Coming home to roost #3
“And you didn’t even consider that it might not be the place but the alpaca, did you?
” Hailey sighed. The conversation was clearly making her uncomfortable, and she probably had other plans for the evening.
As had Shona. When she had woken up this morning, she would not have expected to own three more alpacas and two dogs by nightfall – and to be facing a major housing crisis.
“You should have mentioned something. I admit, I may be a little thoughtless at times. But it’s not deliberate or anything.
Some things I don’t notice. If I had known ...
” Shona fell silent when she saw the looks the others gave her.
It was true: she had known, if only at a subconscious level.
She had had an inkling that she was taking advantage of her cousins.
Even though Kristy and Hailey had never asked her for anything specifically, their occasional snide remarks had been clear enough – and she had preferred to ignore them because it was easier that way.
If someone wanted something from her, they could come straight out and ask for it.
This approach had served her well in the past, but now it was slowly dawning on her that others might interpret her behaviour quite differently.
“I’m sorry,” she concluded, genuinely contrite.
“I’m sorry too,” Hailey said, and after a sideways glance at Kristy, “We’re sorry.
But we think it would be better for our relationship if you got your own place.
You know, when Nessie moved into the stable, I thought we could work things out, so Kristy and I agreed to sit you down for a talk.
But now ...” She pointed at the two dogs, who sat dutifully next to Shona as if following the human conversation with interest.
“I didn’t plan this!” cried Shona.
“So do you have them temporarily or are they yours to keep?” enquired Hailey.
“It doesn’t matter!” Kristy exclaimed. “Even if they’re only here for a while, you can bet there’ll be another catastrophe three days later.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say they are a catastrophe.
It’s not their fault they need a new home, and it’s not my fault either.
” Shona squared her shoulders and straightened up.
She hadn’t planned to adopt any dogs, but despite their brief time together, Orla and Higgins already had a firm place in her heart.
There was no way she would give them up.
They were her dogs; she had adopted them and was responsible for them. Full stop.
“I get it, and I’m sure they’re great. I like dogs too, but we really don’t have that kind of space here. Where are they supposed to sleep?” Hailey was a little more diplomatic than her sister.
“In the living room? I mean, I know it’s not ideal, but ...” Shona saw that she was quickly losing ground. And when Higgins started retching and then vomited the half-digested pies he had wolfed down onto the kitchen floor, she knew the battle was over. Good thing she was still wearing her wellies!
“That’s it! I’ve had it,” Kristy bellowed. “I’m going to sleep at Ma and Da’s tonight, but I need a solution for this by tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to go. I’ll go stay with my da,” Shona said quickly. Maybe that was the best solution anyway. Harriswood House was much bigger and the residents much more dog friendly.
“Oh no, I’m leaving,” said Kristy, pointing to the floor. “And when I come back, this kitchen better be spotless!” She turned on her heel and rushed up the stairs to her room.
“Oh boy, what a mess. I’m sorry how that went down,” Hailey sighed, looking around uncomfortably. “Um. I just remembered something … I have to head out again.” With that, she turned around and was gone from the house a moment later.
Shona was just wondering where to start when Kristy stormed back down the stairs carrying a large shoulder bag. She left without saying goodbye and without giving the kitchen another glance.
“That’s just great. What are we going to do now?
” Shona looked around indecisively and felt more helpless than ever before in her life.
The easiest solution would be to call her da and ask him to pick her up.
But perhaps Kristy and Hailey were right.
She had to stop taking the easy way out and shoulder responsibility.
Adulting was going quite well at work, so she should be able to do the same in her private life.
“Come with me,” she said to the dogs and walked over to the living room. There she showed them the spread-out horse blankets. “Just lie down and don’t get into anything. I have to clean the kitchen and then we’ll see about the rest.”
It wasn’t particularly late when Kendrick left the pub and walked to his car.
But the conversation with Betty, Jack and Rupert had taken its toll on him and he felt as if he had just run a marathon or up a mountain trail.
He was quite impressed by how open and unbiased the three of them were – at least as far as Glenna and Davina were concerned.
They probably thought him stubborn and self-centred.
They hadn’t put it like that, but it was the subtext he had picked up.
And they were right in their unflattering assessment: he was the one who had to make a decision and live with the consequences.
And it would be smart to decide with a clear head and an open heart instead of a bruised ego.
How long it would take for him to reach this state was anyone’s guess, but there was no need to rush it anyway.
That was the gut feeling he had experienced on Saturday and shared with Glenna and Davina – and they had accepted it.
If they were able to do that, he should too, right?
He didn’t have to take action right now: it was time to focus on himself and his life.
As Kendrick got into the car, this sudden realisation took a heavy load from his shoulders.
Nothing had actually changed, but he hoped he had just managed to flip the switch in his mind.
His agony and exhaustion were suddenly gone, and he felt half tempted to get out and go back to the pub to celebrate his newfound freedom, his ego shed.
No, he couldn’t risk it. Who knew what crazy ideas those three would plant in his brain next? Better to go home.
He was about to drive off when he noticed Shona and her new furry companions in the rear-view mirror. She was carrying a large rucksack and as far as he could tell, she looked downcast.
He quickly got out of the car again. “Are you alright?” he asked, “Evening constitutional?”
“Does this look like a leisurely walk with my dogs?” she hissed warily.
“You tell me.” He gave her closer look. Shona’s face was free of make-up and looked as if she had been crying. “Is something wrong with the dogs?” he asked while holding out both hands for them to sniff. Unlike Shona, the two seemed more relaxed than a few hours ago.
“I think they’re okay,” she said, her voice strained.
“But you aren’t?” he probed. Something was definitely up.
He had seen Shona Fraser in many different states of mind: excited, angry, seductive, temperamental – but she had always radiated a natural self-confidence he envied.
Right now, there was no sign of it. She looked dejected and lost and defiant in such a touching way that he would have loved to hold her in his arms.
“Why wouldn’t I be okay? Just because my life is falling apart at the seams?” He had the impression she wanted to sound belligerent, but mid-sentence her voice cracked, and she was fighting a losing battle against tears.
“Hey, what happened? Can I do anything? Maybe take your bag? It looks heavy.” He pointed at the large rucksack she was carrying. One of the dogs growled softly and he stepped back. Whatever was going on, she had found two loyal companions and protectors in these wolfhounds.
“I don’t want to hurt Shona,” he said soothingly in their direction and held out both hands again to show how harmless he was.
“I just want to help.” Shona said nothing, but one of the dogs took a few steps towards him and tentatively sniffed his hand.
“Good girl,” Kendrick continued softly and let his other hand glide into his jacket pocket to find some of the dog treats he always carried to make friends with patients or guard dogs.
He pulled out a small biscuit and offered it to the dog who looked round at Shona as if asking for permission, then gently took the treat from his hand and ate it.
The treat got him a timid tail wag and a begging look, head tilted.
“Do you want another one?” Kendrick asked and offered one more biscuit.
“I don’t think they’re afraid of men. They’re just shy,” Shona remarked with a wry smile. “Orla seems to like you.”
“That’s good, because I like her too.” He was pleased that the dog now allowed him to pet her and closed her eyes happily as he scratched her ears. “Now, what’s up with you?”
Shona sighed and seemed unsure if she should confide in him or not. Eventually she said: “My cousins kicked me out and I’m on my way to the distillery to camp out there for now.”
“What?” Kendrick thought he had misheard. “Because of the dogs?”
“Yes and no. It seems like the dogs were the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak. They’ve obviously wanted to get rid of me for a while now.”
She looked as if she still couldn’t grasp what had happened, and he felt for her.
But why on earth was she planning to spend the night at her business?
! Couldn’t she stay at her da’s place? Or in one of the cottages belonging to her brother’s hotel?
Surely something would be available this time of year.
“Did they actually kick you out tonight?” That seemed a little abrupt and not at all like Kristy and Hailey.
“No, they ...” Shona shook her head and angrily wiped a tear from her cheek with the heel of her hand. “It’s a long story and I don’t want to bore you.”