Chapter Twenty-Four
Iris hadn’t mentioned the box again to Flora and Flora thought it best to leave the topic alone.
When she’d messaged her parents, James and Gina, earlier that day with her regular photo updates of snaps of her gran, the birds, the village and the loch she had wondered whether or not to mention it.
Then decided against it. Really, she reminded herself, it was none of her business.
Her gran had previously told her that she’d never been very close to her own mother.
She had described her as being a bit distant when she was growing up.
She had always been closer to her dad. Flora knew that whatever was in the box could have triggered memories for Iris that she didn’t want to think about.
And she had to respect that. Her gran would tell her when she was ready.
If she was ready. But she was worried about her as she was quieter than usual, enough for Flora to notice.
She was distracted, her mind elsewhere and even the parrots weren’t making her chuckle with laughter the way that they usually did.
They seemed to pick up on her mood, seeming subdued themselves.
Not that Flora missed their more excitable chatter — not after last week and their comments about Brodie.
Flora had been busy sorting the curtains for Lily and already had a small pile of alterations to sort for Jessica who told her once she was ready, she should start an Instagram account.
‘People will be all over you when they know you can sort their stuff out for them,’ she said.
But that seemed a step too far for Flora at the moment, when she was only here for the summer.
She was hoping that word of mouth would soon spread the news about her services and she planned to leave a few flyers in shops around the village.
She had tried to engage her gran in a conversation about how she’d previously worked when doing alterations for the village and whether she had any tips.
She hoped that would remind Iris that she was there for her and welcomed her gran’s advice.
‘I’m sure however you do it will be just grand.’ Iris smiled proudly at her. ‘You’re a lady of many talents, dearie.’
‘Thanks, Gran. I’ve got you to thank for that.’ She sighed. ‘I do have to admit though, pub quizzes are not my thing. I’m a bit worried about later. I hope you’re coming.’ She looked at her gran whose brow was a bit creased as she stared out the window.
‘Oh, I forgot about that. Is it really that time of June already?’
The quiz was held on the third Wednesday of the month in the local pub. Flora knew Iris was a regular and that her team, the Golden Girls and Gus, had something of a reputation for being very good but also extremely competitive. Apparently, they were a force to be reckoned with.
‘Well, the thing is,’ admitted Iris, ‘I’m not sure if I should go.’
‘What?’ Flora gasped. ‘You can’t not go. What about the rest of the team?’ This was not like her gran at all. She was so dependable and would normally never let anyone else down. Flora couldn’t remember her gran ever having cried off anything.
‘It’s just the thought of having to make chit-chat with everyone . . .’
‘But, Gran you love speaking to folk. You’re always having a chinwag with someone when you’re out in the village.
That’s one of your many strengths. You’re so good with people.
’ This was not like her gran at all. ‘And . . .’ she said desperately, ‘I only agreed to go because I knew you would be there.’ That wasn’t entirely true but she hoped it would convince her gran otherwise.
Flora’s apprehension about going was down to her being rubbish at pub quizzes, but part of her also wanted to have a night out.
It felt nice to be asked by Jessica and she was looking forward to wearing something other than shorts, T-shirt and flip-flops.
Iris sighed. ‘Fair enough. Okay I’ll think about it.’
‘How about I rustle us up some dinner? What about an omelette and some salad? You go and have a shower while I make it. That might perk you up. Then you can take me to the pub and show me how it’s done. Isn’t your team usually the winning one?’
Iris looked at her with uncertainty. ‘Aye, there is that . . . I mean we’ve been doing well these past couple of months and I don’t quite know how they’ll manage without me.
I mean, Catriona and Gus are great but we all have different areas of expertise.
’ She shuddered. ‘And, if I don’t go, then wee Jeannie may just decide she’s Team Captain.
And that won’t do at all as she tends to let the power go to her head.
You should hear her when we’ve fundraising meetings.
And those Bay Village Rollers may get one over on us .
. . and that won’t do at all. Not when we’ve been on a streak. ’
Flora breathed a sigh of relief. That was more like the gran she knew.
Feisty and competitive to the core. She always rolled her sleeves up and got stuck into things.
She was a regular visitor to see Flora and her parents when she was growing up in Stirling — which was only about a forty-minute drive from Rowan Bay.
The sight of Iris on the starting line at her primary school races when she was a little girl, for the parents’ and carers’ race, was one to behold.
She had always arrived wearing leisure wear and trainers, ‘just in case’, and she was always determined to win. And she usually did.
‘Okay, you’re right, dear. You’re on. Our team will show you how it’s done.’ She turned to go and get ready then paused and looked back. ‘Oh, and if you want to add some chives to the omelette then you’ll get them from the pot on the patio.’ Her smile was brighter now.
‘That is great, Gran. I’m so glad.’
‘I’ll just go and freshen up.’
Flora took some kitchen roll and scissors outside to the patio and walked over to the pots of herbs that sat at the edge of the paving. As she bent down, she could smell the faint oniony scent of the chives and she snipped off just enough to scatter into the egg mixture for the omelette.
‘Hi, Flora.’ The voice behind made Flora jump. She turned to see Brodie tidying away his gear for the evening.
She raised her hands over her eyes to shield them from the sun. ‘Oh, hi there. I didn’t realise you were still here.’ There was something about the way he looked at her that caught her off guard and made her stomach flutter.
He walked towards her still managing to look very fit despite his grubby and crumpled work gear. ‘How’s your gran? She’s been a bit quieter than usual the past few days. Usually she likes to come out and have a bit of a blether with me.’
For a moment she wondered if she should say anything but what could she say? The truth was that she didn’t really know what was on her gran’s mind. ‘Yes, she’s a bit out of sorts so I’m keeping an eye on her. But she’s coming to the pub quiz later so that’s a positive sign.’
‘That is good.’ He grinned. ‘I’ve heard her team are like demons.’
‘I’ve heard that too. They hold the record, apparently. It sounds like a competitive business.’
‘Well, I’ll let you go and get sorted then. And I’ll probably see you later.’
She looked at him in surprise. ‘Are you going too?’
‘Aye. It’s normally not my thing at all, but Reuben asked if I would help make up the team. He and Jessica have been wanting to try it for ages but needed some others to help make up the numbers.’
‘Oh dear. Sounds like we could be on the same team then as Jessica asked me to go along as well.’ She pulled a face, though she could feel her pulse start to quicken at the thought of him being there too.
‘I’m already worried. My mind goes blank whenever I get asked a question about anything.
Honestly, it’s as though I know nothing. ’
A smile played on his lips. ‘Och, well, you’re in good company. I don’t think your gran and her team has anything to worry about with us.’
‘Right, well I will see you later then. After I’ve swallowed an encyclopaedia or two and speed-read everything I can online.’ She tried to contain herself but the thought of seeing Brodie later gave her a wee thrill.
As though reading her mind, he raised an eyebrow and grinned. ‘See you there, Flora.’