Rory sends her a grateful grin. ‘Thanks, we’d love to. Sorry we’re a last-minute addition.’
From the way Jess squeezes his hand, she doesn’t mind at all. She goes all twinkly when she looks at Sera too. ‘The Manor’s the perfect place for you and Johnny to celebrate your first anniversary.’ It was this time last year when Sera and Johnny got together at her sister, Alice’s massive country-house Christmas wedding.
Sera pushes back her tangle of blonde curls, puts the tape measure back on the bench, and wipes her hands on the back of her ragged denim shorts. ‘Thanks, Jess, that couldn’t be better. But a whole year? I can’t believe it’s gone so fast.’
Jess narrows her eyes as she looks at me. ‘So, Holly, what’s all this nonsense I hear about you spending the day on your own?’ She doesn’t leave room to explain. ‘Bart’s orders. Even if we have to drag you, you’re coming. We won’t take “no” for an answer, okay?’ When Jess is this fierce, she’s damned scary.
‘Okay. Thank you, that’ll be brill.’ I daren’t say anything else. But to my surprise, I find I mean it.
Rory jumps in. ‘Seeing we’re the early risers, we’ll be round to pick you up at ten, Berry. Snow permitting.’ He grins at Jess. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t let her wriggle out of it.’
Sera’s eyes light up. ‘It wassobeautiful when it snowed for Alice’s wedding. Even though it blocked the roads so no one could get there. Is snow on the forecast, then?’
Rory nods. ‘It probablyisn’tgoing to happen. But if it does, Berry, we promise to battle through the drifts to reach you. Although obviously we won’t be able to set off until after we’ve built a snowman.’
Jess’s eyes are shining. ‘You absolutelyhaveto come, Holly. Dress code is anything goes, so long as it includes a Christmas jumper.’
Rory narrows his eyes at me. ‘If you haven’t got one here, I’ll lend you one of mine.’
‘Lovely.’ Hopefully my enthusiasm hides that he read my thought balloon, yet again.
Jess inclines her head to me. ‘By the way, Holly, did Sera tell you Luc popped in looking for you earlier?’
Sera clasps her hand to her mouth. ‘Oops! Sorry, Hols.’ She’s well known for being ditsy, and this is why.
At least her apology gives me the time to cover up that my stomach just plummeted to the basement, then bounced back up again. After waiting all day yesterday, I’d given up hope. All I manage in reply is a gulp.
Jess is chiding me. ‘Why on earth didn’t you tell us he looks like a film star? Now we’ve seen him, we completely understand what all the fuss is about. You’re a hundred per cent right not to give up on that one, Holly.’ Her eyebrows are wiggling excitedly. ‘He’s at the Harbourside with a group of friends. There’s still all the time in the world for him to come good.’
Rory’s face falls as he takes hold of Gracie’s hand. ‘We’d better be off, then. Immie’s promised us tea and cake in return for a cuddle with Teddie while I wrap. We can’t turn down offers like that.’ He lets out a sigh. ‘Thanks for all the help, HB. We’ll see you first thing, then.’
Whatever hopes Jess had for Luc returning, they come to nothing. I work in the White Room until ten p.m., just in case. As I take a final look down the mews, I’m concentrating so hard that at first I read the flecks falling from the sky as reflections. By the time I’ve logged them as snowfall, they’re already a blizzard.
Chapter 37
Monday 25th December
In the attic flat at Brides by the Sea: Head in the clouds
When I wake on Christmas morning, the bedroom is surprisingly bright. There’s so much snow clinging to the glass of the little porthole, I have to open the window and clear it away before I can get a view across the bay. As I brush the ice crystals off the slates and look out across a roofscape of white plains, my insides deflate. Down below the sea and the sky are the same light grey, merging somewhere far in the distance. Out along the bay the people out on early walks with their dogs are battling into the wind, their figures dark against the dazzling white clumps along the sand.
Snow all the way to the edge of the sea? I’ve never seen that before.
Sticking my feet into my leopard pumps, I whip down the four flights of stairs to the shop. As I peer past the snowy tulle skirts in the window of the White Room, the snow outside in the mews is layered across the cobbles in a thick downy quilt. I know it’s hopeless to think Rory can get here with falls like this, but I slide back the lock on the door all the same. I have no idea why the hell I feel this wretched when spending this Christmas day alone is the ideal I’ve been working towards for months. Then, trying not to notice how eerily quiet it is, I stamp back upstairs and stick some milk in a pan.
PJ’s, hot chocolate, cosy duvet.FriendsSeason 1here I come.
Even if I’m looking forward to the day a lot less than I’d imagined, breakfast is shaping up okay. The only way it could be better is if yesterday’s doughnuts hadn’t gone crusty overnight. If I had to choose again, I’d possibly go for jam rather than custard. But considering how the weather’s turned, the twelve pack that felt excessive when I nipped out late on Christmas Eve afternoon seems like startling good judgement this morning.
But when I tuck myself back under the covers and start on myFriends-fest, far from me falling out of bed laughing, Jennifer Aniston looks so young, she’s making me feel like an OAP. How did I ever think a whole day alone was going to be do-able, let alone fun? Ever since I arrived, I’ve been busy and surrounded by crowds of people. Somehow, my old hermit routine is a shock I’m not prepared for.
Four episodes in, I press pause and stick my head under the duvet. I’m sniffing and reaching for a tissue when I hear voices.
‘Is this Holsie’s house? Why are there so many stairs?’
There’s a low, familiar laugh. ‘Because Berry lives up in the sky.’
‘Gracie? Rory?’ Mortified doesn’t begin to cover that they’ve caught me crying. But as for them being here, if I’d looked in my doughnut box and found my custard rocks had turned into a Krispy Kreme selection, my stomach wouldn’t be whooshing with any more excitement than it is now.
