“We’re here.”
She drove along the lane that led to the house, thinking about Becky and Declan. Becky had talked about him for years before Rosie had finally met him, and it was usually when she was laughing about something. It had been Declan this and Declan that. Rosie had been so used to hearing his name that by the time she met him she felt as if she’d known him forever.
Becky and Declan.
No. No way. They liked each other and they’d been colleagues, but it was nothing more than that. She was definitely letting her imagination run away with her.
Trying to clear her head, she pulled into the driveaway of the house and blinked, dazzled.
For a brief moment she wondered if she’d taken the wrong road because her family home didn’t usually look like this.
The whole house glowed and twinkled against the snowylandscape, its roof and windows highlighted by a profusion of tiny lights. A large wreath hung on the front door, which was framed by lanterns and two sparkling Christmas trees. The path leading up to the house had been cleared of snow, but the trees that surrounded the house shimmered white and silver in the darkness.
The place radiated Christmas warmth and Rosie gazed at it in wonder, momentarily distracted from her less-than-comfortable thoughts.
“Okay, that’s—unexpected.”
“What is?”
“Lights on the house. My dad was always too busy to do the outside and my mother gets dizzy on ladders. Usually we have a wreath and that’s it.”
“It looks good. Welcoming.” Even Declan stared. “Your house looks like something out of a Christmas movie.”
“I know. And I love it.”
She did love it, but it didn’t erase the niggling worry that had taken hold in her head.
Declan and Becky. Declan and Becky.
Was Declan wishing he’d married her sister?
Chapter8
Becky
Do you think this place even has room for us?” Seeing the number of cars in the car park, Becky didn’t feel optimistic. “We might be sleeping in the car.”
“We’re not sleeping in the car.” Will pulled into a space and switched off the engine. “Did your mother respond?”
“Yes, she said not to worry about turning up a day late and not to take any risks on the road.”
“That sounds like a typical maternal response. Let’s go and check out the room situation before we unload our luggage.”
She glanced at the hotel. Smoke curled from the chimney, tiny lights shimmered around the eaves and a large Christmas tree was visible in the foyer. “This would be Rosie’s dream hotel.” She undid her seat belt. “You don’t want to call your mother before we go in?”
“We both know that your mother will have been on the phone to my mother within two minutes of receiving your message.”
“True. Okay, let’s go and see if there is room at the inn.”
“I don’t mind sleeping in a corridor if I have to, but I hope they have a restaurant because I’m starving. I wonder if Rosie and Declan are stuck in the same traffic.”
“They’re not. According to my mother they’re almost home. Declan messaged her half an hour ago. They were ahead of the accident apparently. Lucky them.”
“Maybe. Or maybe we’re the lucky ones.” Will locked the car. “I remember reading a review about this place or something. Brilliant restaurant.”
“Great. Anywhere that will feed me gets a full five stars from me. Although it’s probably less good for us if everyone wants to stay here.”
She dragged on her coat and walked with him across the snow-covered car park to the main entrance of the hotel.
