Page 21 of The Boathouse By the Loch

‘Oh, I didn’t realise …’

‘She’d be on the phone all day if I didn’t rescue you,’ Faye sounded exasperated. ‘God help us when she’s a teenager.’

Jake was surprised by the use of the wordus. It made them sound like a family. Next, they’d be grilling her first boyfriend and debating where those university fees were coming from. Jake shook his head. Faye had simply used a figure of speech, and there he was making the leap from being a colleague, a friend, the babysitter she relied on – to what? A ten-year relationship behind them and a kid of university age? It was no wonder Natty was confused. It confused the hell out of him. And the truth was, it scared the hell out of him too.

‘Jake – are you still there?’

‘Yes, look I wanted to apologise for hanging up on you the last time we spoke.’

‘It’s all right, Jake. I get it. You’ve got a lot on your mind.’

Jake didn’t think that excused his behaviour, but even so he was so relieved she’d taken his call. Now Jake was trying desperately to remember why he had rung Faye; he had completely forgotten.

‘Have you sent the photograph?’ Faye reminded him.

‘The photograph,’ Jake said hurriedly, feeling like a drowning man snatching at a life raft. ‘Of course, the photo. Right, er …’ Jake was having a problem piecing his thoughts together. ‘What did you just say?’

‘I said have … you … sent … the … photograph? You know that little favour you asked for?’

‘Ah! Yes. I mean no.’

‘Well, which is it?’ she paused. ‘Are you alright, Jake?’

No, he was not alright. He felt awkward. He felt tongue-tied. He felt like a teenager trying to arrange a first date. It was weird,because suddenly he was having a really tough time holding an ordinary conversation with Faye. Normally, he could talk to her about anything and everything, and here he was clamming up. Maybe Faye was right: he’d needed a holiday more than he thought. Just not in Aviemore. Jake frowned. ‘I think maybe coming here has made me a little out of sorts. I’ll text you a copy of the photo.’ Hearing Faye’s voice again and speaking to Natty made Jake realise that he couldn’t wait to wrap things up and head back to London. He told Faye he couldn’t wait to return.

‘Then you’ll keep your promise to Marcus, and return to the Ross Corporation while he’s … away?’

Jake rolled his eyes. Marcus. It seemed that every time he spoke to Faye, Marcus cropped up somewhere in the conversation. He noted the euphemism,away. Natty was probably listening in on her mother’s conversation. Faye didn’t want her overhearing her talking about Marcus going to the clinic. ‘Look, I know you had the best intentions when you told Marcus about my holiday, but the thing is,’ Jake paused. He didn’t want it to sound like he wanted her to butt out. But, in fact, he did. ‘There are things going on between Marcus and me that—’

‘Are you talking about Eleanor?’

‘Marcus didn’t tell you?’

‘Tell me what, exactly, Jake? Do I have to tell you every word that passes between me and your brother?’ she said testily.

Jake was inclined to say yes, but kept his mouth shut.

There was a silence down the phone until Faye asked, ‘When you get back, will you tell me about Eleanor? About what really happened?’ she said softly.

Jake had promised her he would, just not over the phone, but he was changing his mind about waiting until he got back. What ifshe bumped into Marcus again, or more likely spoke with him on the phone – and Marcus said something? For that reason, Jake made up his mind to tell Faye what had really happened to Eleanor.

‘I want you to hear this from me Faye, before you hear it from …’ he paused, thinking of Marcus, ‘somebody else.’ Jake was positive Marcus had told Lydia; it was obvious from Lydia’s attitude towards Jake when they spoke on the phone. Which meant that in time, Marcus might tell Faye.

He couldn’t imagine Marcus would just phone Faye up and start talking about Eleanor’s accident on the ski slopes, but what if it just came out in conversation? Faye was a good listener. That was the problem. Before Marcus knew it, he might just find himself telling Faye his life story, and that would include just what he and Marcus had had a massive falling-out over – namely what really happened on that mountain in the aftermath of the accident.

Chapter 8

‘I haven’t told anybody this – not friends, not family. It’s just been between Marcus and me.’ Jake thought of Marcus’s fiancée, Lydia. ‘Whether he has said anything to anybody else, I’m not certain.’ Jake continued before he could change his mind. ‘It was a skiing accident, but obviously you know that.’

‘It was in the newspapers and splashed all over the news,’ Faye affirmed.

‘Yes, the press always makes a big deal out of a wealthy family tragedy. Guess they think you can’t have wealthandhappiness, but you can, Faye.’ He paused. ‘It was just a stupid, stupid accident.’

‘Jake – tell me what happened up there on the ski slopes.’

He took a deep breath, trying to stave off a panic attack as he recalled the events of the previous Christmas. ‘Marcus always goaded Eleanor to join us on the slopes. She never really liked skiing; it was never her thing – know what I mean?’

‘Not really. I’ve never set foot on a ski slope in my life,’ Faye commented.

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