Page 4 of The Highland Fling

On the way to the living room, I glance into the kitchen and pull a face at David. He grins back at me. He’d have known fine well I wouldn’t be best pleased about him springing a surprise visit from Mum on me. I wonder why he invited her over.

Once Mum and I are seated, I explain to her what Nigel told me this morning, that he’s having to crank up the price of my studio rent—again.

“Well, do you know what you do when the costs of running a business increase? You put up your own prices. It’s quite simple.”

“Yes, but . . . when I started out, I had people from all walks of life coming along, and I really liked that. Yoga has been transformative for me personally, and I love the idea that, by teaching it, I can help others. Every time I jack up my prices, though, my classes become more and more exclusive. I don’t want them to be inaccessible to folk who’d benefit from them but can’t afford them.”

“That’s not your problem, Grace. And besides, the clients you should be focusing on are the ones with disposable incomes.” She gives a smile that’s more patronising than supportive. “You shouldn’t be embarrassed about earning a living. There’s nothing wrong with that. Just look how well David is doing with his graphic-design business.”

I suppress a sigh. Mum loves to compare me with my twin brother, and the comparison is always unfavourable. He’s the golden child.

“These days, anyone with an internet connection and a drawing app can call themselves a freelance designer and charge a few pounds for a logo,” Mum says. “David, though, has positioned himself as a professional who works with big businesses—clients who recognise his worth and pay him accordingly. That’s not something to be ashamed of. Success should be celebrated!”

“Hmm. I suppose you’re right.”

My tone is muted. I know there’s no point arguing with her: her world view is too different from my own. It’s easier to just nod and agree. She’s never understood that, for me, there’s more to life than making money. She didn’t approve of me becoming a yoga instructor in the first place.

A frown etches Mum’s features. She’s aware I’m saying the words but not meaning them.

“Grace, for many, the world is tough and unforgiving. As a single parent of twins, and a woman—a Black woman—I’ve faced more than my share of difficulties, but I’ve made a success of myself and raised two wonderful children. Now, when you were with Mark—”

“Oh God! Please don’t bring up Mark.”

Mum disregards my objection and pushes on. “When you were with Mark, you didn’t have to worry about your income because he earned more than enough for both of you. You could do your yoga and have fun—plus help people, as you say—and it didn’t matter how much you charged because at the end of each day you went back to your lovely home, where you never lost sleep over not being able to pay the bills and never fretted about where your next meal would come from.”

Mark was a banker and had a very good salary. Mum approved.

“You had it made, Grace, and yet for some reason I will never understand, you ended the relationship with him. I would have thrown myself at a man like Mark!”

Unlikely. Mum has never had a steady boyfriend because no man has ever been good enough for her. Plus, she’s fiercely independent and doesn’t do compromise. But it’s different for me, apparently. I should have stayed with Mark, even though that relationship was far from healthy.

And . . . this is why my heart sank when I realised Mum was here. I could have done without this tonight.

“Oi! No arguing, you two.” David appears at the living room door, all smiles. “Today is a day for celebration.” From behind his back, he produces a bottle of bubbly.

“Oh!” Mum beams, no doubt delighted her darling boy has some exciting news for her to praise. “What are we celebrating?”

I’m interested too. Mum and I may not agree on everything, but we both dote on David.

“Well . . . Johnny and I have been seeing each other for four months now.”

David met Johnny MacDonald the first time he and I travelled up north to visit Emily, back when she was still just a guest at the Bannock Hotel. Since then, he and Johnny have been navigating the challenges of a long-distance relationship.

“I’ve been thinking things over,” David continues, “and . . . I’ve decided to move in with him. In Bannock. I’m moving up there this weekend.”

The news shocks me and Mum into silence. For the longest time, neither of us says anything.

“Er . . . I was hoping for a congratulatory hug, or at least some smiles?”

“But . . . David!” I say. “You love London life! Cocktail bars, clubs, shows . . . Can you really see yourself in a small Highland town?”

He shrugs. “If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out, but I like Johnny, and I want to give it a shot. To take things to the next level, one of us will have to move, and Johnny’s job is up there. As for me, being a freelancer, I can live anywhere.”

“Oh, David!” Mum gets to her feet. “Of course you should give you and Johnny a proper chance—he’s such a lovely young man—but I’ll miss having you close by.” She hugs him tight.

I hug David too. I’ve spent most of my life under the same roof as him, and even when we lived apart, I was never more than twenty-five minutes away from him. Siblings can be close, but there’s an extra-special bond between twins, and this is going to be a massive change.

“Mum’s right. I’ll miss you as well, but you and Johnny are great together. This . . . makes sense.”