Chapter 7
Bex didn’t get her bath that evening. Before Lorna headed back downstairs, she popped her head back into the room and asked if Bex fancied going for a drink with her, but wasn’t surprised when the answer was no.
After the bombshell Bex had just dropped on her, it was clear she could do with a little thinking time too.
Hoping there would be no more interruptions for the evening, Bex set an alarm for the morning and headed to bed.
The first thing Bex did upon waking was head out of the room and downstairs. Hanging on the back door was a blue tea towel. She smiled to herself. Roddy’s system was working though she hoped it wasn’t him who had done it this time. There was no way he could be working the breakfast shift too.
‘Sorry, girl, we have to stay in for a little longer right now,’ Bex said as she ruffled Ruby’s fur. ‘I’m sure it won’t be long till I can let you out, though.’
As it happened, by the time Bex was out of the shower, hair dry and dressed, the tea towel had gone from the door.
‘Okay, come on, girl.’ Bex beckoned Ruby to her side. ‘We need to be quick. Just a wee now, and then I’ll let you out properly. Take you for a proper walk, okay? Maybe you could come with me to see Duncan. I could probably use the support.’
She was still torn as to whether she should go to Lorna’s pre-arranged family meeting or not.
Whatever Lorna had said about seeing her as a future sister-in-law was lovely, but right now she just didn’t see any way that she and Duncan could get there.
But her comment about Duncan clamming up was also completely true.
If Bex wasn’t there to tell them the truth, there was a good chance he’d just brush over everything.
Perhaps even pretend he had no idea what they were talking about.
And she wasn’t going to let him get away with that – not when he needed them.
After letting Ruby out for a quick wee, Bex headed back into the pub, where the smells of frying bacon and toast filled the air.
Back when she first visited Highland Hall, the very first conversation she and Duncan had shared had been about breakfast. Specifically, how Fergus kept no food in the castle and, if she wanted to eat, she would have to go out for something.
She hadn’t believed him and proceeded to waste copious amounts of time searching through the endless cupboards in the kitchen.
Thankfully, over the next year and a half she’d slowly persuaded Fergus to get into the habit of keeping at least the essential foods stocked in his cupboards.
Bread, milk, and obviously whisky. Although to be fair, he’d always managed that one.
Once again, she was struck with a wave of sadness at never getting to say goodbye to the old man.
Dozens of times after she and Duncan had split up, she’d considered calling him, just to see if he was okay.
But Fergus wasn’t really one for using a mobile phone and when he did use his, the only person he ever really spoke to was his sister.
And besides, Bex hadn’t wanted him to feel torn, like he was somehow betraying Duncan by still being in contact with her.
Now she realised how ridiculous that was, and what she would’ve given for just a brief, five-minute chat.
With the way her heart throbbed, she could only imagine how Duncan felt.
‘You’re not going to have to stay in here for much longer,’ Bex promised Ruby as she let her back into the room. ‘And I’ll try to sneak a sausage or a plate of scrambled egg for you, okay?’
Given that she was already breaking the rules by having the dog up there, it seemed silly not to go the whole hog and have food too. After all, Ruby had to eat.
Down in the dining area, there were two other tables occupied, one with an elderly couple who Bex vaguely recognised from the Burns Night festivities, and another couple who appeared to be tourists – judging from the ‘We Love LochDarroch’ beanies and hoodies they were wearing, not dressed remotely appropriately for the Scottish winter.
As she took a seat at one of the spare tables, a woman in her mid-sixties with bright blonde hair came over to her.
‘Mornin’. You’ll be Bex, then,’ she said in a broad Scottish accent. ‘I’m Julie. What’ll ye be havin’?’
‘Oh.’ Bex glanced down at the table only to find there was no sign of any menu.
‘Just let me know what you fancy, I’ll let you know if we’s got it,’ Julie replied.
As hungry as she was, Bex discovered that deciding what to eat with someone standing over you wasn’t the easiest thing. And so she said the first breakfast item to come into her head. ‘Could I get a bacon bap, please?’ she said. ‘With a fried egg in there too?’
‘Ye takin’ tea or coffee?’
This one didn’t take any thinking. ‘Coffee, please. A strong one. Oh, and, if it’s possible, could I get some scrambled egg and bacon, too?’
‘Bacon and egg bap, with egg an’ bacon?’
‘Yes, on a separate plate.’ She could already feel her cheeks warming. ‘I… I don’t like my foods mixing.’
Julie scoffed. ‘All right. Coffee’s coming up. Food’ll take a minute.’
‘Oh, I think I need to pay for my room,’ Bex said, not wanting to forget. ‘Is there any chance I can do that now too?’
Julie crinkled her nose. ‘Aye. I’ll fetch the machine.’
A moment later, she was standing next to the table, with the card machine in her hand, as Bex pulled her purse out of her bag.
‘Bit small ain’t it?’ Julie said, nodding towards the embroidered leather item, inside which Bex kept all her cards.
‘Fits everything I need in it,’ she replied, not sure why Julie thought it was okay to judge Bex’s choice of accessories. ‘Driver’s licence. Credit cards.’
‘One of them too-good-for-cash types, are you?’
‘Just one of those likes-to-watch-where-I’m-spending-my-money types.’ Bex tapped her card against the machine, not sure if she was keen on Julie or not. Still, she wasn’t going to risk being rude. Not with her hiding Ruby upstairs.
As Julie headed back to fetch her drink, Bex slipped her card back into the purse. It was actually a gift that Eilidh had made for her and one of the reasons she loved the little purse so much. And its size meant it was easy to carry in her pocket or any bag.
Her coffee had just arrived when she noticed someone staring at her.
Not someone at a table, but peering through from the kitchen.
The young woman looked around twenty, and while it was possible that she worked at the White Hart, it seemed unlikely she was doing a shift now, dressed in a thick knitted jumper with a hat that came down over her ears.
When she saw Bex looking at her, she smiled timidly, before walking over.
‘Hello?’ Bex said, hesitantly.
‘Hi. Sorry to interrupt.’ The young woman had removed her hat and revealed a mass of deep auburn hair. ‘I’m Fi.’
‘Fi?’ The name was familiar, but Bex couldn’t think why.
‘Roddy’s girlfriend. And Niall’s cousin.’
‘Oh, right,’ Bex said, nodding. ‘Do you work here, too? Because everything is great, and I’m so grateful to Roddy—’
‘I’m sorry for interrupting your breakfast,’ Fi said, cutting her off, her voice breaking.
‘I really am. But I need to ask you something and I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t important, and Roddy said you’re good at this sort of thing, but…
but…’ Her words faltered, and before she could finish, tears rolled down her cheeks.
Bex looked around her, unsure what was happening but certain there must be someone else who could better deal with the situation than her.
Yet the couples were all immersed in their conversations and Julie was nowhere to be seen. She was on her own.
‘Are you all right?’ Bex stood up and placed a hand on Fi’s shoulder while simultaneously picking up a napkin off the table and handing it to her. ‘Is it Roddy? Niall?’
‘No, no, it’s fine. I’m so sorry.’ Fi sniffed.
‘It’s just… it’s been causing so much stress, you know?
And I’ve been so worried about it. I spoke to Niall last night, and he mentioned you.
And then Roddy said you were staying here.
I know you probably won’t be able to do anything, but I had to ask. ’
‘Okay, wait,’ Bex said gently, feeling like several stages of the conversation had been missed. ‘Start from the beginning. Tell me why you’re here. Niall told you to come and see me?’
Fi nodded. ‘Yeah, he said you’re good with finances and stuff. That you can help people.’
‘I’m an accountant, so I guess you can say that. Go on. What’s the problem?’
‘It’s my dad.’ Fi’s voice cracked as fresh tears welled up.
‘He’s got himself into a bit of a pickle.
Debts and things. But I don’t understand how.
The garage is full non-stop. He works night and day.
Everyone recommends him. But he lets people put stuff on tabs, and now the bills are piling up.
Bailiffs the other night. Burns Night of all nights. ’
She started sobbing again.
‘It’s all right,’ Bex said softly, sitting back down and gesturing for Fi to do the same. ‘It’s all right. Take your time.’
‘He’s just not good with money,’ Fi continued, her voice trembling. ‘I’ve tried to help, but he won’t let me. He’s embarrassed. I know he is. But I heard how you helped Fergus. It can’t be worse than that, can it?’
Bex exhaled, leaning back slightly. ‘No,’ she said carefully. ‘Probably not.’
Fi offered a watery smile. Apparently the thought that her dad’s business finances weren’t as bad as the old laird’s with a full-on castle, hundreds of properties and hectares of land was a comforting one.
‘I just thought maybe you could have a look at things. See if there’s something you can do to help him? ’
Bex felt the weight of the request settle in her chest. Could she take this on? With everything else going on, from an enraged Kieron to the situation with Duncan and the looming family meeting, it was one more thing on an already overloaded plate.
And yet, maybe crunching numbers, the kind of project she loved, was exactly what she needed to focus her mind.
‘All right,’ she said after a pause. ‘Your dad’s garage, it’s nearby?’
‘Yes, just here in the village.’ Fi’s voice was laced with cautious hope. ‘Ten minutes’ walk at most.’
‘And when would be a good time to see him?’
‘Any chance you’re free now?’
Bex gave her a small smile, already suspecting she’d say that.
‘Well, I need to eat my breakfast first. And I’ll have to head up to the room to fetch someone before we go too. So probably half an hour. How does that sound?’
This time Fi’s smile was genuine and the relief that ebbed from her palpable.
‘That sounds perfect.’