Ramsay looked like he was about to disappear into his library – he couldn’t bear to sit and listen to this man discuss how to take Zoe away, stick her in some awful hole in London somewhere, how he’d never see her again.
But Zoe gave him a look that said, more or less, ‘Manners!’ and he came and joined them on the wrought iron chairs she’d made Shackleton drag out and wipe down – when, Ramsay thought, had she even found the time to find out about those? And when did his grunting, incommunicative pre-teenager turn into such a smart, willing boy?
Once they’d all settled down, no one was quite sure how to start, until Jaz, sitting with his legs splayed out, one foot on the other knee, which Zoe knew he did when he was nervous and trying not to look it, asked how on earth Hari was talking – and what on earth did he sound like?
Ramsay shot Zoe a look but she didn’t return it. Instead she blinked and said, ‘Well. Mary and Hari got themselves into a bit of a scrape on the loch. Where they are absolutely forbidden to go.’
Shanti turned her head.
‘Where is it?’
‘Just at the bottom of the garden,’ said Zoe.
‘Oh my God . . . you really have everything here,’ she said, eyes wide.
‘Anyway. Hari got a fright and . . . the doctor says something seems to have broken through.’
Jaz shook his head.
‘I thought I was coming up here to look after my traumatised little boy. Instead he’s listening to Proclaimers records and eating haggis pies.’
Nobody said anything after that.
Jaz kicked at the ground. Then he stood up.
‘I’m going to get him. He can show me the lake.’
‘Loch,’ said Zoe automatically.
‘Christ’s sake, Zo, not you as well.’
He walked away, his attitude sullen, and Shanti winced. Surinder watched the entire thing shaking her head.
‘Oh God,’ she said. ‘You’re worse than Nina. Speaking of whom . . .’
She glanced at her watch. ‘I’ll need to go if I’m going to make visiting hours.’
Zoe jumped up too.
‘Hang on, I’ve got some books in the van for her.’
Surinder walked up to it happily.
‘Oh look, there she is,’ she said, patting it happily. ‘Oh, we had some good times in this old thing.’
She grinned. ‘Now there are a few people I need to look up while I’m here . . . Boys mostly.’
‘How long are you staying?’
‘It depends when Nina pops,’ said Surinder. ‘They owed me some time off. And Lennox will be busy with his hands up sheep’s arses or something.’
‘I don’t think it’s their arse,’ said Zoe.
‘Oh thanks, James Herriot . . .’
Surinder climbed up the steps of the book van and turned the handle.
‘Oooh,’ she said in surprise. ‘You’ve changed it!’
‘Um . . . I don’t think so . . .’
‘What are all these Loch Ness monster books? And stuffed toys?’
‘People seem to like them,’ muttered Zoe.
‘Cor. Colouring books! And these touristy things – does Nina know you’re selling all these?’ Surinder narrowed her eyes. ‘I mean, it’s just not what she normally does, that’s all.’
Zoe winced. ‘You mean I’ve gone downmarket.’
‘Noooo . . .’
‘Look,’ said Zoe. ‘I couldn’t sell enough of the other stuff. I’m not Nina – she’s a bookselling genius. But there’s a huge market here – absolutely massive, full of people interested in the history of Scotland and the area – so we’ve been selling loads of atlases, and they’re beautiful. And the monster books are just something for the kids to colour in when they’re on a long bus tour, that’s all.’
Surinder blinked. ‘Hmm. Maybe you’re right. Nina isn’t much use with the figures.’
She picked up one or two of the beautiful big map books, which had large price tags.
‘Wow! You’re selling these?’
‘Yeah . . . from Ramsay’s collection. Stuff that doesn’t get a lot of traction in London.’
Surinder nodded.
‘I feel like I’m being inspected,’ said Zoe awkwardly.
‘Ha,’ said Surinder. ‘So do I.’
Zoe smiled.
‘Jaz seems a lot . . . calmer.’
Surinder nodded. ‘Shanti is good for him. Definitely. Although you know Jaz – always has lots of good intentions. May not necessarily stick with them in the long run.’
The girls popped their heads out of the van. Shanti had gone over to join Jaz and Hari by the lochside.
‘Looks like she’s quite taken with this place,’ said Surinder. She sighed and looked around. ‘Me too. I forget in Brum that there are places like this. It’s just . . . it’s just so free up here . . .’
As if to back her up, a flock of wild geese passed low on their journey south, flicking their white wings into the slowly setting sun, the deep autumnal light.
‘Yeah, yeah, all right,’ said Surinder. She narrowed her eyes.
‘I wonder if Lennox has still got those tenants in . . . Right. Better go and see Nina.’
‘Don’t tell her about the colouring books,’ said Zoe quickly.
‘Yeah, okay.’
Surinder regarded her.
‘Coming back home then?’
‘Mmm,’ said Zoe.