Chapter Sixty-Three
Brodie frowned when he pulled his phone from his pocket and saw Charlotte was calling. ‘Hi, sis, what’s up?’ He hoped everything was okay. He was still working on the project in Drymen but was glad to take a break.
‘Hi, Brodie, what on earth is going on? What did you do?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean,’ she said, her voice clipped, ‘that I have just spoken to Flora and when I asked about you she was very vague and said she hadn’t seen you for a few weeks. I’m your sister, your big sister at that, so am asking what did you do?’
Brodie didn’t speak, knowing that when it came to his sister it was better to say less and listen more.
‘I mean, what on earth are you thinking of, you big eejit? I can’t remember when you last, correction, ever had a woman like that interested in you. And you go and stuff it up.’
Brodie couldn’t decide whether he was relieved or scared that his sister was reading him the riot act. Everything she said was spot on. ‘Wait, what? Hang on . . . how come you were talking to Flora? I didn’t realise you two were in touch.’
She muttered an expletive under her breath, though not so quiet that he didn’t get an inkling of what she thought of him.
‘You put us in touch. Remember? With her gran and her search for her sister?’
He smacked the heel of his hand off his forehead. Of course he had.
‘Anyway, she didn’t call me. I phoned her after she sent me a text saying there had been some good news for her gran. She wanted to let me know.’
Brodie smiled, genuinely happy for Iris. But also not liking that, because of his own actions, he was hearing this news from his sister rather than from Flora direct. ‘What is the news?’
‘That’s none of your business and not something I can or would tell you anyway. You know that.’
Brodie picked up his bottle of water and took a drink. ‘How are the kids?’ he asked, changing the subject.
‘The kids are fine but keep asking after Flora. She was a huge hit, as you well know. Don’t think you’ve managed to change the subject.’
Brodie braced himself.
‘It’s time you took responsibility, Brodie. You’re not a wee boy any more. Honestly. Sort yourself out because . . .’
‘Okay, okay,’ he said, knowing it was time to nip this in the bud. ‘I stuffed up, okay. There’s no need to tell me I’m an idiot. I get it. I know it. I live with the consequences. But I’m going to do my best to put things right. I just don’t know if it will work . . . but I’m trying, Chaz, I am.’
Taking a seat with his back against a tree, he told his sister about his plans to win Flora back.
‘Oh, Brodie,’ Charlotte’s voice softened slightly.
‘That sounds lovely. It really does. But I think starting with a simple “sorry” might be more effective. The grand gesture is incredible and very romantic — don’t get me wrong.
But if you want my advice . . . take the small step first. You don’t need to try and sweep her off her feet. ’
Brodie sighed. Annoying as she could be, Charlotte was usually right. ‘What should I do then?’
‘Tell her you want to talk. And apologise. Then—’
Charlotte’s end of the phone turned to utter chaos with squeals, crying and shouts.
‘Oh, Lucy,’ Charlotte could be heard to scold. ‘You need to be kinder to your brother. Poor Gregor. Come here, love.’
Brodie rolled his eyes at the irony of his sister’s words. He knew just how Gregor felt. ‘Is everything okay?’
‘I need to go. Lucy has just emptied her juice all over Gregor’s head.’
‘Okay, sis. Thanks for the pep talk.’
‘Keep me posted and remember what I said.’ With that she ended the call.
Brodie slipped his phone into his pocket and exhaled slowly.
His sister was right. He needed to talk to Flora.
There was no point in trying to create the perfect scenario for an apology.
The grand gesture could come after he’d made things right.
If he could make things right. Pulling his phone out, he did what he should have done weeks ago.
Flora . . . he typed. His thumb hovered, unsure what else to say.
Then he quickly added, Please, can you give me a chance to explain?
Before he could talk himself out of it, he pressed send.
Now he would wait and hope she would respond.