It was dark outside; I’d forgotten how dark it gets in the countryside as opposed to the towns. Thankfully the streetlamps in Midwinter Lane, and in the car parking area opposite, provided enough light for me to see my way to End Cottage, and also to see that, although it was bitterly cold, there was no sign of any snow. At least, not yet.
I hurried down the path, hugging my jacket around me, dashed along the lane, and up the path to the front door of End Cottage. I rang the bell and a second or two later, Marcus flung open the door, smiling in greeting.
‘Come in, Lucy.’ He gestured me inside with his hands. ‘It’s freezing out there. I just popped outside to put some rubbish in the bin and I got the shock of my life after the sunshine and warmth we had today.’
He closed the door behind me as Adele stepped into the hall.
‘Hello,’ she said, smiling. ‘Can you believe this weather? But it is still February, after all.’
‘It was a gorgeous day, wasn’t it?’ I said. ‘But I met a woman called Tilly in town, and she told me we’d have snow this weekend. I thought she was joking. Now I think she might be right. It’s lovely and warm in here though.’
‘It’s certainly cold enough for snow,’ Adele agreed.
‘It’s highly likely,’ Marcus said. ‘Let me take your jacket.’
I handed Marcus the bottle of wine, and he smiled without even glancing at the label. I hate it when people look at the label, as if they’re checking whether you’ve brought plonk, and not a decent bottle, so that made me like him more than I already did.
‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘That’s good of you.’
I took off my jacket and he hung it up on a rather posh rack.
‘This way,’ he said. ‘We’ve got a couple of bottles of white, and also red, open, so which would you prefer?’
‘White, please. Although, I had a few glasses at lunch, so I’d better just have one.’
‘One at a time, you mean?’ he laughed as did Adele, and I joined in because their laughter was infectious.
A bell chimed, and Marcus turned back towards the door. ‘That’ll be Noelle, Alec, and Melody. We asked them to join us. Follow Adele into the sitting room and make yourself at home.’
‘I hope Far Cottage is warm enough,’ Adele said. ‘If not, just shout.’
‘It’s perfect, thanks,’ I assured her as I stepped into a spacious, open plan sitting and dining room.
Anyone would admire the sleek lines, expensive furniture and furnishings, and original artwork on the walls, and over to one side was a designer kitchen Erin and I would both kill for. The place was remarkably similar to Far Cottage, even down to the glass, sliding doors the width of the back wall. So Marcus had clearly redesigned Adele’s former home to a virtual replica of the home they now shared.
There was a TV on one wall that was three times the size of the one I had at home – and I thought mine was large – and the surround sound speakers were as stylish as the rest of the furniture. I wondered if the upstairs was also almost identical to Far Cottage. But I didn’t want to ask.
Noelle, Alec, and Melody were laughing as they came in with Marcus.
‘Hello again, Lucy,’ Noelle said. ‘I hear you met Tilly today. She’s a character, isn’t she? So we’re in for a blizzard, I hear.’
I thought she was making fun of me – or of Tilly, but I soon realised she wasn’t.
‘You told me she’s always right,’ Alec said to Noelle, as he swept Melody up in his arms. ‘So it looks like we might be making snowmen tomorrow, sweetheart.’ He planted a big kiss on the little girl’s cheek and she giggled loudly and melodically.
‘Snow people, Daddy,’ Melody corrected.
Alec winked at me as he placed her back on the ground. ‘My apologies. Snow people. If you’re not busy tomorrow, Lucy, feel free to join us.’
‘Do you really think we’ll have snow?’ I queried as Marcus handed me a glass of wine. A large glass of wine.
‘Yes.’ They all spoke in unison, as Marcus poured wine for everyone else, and then for himself.
‘If Tilly says it’ll snow,’ said Adele. ‘It’ll snow.’
Noelle nodded. ‘She and her husband, Willy, are the ones to ask if you want to know about the weather. But I hope it’s not ablizzard. Getting snowed in for your week away isn’t ideal, is it, Lucy?’
I grinned. ‘Tilly said I should make sure I am snowed in with someone I like.’
