Page 30 of Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan

‘Okay, so he might do for now, but what about when he’s used you up, when he’s ready to move on to someone else, somewhere else?’

Ooh, with New Zealand hovering on Jack’s laptop and possibly his horizons, it was like Becky was prodding at a sore wound. She really knew how to hit the spot. Lucy faltered; did she dare open up?

Lucy gave a sigh, and tried to find the words she needed. ‘Okay, so I don’t know totally where we’re going yet, me and Jack, but what I do know is that we get on really well, that there’s a caring side to him, a gentler side, and I’ve fallen for him … big time.’

Becky rolled her eyes dramatically.

‘Just hear me out, okay.’ Lucy found some inner strength and now she’d started, she needed to say her piece. ‘There’s like this extra layer to him that he keeps from the world, but every now and again, I get to see it … and it’s lovely, he’s lovely. And he’s made me take stock of my life,’ she continued. ‘With Liam, well, we were just shuffling along a lot of the time, I suppose.’ Lucy paused; she still wasn’t quite sure how she was feeling about her relationship with her ex. She took a breath and refocused on Jack. ‘With Jack I feel I can run and have fun, and yeah, maybe we’ll trip and fall at some point. He might well bugger off to the other side of the world, for all I know. But you know what … it’s worth the risk.’ She was on a roll now.

‘And if it all finishes tomorrow, I’ll be glad that I knew him … that we had this time together.’ She felt a lump in her throat at the thought of it all being over. She paused, thinking … is that how it would be? Just a passing phase, that they’d fade and falter?

‘Jeez, you’ve got it bad.’ Becky pulled a face. ‘Bloody hell.’

All went quiet between them as they strolled on. Lucy had said her bit, she’d even surprised herself at the strength of feeling she held for Jack, the way it had all spilled out. And, Becky was no doubt digesting that.

They’d reached the old harbour by now, with its ancient lime kilns and stacks of lobster pots. They paused to sit on the wall; a small gap between the two girls with Daisy huddled close by at their feet, the wind and the waves rolling in against the solid stone outer harbour wall. The salty smell of the whipped-up sea filled the turbulent air, along with the haunting cry of a gull as it battled the elements.

‘Becky, is everything okay with you? You and Darren doing alright? Your family? You’ve just been so closed off … and well, a bit angry …’

‘Yeah, yeah,’ her friend batted the question away. But her response sounded a bit too flippant. Not really an answer at all.

‘Look, however you feel about me and Jack, I’m still here for you too, Becky. If ever there’s anything …’

‘Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.’

It was one of those ‘fines’ that didn’t sound fine at all.

‘Well … just so you know that.’ That was all she could do, offer that branch of friendship. And keep on offering it.

‘I’ll still see you, Luce. But don’t you go getting any ideas that it’s all going to be cosy couples from now. Alright?’ Becky clarified.

‘Umm, alright.’ It wasn’t ideal, but it was at least a step in the right direction. Lucy nodded, feeling a bite of disappointment, but perhaps all her friend needed was time. ‘Anyhow, why aren’t you at work today?’ she took up.

Becky looked awkward. ‘We’re down to a four-day week just now.’ She worked in sales and admin for a bespoke kitchen manufacturer. ‘And, well …’ Her voice dipped, ‘they’re looking to make redundancies. Last in, first out and all that. Yep, I’m one of the ones likely to be in the firing line …’ She was trying to sound upbeat, but Lucy could see through it.

‘But you only just started there last year?’ It was beginning to fall into place; Becky’s withdrawal, her reticence. ‘Oh Becky, why didn’t you say anything? You must be feeling awful.’

‘Hah, well you and me both, by the sounds of it.’

Without their friendship crash mat to fall back on recently, their problems had hit even harder.

‘Oh Becky, you love that job and you’re really good at it. And I’m sorry that you didn’t feel you could talk to me, that we’ve been so bloody distant these past few weeks.’

‘It wasn’t just you, Luce. I’m sorry too.’ She gave a sigh. ‘And I suppose I’ve been a bit stubborn about Jack … he’d still better not do anything to bloody hurt you, mind! And, well … I think I might have been sticking my head in the sand about work. Hoping all this job stuff will go away. But it’s not looking that hopeful, to be honest. Might be back at square one, hunting for a new job, and we have the mortgage to pay, the bills … Darren’s wage will never cover all that.’

‘Ah, that’s such a worry. I wish I could help you financially, but I’m just about all out myself since I’ve put everything into the pizza venture.’

‘I know, and I wouldn’t expect you to, anyhow. Let’s just be there for each other from now on. I need my friendship air supply back.’

‘Me too.’

Lucy breathed a huge sigh of relief as they gave each other a hug.

The wind then grew stronger and spit-spots of rain started. Daisy was shivering, so Lucy scooped her up, cradling her against her chest. ‘Time to head back, hey?’

‘Yep. Not the best day for a walk. We must be bloody nuts.’

They headed back along the sands.