The Secrets of the Glen (Scottish Highlands #2)

Chapter 35

‘Robyn and David can take my car,’ said Gayle, as if it had all been amicably settled.

Robyn put Evie down and turned to Gayle. ‘Now, hold on just one minute …’ she said. Why do I have to go with him? she thought. Because he was going to the party too, obviously. Gayle couldn’t go. She was looking after her mother.

Robyn had an idea. ‘Joe, does Annie need some help preparing for the party? I’m not a great cook, but decorations I can do.’

‘Ooh.’ Evie cooed. ‘Can you make pretty butterfly decorations? I like butterflies.’

‘I’ll try,’ said Robyn softly.

Joe considered. ‘Annie has been a bit …’ he seemed to be searching for the right word, ‘peaky lately.’

‘Is she coming down with something?’ Gayle asked.

Joe glanced at her and then turned to Robyn. ‘I know she won’t admit it, but I think she could do with some help.’ He seemed to make up his mind. ‘Yes, I’m sure she could.’

‘Good, I’ll come now then, shall I?’

Evie stood there, looking up at the adults. ‘Does that mean Robyn’s coming to my party now?’

Joe rested an affectionate hand on the top of Evie’s head. ‘Yes, I guess it does, sweetheart.’

‘But do we have to leave right now? I’m waiting to see Olive.’

Gayle stepped forward. ‘Perhaps David can bring Olive to your party, if Nick doesn’t mind.’

‘Oh, can he?’ Evie jumped up and down, clapping her hands. ‘Then I can show all my friends how I put ribbons in her hair.’

Joe rolled his eyes, ready to put his boot in. ‘It’s fur, Evie. Dogs don’t have hair. I really don’t think that’s a good—’

‘Olive likes having ribbons in her hair.’

‘I’m not talking about the ribbons. I’m talking about a dog coming to your party.’

Robyn could just imagine all those little six-year-olds dressing Olive with ribbons. With all that attention, Olive would be in her element. She’d seen Olive sitting there, still as a statue, while Evie dressed her fur like she was a dolly. She knew the dog would be so good. Even so, she could understand Joe’s reluctance, having a big dog around small children.

‘I’ll keep an eye on Olive and make sure she behaves. If she doesn’t, I’ll take her outside. I promise.’

Robyn got another big hug from Evie. She wanted another cuddle again. Robyn picked her up.

Evie bounced up and down in her arms, so excited that Robyn thought she might drop her, or that her own neck was going to snap clean off.

Joe sighed. ‘Come on, then. We’d better get going.’ He walked out of the house.

It was Saturday morning. Robyn had things to do, but then again, she didn’t fancy hanging around Lark Lodge, trying to avoid David. The house and grounds were big – but not that big. At some point, they’d run into each other. At least this way, she could get out of the house, do something productive and helpful for Evie and her mum, and then fade into the background when David arrived at the party later. If he borrowed Gayle’s car to get there – he’d have to, because he hadn’t bought himself another car yet – then Robyn intended to go home in that, leaving the party early, on her own. David could make his own way back to Gayle’s. She hoped he stayed over at Joe’s – or returned and slept on the sofa in the lounge.

‘Wait just one minute.’ Gayle held up a finger at Robyn, who was walking slowly to the front door with Evie still in her arms.

Robyn watched Gayle dart upstairs.

‘What’s this?’ Robyn said when Gayle returned, carrying a large fabric bag. Robyn tried to put Evie down, but the little girl objected.

‘Here.’ Gayle took one of her arms and looped the bag over Robyn’s arm.

‘What is it?’ She was half afraid the weight of the bag would send her and Evie toppling over, but it was unexpectedly light. ‘Just take it and use it, will you?’

Robyn wondered what was in the bag, but she nodded anyway.

Gayle stood back, arms folded again, and eyed her up and down. ‘I’m so glad you let me cut your hair.’

Gayle had cut it the previous night for the party which, this morning, after the row with David, Robyn had forgotten all about. Gayle had even put some highlights in her hair, and created subtle waves, giving it body, just like she’d done for Melissa. Last night, when they were still on good terms, David had looked at her, stunned, and said, ‘Wow!’

‘Your hair looks amazing, even though I do say so myself.’ Gayle grinned.

‘But I slept on it, and now I’ve lost the lovely wavy look. My hair is flat.’

‘Hold on.’ Gayle disappeared again, this time into the study, which had now been transformed into a zen space with self-help books, soft lighting, easy chairs, and a stereo system that played whale calls. It wasn’t a room that Robyn ventured into much. Although in hindsight, she was wondering whether she should.

Gayle was back like a shot with another bag.

‘What’s this?’

Gayle handed it to Evie. ‘They’re tongs. I showed you how to create the look – remember? There’s a makeup bag in there too. It’s some samples I got free – blusher, mascara, lipstick, that sort of thing. You’re welcome to give them a try. Otherwise, do you want me to pop upstairs to your bedroom to fetch some of yours?’

‘No!’

Gayle took a step back and held up her hands. ‘Okay – I was only trying to be helpful.’

‘Sorry.’ Robyn hadn’t meant to be rude, but all this time, she’d managed to hide what she’d done to the bedroom. It was meant to be a surprise for Gayle. The last thing she wanted was the surprise to be spoiled just because Gayle went to fetch her makeup bag.

Gayle breathed a sigh. ‘You’ve still got that argument on your mind, haven’t you?’

Robyn looked at Evie. She didn’t want to get into that in front of her little friend, who was getting very heavy in her arms. ‘I’m going to put you down now, sweetheart.’

‘All right.’

Robyn put Evie down. She didn’t know what was in the large, sealed bag that Gayle had given her, but she thanked her all the same.

‘It’s for the party.’

‘I know.’

Gayle leaned in and gave her a hug. ‘Forget about David, and just go enjoy yourself.’

Evie took her hand. ‘Come on.’

‘Wait!’

Robyn turned around at the front door. She looked at Gayle quizzically. ‘Have I forgotten something?’

‘Yes. How are you going to get home?’

Robyn told Gayle the plan. ‘If you don’t mind David still borrowing your car to get to the party.’ Robyn left out the part where she was going to ditch David and come back in Gayle’s car alone.

‘Not at all.’ She walked up to the front door with them and happened to glance outside first. ‘I think there’s been a change of plan.’

Robyn stepped outside with Evie and turned around to look at Gayle. ‘What?’

Gayle pointed.

Robyn followed her gaze to find that David was climbing into the car. ‘Oh, no.’ She had not considered the possibility that he was heading back with Joe and Evie straight away. But she should have. After all, what had Joe and Evie turned up at Lark Lodge for? He was collecting his brother.

Robyn immediately changed her mind about accompanying Joe back to his house to help out Annie. She turned back to Gayle.

Gayle wagged her finger in Robyn’s face. She beckoned at Evie. ‘Don’t even think about changing your mind. Now, have a good time. I will see you later.’

Gayle shut the door.

Robyn reluctantly turned to the car. Evie held her hand, pulling her forward.

As she walked over to the car, Joe opened the passenger door.

Robyn heard David exclaim, ‘She’s not coming with us, is she?’

Everyone knew who he was talking about – even Evie. ‘She’s my friend and she’s coming to my party.’

Joe said, ‘Well, I’m not going to argue with that.’

Robyn wasn’t either.

David got out of the car.

Joe looked at his brother. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake! Don’t tell me you’ve decided you’re not coming now.’

Evie looked at her uncle. ‘You’re not coming to my party?’ she said, her voice rising several octaves.

After depositing the bag that Gayle had given her in the boot, Robyn stood up, throwing her arms wide, stretching. She felt her forearm connect with something hard that shouldn’t have been there. Robyn turned in time to see the surprised look on David’s face as he lost his balance and fell onto his rump, scattering stones of gravel in his wake. Joe rushed to his side and bent down, grasping his forearm. ‘What happened – did you lose your balance?’

Joe’s quick movement seemed to galvanise Robyn’s body into action. She had been rooted to the spot, mortified. After David had got out of the car, sending a clear message that he wasn’t going to Evie’s party, all because of her, she bet he thought she’d done it on purpose. She inwardly groaned, thinking, could I make things any worse?

Robyn darted from her spot and bent down, reaching for his other arm.

‘Will you get off me!’ David shook off Robyn and Joe’s help, Obviously, neither of them were in his good books; Robyn for agreeing to go to the party and Joe for letting her.

Joe and Robyn sat back on their haunches on either side of David, and exchanged a smile, which turned into a fit of giggles, and then laughter.

David looked up at Robyn, then Joe. ‘What’s so funny?’

Evie giggled too. ‘Uncle Davey, you’re funny.’

Joe agreed. ‘You did look, um, rather taken aback by the forearm to the face. It was kind of funny.’

‘I guess you found the perfect clown for Evie’s birthday.’

‘You’re going to be a clown at my party!’ Evie took the comment literally, and clapped her hands. ‘I like clowns.’

‘Let’s get you up, shall we?’ Joe was trying to look anywhere but at David when his eyes roved over to Robyn. By the time David was on his feet, Joe was grinning again, and so was Robyn, both trying to contain another fit of giggles.

‘Thank you,’ said David with as much dignity as he could muster.

‘Oh, don’t thank us,’ Joe said in an uncharacteristically high-pitched voice which made Robyn slap her hand over her mouth, trying to control the laughter.

David turned around and glared at them both.

Robyn gained her composure and avoided looking at Joe, who would just set her off again.

Joe scratched his head and tucked in his shirt. ‘Ahem, right – let’s get going, shall we?’ He gestured toward the car. Joe avoided eye contact with David. Robyn did the same, skirting around him on the other side.

Joe opened the front passenger door. ‘There you go, honey.’ he said to Evie as Robyn sat down in the back seat.

‘No. I want to ride in the back.’

‘But you always want to ride in the front.’ Joe paused and glanced at Robyn. ‘Oh, I see.’

Robyn sighed in relief. She would much rather Evie joined her in the back. Joe unbuckled the booster seat in the front and fastened it in the back instead, next to Robyn.

Evie sat in the seat while Joe buckled her in. She waved her hand for Robyn to sit closer. Evie snuggled in and rested her head on Robyn’s shoulder. She tilted her head and offered Robyn a sweet grin. Robyn shifted her arm off the back seat and wrapped it around Evie’s shoulders. Satisfied by the show of affection, Evie faced the front, and so did Robyn. She caught David, who was now sitting in the front seat, staring at her over his shoulder. ‘Sorry,’ she mouthed silently at him.

He turned around and faced the front.

Robyn stuck her tongue out, wondering why she was bothering to apologise.

Evie giggled and stuck her tongue out at David too.

David whipped around and looked at them both, but he hadn’t caught them. They were too quick. Both Robyn and Evie were innocently looking out of the side windows as Joe manoeuvred the car down the drive.

Joe turned into the street, and exclaimed, ‘It’s party time!’

Evie did a little happy jiggle in her seat.

Robyn exchanged a smile with Joe in the rearview mirror. Whatever David had told him about her, Joe had clearly forgotten about it – for the time being.

Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for David. The falling-out earlier that morning was still fresh in Robyn’s mind, and obviously wouldn’t be forgotten by either of them any time soon.