‘Yes. I did. Several years ago. But she didn’t leave me because I cheated. I have never cheated on anyone in my life. My wife died almost six years ago now.’
‘Daddy! Daddy! Look what Granddad bought me.’
The most beautiful little girl who resembled Alec in so many ways, grabbed his hand and waggled it.
‘Show me, sweetheart,’ he said, in a soft and loving voice as he dragged his eyes from my now bright red face and smiled adoringly down at her.
And then he swept her up in his strong arms as she held out a little reindeer Christmas ornament. One of my reindeer Christmas ornaments. One I’d sold to this little girl and her granddad just half an hour or so earlier. We’d chatted about how much she loved reindeer, and that her daddy was joining them at the market later, and that next year he was taking her to see real reindeer in Norway and they would stay in a hotel made of ice, and would visit Santa and his elves, and take a sleigh ride with huskies, and see some pretty lights in the night sky.
And suddenly all the Christmas bells on the planet clanged loudly in my head.
This was the person he had spoken to that day in my kitchen. She was the reason he couldn’t start a relationship right now. He was no doubt spending all his free time in December concentrating on making her Christmas special and planning their trip for next year.
And I was the biggest idiot this side of Mars.
‘This nice lady sold it to me,’ the little girl said.
‘Did she? That’s lovely.’ He didn’t look at me. ‘Let’s go and get some hot chocolate?’ He smiled over her to her granddad who smiled and nodded at me.
‘That sounds good, doesn’t it? If you want to stay and chat to your friends, Alec, I can take Melody, and you can meet us there.’
‘No. It’s okay, thanks. I’m done here. Bye, Marcus. Bye, Noelle. Merry Christmas to you both. And to Adele.’
Merry Christmas,’ Alec’s daughter said to me.
And then Alec turned and walked out of my life, carrying his beautiful little girl whom he clearly adored.
‘Kill me now,’ I said.
‘You thought he was married?’ Marcus queried. ‘I told you his wife was dead.’
‘When?’
‘On Monday when we had that drink together and I said I had a friend who was perfect for you.’
‘Alec was that friend?’
‘Of course. You said you didn’t want to go on a blind date, but when you told me about your boiler, I thought it was the perfect way for the two of you to meet. And then if you both saw what I saw, you’d fall for one another in a more natural and casual way.’
‘Why did I do that? I’m such an idiot!’ I said. ‘He hates me.’
‘I think that’s a bit strong, but he does seem to be a little disappointed in you. And in me. If Adele reacts in the same way, you will be dead, because I’ll kill you myself.’
Fifteen
Fortunately for both me and Marcus, although Adele wasn’t thrilled with me kissing her new boyfriend, she did seem to understand why I’d done it.
‘Perhaps you could explain it to me then,’ I said with a sheepish smile. ‘I don’t know what I was thinking, and if I could go back in time and do it again, I wouldn’t. I’d just tell Paul I’d changed my mind and I didn’t want to go out with him.’
‘That would’ve been much simpler,’ said Adele. ‘But love makes us do strange things.’
‘Love? I’m not in love.’
She and Marcus exchanged looks. We were having drinks and supper in Marcus’ cottage, on Thursday evening, after the market had closed, and he opened more of that exquisite wine.
‘I think you are,’ she said. ‘I know what unrequited love feels like and I recognise the symptoms.’
‘I knew you two would fall for one another,’ said Marcus. ‘It’s odd how we can often see why others would make a perfect couple but when it comes to ourselves, we rarely see what’s right in front of our nose.’
