Page 33 of Christmas at the Scottish Lodge
Adam was at the grand piano. Mairi had placed a multitude of snowman figurines across the top of it earlier and they glittered as he played ‘Suspicious Minds’. She wondered if the choice of song was a jovial prod at Greer whose frown seemed to have deepened since she’d been in the kitchen. Maybe Adam had expected her to smile? Instead, the older woman tugged her notepad from her pocket and scribbled more notes, making Mairi want to scream.
‘These cakes are amazing,’ Scott gushed, shoving another two into his mouth while he tracked around the room offering refills of peppermint mocha.
‘They are delicious, lad,’ Margo agreed, carefully holding out her cup so he could refill it. She glanced around the room, taking in the mantlepiece which Mairi had draped ivy over earlier. ‘It looks wonderful in here,’ she said kindly. ‘Very festive. I’ve been to a lot of hotels, but none of them have looked this cosy.’
‘It took them long enough to get around to it,’ Greer complained, taking a small bite from a mince pie and grimacing before taking another.
Adam finished ‘Suspicious Minds’ and began to play, ‘You’re the Devil in Disguise’ as Scott placed a cake on the table beside him, then the boy went to sit with Margo.
‘I hate Elvis,’ Greer said loudly.
‘Ach, I love him. I used to dance to his songs with my wife. He was her favourite artist,’ Douglas confided as he stood swayingto the music. Mairi looked up and caught Jed’s eye, hoping he’d smile, but he frowned and looked away.
Adam began to sing, ‘You’re the devil in my pies…’
‘You’re getting the words wrong,’ Greer complained.
‘He does it on purpose,’ Scott muttered. ‘Mainly to see if anyone notices.’
‘I’m sure the King wouldn’t mind – he was my late husband’s favourite artist too,’ Margo told Douglas, her smile gentle. ‘We spent many evenings on the dance floor.’
‘Would you like a whirl, lassie?’ he asked, holding out an arm and the older woman grinned as she took it – then they both began to twirl.
When Mairi glanced across the room, Jed was looking at her again and her stomach fluttered when their eyes met. They’d danced in their hotel room every night in the four days after they’d married. Always to an Elvis melody because he was the one who’d married them, after all – and by the end of the song they’d usually been tangled together in bed. She felt a stir of lust and watched him gulp before he looked away.
‘You should dance too,’ Scott said, somehow picking up on the tension between them.
‘I’m not sure it’s good for Jed’s knee.’ Adam took a quick break from botching the lyrics to offer some doctorly advice.
‘Aye.’ Jed nodded, but his mouth dipped.
Was he disappointed? Mairi shook her head – or was that just wistful thinking?
‘Ach, just one won’t hurt,’ the teenager pressed.
‘I’ve got a delivery,’ a man’s voice rang from reception, and they all turned to stare at the door.
‘I’ll get it,’ Scott jumped up and charged out of the room before anyone else could offer.
‘If you’re lucky it’ll be a Christmas tree,’ Greer said sharply. glancing around the room. ‘I notice there still isn’t one in here.’
‘I wonder if the room needs it, though?’ Margo said, thoughtfully tapping her fingertip on her chin. ‘I think it looks just right as it is. Anything more and it might look overdecorated. This place is cosy and warm without trying too hard. Don’t you think it’s lovely?’
Greer frowned.
Adam’s fingers faltered on the piano, and when Mairi looked over, she saw he was chuckling. ‘I like her,’ he mouthed.
‘The package is for you, Mairi, I think your Christmas has come early!’ Scott burst back in the room carrying an enormous brown teddy bear holding three floating balloons featuring shiny red hearts. Her stomach sank. She already knew who it was from.
‘Talk about over the top,’ Jed muttered as Scott handed the package to Mairi.
‘There’s a card.’ Scott bounced on his toes as Adam stopped playing and got up. Then he, Margo and Douglas crowded around.
‘Who’s it from, lass?’ Douglas asked.
‘Is it fan mail?’ Greer said and Mairi frowned – what an odd thing to say. She was going to ask more but then she spotted the card and plucked it from the ribbon that had been strung around the bear’s neck.
‘It says “Still Missing you, H XXX”.’ Scott read out the writing over her shoulder. ‘This H is stuck on you alright.’ He turned to her, his eyes wide. ‘Do you know who he is?’
