The Secrets of the Glen (Scottish Highlands #2)

Chapter 26

Robyn stretched under the duvet and opened her eyes. For a moment she was confused, expecting to wake up in David’s house – but she was back in her familiar room at Lark Lodge. She stretched again, then snuggled under the duvet, happy to be home.

She lay there smiling. She’d had a wonderful evening. It had been such fun to watch Melissa’s transformation. She’d met Melissa at the library after work, as arranged, and had introduced her to Gayle as soon as they’d arrived at Lark Lodge. Then she’d whisked her new friend upstairs to her room to have a look for an outfit before she had her haircut. Robyn would have been happy if Melissa had found something among her own things that she liked, but in the end it had been the old trunk in the attic containing clothes from another era that had captivated her.

She’d settled on a tailored grey wool two-piece suit that came with a jacket nipped in at the waist, shoulder pads, and large buttons. She’d had a choice of either generous, wide-fitted trousers or an A-line skirt to complete the look, along with a plain white blouse. It was simple, yet chic, and suited Melissa perfectly. She’d found shoes in the trunk that didn’t fit, but had said she had some suitable shoes at home that would work with the outfit. And the accessories she’d found in the trunk – a silk scarf, a handbag, and even a hat that looked a bit like a French beret – worked so well on her.

The outfit was exactly what she had been looking for – something she could wear to work, but more importantly that she wouldn’t feel embarrassed wearing when she visited the bookshop at lunchtime and saw Brodie.

Robyn had told Melissa that Brodie would love her outfit. H e’s not going to be able to resist you , she’d thought. And that was before Gayle had completed her transformation with a new hairstyle.

Afterwards, Robyn had planned to show her how to apply some makeup. Not too much; she needed hardly any with her complexion – but a little bit of blush, some mascara and lipstick wouldn’t go amiss.

After finding her outfit, and trying to get Gayle to accept some money for it, which she would not, Gayle had cut her hair. She hadn’t cut too much off the length – it fell just below her shoulders – but had just taken off the split ends. She’d added some long, graduated layers, accentuating her high cheekbones, and had then used heated tongs to create textured waves which softened and added body to her hair.

She’d insisted on giving Melissa a spare pair of tongs she didn’t need, or so she said, which meant Melissa could create the look at home too.

Robyn had been impressed with the hairstyle and had thought that it was probably time for her to have a makeover herself. She’d said as much to Gayle, who had reminded her that not long after she’d left hospital and moved in with Gayle and her mum at Lark Lodge, she’d mentioned the idea of dyeing her hair blonde. It had been during a conversation when she’d accompanied Gayle on her mobile hairdressing round and had met Rose for the first time. Gayle had offered to cut her hair, to give her a new hairstyle. Robyn winced when she remembered what she’d blurted in response. Can you make me blonde too?

The question had come out of nowhere, along with a thought she wished had never entered her head and which she’d chosen not to share with Gayle; she’d had the sudden urge to change her appearance to protect herself. Even more disturbingly, the question remained – from whom?

She lay there in bed, frowning when she remembered the rest of the conversation the previous evening. She wished Gayle hadn’t remembered what she’d blurted. Melissa, whose hair colour was mousy brown, had said, That would be extreme. I love your dark, glossy hair. Don’t dye it. Robyn had assured her, and Gayle, that she wouldn’t be changing her hair colour any time soon. Whoever she was running away from, if indeed that’s what she was doing, hadn’t caught up with her yet. As time marched on, with no sign of anyone from her past, she was beginning to feel that they never would.

There were just two things that were tempering her happy mood that morning. One was the phone call she’d made the previous evening, letting Duncan know that she was staying on at Lark Lodge, so she wouldn’t be returning to spend the night at David’s house. She knew he’d miss her company, as she would his, but he’d said it hadn’t come as a big surprise. She had told him at lunchtime that she would be returning to Lark Lodge after work with a friend to collect some things. She hadn’t been intending to stay, but as soon as she’d returned to Lark Lodge, that had been it – she hadn’t wanted to leave.

The second thing that was really dampening her mood was David. After the haircut, Gayle had insisted that Melissa join them all for dinner. She had met Nick, and of course Olive, who had taken her by surprise, and with whom she’d instantly fallen in love, joking that Brodie had some competition. But dinner had been an awkward affair – and it had all been David’s fault.

Despite the presence of Gayle, Nick, Melissa and Olive (who had been naughty and had constantly tried to get attention when she was meant to stay in her dog bed by the Aga while people were eating), nobody had failed to notice the atmosphere at the far end of the table, from where David had refused to join in the conversation.

Robyn had forewarned Melissa that David might be at dinner, and that they’d had a little falling-out, so things might be a little strained. But she hadn’t expected him to be so rude, barely acknowledging her friend and sitting away from the group as though he was on the only one in the room.

She wished Gayle hadn’t invited him to stay and that he’d just go home. Duncan would be coming round later in the morning to pick her up for work, and he was planning to use it as an excuse to see David and try to persuade him to come home – he’d been honest enough to tell her that.

Robyn planned to give David a piece of her mind before Duncan arrived. And if he wouldn’t leave, then she’d pack a bag and return to David’s house with his father that night after work. She couldn’t face another awkward dinner with him at Lark Lodge. It wasn’t just dinner time that was the problem; she’d know he was there in the house, limping around on his crutches, and she didn’t fancy the thought of bumping into him whenever she went downstairs.

Robyn checked the time on her phone. Duncan would be picking her up at eight-thirty. She was glad she would be working in the shop that day; it was Tuesday, and preparations were still underway to get her outlet ready for opening, so she didn’t have to figure out how to get to Rose’s house just yet. She’d just have to cross that bridge when Rose’s materials arrived.

Robyn gathered her clothes and shower bag. She opened her bedroom door a crack, checking the hallway for any sign of David. She didn’t feel like a confrontation while in her pyjamas. She could hear Gayle’s voice in the kitchen downstairs; she was remonstrating with Olive for stealing a sausage off her plate when she wasn’t looking.

Her frown at the thought of confronting David turned into a smile. Olive was up to her little tricks again – appearing all sweet and innocent, getting lots of fusses, but with an eye out for her chance to steal some food.

‘Is that you, Robyn?’ Gayle called out.

Robyn winced. She’d only just stepped outside the bedroom door. ‘Yes!’ she called over the stair banister, still keeping an eye out for David.

‘Are you joining us for breakfast?’

Us? Robyn sighed. ‘I’ll be down soon. I’m just using the bathroom.’

She couldn’t very well shout downstairs, I’ll join you for breakfast only if David isn’t there too.