Her mother’s lips clamped together in a thin, firm line. ‘Blaming others is not going to solve anything, Elspeth,’ she snapped.

Elle took a breath and fought to keep her temper under control. ‘I’m not blaming anyone. I’m happy with my life. I had a job, I pay taxes. It’s what most people do.’

‘You’re settling.’

‘I’m happy.’

‘Really? You don’t go out. You don’t have a boyfriend. You work in a job that’s not challenging you at all, and you may pay taxes but you don’t pay rent.’

Okay, there was no argument there, she had it easy where paying rent was concerned. That was how she’d managed to save so much money, but it had been at Gran’s insistence. She did pay for groceries and electricity, though, and all her other living expenses.

‘And need I remind you,’ her mother cut into Elle’s thoughts, ‘that your grandmother’s house is going on the market, so what plans do you have for your living arrangements?’

Yes, Gran had stitched her up nicely there. She was pretty sure the stipulation to put the house on the market immediately had been in order to force Elle’s decision to head overseas.

‘I just don’t see how this trip is practical at this point in time.’ Her mother shrugged.

Tell her I insisted, Gran spoke up, giving Elle a start. Tell her.

Yes, because telling her that you haunted me until I gave in is going to salvage the situation. Elle couldn’t quite believe she was having a conversation in her head with her dead grandmother while her mother sat in front of her, oblivious.

I’m not sure I like that sassy tone, Gran said with a huff.

‘Elspeth!’ her mother barked, frowning at her. ‘Are you listening to me?’

Crap. ‘Look, I’m sorry you don’t agree with my decision, Mum, but I’m old enough to make my own choices, and this is something I need to do.’ She leaned over and kissed her mum’s cheek, before standing up. ‘I have dinner plans,’ she said without elaborating. It was dinner with her best friend and a five-year-old, but that was beside the point.

She hated fighting with her mother. She was always left feeling deflated. Usually she didn’t argue, it was easier to just let her mum say what she needed to say and let it go, but today it really hurt. Maybe she was just overly sensitive because of everything that was going on—losing her job, losing her gran, the funeral, Gran returning from the dead—just the usual, normal, everyday things. Elle gave a frustrated sigh. She knew what to expect when she’d brought up the subject of going to Scotland—there was always going to be vocal disagreement—but it was done now, so she could only hope that things would settle down.