Liv had paid the mechanic and hastily wrapped the gifts she’d managed to grab at the few shops they’d visited in the only remaining wrapping paper she could find. Vivid pink Christmas trees would not have been her first choice, but it was all they had. She’d brought them inside while everyone else was in the kitchen discussing the Lizzie outburst and Liv had wrapped them in her room. With an armful of presents she pushed the library door open with her bum.
‘Can I help you with those?’ asked Robbie, already intercepting the two gifts about to tumble from the top of the pile.
‘Thanks,’ said Liv, heading for the Christmas tree. The fake presents were already under the tree so Liv tried to hide hers behind them, which was hard thanks to the bright pink Christmas trees. She didn’t want the embarrassment of the others seeing them and then feeling bad because they hadn’t got her something. That wasn’t why she was doing it.
Robbie hovered nearby. ‘I think I owe you an apology.’
Liv stuck her head out from under the Christmas tree. ‘For handcuffing and arresting me?’
‘Yep, really sorry. The evidence seemed indisputable. My mistake and an important learn for the future.’
‘It’s cool. Think about the story I’ll have to tell my mum when I get home.’ She grinned at him.
‘I suppose that’s one way of looking at it. Thank you for being so gracious,’ he said.
‘No worries. At least that’s one mystery solved,’ she said as she tried to reposition one rather heavy fake present. What had Effie been wrapping up?
‘Mystery solved?’ Robbie crouched down to join her at tree-base level. ‘What do you mean?’
‘The hotel sign.’
‘I saw that it had been cleaned but I didn’t know by whom. Was it the perpetrator come back to undo the crime? Did you see who it was?’ Robbie’s questions were coming thick and fast.
‘Hold on,’ said Liv, waving a hand at him. ‘I cleaned the sign because I thought it would be a nice thing to do.’
‘But you didn’t graffiti it – we’ve established that.’ He was peering at her strangely. Far less Poirot and more Dr Who weeping angel. ‘Do you know who did deface the sign?’ he asked.
‘I think it’s more important to focus on the fact that that mystery is solved and to focus on the one that isn’t. Could you hold this like that for a second?’ she asked as she leaned what felt like a chopping board at a strategic angle.
‘What mystery isn’t solved?’ asked Robbie.
‘The ghosting. Actually I have a few ideas about who it might be but what with all the shenanigans earlier I was distracted and forgot to ask Lizzie outright, but my money is totally on it being her. Some sort of strange revenge thing.’
‘Ghosting? Lizzie? I’m afraid I need all the details,’ said Robbie getting out his notepad.
‘No you don’t and you can put that away. It’s not a matter for the police. I was an idiot and I’ve learned my lesson. What do they say? If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.’ Liv reversed from under the tree and viewed it from standing up to see if she could see any pink paper.
‘Maybe I should ascertain if it’s a police matter or not.’
‘I’m afraid however much it hurts ghosting isn’t a crime.’
Robbie put his notepad away. ‘Ahh, that’s tough. Who did it happen to?’
‘Me,’ said Liv, but she was pleased that she no longer had that instant feeling of shame and embarrassment. It really wasn’t to do with her; it was someone else with far bigger issues than she had if they got some sort of pleasure out of what they did. And at least now she knew it wasn’t Fraser.
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realise. People can be unkind. I’m afraid I get to see the worst of society sometimes.’
‘I bet you do,’ said Liv, tilting to one side just to check the packages.
‘Here,’ said Robbie, handing Liv his business card. ‘I know you’re not local but I do have connections and if there’s ever anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to call me.’
‘Aww thanks, Robbie,’ she said giving him a hug and feeling him tense under her embrace. Clearly hugging wasn’t his forte.
Liv checked her pockets for one of her own business cards but she had none on her. ‘If you ever have any search engine emergencies you make sure you call me. Effie has my details. I need to dash.’
Robbie looked serious. ‘Will do.’
‘Bye, Robbie. Nice to have met you,’ she said pausing at the door. He was a funny one but she was still going to miss him.
She went into the hallway. After almost a week she was going home and leaving this odd place behind but that meant leaving the people too. Liv tried not to think too much about it as she took the stairs two at a time.
It didn’t take a minute to gather her things together. Liv took one last look out of the window at the stunning view. She let out a little sigh as she left the bedroom. Despite it seeming a bit dingy at first, it had soon become cosy and she loved the history seeping from its walls. As long as that history didn’t include ghosts, she would be forever grateful that she’d not met Janet in person.
Downstairs was quiet so she left her bag by reception and went to say her goodbyes to one local she knew wasn’t inside. It was chilly outside but not quite as bitterly cold as it had been – that or she was hardening up. Across the yard it was as if Ginger had been expecting her. She had her head peeping over the bottom half of the stable door. Her big eyes watching Liv as Mariah Carey sung at them from the radio.
‘All I want for Christmas is youuuuuuuu!’ chorused Liv. Ginger eyed her suspiciously. ‘Here you go,’ said Liv offering her the carrot on her flat palm. Ginger’s giant tongue swept it all away with one lick.
‘Blimey you’re a greedy cow!’ she said with a chuckle.
‘Have you gone all Dr Dolittle?’ asked Fraser making her jump.
‘Jeez, I thought I was alone.’ She pointed at Ginger. ‘Apart from my learned friend here.’ She went to give Ginger a head rub but the cow was keen to check there were no pieces of carrot lurking anywhere, so Liv’s hand got another slobbery lick.
‘I was just checking for any English invaders,’ he said pretending to look serious.
‘Very wise,’ said Liv. ‘I hear there has been the odd one about.’
‘Yeah, odd being the key word there,’ he said with a laugh.
‘Hey! I resemble that remark,’ she joked and gave him a playful whack on the arm. Then it all felt a bit awkward so she turned her attention back to Ginger.
Fraser leaned in close and she could hear him breathing. ‘Are you scared of spiders?’ he asked.
‘I know I’m an English jessie but no, I’m not scared of spiders.’
‘That’s good because…’ He pointed above her head and they both looked up to see a spider’s web sparkling in the daylight. The intricacies of the web made it quite beautiful.
‘Is this where you launch into that famous Scottish poem. Wee tim’rous beastie?’ she asked.
Fraser laughed. ‘That was a poem about a mouse by Robert Burns. You’re thinking of the Robert the Bruce story.’
‘Too many Roberts,’ said Liv returning to watch the spider making its web.
‘It’s stunning. Isn’t it?’
‘It really is,’ she said aware that his face was close to hers and her heart was starting to thump a little harder. ‘Amazing to think they make them with their bum.’
Fraser burst out laughing. ‘Liv, you are the funniest, most…’ He seemed to be searching for the right words when his phone rang and interrupted them. Fraser frowned as he cancelled the call. ‘Lizzie?’ asked Liv.
‘Callum. I wish he’d just let it go.’
‘Do you? I’m guessing you’ve been friends a while.’
‘Since P1.’ He must have seen her confused look because he quickly clarified. ‘That’s reception in England.’
‘See, that’s a blinking long time. You don’t want to throw that away.’
‘He threw it away when he slept with Lizzie.’
‘Yeah. That takes two you know? I’m not defending him, and I know he wouldn’t either. He knows he’s been a shit but you have lots in common. Not least the fact that Lizzie has shafted you both.’ Fraser’s eyebrows jumped. ‘As in treated you both badly as well as the obvious but don’t think about that bit. Focus on the fact she was a nasty cow to both of you.’
Ginger made a low bellowing noise. ‘Not you,’ said Liv. ‘You’re a nice cow.’ Fraser was giving her a strange look so she turned her attention back to him.
‘My dad did the same to my brother.’ He studied the floor.
Liv’s brain was trying to work it out. ‘He slept with his girlfriend?’
Fraser nodded. ‘His wife, Effie’s mum. The day Uncle Duncan found out about the affair was the day he died in a car crash.’
‘Shit. Does Effie know?’
He shook his head. ‘No and I don’t want her to either. She lost her father and then her mam said she needed to get away. Shortly afterwards my dad walked out, leaving us to sort everything out here. But what did any of us know about running a hotel? We had no choice but to close the place down.’
‘How did you find out about the affair?’
‘Something didn’t add up for me. I managed to track Dad down to France and guess who was there with him.’
‘Effie’s mum.’
‘Spot on.’ He sighed. ‘I got angry but that only made things worse. Dad and I haven’t spoken since.’
‘Blimey. No wonder the Callum and Lizzie thing hurt. But Callum’s not your dad and he is sorry for what he’s done.’
‘You won’t tell Effie any of this, will you?’
‘No, but maybe one day you should. She’ll find out sometime and it would be better coming from someone who cares about her.’ He nodded. ‘Anyway, why were you lurking out here?’ she asked.
‘I wasn’t lurking, I was waiting for a delivery. I’m doing a seafood platter for dinner. I hope you’re not allergic?’ He was smiling at her, which was quite a rare thing and definitely something she would have liked to have got used to. But she got the distinct impression that the kiss meant nothing; friends was all that was on the table.
‘I won’t be here for dinner. The car’s fixed. So I’ll be home for Christmas. Hurray.’ It was probably the most unenthusiastic hurray that had ever been uttered. ‘I was just saying goodbye to Ginger and then I was going to get off.’ She did an impression of her driving for no apparent reason. Why did she turn into a bit of an idiot whenever she was feeling awkward?
His smile faded and his expression changed but to one that was difficult to read. Was that relief or disappointment? Most likely the former. ‘Right, then,’ he said. ‘This is it. You’re off.’ He pointed past the hotel and they both looked.
‘Yeah.’ There was a self-conscious silence that seemed to stretch on. ‘Right, well, thank you for everything. It’s been um… interesting. If you find out who impersonated you on that dating site you let me know okay?’
‘Why? Did you want to date them instead?’
Liv pouted as if giving it consideration. ‘He was a nice chap. He was Scottish.’
‘And you like that do you?’ he asked sounding more Scottish than ever.
Liv felt heat rush to her cheeks. ‘Nah, when you’ve heard David Tennant on every advert on TV it gets a bit much really.’
Fraser laughed hard. ‘You crack me up, Liv. You’ll be missed.’
What did that mean? ‘I’ll miss you too.’ Fraser seemed surprised, which probably indicated he’d only meant it in a general way. Ugh how humiliating. She turned to Ginger. ‘I’ll miss you too,’ she repeated in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. Ginger wasn’t falling for it and eyed her suspiciously. ‘I had better get going,’ said Liv. She stood in front of Fraser for a fraction longer than was necessary. What was she waiting for? Him to gather her up in his arms and declare his undying love for her? Not likely and did she even want that? This was excruciating, and she needed to end it and run. But as Liv went to give him a quick hug he went for the handshake and ended up stabbing her in the stomach – oof!
‘Hell, I’m so sorry,’ he said. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Fine,’ she squeaked. ‘Bye then.’ She rubbed her middle as she made a dash for inside.
When she came into the hallway there was a bit of a gathering: Dolly and Jock’O, Effie and Robbie were all waiting for her. It made her smile at the sight of them but her smile was soon raced away when Robbie pulled out his bagpipes and an awful din echoed off the walls. Jock’O yelped, jumped off Dolly’s lap and ran upstairs. Dolly was grimacing but Effie was swaying from side to side as if she were listening to lift music. Liv feared her ears were going to bleed. Thanks to the bagpipes she didn’t hear Fraser join them but she felt his arm brush hers and every hair stood on end. They looked at each other and smiled but then Robbie hit a particularly high note and they both winced at the same time. Fraser started a round of applause, Liv joined in and thankfully Robbie took the hint and stopped playing.
‘We wanted to give you a bit of a send-off,’ said Dolly.
‘You certainly did that. Wow. Thank you.’
Robbie seemed coy. ‘It needs some work but I’m sure you could tell what it was.’
Liv had no idea but she nodded earnestly. ‘Definitely a classic.’ She so hoped he didn’t question her any further.
Dolly put down a mug of tea, wheeled over and handed her a package. ‘That should keep you going. You drive safely now,’ she said giving her hand a squeeze.
‘Thanks, I will. My sister would kill me if I didn’t.’
She turned to Effie but before she could say anything a puffy-eyed Effie pulled her into a bear hug, which she reciprocated. Effie had the purest heart of anyone she’d met and they’d grown close. ‘You take care and please keep in touch,’ said Liv.
‘I wondered if in the new year I might catch a train to Blackburn.’ Effie sounded very unsure and sunk her teeth hard into her bottom lip at the end of the sentence.
‘That would be brilliant. I’d love to see you and you’re welcome any time.’
‘Bye,’ said Fraser. ‘Can I just check? Are we doing a handshake or a hug?’
Something inside her said she was going to miss this bear of a man the most. ‘Hug?’
He held out his arms and she tentatively stepped into them. He gave the best hugs and with the whiff of cologne and a few added pheromones it was all a bit much. She had to pull away. Fraser was the one who never was and she was a little sad about that, but she was taking home a renewed sense of self-respect and a feeling of victory in that despite it being misplaced she had stood up for herself. Also unexpectedly she’d fallen in love with the beauty of the Scottish Highlands. She let out a breath. She was in danger of getting emotional so she grabbed her bag and pulled back her shoulders.
‘You’ve all been marvellous. Thanks for everything. Have the best Christmas. Bye!’ Liv couldn’t look at Effie or Fraser so she turned away, but as she did something caught her eye. She stepped between Robbie and Effie, took Effie’s arm and moved her closer to Robbie. ‘Now look up,’ she said. Everyone did and as they were all contemplating the mistletoe above them Liv walked away as fast as she could without it looking like she was running.