Page 14 of Grace on the Rocks

“Then you have it?”

“Checked out.Itpretty well stays checked out.ButItell you what,” she said nodding at his tablet. “Ifyou download the app and give me a tick,I’llbuy a digital copy.”

“Don’t spend your budget on my account,”Bryansaid, looking around at the book-filled shelves.

“Nonsense.Ifyou’re back for good, you’re my responsibility too,”Jennyanswered, tapping away on her keyboard. “Andhonestly,Ishould’ve bought a digital copy ages ago.”

She handed him a library card, and he briefly wondered what name she’d registered him under.

“If the dyslexia still troubles you, it might be easier reading on the app, anyway.There’sa special font.”

Bryan stared at her.Noone on knew about that, not his teachers or his parents.NotGrandadMac.Orat least no one had ever mentioned it to him.Bryanhadn’t been officially tested or diagnosed, though he figured it out after leaving the island.

“How did you…?”

She grimaced. “Sorry.Isit a secret?”

“No, no,” he said. “Thefont will be grand.”

She smiled sympathetically, andBryanfidgeted with the stupid spinner in his pocket while he joined the library’sWi-Fiand waited for the app to download.Thenhe tucked the tablet into his jacket pocket and headed on to the pub.

* * *

TheThreePuffinswas more packed thanBryanremembered for a random weeknight, but then it would be, thanks to the festival.

Bàgh a’Chiùil.

TheBayofMusicfestival wasn’t a thing when he was young.Ithad been his father’s brainchild sometime after he stopped representingNah-EileanananIarinParliament, a way to lure more visitors to theHebridesin general during pleasant summer weather, and toBarrain particular.AccordingtoTeàrlachit was a big hit, particularly with theAmericanset.Areal boon for the local economy.Afterall, who could resist the allure ofCelticmusic, ceilidh dancing, and a sun that hardly set?

It only galledBryanbecause it was his father’s brainchild.

Attempting to leave that particular chip at the door, he shouldered his way through the crowd to a table in the back corner and slid onto the bench opposite his cousin’s wheelchair.

“Everyone settled?”Teàrlachasked, not trying very hard to disguise his amusement.

Bryan rolled his eyes. “YouknewCaitwas renting it out?”

“Afraid not, mate.I’vebeen preoccupied with other things.”

Relieved to hear his cousin wasn’t keeping family secrets from him,Bryanfelt a bit crap for being so self-centered.Hewas about to ask what was onTeàrlach’smind, but his cousin pivoted before he got the words out.

“Will you let them stay?”Teàrlachasked.

Bryan scoffed. “Whatelse canIdo?Throwthem out in the rain with only the clothes they arrived in?”

His cousin snickered, but damn if the notion didn’t conjure up a picture ofGrace, damp from her shower and wrapped in only her towel—histowel, actually—as she hurried back to the guest room.Shehad a pattern of freckles on her left shoulder that looked like theBigDipper, and he rather wished they could have used it in theRionnagachwhisky label design.

He tried to swallow, but his throat was tight and his trousers tighter.Heshifted uncomfortably as a smirk spread acrossTeàrlach’sface.Thenhis cousin slid a large faux leather glasses case across the table. “Oneof them left their specs on the plane.”

“Neither of them mentioned it.”

“Americans.”Hiscousin laughed as he shook his head, butBryanwasn’t sure if he was actually laughing at the two women or atBryan’spredicament of having to play host to them when all he really wanted was to be left alone.

“Not exactly the homecomingIwas hoping for.”

“We did our best to take in the red carpet so you wouldn’t trip over it.”

A laugh bubbled up from somewhere long forgotten, and out of habit,Bryanfought to keep it contained.ButChrist, he’d missedTeàrlachtaking the piss.

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