The Secrets of the Glen (Scottish Highlands #2)

Chapter 20

‘Thanks for taking me to see David this morning,’ Robyn said as they set off in the car.

‘Don’t thank me – he’s my friend too. Although not as close a friend as with you.’ She nudged Robyn playfully with an elbow and a wicked twinkle appeared in her eyes.

Robyn grinned. The bills were forgotten, and the carefree Gayle was back. She wondered which self-help book Gayle had read yesterday evening to put her back on track. Robyn decided against asking, lest she found herself with a bit of bedtime reading courtesy of Gayle’s personal self-help library, collected over the years.

They swung into the hospital car park and got out of the car. Walking towards the entrance, Robyn happened to glance up at the windows on the second floor. She spotted David sitting at the window. She was sure it was him, looking right at her, so she stopped and waved.

He turned away from the window.

That’s odd. Perhaps he didn’t see me , thought Robyn as she slowly lowered her hand.

She caught up with Gayle at the entrance. They made their way down the now familiar maze of corridors to David’s room.

‘Just stay away from her!’

Stopping outside the door to David’s room, Robyn and Gayle exchanged confused glances at David’s angry outburst.

‘ She came to me !’ an angry voice shouted back.

Robyn recognised that voice. It was David’s father. Robyn could feel the colour rising in her cheeks. They were talking, or rather arguing, about her. Perhaps David’s father had told him that they were business partners. She didn’t see why that should cause a row. She was free to do what she wanted. Although she did wonder if he was afraid that his father would drive her away, just as David still believed he’d driven away David’s mother. That wasn’t true, but David didn’t know that.

Robyn and Gayle stood awkwardly on the other side of the door, both unsure as to whether they should announce their presence. Gayle motioned at the door handle. Robyn pointed down the corridor, mouthing, we should leave.

Robyn could hear muffled voices now from inside the room.

Gayle reached for the door handle.

Robyn moved away from the door, shaking her head and looking longingly down the corridor.

‘Just go to hell!’ David yelled, making them both jump.

‘Alright!’ The door suddenly swung open, and Gayle found herself face to face with David’s father. She stepped aside. He left the room, slammed the door behind him and growled at her, ‘What do you want?’

Gayle seemed to have lost her voice. She swallowed.

Robyn stepped forward. ‘We’re visiting David.’

‘Well, enjoy your visit. He’s in a foul mood.’

‘I’m not surprised,’ Gayle said, finding her voice, giving him a cold, hard stare.

Robyn grabbed Mr Gillespie’s arm and pulled him to one side. She whispered, ‘I heard you two arguing behind the door. I know what it’s about. You have to tell him what you told me – about his mother.’ Robyn didn’t feel she had any choice, but to add, ‘If you don’t – I will.’

Now Mr Gillespie grabbed her arm. ‘Don’t! I mean it. You’ll break his heart.’

‘Ow! You’re hurting me,’ Robyn wailed.

Gayle rushed over. ‘Let go of her!’

The door was suddenly flung open. David, in a wheelchair, dressed in casual clothes, stared at all three of them. ‘What the hell …?’

Mr Gillespie let go of Robyn’s arm in an instant.

Robyn quickly said, ‘I slipped. Your dad caught me before I fell.’

Robyn saw Gayle staring at her.

‘Right, I’m off.’

Robyn watched Mr Gillespie heading off at a pace down the corridor. She turned to David and caught him frowning at his father’s back.

‘Hi. How are you? And what are you doing in the wheelchair?’ Robyn intentionally didn’t mention the argument they’d overheard or the altercation she’d just had with his father.

‘It’s the nurse. I’ve got to leave hospital in this.’

It immediately brought to mind Robyn’s discharge from hospital after the accident on Christmas Day. ‘Hey, remember my discharge? We had such fun wheeling me down the corridor on my way out.’ Robyn was trying to lighten the atmosphere. She glanced at Gayle and thought why are you frowning at me?

‘This is kind of ironic,’ said David, slapping the arm of the wheelchair, ‘when the physio has been on my case these past few days, badgering me to get me up and about.’

Robyn laughed. She glanced at Gayle. She wasn’t smiling. What is her problem , thought Robyn.

‘Look, guys. I’m just going to use the bathroom, collect my washbag.’ He glanced over at the bed. ‘Can someone pass me those?’

Robyn followed his gaze to a pair of crutches in the corner of the room. ‘Oh, I didn’t realise—’

‘Yep, me neither. I don’t know what I was thinking – that the physios could work miracles and I’d be running out of this place. It takes about six weeks to fully recover – give or take. Until then, I’m stuck with those, then it’s a walking stick for a bit thereafter, I guess.’ He looked at Gayle.

‘Yes, that’s how it works, I’m afraid.’

Robyn realised she’d stupidly assumed that he’d just get out of that wheelchair and walk unaided out of the hospital.

As soon as the bathroom door closed, Gayle appeared by her side. ‘Why are you defending him?’ Gayle said in a whisper, out of earshot of David. ‘I don’t get it.’

Robyn didn’t understand the question. ‘Defending who?’

Gayle glared at her.

‘Oh, right – you mean David’s father. You’re still thinking about that?’

‘Well, of course. He was hurting you, and you covered for him.’

Robyn pulled her over to the window, about as far as they could get from the bathroom without leaving the room.

Gayle folded her arms. ‘Well?’

Robyn cast a glance over at the bathroom door before she said in a hushed voice, ‘He told me something, well, a lot of things – secrets that he’s kept from his son, that David should know. I just can’t tell him.’

‘Can’t tell him what?’

‘Him – who? Me?’ David had emerged from the bathroom to find the two women staring at him, wide-eyed.

They realised he’d caught the tail-end of their conversation.

‘Are you talking about me?’ he said light-heartedly, looking from one to the other expectantly.

‘Yeah, of course – who else?’ Gayle replied. ‘We were talking about you coming home with us to Lark Lodge.’

‘We were?’ Robyn furrowed her brow. She knew they hadn’t been talking about that just then, but also that at no point had Gayle mentioned the idea. Robyn certainly hadn’t brought it up herself. She still wanted David to go home to his father.

Gayle turned around to look at her, eyes wide, as if to say, are you serious? You need to play along.

Robyn resisted the urge to smile. Gayle was telling a fib. ‘Oh, yeah, right. Of course.’

Gayle turned back to David, and added, ‘It was meant to be a surprise.’

David returned to the wheelchair and stood beside it. ‘What was?’

‘I had this brilliant idea that you could come home with us to recuperate at Lark Lodge.’

Robyn turned to Gayle. She didn’t know how she didn’t blurt, That was my idea – in the beginning . I just haven’t brought it up. Was Gayle some kind of mind-reader?

‘Actually, I have a confession to make,’ said Gayle.

I want to hear this , thought Robyn, wondering what on earth she was about to say. Please don’t bring up the fact that his father and I are business partners. She did not want that to start another argument.

Robyn closed her eyes, hoping that wasn’t it.

‘I only came here this morning to see you, expecting a family member would come and pick you up. Well, now I see who that family member is, I want to invite you to stay at Lark Lodge. I don’t think your father is one of those people who is going to be conducive to your recovery. I really don’t.’

Robyn’s eyes shot open. ‘I disagree.’

David and Gayle turned to her. She caught their surprised expressions. Robyn wanted to tell David that he needed to go home to his father, and talk. But neither of them were in the right place to do that. She wanted to tell David the secrets his father had been keeping from him, about his life with their mother, about the reasons she’d walked out. But Mr Gillespie was right – it wasn’t her story, her secret to tell.

‘You don’t want me to come and stay at Lark Lodge?’

‘Of course she wants you to come home with us,’ Gayle butted in. ‘If you want to – that is.’

‘Yeah, of course I do. We’ll need to swing by my house to collect some things.’

‘No problem at all.’

Robyn stood in the room, listening to them making plans.

‘What are we waiting for?’ Gayle said light-heartedly. ‘Let’s go!’

David was stopped at the door by a nurse. ‘Where do you think you’re going?’ he said to David.

‘I’ve been discharged.’

‘That’s not what I meant – and you know it.’ The nurse walked into the room and stood behind the wheelchair. ‘David, you know the drill.’

David sighed, rolled his eyes at the nurse, and handed Gayle his crutches. He sat down in the wheelchair.

The nurse pushed the wheelchair down the corridor to the lift. Gayle walked alongside. ‘I don’t know where you live, and I don’t have SatNav, so you’ll have to direct me.’

David nodded.

Robyn joined them all in the lift. ‘What about your dad?’

David looked up at her. ‘What about him?’

‘He’s going to expect you home.’

‘If he’s not there, we’ll leave him a note,’ said Gayle.

Robyn shot her a look.

She shot one back, lifting her hands and shrugging as if to say, what’s the problem?

Robyn faced the front of the lift. Now she wished she hadn’t asked Gayle to take her there that morning to see David before he left the hospital. She expected Mr Gillespie was going to think it was her idea when he found out David was not going home just yet but was staying at Lark Lodge instead.

Robyn hoped he wasn’t home, although there would be no getting away from him on Monday when she started organising the space for her outlet in the shop.

The nurse wheeled David out of the lift and along to the entrance. On the way, a physio caught up with them and handed David a couple of leaflets, encouraging him to keep up with the daily exercises.

Robyn could tell he was pleased to leave the wheelchair at the door. They headed out across the road to the car park, David on crutches.

Robyn and Gayle walked ahead.

Gayle glanced over her shoulder at David before saying in a hushed voice, ‘What is up with you? I thought you’d be pleased to have David living under the same roof. I’ve seen the way you look at him, undressing him with your eyes.’ There was a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

Robyn ignored her suggestive remark, although she could feel her cheeks flush in embarrassment.

They reached the car, and Gayle put her hand on her hips.

‘I don’t get it. You invite any Tom, Dick or Harry to stay and it’s fine. I invite someone to stay in my own house and you disagree.’

‘How well do you really know him?’ Robyn said defensively, trying to talk her out of it. David still wouldn’t tell her about the accident that had ended his ice hockey career. Something had happened, but it hadn’t happened during a game. David refused to share the details. She wondered what the big secret was.

Gayle threw an exasperated hand up in the air. ‘Honey, what did you know about Nick when you invited him to stay? Come to think of it,’ she stared at Robyn, ‘what do I know about you?’

‘Oh, Gayle,’ Robyn giggled nervously, ‘you know me.’

Gayle raised her eyebrows. ‘Do I?’

Robyn’s smiled slipped. ‘Sure, you do.’

She folded her arms. ‘Really? Because I was under the impression you’d lost your memory. If you can’t remember who you are, how can I possibly know the real you?’

Robyn frowned. This wasn’t the conversation she’d expected with Gayle. She was about to say, Well, ask me anything . But of course, she couldn’t do that – she didn’t have the answers, not with her memory issues.

‘Why don’t you ask David about the accident that ended his career? That would be a start.’

‘All right, I might just do that. I don’t see how it will change my mind. I still want him to stay.’

They’d arrived at the car.

‘What about me?’ Robyn asked.

‘What about you?’

‘Will you still be happy for me to stay when you find out all about me?’

Gayle dropped her hands from her hips. ‘Look, I’m sorry about what I said. I like David, and I feel sorry for him having a mean old man like that for a father.’

‘But he’s not—’

‘My father was a lovely man,’ continued Gayle, ‘and sometimes I forget how lucky I’ve been to have had him in my life for all those years. So, forgive me if I want to do a good deed. And for getting shirty with you. That was uncalled for. Do you forgive me?’

Robyn glanced back at David, who was still making his way to the car.

She turned to Gayle. ‘Of course I do.’

‘What’s going on?’ David said breathlessly as he caught up with them.

‘Nothing,’ they said in unison. Robyn cringed at the outright lie. She still wasn’t happy with this new arrangement.

Gayle smiled at David and opened the car door. ‘I think we’d better seat you up front.’ She opened the door. ‘There’s more space.’

David looked from the open door to Robyn. ‘Is that all right with you, Robyn?’ he said in a soft voice, and she knew very well he wasn’t asking about the seating arrangements in the car.

‘Why wouldn’t it be?’ she said, stealing a glance at Gayle.

‘Good. That’s settled then.’ Gayle said before anyone could change their minds.

They were all about to get in the car when Gayle said, ‘Who is that?’ She pointed.

Mr Gillespie was standing by his car, waving at them across the car park. ‘I’m over here!’ he shouted.

Robyn rolled her eyes. Of course he would have waited for his son. Despite having a row, he wouldn’t have just driven off and left David to make his own way home. ‘I suppose you’ll be going home with your dad now,’ Robyn said, smiling to herself.

‘Why?’ David looked over at his father. He didn’t wave back.

‘What do you mean – why? He’s right there, waiting for you.’

‘Well, it’s going to be a long wait. I’m coming home with you guys.’

‘Aren’t you going to go over and tell him what’s going on?’

‘Nope.’

‘But if he follows you home, he’s going to think that Gayle is just giving you a lift.’

‘I don’t care.’

‘But you’ll have to tell him.’

‘I don’t have to do a goddamn thing!’

Robyn shot him a black look. ‘I’ll go and tell him myself.’

‘I want you to stay away from him.’

Robyn caught Gayle’s expression. She knew what Gayle was thinking – David was still annoyed at the fact that Robyn had gone into business with his father. She expected they were both thinking about the row they’d overheard them having in the hospital room..

Robyn wasn’t going to think about that right now. What was on her mind was setting the record straight with Mr Gillespie that this was not her idea. She had been wavering as to whether to do that until David had said, I want you to stay away from him.

‘David, don’t tell me what to do!’ Robyn stalked off. She walked straight over to Mr Gillespie, who was still standing by the open door of his car, waiting for David.

Robyn looked over at them getting into Gayle’s car. ‘He’s not coming.’

‘I see. He’s still angry with me.’ Mr Gillespie got in his car too. ‘He’ll cool off by the time he gets home.’

‘But you don’t—’

He slammed the driver’s side door shut before Robyn could finish her sentence.

She ran around to the passenger side, opened the car door, and got in next to him.

Mr Gillespie had been about to start the car engine, he paused, fingers on the key in the ignition, and turned to look at her. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I was about to tell you that you don’t understand. He’s not going home.’

‘He’s not?’

‘Well, he is, but—’

‘He is. He’s not. For goodness’ sake, what are you prattling on about, woman?’

Robyn ignored his belittling tone. ‘Look, he’s only going home to collect some clothes and other stuff, and then he’s going to stay with us at Lark Lodge.’

‘He’s staying at Lark Lodge tonight – why?’

Tonight? Robyn got the impression he was moving in for a while. She didn’t exactly know how to tell Mr Gillespie that.

Robyn nervously chewed her bottom lip. ‘It’s not my fault, honestly. It wasn’t my idea. Gayle asked him to stay after she overheard you both arguing. I tried to talk him out of it.’

‘Well, you clearly didn’t do a very good job of it.’ He eyed her. ‘You said he’s collecting some clothes. He’s not coming back tomorrow, is he?’

It wasn’t a question. Robyn nodded all the same, expecting Mr Gillespie to give her an earful.

‘Shut the door!’

Robyn looked at him. ‘What?’

‘The car door. We’ve got to get moving. I don’t want him arriving at the house before me and leaving before I have a chance to stop him.’

He started the car, and looked at her. ‘Or go with them.’

‘I don’t want to.’ Robyn shut the car door.

He put the car in gear, and they drove off, passing Gayle and David standing by their car, looking surprised to see her in Mr Gillespie’s car.

She caught Gayle’s expression as they drove past – what are you doing?

And David’s, looking shocked.

‘Why don’t you stop the car and try and convince David to come home with you?’

‘I’d rather he was home. Then he’ll probably cool off.’

Robyn turned around in her seat to see them getting into Gayle’s car. ‘But what if they go straight to Lark Lodge?

‘Oh, he’ll follow.’

‘How can you be so sure?’

‘How do you think?’

At first she had no idea. Then she turned around in her seat and remembered what she’d overheard them arguing about – her. David had said, Just stay away from her.

She’d heard Mr Gillespie’s angry voice shout back, She came to me !

‘He’ll probably think I kidnapped you – silly boy.’

Robyn pursed her lips, and admitted, ‘I heard you arguing when we approached David’s hospital room. You were arguing about me .’ She wanted to know what exactly had been said. She asked him as they drove out of the hospital car park, Gayle’s car in hot pursuit, Robyn noticed, when she glanced over her shoulder.

She heard Mr Gillespie sigh heavily before he answered her question. ‘I made the mistake of mentioning that I’d met you, and we’d talked, and it was decided that you could set up your business in my store. He was not happy. He thinks I’m taking advantage of your kind, generous nature.’

Robyn said, ‘Silly boy.’

They exchanged a smile. Robyn had wanted to tell David herself, but she hadn’t factored in his relationship with his dad and what that might mean in terms of his reaction when he found out.

‘I’m sure he believes I’ll drive you away, just like I did his mother – which you know is only part of the story. It takes two to tango, as they say. I know I was unhappy, and a bit disillusioned with life, but I never wanted her to leave me, to leave our boys. I would have done anything for her to stay.’

Robyn hoped that Mr Gillespie had told her the truth.

‘So, now you know what caused his outburst that you overheard. You’re not going to change your mind – are you?

‘About working in your shop?’

He nodded. ‘We did shake on it, you know.’

‘I have no intention of backing out. If David thinks he’s going to persuade me otherwise, he can think again.’

Mr Gillespie grinned at her. ‘By god, you remind me of my Catherine.’

‘Your Catherine?’

He frowned. ‘Well, she isn’t mine anymore. Hasn’t been for so long. You just bring it all back, the memories, when we were young and in love.’

‘I’m sorry she left you.’

‘So am I.’

They travelled on in silence until Robyn glanced over her shoulder. ‘Gayle is tailgating you.’

‘I know. I told you they’d follow.’

Robyn turned in her seat. ‘I’ve never been to David’s house before.’

‘You haven’t?’

She shook her head.

‘It’s a bit out of the way.’

‘What do you mean?’

He grinned. ‘You’ll see.’