Page 95 of The Boathouse By the Loch

Robyn couldn’t believe it when she’d looked inside. It was a gorgeous wedding planner book. She’d flung her arms around him and said she couldn’t wait to get started.

Robyn would have liked to show Judith her wedding planner, and thought that perhaps her stepmum would enjoy helping her with some more planning during her stay. Robyn frowned. She didn’t get the impression Judith would be that enthusiastic to help her. In fact, she didn’t appear enthusiastic about anything so far.

Robyn’s shoulders slumped. She’d really thought that Judith would be happy for her. She’d told Judith in her letter that she was engaged and had planned to show her the engagement ring when she met her at the airport. She was still waiting for Judith to congratulate her on her engagement, and ask her more about it; how she’d met David – that sort of thing. But Judith hadn’t mentioned it at all.

As they approached the end of the drive, and David pulled up outside the boathouse, Robyn frowned. This reunion wasn’t really turning out as she had hoped.

She looked up at the boathouse as she exited the car and thought that perhaps she was being selfish. Judith must still be getting over the shock of the revelations about Robyn’s life. Shehadn’t exactly had much of a chance for it all to sink in – that her stepdaughter was no longer at college, but was getting married instead, and was running a successful business.

Robyn got out of the car, feeling a lot more positive at the thought that she just had to give Judith time. She still thought it was a bit unfortunate that she’d arrived on the day of the party, so they wouldn’t be spending an awful lot of time together before everyone arrived. She looked at her watch. Gayle would be arriving soon to do Judith’s hair. At least they could all go and sit on the balcony for a cup of coffee after she’d shown her around. And hopefully Judith would spend the following week with them.

Robyn realised that although she’d been to two hypnotherapy sessions, and Marnie had been quite positive that she felt they were making progress, and Robyn might turn a corner soon, her memories were still evading her. This was her opportunity to get to know her stepmum all over again. Perhaps that wasn’t a bad thing. It didn’t sound as though they’d got on in the past. Robyn was still intent on changing that.

Chapter 34

‘Come on, let me show you around,’ said Robyn, racing ahead to the door and quickly punching in the key code for the alarm.

Judith came up behind her. ‘What are you doing?’

‘Just switching off the alarm.’

‘Why do you need a house alarm all the way out here?’

Robyn pursed her lips. She did not want to talk about the reason, especially as David had no clue that Duncan had told her about the burglary.

She turned around, smiling at Judith, and shrugged. ‘I don’t know,’ she said, and left it at that.

David followed them into the house, carrying Judith’s luggage.

Robyn was just saying to Judith, ‘Let me show you around,’ when Judith rushed into the kitchen before Robyn even had a chance to start the grand tour. Judith then reached for the study door.

‘Wait – I didn’t tell you about—’

Too late. Judith had already opened the study door, only to be met by an excited beagle jumping up at her.

‘Percy – down!’ Robyn had left Percy in the study with his dog bed, toys, and a chew, and with the door shut, so that he didn’t getunder their feet when Judith first arrived. She had decided not to mention that she had a dog until they arrived home.

She’d wanted to take Percy with them to the airport, but hadn’t wanted to leave him in the car on such a warm day while they met Judith in the airport terminal. The only option had been to leave Percy at home alone. Robyn knew they’d only be gone three hours. She wouldn’t have left him any longer than that.

‘Sorry, Judith. I hope you don’t mind dogs. I should have told you about—’

Judith walked into the study, ignoring the dog at her heels, before Robyn had even finished what she was saying.

When Judith reappeared, David said, ‘I’ll take your suitcase up to one of the bedrooms.’ He was just about to take the stairs when Judith pushed past him and took the stairs two at a time.

Robyn and David stood at the foot of the stairs and exchanged a look of surprise.

Even Percy sensed something was amiss. He stood beside Robyn and David, looking up the stairs, whining.

Robyn said, ‘What’s with her?’

David replied, ‘Guess she’s eager to see the place.’

Robyn smiled. ‘Yes, I guess she is.’ Robyn gave Percy a reassuring pat on the head before starting up the stairs. When she got to the lounge on the next floor, with the log burner, exposed brickwork, faux beams, and the gorgeous view out of the double doors to the loch, she presumed that was where she’d find Judith, keen to get out on the balcony and soak up the amazing views.

Robyn stopped in the lounge with Percy at her heels. The patio doors leading out to the balcony were still shut. ‘Judith?’

Percy ran out of the lounge and stopped at the foot of the next flight of stairs up to the bedrooms.

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