When Emily pulled away Lottie gave her her coat. ‘Thank you. You’re so thoughtful.’
‘Unlike my brother.’ They exchanged looks. ‘It’s not what you think.’
‘Not wanting me to be his girlfriend is pretty clear.’ Emily pulled a tissue from her coat pocket and wiped her eyes.
There was no way for Lottie to explain without giving the game away about his planned proposal, and he’d go mental if she did that. ‘Things get lost in translation when they’re overheard. Please trust me – I know he definitely still wants to be with you.’ Emily didn’t look convinced. ‘Assuming you still want that. Now you’ve met the family, nobody would blame you for wanting to run for the hills.’
At last there was a snort of a laugh from Emily. ‘It’s like being in a drama series. I keep wondering what the next revelation will be.’
‘Rhys is a champion Morris dancer,’ said Lottie, her face deadpan. She could see Emily wasn’t sure. ‘Nah, I’m kidding. Come on, let’s have a walk. We’ll see if the others can stop arguing long enough to add the bowls to the dishwasher.’
Lottie pulled her coat tighter and linked an arm through Emily’s. ‘Welcome to the madness of the Collins family. You’ll get used to us eventually.’
They strolled down the hill and Lottie couldn’t help but take a peek through windows at other people enjoying their Christmases. She wondered if they were wrestling with issues like her family, or whether they were passing round the chocolates and watching telly.
‘The meal was lovely,’ said Emily.
‘Thanks for your help with it. Your mum was a life saver.’
‘I think I need to be with my mum,’ said Emily, as if thinking out loud.
‘I know it must feel like things are falling apart, but if you can just hold out for another day everything will slot into place. I promise.’
Emily nodded. ‘I hope you’re right.’
They reached Dumbleford Green, where people were coming in and out of the pub like a shift change.
‘Merry Christmas,’ called Shirley, her party hat lopsided as she clutched her tartan trolley and zigzagged her way across the green.
‘Merry Christmas,’ called back Lottie. ‘Dumbleford’s oldest resident,’ she explained to Emily. ‘I think she arrived with the pub foundations.’
‘It’s nice that you all know each other.’
‘It is.’ The thought of leaving tugged at her heart.
A large dog bounded over and almost took Emily out. ‘Whoa!’ said Emily, startled.
‘Tiny, calm down,’ said Lottie, as the English Mastiff bounced up and down around them. ‘It’s okay, he’s harmless. He’s no idea he’s the size of a small horse.’ The dog charged off and began circling the Christmas tree on the green. A young boy chased after him.
‘Maybe Dave isn’t so bad after all,’ said Emily.
Lottie was pleased that she’d managed to reduce Emily’s worries a little, but Zach really needed to pull his finger out before some serious damage was done to his relationship.
Back at the manor Emily decided to go for a lie down. Lottie left her to it. She’d had a spark of an idea, and if the timing was right, she was going to sneak off again.
‘Dad. Can I have a word?’ asked Rhys, as they met at the bottom of the stairs.
Daniel’s troubled expression left him. ‘Of course, son. What is it?’
Rhys held up his metal detector. ‘Fancy seeing if there’s buried treasure in the garden?’
‘Or an escape tunnel. I could do with one of those right now.’
Rhys patted him on the back. ‘I’ll bring a shovel,’ he said, a cheeky sparkle in his eye.
Having checked everyone was settled and the dishwasher was gurgling away, Lottie had put her coat back on. Shhh,’ she said, holding the door for Daniel and Rhys as they all left the house together. She slung a cloth bag over her shoulder and checked the coast was clear.
‘Are you up to something?’ asked Rhys.
