Page 51 of Game Changer

Cheeky. See you then. Lunch is at 1. Don’t be late. XX

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The route to my brother’s home is serene as soon as you leave the motorway. The drive takes you up-river and passes through some lovely little villages. I could certainly see myself living somewhere like this.

The wrought iron gates at the entrance to the estate are open and Tom, Joe’s apprentice, is manning them. My brother used to live in the gatehouse, but now lives with Nessa in her cottage on the estate.

“Awright Zara, how you doing?”

“Very well Tom. I take it they’re all up at the big house?”

He nods. “Yup. Joe said to tell you to park round the back in the courtyard. He’s going to have your car valeted while you’re here. The rest are getting done today anyway.”

“Oh fab. It’s a bit desperate for a wash, as you can see. I’ll head on up. Thanks Tom see you later.”

“Not if I see you first,” he says, winking at me and tipping his baseball cap.

Oh Tom.Poor boy. He asked me out on a date at Christmas and while he’s a very good-looking guy, he is only eighteen and I am no cougar. I had to let him down in the nicest way possible. I’m grateful he doesn’t hate me. I smile at him and wave goodbye as I head up the incredibly long driveway towards the big house.

I pass the turn off for Nessa and Joe’s home and make my way round to the courtyard of the big house. I’m well acquainted with this place now and Dan and his fiancée Nikki have made me feel very welcome in their home. They all live up here like a lovely big extended family. I’m so glad Joe has these people in his life, and it’s nice to feel a part of that.

I hadn’t noticed until recently when we had Christmas here that I have been lonely for a long time. All I’ve ever done is work my arse off since I took over my first pub and it’s left little time for anything else. The relationships I’ve had were a way of trying to feel less alone. And that’s more than likely why they were always doomed to fail.

I park my car next to Nessa’s Range Rover and head into the house through the boot room and into the kitchen. “Hello,” I shout.

As soon as I walk through the door I’m greeted by the smell of Val’s food. And then the ear shattering squeals of Olivia, Dan’s daughter, as she runs at me full tilt. She’s closely followed by Max, my brother’s dog.

“Auntie Zara,” she shouts, grabbing my leg and spinning round on it. Max has a good old sniff at my legs then walks off nonchalantly.

“Well, hello my wee darling,” I say bending and lifting her in my arms. Her beautiful brown curls bounce over her face. She’s a stunning little girl and while I’m not her real auntie, I don’t mind being adopted as such.

“Good grief Olivia. Will ye let poor Zara get in the door?” Val calls to her.

“Don’t worry Val, she’s more than welcome for cuddles.” I lean in and kiss Val on the cheek.

“It’s lovely to see you sweetheart. Hope you’re hungry.”

“I’m constantly hungry.”

I head further into the kitchen with Olivia still in my arms. She swipes my sunglasses off the top of my head and puts them on, mashing the too big frames into her small face. The legs only catch one ear making them sit at a crazy angle on her nose. I see greasy fingerprints appearing all over the lenses and know I won’t be taking these sunnies home with me.

“Hey sis.” Joe is sitting at the breakfast table with his gorgeous daughter on his knee. My heart melts at the sight, as it does every time I see him with her.

“Hey big man. And hello to you Freya my wee princess.”

Freya doesn’t care that I’m here as she sits happily chewing on her own hand and drooling profusely down her front. Her beautiful hazel eyes make her a little image of Joe, and she has her mother’s dark hair.

“Teething,” Joe says nodding at her. “She’s having a bit of a rough time with it right now, as are we.”

“I can see that,” I laugh raising my eyebrows at him.

Olivia wriggles in my arms, and I put her down on the floor and she runs off to her playroom. I swear this girl eats rocket fuel for breakfast. She runs everywhere and never seems out of energy. I honestly don’t know how Nessa keeps up with all these kids since she now looks after Dan and Nikki’s baby boy too.

“Where’s Nessa?”

“Changing Euan. She won’t be long. Nikki and Dan are in Glasgow meeting with a couple of friends. Something about a charity they’ve set up that they want Dan to invest in. Anyway how are you? I see Buckie’s back. He sure knows how to pull in a crowd doesn’t he. It was Nessa who showed me the online news reports.”

“Yeah, he really does. It was actually good fun having him there at the bar that day, but I wasn’t prepared for the fallout. Well when I say fallout, I mean the publicity. We’ve increased the covers by thirty percent since those photos emerged. I’ve had to put a booking and waiting list system in place at the weekend. His showmanship behind that bar did more for the place in three hours than months of advertising.”

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