‘You are so right, Robert Craig, I never have.’

She pulled out Mattie’s gift. Now was the time. She removed the long, heavy, sharpened darning needle from its cloth and thrust it once, twice, three times into his heart.

CHAPTER 48

Chapter 48

2015

The figure darted off over the road then disappeared. Had she imagined him? Fiona felt tears prick her eyes. She snivelled and headed back to the line of mourners, where her mother whispered, ‘You okay?’

Fiona nodded and took up hand-shaking position again.

An hour later, she was doing the rounds of the tables set up for the funeral tea at West Park Hall where Jamie had chosen to sit between Martha and Allie. Fiona paused to speak to Doug and Mrs C. As the older woman chomped her way through the sausage rolls, egg sandwiches, ham sandwiches and scones, she said the only thing she’d had different at a funeral – mind you, it was Edinburgh and they’re a bit uppity there – was soup. A wee cup of thick pea soup would be perfect on a day like this, what a cold wind. As she stretched across the table to the cakes, she proffered one to Doug. ‘See, you always get a fruit cake and a sponge with jam. But now they’re going in for those fancier ones, a chocolate brownie or a slice of carrot cake. Me, I think you can’t get past a fruitcake. And this one’s grand. How about you, Fiona, can you manage a bit? Bet you’ve hardly eaten a thing.’

‘I’m off to do the rounds, Mum said we had to try to speak to everyone.’

She went to Martha’s table first. She put her arms round Jamie and he smiled. ‘Doing okay, sweetheart?’

He nodded and sipped his coke. ‘Mum, will we still stay at Granny and Pa’s house?’

Fiona and Martha exchanged glances. ‘I think so, there are no plans to change anything yet. That suit you all right?’

He nodded. ‘It’s just, well, Allie says she can take me to the football any time it’s a home game and I’d hate to miss it if we were back up at Glenisla.’

‘No worries.’ Fiona smiled and gave him a kiss on the top of his head.

‘Want us to take him home after?’ Martha whispered.

‘No, thanks, you’ve been so good to him. We’re going to get fish and chips tonight, just the three of us, then try to get him back into some normality tomorrow.’

‘Good idea. But you know, any time we’re not working, we love having him around.’

Fiona took Martha’s hand. ‘You’re a star. Thanks.’

‘And don’t send us any more flowers. We don’t need thanking!’

‘Will do, boss. Oh, and I’ll be back at work next week if that’s okay?’