Page 31 of The Perfect Gift

‘Great stuff. Now, this lease you emailed me about.’

Frankie went on alert. ‘Is there a problem with it?’

‘No, it’s fine. I had someone in Legal look it over and it’s all standard stuff you’d expect. I’m just curious about why you want it.’

Frankie rested her back against the counter and looked around the neat little kitchen. ‘I really like it down here and I guess I’m not quite ready to say goodbye, that’s all.’

‘But you’re still on for the Menzies project?’ The concern in Kayleigh’s question was palpable. Robert Menzies was one of the most respected directors around. It had been something of a coup for Kayleigh to land Frankie a part in his next film.

Frankie laughed and relaxed as she understood the nature of the call. ‘Don’t worry, Kayleigh. I’m not about to give it all up and retire to the seaside! It’s good for me down here, lovely and quiet so I’ll be able to concentrate on the script. I’ve got attached to the cottage and I like the idea of having it to come back to, that’s all.’

Kayleigh heaved an audible sigh. ‘Well, that’s all right, then! I’ll send it through on your email so you can have a look over it. If you decide you want to go ahead I’ll need to know by 10 a.m. tomorrow so I can sign it and sort out the payment. The office closes at five and we won’t be back in until the sixth of January.’

Frankie rubbed her forehead. She hadn’t considered the extra work she was dumping on Kayleigh when she was trying to clear her desk for Christmas. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her to go ahead, but she needed to slow down a bit and really think it through before she committed all that extra money. ‘Yeah, of course, and sorry for the rubbish timing. I promise I’ll let you know first thing.’

‘Fab. I’ll wait to hear from you. Lots of love!’ Kayleigh rang off, no doubt keen to tackle the next item on her to-do list.

Frankie treated herself to a lazy day in front of the TV. Her watchlist had dozens of shows waiting for her, but she wasn’t in the mood for anything taxing. She browsed the main menu and quickly stumbled upon a list of Christmas movies. With a happy smile, she cuddled under the blanket on her sofa and let her brain check out for the rest of the day.

It had gone dark by the time Frankie stirred herself from the sofa. Her stomach was rumbling but when she surveyed the contents of her fridge, nothing took her fancy. There were a few takeaway options in the village and it wasn’t like she needed to watch her weight for the next couple of weeks.

Takeaway.

Frankie’s eyes flew to the clock on the wall. It was gone six-thirty and she’d forgotten all about Issy’s girls’ night invitation! Part of her wanted to carry on forgetting about it. She was listless after a day spent doing nothing and the idea of staying in her pyjamas was very appealing.

But when would she get the chance to do something like that again? The thought was enough to get her arse in gear and upstairs. The stinging spray of the shower helped wash away some of her lethargy and Frankie reasoned with herself that she didn’t have to stay late at Issy’s. She dressed in her most comfortable jeans, a long-sleeve cotton top that was so well washed it was as soft as a cloud on her skin. She added a thick hoodie and warm socks.

Showing up empty-handed didn’t sit right with Frankie. A quick sweep of her cupboards yielded an unopened jar of olives, a packet of unsalted cashews and a family-sized bag of tortilla chips, which were her snacking nemesis. She placed them in her trusty Kipling rucksack and then opened the fridge. The bottle of champagne she’d planned to share with Becca and Jessie was still on the shelf. Sharing it with her friends tonight was much more appealing than sitting and drinking it alone. Into the backpack it went.

Frankie added a thick padded jacket to her casual ensemble, tucked her feet into her favourite boots then set off on the short walk to the café. As she walked along her little street, she registered for the first time that every property other than her cottage had some form of Christmas decorations up. Icicle lights dangled from the roof of one, a tiny tree covered in multicoloured lights flashed in the window of another. Porches were lined with fairy lights; wreaths of greenery, ribbons and pine cones decorated doors. There was even a little family of illuminated reindeer grazing in the front garden of one house.

She glanced back over her shoulder towards her cottage, plain apart from the porch light she’d left on to guide her home, and resolved to get into the spirit of things. She didn’t have to go over the top but a few lights to decorate the windows would be nice. She made a mental note to have a look tomorrow when Ed took her shopping for a tree. Maybe she could persuade him to help her put them up afterwards. The idea of putting her own festive stamp on the cottage was deeply appealing.

An alarm bell rang in her head. In her slug-about mood she’d forgotten all about reviewing the rental contract. She pulled out her phone and set a reminder for 7 a.m. then tucked it back in her pocket. It wouldn’t take more than a quick once-over. She trusted Kayleigh and her team. Frankie glanced up and down the street. It looked so pretty, and she longed to be a part of it. Now’s your chance. With a happy little skip in her step, she set off once more.

Now she’d tuned into it, Frankie noticed decorations everywhere. A couple of properties had gone all out and, though it made her smile, she decided against replicating the enormous inflatable Santa that dominated one garden. Another family had clearly decided there was no such thing as too much and the front of their house was a riot of flashing lights. Someone had risked life and limb to mount Santa in his sleigh on their rooftop. She could only imagine the excitement of the children who must live there and she couldn’t help a tiny pang of envy.

She pushed the feeling away. The past didn’t have to define her future. Frankie had the chance to create new memories to replace the disappointing ones, to shape her own traditions and reclaim the season for herself. And it didn’t have to be only Christmas. She’d seen people decorate their houses throughout the year and there was nothing to stop her doing the same. She also had a garden for the first time, so she’d have to do some forward planning for that as well. Surely there’d be someone in the village who offered a gardening service? It would be lovely to potter around when she had time between jobs, but she’d need to make sure it was well tended while she was away filming.

By the time she reached Issy’s and had raised her hand to press the buzzer her head was full of plans for the future. If the lease worked out well, maybe she could think about giving up her flat and use the spare money to buy the cottage. Assuming Charlie Hicks was willing to sell it. She knew it was dangerous to let her thoughts run away with themselves, but she couldn’t help it. Halfmoon Quay felt like a place she might truly belong.

Issy’s voice came over the intercom and as soon as Frankie announced herself she was buzzed in. She’d barely set foot on the stairs before the door at the top opened and Issy was grinning down at her. ‘Oh, I’m so glad you came!’ she said, hugging Frankie as she reached the top. ‘And you’re right on time. Chloe and Kat are already here and Anya’s texted to say she’s on her way. I was just about to open a bottle.’

She ushered Frankie inside, chatting a mile a minute as she took her rucksack and helped her out of her coat. Issy weighed the bag in her hand and raised an eyebrow. ‘I thought I said you didn’t have to bring anything.’

Frankie shrugged. ‘It’s just a few nibbles and a bottle I had in the fridge.’ She opened the bag and pulled out the champagne. ‘Maybe we can start with this if you haven’t already opened anything.’

‘Oh, wow, are you sure?’ Issy exclaimed as she examined the bottle’s label.

‘I wish I had a bottle like that just hanging around in my fridge,’ Chloe said as she uncurled herself from the sofa and came over to give Frankie a hug.

A slight heat warmed Frankie’s face and she wondered if they would think she was showing off by bringing something expensive. ‘I was saving it as a special treat to celebrate the end of filming, but I decided it would be nicer to share with you guys.’ Frankie hesitated, then added, ‘I’ve got something else I want to celebrate anyway.’

‘Ooh, do tell!’ Kat said with a grin as she patted the cushion next to her, inviting Frankie to sit down.

‘Don’t tell her anything yet,’ Issy said. ‘Let’s wait for Anya.’

‘We can still open the champagne though, can’t we?’ Chloe asked, making big eyes at Issy.