Kitty raised her eyebrows at him and shook her head.
‘I’m Logan,’ he said, reaching to shake Patrick’s hand whether he liked it or not.
‘And I’m James.’ He followed Logan’s lead.
Everyone stood in silence and waited. And waited.
‘Well, isn’t this quite the gathering?’ said Patrick with a hard laugh. ‘Which one of you guys in a skirt has charmed my girlfriend, then? Because it must be a man she’s here for. She can’t be staying here for the love of Scotland. It’s a shithole.’
‘Right,mate,’ said Isobel. ‘That’s enough. Olivia has politely asked you to leave several times, and now you’re just being rude.’
‘Piss off,’ he said.
Margaret visibly flinched at his tone. ‘Oi,’ she said, ‘you are really starting to try my patience.’
‘Uh-oh,’ whispered Bella under her breath to Kitty. ‘Mum or my gran, or indeed the both of them, are about the lose their rag.’
Chapter Forty-Four
‘How about you all mind your business?’ Patrick snapped.
Olivia glanced at Margaret and could tell she was ready to explode. She knew very well that Margaret wouldn’t let anyone be rude to her daughter. She watched as Margaret passed her handbag to Bella and stepped forward.
‘Right, sunshine. Do you think we’re all buttoned up the back or something?’ She stood glaring at him, her hands planted on her waist. ‘I know exactly what your game is. Iknowyour type. I’ve seen it all before. You’re full of it, but we all know you’re talking pish.’
Patrick stared back confused.
‘No need to look so glaikit. You know exactly what I’m talking about. There are places for bawbags like you. Away an bile yer heid.’
Patrick shook his head. ‘Will you speak English? Or can someone translate? I have no idea what the hell you’re saying.’
‘Aw, that’s my gran for you, she gets totally Glaswegian when she’s angry,’ explained Bella. She spoke very slowly. ‘What Gran istryingto say is that you’re a bully, we see you and it doesn’t take an expert to work out what you did to Olivia.’
Kitty took a step forward. ‘You’re just lucky that you’ve not been arrested yet. The law in Scotland comes down hard on domestic abusers. If I were you, I would think about leaving as soon as you can before we call the police and you get thrown in jail. In fact, there are a couple of officers here. I can go and find them if you want?’
Patrick’s face turned white. ‘And you’re happy with this, Olivia, are you? Letting this bunch of old women tell you what to do. I mean, I don’t even understand what you’re all talking about.’
‘Less of the old, you total numpty,’ said Margaret crossly.
Olivia looked at Patrick, trying to remember why she had got together with him in the first place. She was suddenly filled with remorse for wasting so much of her life with this man. She didn’t think she hadeverbeen happy with him. He might have told her he loved her and bought her flowers and chocolates — which he then rationed — but he didn’t care about her. Not at all. He just wanted to control her and break her spirit.And he almost killed her.Another thought had been niggling her. How on earth did he know she was here, on Arran? ‘How did you find me anyway?’
‘Yourphone,’ he said cruelly. ‘You must have forgotten I was able to track you on it. Then when you switched it off, those dancing brats gave it all away, boasting about you on social media and confirming you were still here. Anyway, Olivia, don’t forget that you need me. Without me your career is over,’ he said, his tone menacing. ‘Are you going to spend the rest of your life teaching brats? When you could be dancing with the stars? I think it’s time you stop this nonsense and come home, Olivia.’
She shook her head. ‘I’m going nowhere with you.’
‘Olivia,’ he said, a warning tone in his voice.
‘Aw, just bolt ya rocket,’ said Margaret.
Olivia could hear Kitty stifle a laugh, especially when she saw Logan and James’s eyes widen in a mixture of admiration and fear. Margaret was some woman indeed.
‘For your information, that means go away,’ said Olivia, now feeling strangely calm. ‘I mean it, Patrick. Just leave me alone. I havenothingto say to you. I never want to see you again. And if you dare come near me, then Iwill report you to the authorities here, and in New York too. And while you’re at it, go and get some help. You clearly need it. Now please just go.’
‘Gaun yersel, Olivia,’ said Isobel proudly.
‘The next ferry is due to go quite soon,’ said James, his voice steady and firm. ‘Why don’t Logan and I walk you round there to make sure you get on it, okay?’
Patrick scowled at them as they stepped closer and put a hand on each arm. He shrugged them off, turned to stomp away, but slipped on the damp grass and fell onto his knees. When he stood up, his red jeans were splattered with mud. He turned and kept walking and didn’t look back. James and Logan kept their word and followed closely behind, making sure that he was definitely leaving the island.
