Page 158 of Her Last Walk Home

‘He hasn’t got any friends yet.’

‘How could he have friends when he has nowhere to bring them to? You’re a very stupid man, Mark.’

‘I suppose I am.’ He winked at Lottie. She tried not to giggle.

‘Listen, Mark,’ Grace said. ‘Myself and Bryan… and don’t say with a Y or I’d clobber you if I was there…’

‘Go on.’

‘We made a decision. It’s a surprise for you and Sergio.’

Boyd muted the phone and turned to Lottie, ‘She can’t be moving here, can she?’

‘Bryan with a Y won’t leave his farm,’ Lottie whispered.

He unmuted the phone. ‘What decision, Grace?’

‘Bryan and I are buying a house in Ragmullin.’

‘What about his farm?’ Boyd’s eyes widened in horror.

‘If you keep interrupting me, I won’t tell you.’

‘Okay. Sorry.’

‘We can sell Mother’s house and share the proceeds, but this house will be for you and Sergio. And Lottie too, if she wants. If I gift it to you, you’ll be fleeced with tax, so it will have to be in ourname. Mine and Bryan’s. We can draw up a rental agreement, and when I die, which I hope isn’t for a long time, it will be yours. Then again, I’m much younger than you, so you’ll probably die first. I’ll make sure it goes to Sergio in that case.’

‘Why would you do this? Or Bryan?’

‘He has money he wants to invest and I told him my family come first. He’s not my family yet.’

‘Can I think about it?’

‘Why would you want to think about it?’

‘It’s a bit of a shock.’

‘You never even said thanks, Mark. You’re not very appreciative of your generous sister.’

‘I love you, Grace. And thank you.’

‘Settled then. Say hello to Lottie. I know she’s there with you. Bye.’

Boyd turned off the phone and left it on the bedside cabinet. ‘How could she know you’re with me?’

‘She’s cleverer than her brother.’

‘She continues to surprise me. We’ll have to discuss this. I don’t want to end up living with Bryan.’

‘Not even a Bryan with a Y?’

‘Now you’re making fun of Grace’s surprise.’

‘Can I surprise you for a change?’ Lottie asked, sitting up.

‘You can try?’

‘First, I need a shower. Care to join me?’ She hauled her T-shirt over her head.

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