Liv pulled up outside the Lochy House Hotel. She was full of excited butterflies. It felt so good to be back. A beaming Effie raced down the steps and across the gravel to meet them. Liv buzzed the window down but before she could say anything Effie had almost launched herself through the window.
‘Hiya, Effie, this is my sister and my mum,’ said Liv trying to point.
‘Hello, I am so excited to see you all. I was worried I might actually spontaneously combust,’ she said with a deadpan expression.
‘If I can open the car door, we’ll get our stuff,’ said Liv.
‘Come in. Everyone is excited to meet you. It’s going to be wild tonight. There will be dancing, Robbie on the bagpipes at midnight and there’s soooo many people coming.’
‘Hello! Will there be men in kilts?’ asked her mum.
‘Yeah, loads,’ said Effie.
‘Great,’ said Liv, glancing past her. Whilst she was pleased to see Effie there was one other person she was longing to set eyes on.
‘He’s in the kitchen but he’ll be out in a mo,’ she said reading her mind.
They took the bags inside and Effie gave Charlotte and her mum the guided tour as well as introducing them to Dolly and Jock’O. Liv ducked out of the tour after greeting Dolly with a hug and giving Jock’O a chew stick in the shape of a sock. She pushed open the kitchen door to find a hive of activity. Donald and a couple of people Liv didn’t know were busy chopping and cooking, and Winnie was stationed at the end of the service counter.
As she walked in Fraser appeared, took her in his arms and lifted her up, which made a happy squeal escape. It was a bit embarrassing but Liv reasoned it could have been wind, which would have been far worse. He kissed her and Winnie started to clap.
‘I did that,’ said Winnie, pointing proudly at the kissing couple.
Fraser put Liv down and Winnie waved to get her attention.
‘I’m so very sorry about ghosting you. I really wouldn’t have done if I’d thought it through,’ said Winnie biting her lip.
She gave her a peck on the cheek. ‘All forgiven. If it wasn’t for fake Fraser I never would have gotten to know the real one so thank you. And thanks for the slippers too.’
‘It’s good to see you,’ said Fraser, his eyes searching Liv’s face as if taking in every detail. ‘How was the journey?’
‘Excellent, only three wee stops. A lot less than I was anticipating with Mum on board. How’s it going in here?’
‘All under control. Two staff have voluntarily deserted Lizzie in favour of my kitchen and stalwarts Donald and Winnie have been doing a splendid job. It’s a buffet tonight and the audience is friendly so we’re good.’
Fraser and Liv had been desperate to see each other and with Charlotte and her mum badgering her for details they had hit upon the idea of having Hogmanay all together at the hotel. Fraser and Liv left the kitchen to find Robbie was waiting for them in the hallway.
‘Lovely to see you again, Liv,’ he said.
‘Glad you’re here Robbie because I understand there’s going to be lots of men in kilts this evening flashing their sgian-dubhs.’ The thought of seeing Fraser in a kilt was already getting her excited.
‘You don’t need to worry. It’ll be quite safe with me around,’ said Robbie straightening his jumper.
Fraser wrapped his arms around Liv from behind and she hoped she always got that little shiver of pleasure from the contact.
Effie came back downstairs from showing Charlotte and Liv’s mum to their rooms. ‘Did you get your DNA results back yet?’ she asked, rocking on her heels.
‘I did. The app pinged me a message as we left home but I’ve not opened it yet.’ Liv pulled her phone from her bag.
‘Open it, open it!’ chanted Effie as Robbie put an arm around her.
‘Och it’s all bunkum and nonsense,’ said Dolly.
Effie leaned in. ‘Granny’s not happy about hers.’
‘What did yours say?’ Liv asked Fraser as she pulled up the app. ‘I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,’ she added with a grin.
Fraser leaned over the reception desk and produced his own mobile. ‘Go on then.’
Liv went to the results screen and read it out. ‘I’m thirty-four per cent Scottish!’ said Liv delighted with the finding. ‘Twenty-one per cent English, fourteen per cent Welsh and nine per cent Norwegian with a sprinkling of French and lots of low percentages of African countries.’
Fraser’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times before he spoke. ‘Seventeen per cent.’ He swallowed hard. ‘I’m only seventeen per cent Scottish.’
‘What? I’m more Scottish than you are!’ Liv fell about laughing but Fraser didn’t seem to think it was that funny and Dolly had definitely stopped smiling.
‘I’m twenty-six per cent Spanish and twenty-five per cent Polish,’ said Fraser looking at Dolly. ‘What’s that all about?’
‘It means we’re all European and it’s just like I said, it’s a lot of old bunkum.’ She thrust out her chin.
‘Effie was forty-six per cent Scottish,’ said Fraser. ‘Why aren’t I?’
‘That’ll be my mam,’ said Effie. ‘She reckoned she could trace back her family tree to the Battle of Inverlochy. But didn’t you say the same, Granny?’
They all looked at Dolly. ‘It doesny matter,’ she said. ‘It’s what’s in your heart that’s important.’
‘My Spanish and Polish heart?’ asked Fraser, with a grin.
Dolly reversed backwards a fraction quicker than was wise and bumped into the pike pole, which bounced back off the wood panelling and fell straight towards Fraser. With lightning reflexes Liv shot out a hand and caught it just inches from Fraser’s head.
‘Whoa! Thanks, that almost took me out,’ he said.
‘Handling pikes is probably in my DNA. Back when my Scottish ancestors were fighting off the Spanish.’
Fraser took the pike from her. ‘Are you going to fight off the Spanish now?’
‘Nope, I think it’s time to cement relations.’
He grinned at her. ‘To that I say Sí.’
‘And I say ma heid’s mince!’ she said in a passable Scottish accent.
With that he picked her up into his arms and kissed her.