effort and he was tempted to strip off and go for a swim in the loch to cool off.
He paused, holding both hands on the spade.
He felt pleased as he looked at the huge patch he had cleared over the past few days.
Brodie glanced across to the cottage and wondered where Flora was.
He hadn’t seen her since Monday morning when he’d insisted that she warm up after her swim.
Maybe he’d been a bit too bossy with her but he was worried that she had cold-water shock.
His paranoia wasn’t without cause — he’d had his own bad experience when he was younger.
It had happened years ago but the memory was still vivid, sharp and painful.
He had been swimming with friends in a loch in Perthshire and they’d stupidly gone out of their depth.
He could still remember the terrifying realisation that he couldn’t move as the freezing water had taken a hold of his body.
Somehow, he and his friends had managed to help haul each other out, shaking with cold and fear.
They realised too late that one of the party was missing.
By the time they raised the alarm it was too late.
Rory’s body was recovered a few days later.
It was part of the reason he now volunteered with the rescue crew.
He didn’t want anyone to go through what Rory’s family or he and his friends had.
The memories still clung to him which was why when he saw her floating in the water, every muscle tensed.
It was his own fear, deep-rooted and irrational perhaps, but very real to him, that ensured he was always on alert when near water.
Maybe that was why she’d been avoiding him?
He’d quite probably come on too strong. He thought about their interactions since first meeting last week.
He’d been running to the rescue boat when he almost collided with her in the high street, then saved her from worse sunburn and then thought she was in trouble in the water.
But at every turn she seemed to resent him.
Obviously, they had gotten off on the wrong foot and he decided that if he saw her, he would explain that he wasn’t who she evidently thought he was.
Feeling parched, he picked up his bottle and took a swig of the last few dribbles of water.
He was still thirsty though and now would be as good a time as any to go and fill it up in the utility room.
He walked across the lawn up to the house.
When he reached the back door he knocked, aware of the dirt clinging to his boots.
There was no answer so he opened the handle and pushed it open slightly.
‘Hello,’ he called. ‘I’m just coming in for some water.
’ He kicked off his boots and walked towards the sink to start filling his bottle.
‘Oh, hello, Brodie,’ said a voice behind him.
Brodie jumped and spun round as though he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, even though Iris told him to come into the cottage whenever he wanted to.
‘Hey, Flora. I’m just in to fill up my water bottle.
’ He pointed at it as though to say this is my water bottle, honest, and that is the truth.
She was carrying a box and paused to set it down on the ground next to a pile of boxes. ‘No problem at all. I guess it’s hot out there.’
Brodie nodded. ‘That looks heavy.’ He signalled towards the boxes. ‘Can I give you a wee hand?’ When he saw her pursing her lips, he realised he had once again somehow managed to offend. But to his surprise she shrugged.
‘Okay, go on then, seeing as you’re here and offering. It’s just stuff for the bookshop that’s to go in my car.’ She picked up the first box from the pile. ‘Don’t know how many I will get in, but let’s see how we get on.’
Brodie wiped his hands on his shorts and went to the door to pull on his boots.
Their hands brushed as they both went to lift the same box; he felt a sudden jolt run through him.
He managed to maintain his composure though and quietly busied himself with carrying the boxes out to her car.
They worked as a team and, after ten minutes, Flora’s car was crammed full of all the books.
‘Thanks, Brodie.’
‘Nae bother at all. Happy to help.’ He noticed that there was a faint crease between her brows and she seemed distracted.
He was desperate to say what was on his mind.
‘Look, I just wanted to say that if I came across a bit strong on Monday, or made you feel uncomfortable, then I’m sorry.
That wasn’t my intention. I just wanted to make sure you were okay as you seemed really cold. ’
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. ‘Don’t be daft. There’s no need to apologise at all. In fact, it’s me who should be thanking you for checking in on me. I appreciate it.’
‘I go all “health and safety” when it comes to water,’ he explained, using his fingers to make quotation marks in the air.
She gave him a small smile but still seemed distracted, her hands twitching nervously.
Brodie didn’t know her well enough to ask what was wrong and if there was something on her mind.
For a moment he hovered as he wondered if he should say something, anything else.
But his mind went blank and he took the lid from his water bottle to take a drink, hoping to buy himself some time to think of something appropriate or helpful to say. But he couldn’t think of either.
‘Right, I’d best get on.’ She, cast her eyes back towards the house. ‘I want to try and finish off the study today, so I can start painting it tomorrow. Thanks again for your help. I appreciate it.’
‘Any time. See you later, Flora.’ He allowed his gaze to linger on her for just a second longer before he turned away.