Page 69 of The Boathouse By the Loch

He swallowed and forced a smile. Whatever or whoever it was she had been running from on Christmas Day, when she had been driving like a bat out of hell on that snowy road out of Aviemore, it was still haunting her. The fact that she wanted to dye her hair again, hiding her identity, was not a good sign.

‘I’m going to nip downstairs while you dry your hair.’

Robyn caught his hand before he left and planted a kiss in the centre of his palm. ‘I love you, David Gillespie. You know that – right?’

David gently took her face in his hands, kissing her. He drew back. ‘I don’t want to lose you.’

She grinned. ‘And you won’t. That’s a promise.’

‘Good.’ David got up. ‘I’ll see you downstairs.’ He was just opening the door when Robyn said, ‘Hey, let Gayle know that before I leave, I’d like a quick colour and cut – if she has the time.’

David frowned. ‘All right,’ he said tightly, and closed the door.

‘What’s with the face? I thought you two had worked things out.’

David walked into the kitchen, thankful that Nick and Marty were not around. He’d forgotten that he and Robyn didn’t have the house to themselves. Although Marty and Nick had made themselves scarce the previous night, he knew they could show up at any time. It was Saturday, which meant neither of them would be at work, although it occurred to him that Marty might be doing some gardening work at the weekend.

Still, he didn’t hear any footsteps on the stairs, and Olive was nowhere to be seen. He asked after the dog.

‘She’s out on a morning jog with Nick.’

‘Great.’

Gayle pointed her half-eaten toast at David and said, ‘I thought you liked Olive?’

‘I do. It’s just that this morning I want to be left alone.’

Gayle put her toast down and wiped her mouth. She looked towards the kitchen door. ‘Where’s Robyn?’

‘She’s blow-drying herhair,’ David said sullenly.

Gayle pushed her plate away. ‘I see.’ Gayle raised her eyes to the ceiling. ‘Trouble in paradise?’

‘We’re okay.’Sort of, thought David. Now that he was in the kitchen, sitting in front of Gayle, he didn’t know whether to confide in her or not. Was it the case that he was just making a mountain out of a molehill, and that he had nothing to worry about when it came to Robyn and her past? But something was definitely going on. She wanted her hair dyed again.

‘You want something to eat?’

‘No, not hungry. Besides, I said I’d wait for Robyn.’

‘Coffee?’

‘Yeah.’

Gayle brewed some coffee and joined David at the table. She put a mug of steaming black coffee down in front of him and said, ‘Now, why don’t you tell me what’s going on? Perhaps I can help.’

‘All right.’ David heaved a sigh. ‘She asked me to tell you that she wants a cut and colour before she leaves. If you have the time.’

‘She wants her hair dyed again?’ Gayle frowned.

‘I’m not happy about it either,’ said David, catching her frown.

‘You prefer her natural hair colour.’

‘Well, yeah. But that’s not really it.’

‘You’re wondering why, after all this time, she wants to dye her hair again?’

David nodded. ‘I find it odd that it’s coincided with her trips to London. I just think there’s something she’s not telling me. But I don’t want to push it, otherwise …’

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