Andy tugged their earlobe. “It’s just important to them, and I practically begged for them to retire so that I could run the place independently. I’ve never found my own calling, so I just wanted to prove that I’m not a waste of space. I don’t want to be a failure.” They sighed, planting their hands on their hips as their eyes scoured their unfinished surroundings. “I sort of see this place as a mirror. If it looks bad, I must look bad, too.”
That, Harper could relate to. Through school, she hadn’t been liked very much, so she’d chased academic accomplishments instead and had never really stopped.When she’d been unemployed after graduation, she’d sunk into a pit of despair for months. Lounged on Mum’s couch in her pyjamas, feeling horrible and useless. She’d wanted to avoid falling back to that place after losing her job this time, and thank goodness she’d been able to.
Although…
What if she felt that way when she got home? What if her book was rejected and her relationship with Fraser was over, and she had nothing, absolutely nothing, to show for her life again?
“It isn’t bad. It’s a work in progress,” she said finally. “And you’re not a waste of space. Not in the slightest.”
Andy hummed. “Thanks. I just didn’t think it would be this hard to run things on my own.”
Harper wondered if there was more Andy could do to reel guests in. “You know, when I Googled places to stay in Belbarrow, nothing but the Airbnbs came up. Do you have a website?”
“Aye, but I always forget to update it. My dad set it up, and he never really got it running. It was easier to rely on word of mouth back in the day. We have a Facebook page.”
“Facebook is good.” Harper nodded slowly. “I work –worked– in marketing. I could take a look, if you’d like? See if there might be any quick fixes to get more eyes on this place?”
Andy brightened. “Would you?”
“I’m already thinking that you should hold a little reopening party once it’s ready.Maybe find a few bloggers or travel vloggers willing to come and take a look? If you offer them a free night’s stay, they might give you a nice review, get some of their followers interested.”
Andy wrapped their hands tightly around Harper’s arm like an overexcited child. “I hadn’t even thought of that!” They tugged Harper away from the paint, beneath the arched doorway that led into the dining room. “Fraser, I’m stealing your girl!”
Fraser grinned, making Harper feel giddy. “Aye, I’ve noticed. Just make sure to bring her back soon.”
22
By the end of the afternoon, Fraser was relieved. The B&B didn’t look half as bad now. The doors were in place, and he’d already made a start on varnishing the stairs.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm, straightening and slapping the dust off his sore hands before checking the time on his phone.
His stomach lurched when he found a chain of texts from his mum, starting from over an hour ago. After Andy had glared at him for reading an email earlier, he’d put it on silent.
Eiley’s in a bad way. Can you come earlier?
Finlay’s upset her all over again.
He came round the house!!!!! Bloody useless nitwit. Come soon please.
Fraser????? Hello????
He tried to remain calm, but his chest soon turned to ice that froze through his ribs, threatening to crack everything around and within them. Finlay visiting could mean nothing good.He couldn’t remember the last time Eiley had talked to him without crying.
“Shite.” He texted Mum that he’d be round soon, then went to search for Harper and Andy. He found them perched on a couch covered in dust sheets in the dining room, a laptop open in front of them as Harper typed away.
“How’s it going in here?” he asked stiffly.
Andy perked up, excited. “Harper is fixing the B&B’s website for me and helping me out with social media stuff. This might actually work! She thinks I should collaborate with Graeme and Captain Angus to offer package deals – that way, we all get more business come tourist season.”
“That sounds good.” Fraser wanted to ask more, but the walls were pressing in on him, and they would be until he went to see that Eiley was all right. “I’m really sorry, but I have to get going. Eiley’s struggling again.”
“Ugh, that little shithead. What’s he done now?” Andy stood up and braced their shoulders, intimidating despite their short stature. He wouldn’t mind pushing Finlay into the same room as Andy just to see how much damage they’d inflict on him.
“I don’t know.”
“Is she okay?” Harper asked, also standing, concern etched in the lines on her forehead.
Fraser shook his head. “Don’t know that, either. I need to go and see her.”
