‘I really don’t know but the artists are going to need days for opening the studios to visitors. But obviously you need to be on board with that. It’s your home and you can’t be overrun with people every day.’
‘Okay. We can talk about it.’ Max casually let go of her hand. ‘So are your parents still coming tomorrow?’
‘Yes, before they fly out to New Zealand on Wednesday.’ Ella was still trying to get her head around Christmas Day without her family. Now the open day was almost over she could think about the lunch Max was planning to host here. Her brother and his husband were calling in too on their long drive back from the Highlands after Hogmanay, so at least she’d see everyone, even if they wouldn’t be together on the day itself.
‘And your mum and dad definitely don’t want to stay over? You know they’re welcome to join you in the house.’
‘Thanks, Max. But they’re heading back in case the weather becomes a problem. I think my mum just wants eyes on me to make sure I look okay before they go.’ Ella’s smile was sad.
‘Sure I can’t persuade you all to join me and two overexcited kids on a Santa steam train? We’re booked for tomorrow afternoon. I could probably add three more if we’re quick.’
‘No thanks.’ She wished she could accept. Arlo would love the train, she was certain, and she’d be sorry to miss seeing him enjoying it. ‘I think Mum and Dad would love it but it’s probably better we spend the day separately. I don’t want them to think there’s more to you and me than there really is.’
‘I guess that makes sense.’ Max glanced across the courtyard. The Victorian carol singers were leaving with their Christmas puddings and Lily was showing Stan her empty basket. Max returned his gaze to Ella. ‘I have a suggestion for our first date, though, if you’d actually like to go on one with me.’
‘I might.’ Ella liked the fun hovering in his face. ‘Is it a good suggestion?’
‘I hope so. You know I have two tickets to the school’s New Year’s Eve ball?’
‘Is that a rhetorical question?’
‘I suppose it was. Would you like to come with me?’
‘I’d love to. But don’t you think people might start talking? If Stan suspects something then that’s it. And what would happen afterwards?’
‘Well.’ Max’s grin was mischievous, and he glanced over at Lily to make sure her back was turned, then brushed Ella’s cheek with a thumb. ‘The kids will be away with their other grandparents. I can think of at least one way we might spend time together.’
Ella’s pulse jumped as she caught his intent. ‘I’m sure you can.’ They’d be alone, truly alone, for the first time and the thought was a delicious distraction from practicalities. ‘But you know I was referring to what might get back to Lily and Arlo about us being seen together on a date.’
‘Come with me, Ella, I want you to be there.’ His voice was urgent as Lily turned and skipped towards them. ‘We can play it safe, say you’re my plus one because I had a spare ticket and it would be a shame to waste it. Most people are used to seeing you at school now with the kids. We can have a nice time and no one else need know any different. And afterwards, that’s private and up to us to decide what we want and how we feel.’
‘But we have to be careful. We can’t give them false hope.’ Ella prayed she wouldn’t regret this later. She already loved Max, but what if for him, she was only a first step? A flirtation he was enjoying after all he’d lost, and it was only her future here, her heart, that hung in the balance. He seemed to be reading her mind when he spoke again, removing the intimacy from his voice now that Lily was almost upon them.
‘What’s to say you won’t stay here, Ella?’ His eyes narrowed on hers. ‘Unless you’ve already made other plans?’
‘Of course I haven’t. I would tell you if I had.’
‘So you could stay, if you wanted to?’
Not if you don’t love me, she longed to say. But it would be madness to confess that now and hear him laugh it off. Have him tell her it was far too soon to say such things and a date at the ball was only the very beginning of something that might never happen. He loved his wife still, Ella was certain, and however much they were enjoying getting to know one another, he may never feel that way again about anyone else. Lily was at his side now, and he smiled as she took his hand.
‘Ready to go?’ he said to her. ‘I bet Prim’s missed you.’
Ella introduced her parents to Max, Lily and Arlo before they had to leave for the Santa train experience. Lily was excited to reveal Prim’s latest trick of holding up a paw on command, and Arlo wanted Ella’s mum and dad to meet the chickens and help collect the new eggs. Her mum was interested in the garden and Max walked her round, sharing his plans for redesigning it the next year. After he and the children had left for the train, Ella showed her parents the house before taking them to the pub for lunch. They had a lovely time, but the weather was worsening and her dad became impatient to get going. There was just time to exchange presents and thank her mum for the home-made Christmas pudding she’d brought. Ella hugged her dad and tried to persuade her mum to get in the car. The sky was grey, laden with snow, and her dad was running the engine.
‘Max and those beautiful children are lovely, Ella. It’s so sad, what they’ve gone through.’ Her mum had both of Ella’s hands in hers. She sniffed. ‘And the way he looks at you. I can see what’s happening, I’m not daft.’
‘Mum, don’t, okay.’ Ella wrapped her in a tight hug. ‘I like him, the children are adorable and his mum’s a scream.’
‘And?’
‘And what? Nothing’s going on.’ There wasn’t really, not unless her mum counted one exceptional kiss and a desire to do it again and again, and Ella wasn’t telling her that bit. ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do when I leave here, and Lily and Arlo are far more important than doing something silly we’d regret later.’
‘But what about your volunteering at the centre on the lake? You told me how keen they are for you to join them, so why bother if you’re not going to stay? And then there’s the college, I know you’re talking to them this week.’
‘Yes, and that will be to discuss spending a day cooking with the students, that’s all. Stop running away with things.’
‘Ella, my love, it’s always been you that’s done that.’ Her mum held Ella’s shoulders and her eyes were suddenly glistening. ‘For once just let yourself stop running long enough to take a good look around you. You don’t always have to be on the move, and you mustn’t keep worrying that someone will find a way to hurt you if you stand still for long enough. Think about what you’d be missing if you left here.’
