Page 91 of A Merry Little Christmas

Just then, Cole joined them, a sheaf of paperwork in his hands. He kissed Nell’s cheek. ‘Glad you could make it.’

‘So you are behind this?’ Merry’s eyes widened. ‘Why didn’t you say?’

Cole put his arm around both of their shoulders. ‘Emily and I concocted it between us. You two need to talk and where better than a spa?’

‘It’s a kind offer,’ Nell gave him a thin smile, ‘but I need to get hold of Olek and find out where he is. I’m not in the right frame of mind for this place today. Sorry.’

‘Please stay, Nell,’ Merry begged. ‘It’s been so long, and the baby will be here soon. I might not get another chance.’

Nell’s face closed down completely and Merry realised her mistake.

‘You stay and enjoy.’ Nell wriggled out from under Cole’s arm, taking her phone out of her bag. ‘I’ll call a cab.’

‘You know what I want most for Christmas?’ said Cole, catching hold of Nell’s hand. ‘I want the Merry and Nell show back in my life. I miss you. You two go together like … cheese and pickle, or Marmite and toast, apple pie and cream.’

‘Someone didn’t have enough breakfast,’ Merry quipped. Nell conceded a tiny smile.

‘Don’t change the subject,’ said Cole, steering them both towards the reception desk. ‘The point is that it’s unthinkable to separate classic double acts. And I don’t think either of you really want to stay apart for ever. So why don’t you both collect your gowns and your complimentary flip-flops and spend today together. Nell? What do you say?’

‘OK,’ she replied with a weary sigh. ‘I’ll stay.’

‘Well done, darling,’ Merry whispered in his ear.

‘You’re welcome,’ he replied, giving her a swift kiss. ‘Now have fun and try not to get into any trouble.’

‘I’ll try,’ she murmured, watching Nell out of the corner of her eye, who was typing furiously on her phone and brushing tears away with the back of her hand.

Poor Nell. Merry knew she had to find out what was going on between her and Olek and help put it right before Christmas Day and she only had a few hours to do it in.

You’ll have to wait, kiddo, she thought, caressing her bump as the baby flexed against her stomach muscles. For now, Nell was the priority; she didn’t have time to give birth.

Chapter 38

Nell

Nell was conflicted. it was good to be with Merry again. and she was grateful to Cole and Emily for giving them the chance to get their friendship back on track. But she hadn’t gotten over the disappointment of not seeing Olek yet. And, on top of that, the Snow was getting quite thick and having the responsibility for a pregnant woman, this close to Christmas, was not one to be underestimated.

‘Hello, ladies, welcome to the Enchanted Spa,’ said the woman behind the desk. Her name badge identified her as Bernice. She offered them a drink from a tray of steaming glass mugs. ‘Non-alcoholic festive punch.’

They both accepted one and Nell sipped hers straight away, wishing that there was an alcoholic version.

She had messaged Olek from Emily’s car, letting him know that she’d misunderstood him and that she was sad he hadn’t come home to see her. Should she have kept her thoughts to herself? Would he think she was nagging him? She let out a sigh; too late now. And besides, not telling him the truth had got her in this mess in the first place; surely it made sense to start being honest?

She checked her phone again in case he’d replied to her messages since she’d last looked, but she didn’t seem to have any signal. She clenched her teeth; so much for a day of relaxation, she was going to be on tenterhooks until he replied.

Merry sniffed her drink. ‘This smells of mulled wine.’

They pulled a face at each other, as memories of bygone Christmases and terrible hangovers came to mind.

‘Not for me this year,’ said Merry.

‘Nor me,’ agreed Nell, who’d only just recovered from the night of the festive shopping event with Woody. Thinking of him, she made a mental note to send him a text to see how he and Spencer were getting on.

‘You’re already checked in,’ said Bernice. ‘Day guests, only, yes? You’re not staying overnight?’

‘It’s my first wedding anniversary tomorrow, I think my husband might want me to come home,’ Merry replied.

‘Whereas my husband doesn’t seem to be coming home for Christmas,’ said Nell, her voice a little higher than normal, ‘so I might be tempted.’