Page 75 of A Christmas Celebration
‘It will cost a fortune to get someone in from further afield,’ he insisted, ‘and it really is only minor repairs that need doing. I’m sure I can do it.’
Archie shook his head and I hoped his father wasn’t penny pinching because he wasn’t expecting his return from Brodie to pay off.
‘You need to get a professional in,’ I said to Angus. ‘This is the very fabric of the building we’re talking about. It’s all well and good tinkering with the odd thing inside and in the garden, but you could do irreparable damage to the stone decoration. Or worse, damage that will end up costing more to repair in the long run. You should leave well alone.’
Angus looked hurt.
‘You don’t think I can do it,’ he said sulkily.
‘Iknowyou can’t do it,’ I said back firmly. ‘Stonemasons take years to train. Sticking up a bit of mortar and crossing your fingers in the hope that it won’t drop off won’t cut it, will it?’
‘Though as you’re so keen, Dad,’ Archie soothingly said,‘we could ask if the stonemason, or stone carver would be willing to let you watch them work.’
‘Well, I suppose you might be right,’ Angus reluctantly agreed after a few seconds of deliberation.
‘We’ll have a look online later,’ Archie further said, discreetly pocketing the key for the cherry picker. ‘There’s bound to be someone reasonably local who can help.’
‘Help with what?’ asked Catherine, as she came into the other end of the kitchen with Dorothy and the dogs close behind.
‘Oh, nothing important,’ said Archie, winking at me.
I took the hint and helped Dorothy set the table. As I did so, my annoyance with Brodie sprang back up again. I thought I had been even more forthright with him when I wanted him to back off at Albert’s than I had just been with Angus, and yet he’d completely ignored me.
‘As grateful as I am for your help, Paige,’ said Dorothy, prising the cruet from my grasp, ‘I can’t cope with the noise.’
‘What noise?’ I frowned.
‘The noise you’re making,’ said Mick who had joined us and brought Molly in with him. ‘You’re slamming things down as if you’ve got a grudge against them.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I said, my shoulders slumping as I fussed Bran who I realized I had so far ignored. ‘I’m in a bit of a grump, I’m afraid.’
‘Why are you so rattled?’ Molly asked, setting out the plates with the lightest touch. ‘Or should I saywhohas got you so rattled?’
‘It’s not your PWC, is it?’ Angus asked. ‘I’m still thinkingabout how you might be able to tempt them out. I haven’t forgotten about that.’
‘No,’ I said, boycotting further thoughts of Albert still sitting inside Stella’s studio. ‘It’s not them. It’s your mate, Brodie, actually.’
‘My mate?’ Angus repeated, turning slightly pink.
‘Oh, of course,’ said Molly, as if she had known all along, which was impossible.
‘Yes,’ I huffed. ‘He was very rude to Albert earlier. In fact, I’d go so far as to say Brodie has probably irrevocably damaged all the progress I’ve made with him so far.’
‘What on earth did he do?’ asked Dorothy. ‘And who’s Albert?’
‘So, you’re off Brodie now, are you?’ Archie grinned.
‘I was never on him,’ I shot back, refusing to acknowledge the innuendo.
‘Albert who?’ cut in Angus. ‘Not Albert Price?’
‘Damn,’ I swore.
In venting my annoyance over Brodie, I’d given Albert’s name away. I’d bet he wasn’t thinking he was lucky to have me in his life today. First, I’d interrupted him in Stella’s studio and now I’d blurted out his name to everyone I currently lived with.
‘Is that who you’ve been visiting, Paige?’ Angus asked again.
‘Yes,’ I said, knowing there was no point denying it.
