Page 67 of The Merry Christmas Project

‘Yeah, yeah,’ he said good-naturedly, putting an arm around his sister’s shoulders. ‘Goodnight, Dad.’

Fred waved them off and the two of them headed down the stairs and through the communal hallway. Cole thought about Merry and how pleased she’d been to get his text about Hester being available to switch on the Christmas lights. He was already looking forward to calling in to see her tomorrow to talk about it. And he’d make sure he had his tools with him this time. That bathroom door lock was going to need proper adjustment, no matter how confident Merry was that she’d mended it. Hitting it with her boot and pouring oil in it … he laughed under his breath.

‘What are you grinning at ?’ Hester asked as they stepped out into the dark together and walked towards her car. She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck.

‘Nothing really,’ he began and then let out a breath. Why not be honest for a change, take a leaf out of his dad’s book. ‘OK, I’ll tell you, but don’t make a massive deal out of it.’

‘You’ve met someone ?’ Her eyes were like saucers, shining in the light of the lamp post.

‘We-ll.’ He waggled his head from side to side. ‘Sort of.’

His sister squealed and jumped up and down. ‘I knew it ! It’s that tenant, isn’t it ?’

‘Merry.’ He shot a sideways look at his sister and nodded. ‘Yeah. I really like her.’

Hester looped her arm through his. ‘I can’t wait to meet her, what’s she like ?’

‘Single, which is a good start. Pretty. She makes me laugh. Today she asked me if she could hang a whiteboard up on the kitchen. Her tool kit comprises the heel of her boot and some pins.’ He shook his head and laughed.

Hester’s brows wrinkled. ‘What’s wrong with that ?’

He rolled his eyes. ‘Women.’

‘Don’t be sexist. So ?’ she prompted. ‘What are you going to do about it ? Come on, even Dad has managed to make the first move with his lady friend. Groin strain notwithstanding.’

Cole shrugged. ‘I haven’t got a clue. It’s a bit weird with me being her landlord.’

‘Only if you make it weird,’ Hester replied. ‘Ask her out for a coffee or something.’

He wrinkled his nose. ‘The last time I chatted a woman up I was twenty-two. I don’t even know what to say.’

‘That bit I can help you with,’ she said, getting out her phone. ‘I read an article the other day and I was going to send it to you to help you with your online dating chat, but then you gave up.’

She sent it to him, and he read the title of it : Questions to ask on a first date. ‘Thanks, now all I have to do is get her to say yes to a date at all.’

Hester hugged him. ‘Easy ! Anyway, she owes you one for getting me to turn on the Christmas lights for her. Good luck !’

He waited until she was in the car, waved her goodbye and then set off towards his own van. The night air was bitterly cold, and he shoved his hands into his coat pockets. He was almost back at his van when he realised that drinking all that tea at his dad’s had taken its toll and now he was desperate for the loo.

He sighed and his breath swirled in a cloud in front of his face. He could go back to Rosebridge but he didn’t want to disturb his dad again or get embroiled in another long conversation. Alternatively, he wasn’t far from the old bank. He would nip in, run upstairs, do his business and leave. Merry would be long gone by now.

Decision made, he changed direction and headed to the market square.

Cole glanced up at the first-floor windows to be on the safe side, but the place was in darkness. His key slid into the door smoothly ; he smiled to himself, wondering if Merry had put some oil on that as well. He didn’t bother locking the door behind him, he was going to be in and out in five minutes and it would only slow him down. It wasn’t as if Wetherley was a hotbed of crime. He walked through the ground-floor rooms, trying to imagine what sort of business would do well here. If he got on with it, he could have the space ready to rent in a couple of months. The plan had been to rent it commercially downstairs and have a residential tenant upstairs. At one point he’d considered living here himself ; it would make a great bachelor pad. He frowned at the thought – that wouldn’t do. Regardless of his status, he’d never think of himself as a bachelor ; he was going to have to put down roots again for the kids when they came home. If they came home, said a little voice inside his head. He ignored it.

Taking the steps two at a time he ran upstairs, his big boots thundering on the old wooden treads, echoing through the dark, empty building.

There was a sudden clattering noise from above him, followed by a muffled scream. Cole’s heart thumped with shock and he stood still, his breathing coarse from climbing the stairs. Someone was here; it wouldn’t be Merry, so who? He slid a hand into his pockets and took out his phone and keys, the only things he had which were vaguely weapon-like. He was almost at the top now and he began to move slowly, soundlessly, towards the light switch. The kitchen door flew open and Merry burst out.

‘Jesus Christ !’ Cole gasped, his heart pounding.

Screaming, she launched herself into the bathroom and slammed the door.

Her sudden movements startled him so much that he almost lost his footing and fell backwards down the stairs. He leapt up the last couple of steps and snapped on the light but nothing happened. The bulb must have gone. He pushed open the kitchen door so that the light illuminated the corridor.

‘Merry ?’ he called, trying to catch his breath. ‘It’s only me – Cole.’

‘What the hell ?’ she yelled. ‘You frightened me to death. My heart is going like the clappers. Oh shit ! The light bulb in here doesn’t work, I broke it trying to remove it this morning. And I hate the dark. More than anything.’