Page 12 of Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan

‘Ah, no … I’ll speak with her tomorrow, I’m sure, find out what’s going on.’

Jack stopped his clearing up, put down the glass he was holding, and gently took her hand. ‘Look, I’m sorry if it’s anything to do with me. How I was back then … I’d never have wanted to make things difficult for you.’

‘It’s okay, it can’t still be about you, not really. That was all years ago. She’s stubborn, but honestly, there’s got to be more to it than that. I just need to get her to open up a bit.’

‘Yeah, I hope it sorts itself out soon. Hey, how about I make us up a nightcap? What do you fancy? Espresso Martini? Baileys on ice?’

‘Hmmm … Just a cup of tea would be perfect.’

‘Hah, you sound like Nonna,’ Jack grinned.

‘No way, Nonna would still be in the Limoncello Fizz if she had half a chance.’

‘Hah, you’re probably right. You saw I had the Nonna showdown?’ He pulled a grimace.

‘Yeah, I guessed so,’ Lucy winced. ‘She had her serious face on. I used to get that look when I’d been a bit naughty as a kid.’

‘Hah, it was a bit awkward. But it’s obvious she cares about you, Luce. And hey,’ he took a breath and looked right into her eyes, ‘so do I.’

Lucy felt herself melt a little.

‘Come on, let’s just sit a while.’ Jack’s voice was gentle. ‘It’s a gorgeous night.’

Lucy looked up. In her rush to be the hostess with the mostest, she hadn’t quite registered all the stars that had come out and were glittering right above them, as well as the luminescent arc of a crescent moon.

‘I think I’ll have a little tot of whisky myself, and I’ll go fetch you that cup of tea.’

Daisy gave a small bark.

‘Okay, can’t be missing you out, I suppose … and a dog biscuit for you.’

Her thin black tail started wagging happily.

‘Sorted, then. Sit down, and I’ll fetch you that throw you put out earlier. We can snuggle up on the two-seater bench!’

‘Now that sounds like my kind of nightcap,’ Lucy smiled.

And they sat under a starlit sky, talking away, with Lucy’s head leaning against Jack’s supportive shoulder, Daisy tucked under the blanket with them, until Lucy began to nod off.

Jack looked down at her head nestled against him, those glossy dark waves. ‘Hey, time for bed, sleepy head.’

There was no answer. So, he shifted position, slowly got up, and carried her up the cottage stairs in his arms, Daisy skipping along after them. After carefully taking off Lucy’s shoes and jeans, which caused her to stir just a little, he tucked his sleepy girlfriend in. Then, weirdly, he even found himself pulling the little step contraption up close to the bedside ready for the Dachshund, muttering to himself, ‘Can’t believe I’m doing this for you, devil dog.’

Jack undressed and snuck in under the crisp white covers himself, breathing in the gorgeous warm floral (if slightly pizza-toned) scent of his rather fabulous new girlfriend. Daisy twirled in a circle, settled, then let out a contented doggie sigh, and they all cosied up for the night.

Lucy stirred momentarily. ‘Hmm, shame Becky didn’t make it …’ In the dark, the words trailed along with her disappointment. It was the only thing that had felt wrong with the night for her. And it had cast a shadow over Lucy’s happiness.

Jack stroked her hair gently, then placed a tender-sleepy kiss on her forehead. ‘It’ll all sort itself out, somehow.’

Lucy closed her eyes. He was right, of course he was. It all sounded so easy, put like that.

But … as she drifted back off to sleep, the thought lingered … what if it didn’t?

Chapter Six

The next morning arrived bright and fresh and Lucy sat in the courtyard garden of the cottage, wrapped up in a cosy cable-knit jumper, jeans and boots, with a hot mug of tea to hand. An empty prosecco bottle was lurking in the flower bed, a sign of the party last night, and Jack had now gone back to his lodgings. She took a slow breath and took out her mobile, scrolling down to Becky’s name … and dialled. It rang, and then rang some more. No answer. The inane voice of the mobile phone company’s answerphone clicking in. Oh.

Had her friend heard it ringing? Was she in the middle of something? Was she determined not to speak to Lucy? Lucy gave a troubled sigh. She had witnessed Becky’s stubborn streak over the years, it was part of who she was. It meant she was a fighter, she stood up for what she believed in, and she’d stood up for Lucy many a time … in the playground, in night clubs, and pulling her out of her despair when her ex, Liam, did the dirty on her. It was a quality she usually loved about Becky – but now the weapon was being wielded against her.