Lottie twisted to see Megan standing on the edge of the green with her hands on her cheeks. Joe was doing something crossed between jazz hands and the gesture you make when you’re trying to flag down a taxi after a few bottles of wine. ‘Bugger,’ said Lottie, and without thinking she ran to him – he was going to need some help.
‘Oh my God. Yes,’ squealed Megan. ‘Yes. Yes. Yes!’ Each word was getting louder and more excited.
‘No. No. No,’ muttered Joe, his eyes wider than when he got pricked in the nether regions by the holly. But Megan wasn’t listening; she was already pulling her phone from her designer bag to take selfies.
Lottie did the only thing she could think of and ran through the message kicking up the holly in all directions. The last thing they needed was Emily to see this on the internet. ‘You bitch!’ yelled Megan, and she launched herself at Lottie. Lottie dodged out of the way and ran behind Joe. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’ Megan’s eyes were demonic with rage.
‘I’m trying to save you embarrassment,’ said Lottie, making a run for the nearby Christmas tree with Megan in hot pursuit.
‘Megan!’ shouted Joe. Megan halted and turned to look at him.
‘She’s right. This proposal – it’s not for you.’ He hung his head.
‘What? You mean you’re asking her?’ Megan stabbed a finger in Lottie’s direction.
‘No!’ said Lottie and Joe together. Joe’s response was a little more vehement than she would have liked to hear but at least they were on the same page.
Megan’s head spun between the two of them, like the girl inThe Exorcistbut thankfully without the vomit. They both nodded solemnly.
Megan licked her lips. ‘It’s not a pro …’ They both shook their heads in unison. Megan began to cry silent tears and Lottie felt a pang of guilt. That always happened. She always felt like it was all her fault.
She felt for Megan, all the same. ‘Why?’ Megan was looking imploringly at Joe.
As imminent danger seemed to have passed, Lottie crept from behind the Christmas tree, which was inappropriately twinkling its colourful, jolly lights. ‘It was my brother’s proposal to his girlfriend. But now,’ Lottie surveyed the strewn holly, ‘it’s nobody’s.’
‘Eurgh. I hate you, Joey Broomfield!’ said Megan, and she shoved him hard in the chest before stalking off.
Lottie looked towards the pub and saw the distress on poor Zach’s face. Three proposals scuppered – this was not going well. ‘I’m going to …’ Lottie pointed at Zach and Joe nodded. He looked shell-shocked. She left him standing in the snow.
As Lottie reached the pub, the door opened and Emily popped her head out. ‘What’s going on?’ she asked.
‘Nothing,’ said Zach, hastily bundling her back inside. ‘Absolutely sod all.’
Chapter Thirty-Five
The pub had put on an excellent hot buffet lunch, with something for everyone. Lottie had forgotten to tell Petra that they had one vegan and one fake vegan to cater for, but it hadn’t mattered. There were slices of spiced lentil loaf and bean casserole. There was, of course, an abundance of turkey dishes, along with a big pot of pasta and tomato sauce, of which Jessie was on her third helping.
Zach was about as flat as the ribbons of tagliatelle; and who could blame him? His proposal plans had been dashed for a third time. Emily was cuddling up to him. She could obviously sense something was wrong, but she had no idea what.
Lottie put down her spoon after a little bit too much sticky toffee pudding and marvelled at the simple joy of having someone cook her a meal. She had a much greater admiration for how Nana had coped so effortlessly for all those years and she wished she was able to tell her. She steadied her emotions and wiped her mouth on a paper serviette that featured jolly dancing snowmen all the way round its edge.
‘I need the loo,’ said Emily, leaning forward to catch Lottie’s eye.
‘I don’t think I can move,’ said Lottie, thinking how nice it would be to curl up in front of the television for a couple of hours.
‘Oh, but it’s a bit of a walk back up the hill. Best go to the loo before we set off,’ said Emily, giving Lottie a pleading stare. The penny dropped and Lottie sat up straight.
‘Yes, good idea. I’d better come with you. I mean go too. For myself,’ she said, and she almost tripped over trying to get away from the table.
They walked to the ladies’ toilets, checked nobody had followed them and then went into the bigger of the two cubicles together.
Emily let out a slow breath. ‘Right.’ She pulled the box from her bag.
‘Haven’t you done it yet?’ asked Lottie.
‘Not yet.’
‘How are you feeling about it all?’
