Page 49 of A Festive Surprise

‘Thank you, but I’ll get on. You don’t look too good. Maybe you should lie down. Indigestion can be a right pain. My father had terrible indigestion at the weekend and was taken to hospital thinking it was a heart attack. They ran all sorts of scans and ended up giving him a bottle of Gaviscon and sending him home.’

Robyn let out a little laugh. ‘Oh dear, that sounds awful but funny in its own way.’

‘I can laugh now. My mother was raging and unimpressed at having to deal with the aftermath.’

‘Oh dear.’ Robyn walked Holly out to the car. ‘Thank you for coming.’

‘No problem. It was a beautiful drive. You’re so lucky to have a place like this.’

‘Yes, we are,’ said Robyn. ‘And Carl’s family are like a second family to me too. You know my father-in-law, don’t you? He works with your boyfriend.’

‘You mean Farid?’

‘The man you were with at the carol singing.’

‘He’s not really my boyfriend. We’re just seeing each other. I’m leaving after Christmas, so it’s a short-term thing.’ She had to keep saying it because it reminded her of the deal.

‘I see. Well, take care on the roads.’

‘Thanks. Speak soon.’ Holly jumped in the car and whizzed off along the bendy road, slowing straight away as a herd of cows ambled across the road. ‘Well, hello, cows.’ She tapped the wheel. A pang tore through her ribcage and pierced her heart. Saying aloud that Farid wasn’t her boyfriend was like disowning him.

Once the cows had finished their road crossing – and they were in no rush – Holly made her way northwards again. When she reached the ferry port at Craignure, she pulled into the car park and took out her phone. Reception was patchy on the island but it worked here. She keyed out a number and waited for it to connect.

‘Holly?’ her father’s voice answered.

‘Hi, Dad. Just calling to check you’re ok.’

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’

‘After the heart attack thing.’

‘Better late than never, I suppose,’ he muttered.

‘It only happened on Saturday night.’

‘Yes, three days ago.’

She drew in a breath. ‘Well, sorry, but I don’t get much reception here and I’ve been busy. This is the first time since then I’ve been in an area where I can make a call. I sent Ma messages.’

‘She doesn’t like messenger because she only gets it on her tablet and she hates using the thing.’

‘Why don’t you sign up for it then?’

‘There’s no point. Everyone living somewhere sensible can use the mobiles.’

Sensible? Well, bugger me! He was so set in his ways, nothing would ever drag him out of them. ‘At least half of rural Britain doesn’t get reception.’

‘Nonsense, that’s an urban myth.’

Holly rolled her eyes at her mirror. Thank Christ he couldn’t see her. She was used to this. At least he was ok. Arguing was normal for him and he would argue black was white to prove himself right.

‘So, what are you doing on that island?’

‘I’m working.’

‘Which brings me back to my other point. Why work in a place with no reception?’

‘Because I’m not right in the head?’ she mumbled to herself. ‘Guess what, I saw the aurora borealis last night; it was amazing.’

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