Finn returned then, watching with the unabashed delight on their face usually reserved for talking about old episodes of Buffy or the merits of bow ties. “You can use the bathroom to clean up, if you’d like. There are spare towels and toothbrushes in the cupboard outside it. I’ll be ready in ten or so? We’ll be early, but it sounds like I have a lot to catch up on.”
Susannah seized the opportunity for a moment alone and commandeered the bathroom, ignoring whatever Tess and Finn started chattering about as she closed the door. A long, painful look in the mirror confirmed the unscheduled night of roughing it had taken a toll. Raccoon eyes from the mascara, tousled knots of hair that were going to take a professional to sort out, and a rip across the top layer of her dress, the gauzy material parted like, well…
And yet she was still smiling.
A quick run through of her ablutions had her feeling more presentable.
Finn knocked and offered up a clean tracksuit that had to be Dave’s. Like a low-budget Sporty Spice, Susannah rejoined the fray, rolling her eyes at Tess checking her out.
“Have you got a bag for this dress?” Susannah held the shredded garment up. “You know what? On second thought, straight to the incinerator. It’s already torn, and I am not looking too closely for stains.”
“You can’t do that!” Tess said. “That’s a bit decadent, isn’t it?”
“As much as I’d like a souvenir, I think that’s about ready to be condemned. I promise I put most things in the wash like a normal person.”
“Or she sends me to get it dry-cleaned, at least,” Finn said with just a hint of reproach, more than used to the turnover in Susannah’s wardrobe. “Tess, would you like anything?”
“No, my ensemble’s a bit more comfortable, thanks. Plus without it, how will anyone know to have a good gossip?”
“Fair point.”
“I will take a quick turn in the bathroom, though.” Tess passed with a quick pat of Susannah’s bottom through the nylon tracksuit.
Finn waited until they were alone before half-collapsing with an “oh my Gooooooood” that seemed to go on for a full minute. “I cannot believe you went from ‘Oh, I might eventually consider properly dating’ to hooking up with the village’s newest dyketastic hottie in the space of, what, three weeks?”
“I’m not keeping count,” Susannah replied, but she laughed all the same. “I knew I could rely on you to have a calm and measured reaction, so thanks for that.”
“Is this something real? Or are you just getting it out of your system? Because she looks pretty smitten.”
“Real enough that I’m not sure how to answer that, not just yet. But what can I say? Must be my charm. We did run into my darling sister-in-law, though. Can you pull the deeds for the pub today just to make sure everything’s watertight on that front?”
“Why does she care about the Thistle?” Finn gathered the empty coffee cups and stacked the dishwasher.
“Spite, mostly.”
“She’ll stick her horrible nose anywhere, that one. I’ll just be glad when she stops calling every day.”
“She has a cheek playing ally of the year at events like last night when her first petty instinct when she doesn’t get her way is to misgender you.” Susannah felt the rage relight inside her like someone had just struck a match—an especially big match hovering over a whole lake of petrol. “I will make sure to settle that score with her too, Finn. She won’t get away with it.”
“Like I said, it doesn’t really bother me. Not from ignorant old sods like her, anyway. Wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. Just make sure she doesn’t get a penny, and I’ll be happy.”
“Oh, I will. Plus I think I got my council votes for real this time, thanks to Tess charming the socks off half the committee. You should have seen her. We’re on track at last. You’re going to have a whole army of minions to boss around at this rate.”
“Just what I wanted. Oh, Babs left a message last night. Something about being away Thursday when the drayman is coming to stock up on all the big booze orders? I’ll sort it out with her; I can always go down early.”
“Or see if the Andersen lad will sleep over and do it after his shift. I’ll pay him for the whole time.”
“Cool, yeah.”
Tess rejoined them, looking much fresher. “Back in work mode already? You really are a machine, woman.”
“She is,” Finn confirmed. “You two ready for a drive, then? Get you back in plenty of time for work, Doc.”
“Let’s go,” Susannah said.
Tess rewarded her with a minty-fresh kiss.
The council chambers were housed in one of the grandest buildings in the county. The marble floors and wood-panelled walls would be just as suitable for a grand old university or maybe even a minor palace. They were also cold, draughty, and completely lacking in any kind of comfortable seating. Susannah and Finn waited outside the committee hearing room on the world’s most rigid leather-topped bench seat.
“Feels like court.” Susannah shuddered. “I suppose it does determine my future in a similar way.”
“Hmm?” Finn was distracted by their phone. “Babs says the Andersen boy can’t do the early deliveries. I’d go myself, but I have to be in Edinburgh by eight. I’ll just tell her to skip a week and make do with what she has.”
“No, we’re not having the pub run out of booze.” Susannah halted mid-thought at the sight of Robin approaching them, back in one of her favoured Miss Trunchbull ensembles of military-grade tweed skirt suit. “In fact, tell Babs that as she’s such a valued member of staff, she should go off tonight without a worry. I’ll stay over myself and be there for the drayman.”
“Turning to bar work as I suggested?” Robin asked, all faux politeness as Jonathan, behind her, glared at his tablet and avoided eye contact with
