Chapter Twenty
Flora’s mind raced wildly as she desperately thought of something, anything to say that could save this awful, brutal situation.
But what could she say? Honestly, those bloody birds.
They were an absolute liability. She tried to smile as nonchalantly as was possible as she took a deep, steadying breath.
‘They’re such clever birds,’ she managed to say, trying to keep her voice even although it was verging on hysteria.
‘They must be able to tell how warm it is out there in the garden.’ Her brain stalled as she grasped for something else to say.
‘Er, I was saying to them earlier that you must be very hot working in these conditions. It’s so hot.
You must be scorching hot . . .’ Her cheeks burned and she wished she could just vanish.
Brodie’s eyes flicked over to the birds and he raised an eyebrow in amusement. ‘Yes, I get that. They must know how hot I am and that was why I needed to come inside for a cooling drink of water. It’s boiling out there and I’m parched.’ With a smirk he added, ‘I’m scorching hot indeed.’
‘Yes, I mean I thought as much,’ she said tersely, trying not to look at the grin tugging at his lips.
‘They’re very intelligent boys.’ Iris hooted with laughter. ‘They pick up things so quickly. If Frank was still here, I’m sure they would have learned Portuguese with him. That’s why I love you both so much,’ she said, blowing them both a kiss.
Flora stared at the parrots, silently begging them not to start again. They gazed intently back at her and for a moment she felt as though she was looking at little feathered humans. Their eyes were so knowing. Honestly, they could be a pair of wee devils.
‘You are lovely,’ said Sidney, holding her gaze with curious, intelligent eyes. ‘My sweetie pie.’
‘And you are a real charmer,’ said Flora sarcastically, shaking her head.
‘Right, did you say coffee, Flora? Let’s go and get the kettle on,’ suggested Iris. ‘Thanks for checking that pane out for me, Brodie.’
He glanced up at the window. ‘Um, yes so it just needs a wee bit of attention, Iris. It’s nothing to worry about and I’ll get it sorted for you.’ He rubbed his hand across his jaw.
Flora was grateful for the change in subject but wasn’t sure she would be able to live this down. Ever.
‘Brodie, shall I bring your coffee out when it’s ready?’ she offered, desperate to create some distance between them while she gathered her composure again.
‘If you don’t mind, that would be great.’
‘Oh, wait, Brodie,’ called Iris.
Flora winced, praying her gran wasn’t going to embarrass her any more than she already was.
‘Did you manage to get this morning’s Wordle?’ She tilted her head, intrigued.
‘Eventually, though it was a tough one. Did you?’
‘No!’ She shook her head. ‘I didn’t have a scoobie. That’s the first time ever. Please do me a favour and put me out my misery.’
Brodie chuckled. ‘It was “grace”.’
Iris let out a frustrated sigh. ‘Och, of course it was. I should have known that.’
Brodie smiled. ‘You can’t get them every time and I’m impressed if that’s the first time you’ve been stuck.’ He walked towards the back door and pulled his boots on.
‘I won’t be long with that coffee,’ said Flora who had been watching their exchange in amusement.
‘Thanks.’ Brodie opened the door, giving her a thumbs up.
Once the door had closed, Iris turned to her.
‘He’s a clever clogs, that one. Not just a pretty face.
Mind you, I do have to admit that wee blunder was superbly saved, dear.
’ A soft smile played on her lips. ‘I did feel for you but I had no idea what to say. The birds must have overheard you talking to yourself earlier . . . I should have reminded you to be careful what you say around them. Their hearing is ridiculously good. They could hear a pin drop in Glasgow.’
Flora snorted with embarrassment and held her hands up in defeat.
‘Those birds have got me in more trouble than I care to admit over the years,’ admitted Iris. ‘But they’re good boys really. I’m just glad they can chatter away again.’
Flora nodded and remembered how traumatised the birds were when Iris had adopted them a few years ago.
The only words they would say then were, Shut up, stupid bird.
It was all they knew. Until, with Iris’s gentle care and attention, she had coaxed them into feeling safe and secure.
They had started chirping again and with patience she had told them she loved them and asked if they were okay.
Words they repeated often throughout the day.
Iris reached for three mugs and while they waited for the kettle to boil, she spooned coffee grounds into a cafetière. ‘Brodie just takes a splash of milk,’ she said to Flora who had fetched the milk from the fridge.
Once the coffee was ready, Flora took Brodie’s mug and headed outside. The sooner she did this the better. She walked over and set the mug, and a shortbread biscuit, gently down on the ground next to him. ‘There you go, Brodie.’
He stood up and stretched his arms above his head, his T-shirt lifting just enough to catch her eye. ‘Thanks. I’m flagging a bit today. I’m feeling it in my back this morning, despite the sauna. I thought that might have helped.’
‘I’m not surprised. You haven’t stopped all week.’ She chewed her bottom lip, knowing that she had to apologise but still finding it hard to know what to say. ‘Look, Brodie, I . . . er . . . think I owe you an apology,’ she blurted out quickly.
His eyes twinkled in amusement. ‘For the birds’ chat? Don’t worry about that.’
Her cheeks flushed — with embarrassment and annoyance at him and herself — and she shook her head. ‘No! I mean, I have no idea how they came up with that. Honestly, they’re some pair. They do tend to talk a lot of gibberish . . .’
He raised his brows and waited.
‘I just wanted to say I’m sorry if I was a bit nippy with you to start with. I was worried that you were taking advantage of my gran, which was wrong of me. I shouldn’t have assumed anything. I’ve just had bad experiences of tradesmen myself. The ones I’ve had have mostly been shysters.’
He shrugged. ‘Don’t worry about it. You have every right to be suspicious of strange men in your gran’s garden.
I would be the same if she was my gran. And .
. . well, to be honest, it didn’t really help us get off to a good start when I nearly knocked you off your feet and then you thought I was creeping around while you were sunbathing. ’
‘That’s true,’ she admitted. ‘But you seem to be a bit of a favourite in the village and are clearly very good at what you’re doing.’
He chuckled and bent down to lift up the mug and raised it at her before taking a sip. ‘Cheers.’
‘A truce then?’
‘Definitely. And thanks for the coffee.’
Flora walked back to the cottage feeling a lot more relaxed now that the air had been cleared; she realised she was smiling. Those parrots were absolutely right. She knew it was wrong and very clichéd to be swooning over the gardener, but Brodie was scorching hot.