‘I wish I had friends of my own.’
‘You must have some friends?’
Holly shook her head. ‘I want to go to school but no one listens to me.’ Holly shrugged. ‘Everyone is always arguing, but Daddy has been smiling since we’ve been here. I like it here.’
‘Heartcross is a lovely place,’ agreed Libby. ‘It makes everyone smile.’
‘I think that’s because you’re here.’
Libby looked at the little girl. ‘You think your dad is smiling because I’m here?’
Holly nodded. ‘He talks about you a lot. My dad is very nice, you know.’
Libby laughed. ‘I know and you know what else I know?’
Holly shrugged.
‘That he has a beautiful little girl.’
Holly’s smile grew wider as Libby put her hand on Holly’s knee and gave it a little squeeze.
‘You’re very pretty. I love your curly hair,’ said Holly with admiration.
‘Thank you, but it’s hard to tame, especially when I have a bobble hat on. Watch this!’ Libby pulled her bobble hat clean off her head and all the curls sprang up on end, catapulting in different directions, causing Holly to laugh hysterically.
‘They have a mind of their own,’ Libby confirmed, pulling her hat back on quickly and digging her chin further into Guy’s scarf. She inhaled his scent, the same aftershave he’d worn every day since she’d met him.
Guy reappeared and placed the video camera on the tripod. ‘What are you two chatting about?’
‘Nothing,’ Libby and Holly replied at the same time. They gave each other a knowing look before their faces broke into huge smiles.
‘Mmm, why do I think there is something going on here?’
‘We were just saying how good it is to smile,’ Libby offered, watching Guy fix the camera on its stand at the side of the rink.
‘Come on, Holly, you can operate the camera. If you stand on this crate you’ll be able to see.’
Holly jumped down from the bench and stood on a crate that Guy had just retrieved from beside one of the huts. Guy was extremely warm, kind and patient as he explained, ‘If you move the camera slowly like this you can follow Miranda and Guy around the ice. Have a go.’
Listening to every word and with a little help from her dad, Holly followed his instructions. Watching them interact, Libby felt that tiny pang in her heart again. Even though that was something she would never have, such a closeness with her own flesh and blood, she focused on the positives. When the time was right there would be other options for her. She knew she had so much love to give.
Miranda and David took to the ice. Libby could follow them quite easily with Guy’s neon green coat as they whirl laps of the rink. After only a few stumbles they began to skate with ease. Hand in hand they picked up the pace, weaving in and out of the other skaters.
‘Look at them go!’ exclaimed Guy, looking back over his shoulder. ‘Who’d have thought they could skate better than me?’
‘It’s not that difficult when you make more than just the one attempt at skating,’ Libby teased. ‘I’m actually quite impressed,’ she admitted. ‘They’re pretty good.’
‘And it looks like they’re having fun,’ said Guy, helping Holly to slowly move the video camera. ‘I think we’ve already got plenty of footage for their wedding video.’
‘Here’s Granny,’ exclaimed Holly, looking through the lens. Cynthia was walking around the edge of the rink and waved in their direction. Holly jumped down from the crate and ran towards her grandmother, throwing her arms around her.
‘You’re freezing,’ she exclaimed, kissing the tip of Holly’s nose before saying hello to Libby and Guy. ‘I finished my phone call so I thought I’d come and grab Holly to get her back in the warmth.’
Libby noticed the puffiness of Cynthia’s eyes and wondered if she’d been crying.
Guy didn’t seem to notice anything as he looked towards Holly. ‘Are you ready to go back or would you like a go at skating?’ he asked.
‘Maybe tomorrow,’ she replied, holding Cynthia’s hand. ‘It’s a bit cold.’
