Page 26 of Christmas at the Scottish Lodge
Mairi glanced around. She’d promised to decorate yesterday but had got caught up. Douglas was supposed to have done some too, but he’d been distracted trying to modify the washing machine so it washed at twice its usual speed. It had stoppedworking altogether and they’d had to call an engineer, which meant Effie had needed to wash the linen at another hotel. Which is probably why Greer didn’t like the smell. She’d talk to Jed about it later. Perhaps they could decorate together?
Mairi heard the sound of muffled coughing coming from the kitchen and turned to frown at the door. ‘I’ll be right back,’ she said. ‘I just need to check on something.’ Could the coughing be Jed? Was he somewhere in the lodge?
‘Don’t be long,’ Greer ordered as Mairi left the dining room.
Mairi froze when she entered the kitchen and saw Effie bent over, visibly wobbling and holding onto her knees for support. ‘Are you okay?’ She rushed across the room just as the back door swung open and Jed came striding in. He stopped for a beat when he saw Mairi and glanced back at the door, making her want to scream. Would he ever stop running from her?
Effie coughed again and Jed jerked his head around, before galloping to her. ‘Aunt Effie, are you okay?’ He pulled out one of the wooden chairs under the metal counter in the centre of the kitchen which was piled with bowls ready to serve lunch. ‘Are you sick?’ He patted her on the back, then began to undo his jacket, shrugging it off and exposing a tight underlayer that hugged his chest.
Mairi’s insides swooped and her throat tightened. She dragged her eyes away from his perfect torso, edging forward – this wasn’t the right time to ogle her husband. Effie’s cheeks were maroon and her forehead looked damp. She was clearly unwell.
‘Nothing’s wrong, lad.’ Effie coughed again. ‘I’m absolutely bonnie.’ She gazed at the chair and sank into it, looking weary, then ran a hand over her throat and yawned. ‘I didn’t sleep well, that’s all – the wee bairn wanted to play. The good news is the shelter said we can keep him.’ She smiled wearily, but her usual beam had dimmed to half its normal wattage.
‘That’s great, but you need to go to bed,’ Mairi insisted, pressing the back of her hand to Effie’s forehead. ‘You’re burning up. Do you have a thermometer?’
Effie waved the question away. ‘It’s nothing, lass.’ Her voice was gravelly. ‘I’m just hot stuff.’ The joke fell flat.
‘Itissomething, Aunt Effie,’ Jed insisted. ‘I think you might have the flu. You’ve obviously caught it from Rhona. Douglas told me he thought you weren’t well.’ His mouth pursed. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t notice.’
‘I didn’t either,’ Mairi said, feeling guilty.
‘Why would you when there’s nothing wrong? Douglas is just being a mother hen,’ Effie complained, but her attention still darted to the back door and her eyes sparkled.
‘I should have realised you’ve been doing too much. I let myself get caught up in—’ Jed gulped and his attention strayed to Mairi before moving back to Effie. ‘The competition.’ He flushed. ‘Mairi’s right, you need to go to bed.’
‘I can’t!’ Effie cried as Mairi went to put the kettle on. ‘I’m serving lunch.’
‘I can do it, and you just need to rest for a while,’ Mairi said. ‘I’ll make you a hot drink and you can have a painkiller and get some sleep. I’m sure that’ll help.’ Although she suspected Effie would need more than a quick nap.
‘I’ve got too much to do,’ the older woman wailed as she started to rise. ‘What about the guests, there’s afternoon tea to make and we still have to put the decorations up. Christmas is in five days.’ She coughed, great wheezing whoops that made her wobble until she sank back into the chair. Jed went to pat her back and his gaze shifted until he was looking over his aunt’s head straight into Mairi’s eyes. He looked worried and something in her chest vibrated. He adored Effie, aside from his skiing she’d been the only constant in his life.
‘It’s going to be okay,’ she mouthed, feeling her insides melt when he nodded.
‘What about the wee pup, Douglas said he’d walk him, but he can’t take care of him for long?’ Effie croaked and Jed immediately jerked his eyes back to hers.
‘I’ll take care of him,’ he promised. ‘Bear too.’
‘And what about the guests?’ Effie wriggled her body as she prepared to rise. ‘We’ve got honeymooners arriving tomorrow and Greer is—’ She winced.
‘Trying, demanding, difficult?’ Jed filled in, giving her a half smile.
Effie winced. ‘Ach, the customer is always right, lad, you need to remember that. Even when she’s being trying, demanding and difficult. I suspect the poor lass only goes to places to find things wrong because she’s got nothing else to do.’ She sounded sad.
‘She ought to do something more positive with her time,’ Jed grumbled, although his tone had softened.
‘I’ll look after the guests, including Greer,’ Mairi promised. ‘You don’t have to worry about a thing.’ Her eyes shifted back to Jed’s and he looked surprised.
What had he expected? That she’d pack her bags and go? Didn’t he understand how important the lodge was to her; how important he was too?
‘You’ve got things to do, lass. You were never supposed to stay for long,’ Effie said quietly. ‘What about your book?’
Mairi shrugged. ‘I’ve still got time.’ She winced because it was running out. ‘Besides all this drama might give me some inspiration.’ Maybe her characters would bond over decorating Christmas trees, making puff pastry and changing sheets?
Effie wheezed out a breathy laugh. ‘I’m really not sure, lass. This is just a headache.’ She shook her head and grimaced, making it clear the movement had been painful. ‘Nothing a cup of peppermint mocha won’t fix.’ The kettle started to whistle.
‘I’ll make you some,’ Mairi said mildly because it would do nothing of the sort. She went to the stove and took it off the heat. ‘Why don’t you have a mug and go to bed so you can catch up on some sleep?’ She glanced at Jed, who was watching her again and flushed. ‘Jed and I will take care of everything until you’re back on your feet.’
It seemed odd saying his name out loud. She was so used to keeping their relationship a secret that using it in a sentence made her feel like she was somehow breaking the rules.
