Page 7 of Hollywood Games
The wind whipped around Rory as he surveyed the damage in the attic. It was a fucking disaster. The heavy snowfall, combined with the wind, had created a huge drift on the section of roof above the attic and the timbers had finally given way under the weight. It looked like a bomb had been dropped. Broken wood, slate tiles, and pieces of metal lay in a heap on the wet floor, covered in a fresh blanket of snow. It was going to take forever to clear before he could even think about making a temporary repair. Barbara stood by his side. She was extremely beautiful, often being mistaken for Rory’s older sister, but now she looked tired. Her face was pinched and pale and he could see her jaw trembling.
‘I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner, Mum. I’ll fix this as best I can. Why don’t you go back to the flat and have a rest?’ His mother stiffened and she drew herself up.
‘No, I’ll stay. Let me know how I can best help.’
Rory ran his hands into his hair. ‘Okay, I’ll make a start here. Please could you go to the workshop and get a couple of pairs of my heavy-duty gloves? And get a coat for you, I don’t want you getting cold.’
His mother nodded, pausing at the door.
‘Happy New Year, dear,’ she said quietly, before closing the door behind her.
Whilst Rory was shifting brokenroof timbers in a howling wind, Zoe was warm and happy in the kitchen of her second family. Jamie and Fiona’s mother, Morag, was three sheets to the wind, red-faced and perspiring freely.
She clasped Zoe to her chest. ‘Oh, my darling, we were so worried about you all alone up there. I had visions of you freezing to death and your bloody rat chewing on your frozen corpse.’
Jamie shook his head and left the room, passing his sister who was on the way in.
Fiona rolled her eyes behind her mother’s back. ‘She was fine. Basil’s super cute. And Rory was there, remember?’
Morag held Zoe at arm’s length, as if checking everything was still in the right place. ‘Well, you’re looking as bonny as ever, love, just a little blurry around the edges.’
Fiona let out a huff of air. ‘That’s because you’re pissed, Mum.’
‘Only a wee bit, love. Now get our Zoe a drink, she missed out on the fun last night so she needs to catch up.’
‘Can I help?’ asked Zoe, as Morag moved to open a cupboard and missed the handle.
‘Och no, love, go next door and sit down on our Jamie. He’s a fine man, isn’t he?’
‘Mum!’ whispered Fiona sharply. ‘Rory? Remember?’
Morag looked in puzzlement at her daughter before the penny finally dropped. She stage whispered back, ‘Och yes, love, I forgot.’
Fiona ushered Zoe away. ‘Get yourself a drink. I’ll try and sober her up before dinner and stop her from burning the house down.’
Zoe went into the living room, gave Fiona’s husband, Duncan, a hug and wished him happy new year, then took Liam off him. ‘He’s got so big, Duncan! It’s only been a month but he’s changed so much!’
‘Aye. He changes so quickly it’s like I come home to a different baby every two weeks.’
‘Working away on the rigs must be so hard.’
‘It is,’ replied Duncan softly. ‘But needs must, eh?’
Jamie passed her a large glass of Prosecco. ‘How’s the cabin renovations been going?’ he asked. ‘Rory’s been at it like a demon. It must be a right little home for you now.’
‘It’s better than I ever could have hoped for. I still can’t get over having a flushing toilet.’
Duncan lifted his glass. ‘Welcome to the twenty-first century.’
Fiona came back into the room, her hands raised to the sky as if trying to summon divine intervention. ‘God help us, she’s trolleyed.’ She kicked Jamie in the shin. ‘Your turn, you big lump. I can’t get any sense in or out of her.’
Jamie rubbed his shin and got to his feet. ‘See the abuse I get? I’m the most put-upon member of this family.’
Fiona pretended to yawn, pushed him towards the door and sat down in his chair. ‘Now I need a drink.’
The three of them spent a happy hour drinking, chatting, and passing Liam around, whilst listening to dinner being prepared. There were crashes, the wails of Morag singing, and Jamie’s exasperated voice as he tried unsuccessfully to bring order to the situation.
‘Are you sure you don’t want to help him?’ Zoe giggled, as they heard another crash, followed by the sound of Jamie swearing.
