Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered by Kerry Barrett Page B

it’s not a patch on here, though, eh?’ She took a deep breath. ‘The air. The scenery. I look on Scotland as my homeland now.’
    ‘I can see that,’ I said, not sure what to make of her.
    ‘Now tell me,’ she said companionably. ‘How is Suky doing?’
    ‘She’s OK,’ I said.
    I thought a shadow crossed her face, though it could have just been the brim of her tam o shanter.
    ‘Give her my love,’ she sang. ‘Awfully nice to meet you, Esme.’
    I watched her bustle away towards the B&B then Nell and I collapsed in giggles.
    ‘She seems harmless,’ I said, unable to think that anyone in a hat like that could be a threat.
    Nell snorted. ‘That’s what she wants you to think,’ she said. ‘Just don’t be fooled.’
    I wasn’t sure, but I promised Nell I’d keep an eye on her and we said goodnight.

Chapter 18
    Wearily I made my way up the hill wondering if Harry was home yet. I had cake crumbs in my hair and coffee down my shirt, and I wanted a chance to get myself together before I saw her. But of course I didn’t get the chance. As I let myself in the front door I heard a burst of laughter from the kitchen. Harry was obviously home and being very entertaining.
    I paused at the bottom of the stairs, wondering if I could sneak up and grab a shower before anyone realised I was there. I put my foot on the bottom step.
    ‘Ez,’ Harry called from the kitchen. Damn her and her aura reading – she’d have known I was there from the second I’d opened the door. ‘Come and have a drink.’
    I glanced in the hall mirror, noting my shiny face and messy hair with dismay, then dived into my bag for my hairbrush. Quickly I pulled it through my curls before twisting them up out of the way. I daubed on some lip gloss and pulled Mum’s old jumper off over my head to reveal a fitted T-shirt I’d been wearing as a vest. Slightly better.
    I pushed open the kitchen door. Harry was there, leaning against the counter with a glass of wine in her hand. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes a bit too bright. I wondered if she’d been crying – it looked like she might have been, though I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen my cousin shed a tear.
    ‘Hi, Harry,’ I said. I blew her a kiss from where I stood – easier than giving her one for real, then I hugged Suky, who was sitting at the table drinking fizzy water next to Mum who was drinking the same wine as Harry.
    ‘You look a bit better,’ I said to Suky. ‘How’s the cold?’
    ‘Not bad at all,’ she said. ‘Dr B says I can go back to radiotherapy tomorrow – it’s all arranged.’
    I shuddered at the mention of Jamie, but tried not to show my discomfort.
    ‘I’ll text Brent then,’ I said, sitting down too and pulling my phone out of my pocket. Quickly I sent the message, as Eva and Allan piled through the back door waving another bottle of wine.
    ‘Hello, chuck,’ Eva said, folding Harry into a huge hug. Behind her back, Allan waved the wine bottle at me.
    ‘Fancy a glass, Ez?’
    ‘Yes please,’ I said, pushing my chair back.
    ‘Don’t get up,’ Mum said. ‘You’ve been on your feet all day.’ She waved her hand and the cupboard door flew open and out floated three glasses. One landed in front of me, the others in front of Allan and the chair where Eva was about to sit. Then the cork popped out of the bottle and neatly, the bottle tipped and poured itself into our glasses.
    ‘Cheers,’ said Eva. She clinked her glass against mine.
    ‘Cheers,’ I said, far less cheerily.
    Harry sat down next to me.
    ‘Cheer up, misery guts,’ she said. ‘Tell us about this Brent.’
    I filled her in on how Suky and I had met him – leaving out the bit about my hopeless attempt at mending the car – and told her he seemed nice, if a bit annoying.
    ‘He could be the man for you,’ Harry said, winking at me. ‘Sounds perfect.’
    I made a face at her.
    ‘Where’s Natalie?’ I said, suddenly realising Harry’s girlfriend wasn’t part