Page 46 of I’ll Be Home for Christmas

CHRISSIE

Chrissie and Sarah had wanted to walk into town and find a café for lunch but by the time Sarah had got cleaned up, the winds were howling around the chalet, and as they reached the end of the street they decided it might be best to turn back and go to her parents’ instead.

‘The weather has turned nasty,’ said her dad when he opened the door to his chalet for them. ‘You two go in the lounge, the fire has made it lovely and warm. I’ll be in the kitchen helping.’ And he shuffled off to give them their privacy.

‘He’ll get in her way, you know,’ said Sarah as they hung up their coats on the hooks in the hallway.

At least Sarah was still talking to her after the way she’d been with Meg. She’d been so surprised to see her sister standing there at Jonathan’s front door and Sarah happy and smiling in the background that the only thing she’d felt was hurt, the same hurt that had wounded her on her wedding day. And so she’d lashed out with nasty words.

‘Mum will give him something to do so he’s useful.’ Chrissie pulled her phone from her pocket. ‘I have some photographs of Tessa. Do you want to see?’ It felt easier to talk about their dog right now rather than anything else.

Her final shift at work had only been over for a couple of hours before she’d booked her flight to come here and gone next door to see Nolan. He’d stepped in to take Tessa – apparently, he was thinking of getting a dog so it would be good practice. The man honestly had a heart of gold. He’d even driven her to the airport and she’d hugged him goodbye, a move that felt nicer than she’d ever imagined especially when he didn’t pull away quickly.

Sarah sat down next to her on the sofa and took the phone. ‘Do you think looking after Tessa will put Nolan off dogs for life or convince him to actually get one?’

Chrissie’s lips twisted in thought. ‘I think it will convince him to get one, but I did warn him Tessa isn’t a puppy. I’m not sure he understood that as a good thing though.’

‘He probably thought you meant she can’t walk long distances or go on a run with him.’

‘Exactly. What I really meant was a puppy would be a lot harder. Remember when we first got Tessa?’

‘You said it was like having a baby again.’

‘I was up all night for quite some time.’

‘She’s good as gold now though.’

It was good to hear Sarah chat normally and even nicer to see the smile on her face as she scrolled through the photographs. Nolan had sent quite a few.

‘It was good of him to take Tessa,’ said Sarah when they’d seen the last picture of the beagle on the beach with him. He must have driven down to the south coast for the day.

‘I would’ve put her in the kennels but it was so last minute I’m not sure that would’ve even been possible. I didn’t really think when I booked the flight.’

‘Nolan to the rescue.’

Chrissie smiled. What Sarah didn’t know was that Nolan had recently suggested a dinner date and Chrissie had said yes.

Chrissie and Nolan had become good friends since he first moved in six months ago. They’d met when Tessa managed to find a weak spot in his garden fence and escaped into his garden.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she’d said to her new neighbour after she raced round and knocked on his front door. ‘My dog is in your garden.’

‘This dog?’ he’d asked as Tessa appeared behind him looking as innocent as ever.

‘Oh no, you let her inside? Tessa, come here. Naughty girl.’

He was amused rather than annoyed. ‘She’s very friendly. I assumed she belonged to you and I was about to bring her over.’

‘She’s never got through before.’

‘Ah, the previous owners took away a greenhouse. I thought the fence looked a bit iffy.’

Tessa came to her side and Chrissie stroked her head. ‘Whatever it costs to replace the fence panel, I’ll pay.’

But he was swishing the suggestion away with a wave of his hands. ‘The whole fence needs replacing. It’s on my to-do list. For now, I can put something temporary in the way to stop her coming through.’ Down on his haunches, he fussed Tessa around her face and chin.

‘She likes that; you’ve got a friend for life.’

‘Well, what better welcome to the neighbourhood could I ask for?’