Page 64 of The Village Christmas Party

I nip upstairs and put on the silver necklace. Mum was right. I was worried the outfit looked a little businesslike, but the necklace has transformed it into evening wear. I feel fully dressed for a date now.

I take a glance at my watch, ten minutes before Kian is due to collect me. He had texted earlier, checking if I was still okay for this evening, and I’d told him yes and that I was looking forward to it. I fleetingly wonder who will be looking after Bella tonight, and whether it might be the female relative I saw him with. Assuming that’s what she was. I lightly spray some perfume onto my wrists before I head downstairs.

I consider having a quick glass of wine before Kian arrives, but if I rush it my face will flush, so decide against it.

‘You look perfect now,’ says Mum kindly. ‘I hope you have a lovely evening, you really deserve it.’

Before I know it, Kian has pulled up outside the house to collect me. He says hi to Mum, and I quickly introduce him to Dad before we leave.

‘Wow,’ he says, when I am seated in the car. ‘You look amazing.’

I take in his appearance, his dark jeans and a crisp light-blue shirt beneath a charcoal woollen coat. It seems he has left his battered leather jacket at home. He smells good too.

‘So do you.’ I smile, fastening my seat belt and looking forward to spending the evening with him.

It’s around a half hour drive to the venue and we chat easily as we drive along, asking each other about how our day has been. I tell him about the dress fiasco. He tells me he had seen a client who was terrified of washing-up liquid.

‘It was a strange one indeed,’ he confesses. ‘But I think I managed to get her to relax and face the washing-up, for today at least.’ He smiles. ‘She tells me her kids think it’s just an excuse to get them to do the dishes.’ He laughs that easy laugh. ‘Please don’t repeat that in public,’ he adds. ‘Confidentiality and all that. Although I never actually mentioned their name, but you just never know who is listening.’

‘Oh definitely, and I don’t suppose many people have that particular phobia,’ I remark. ‘And don’t worry, I have learned discretion from working in a shop,’ I tell him, before immediately thinking about the gift he purchased. I don’t want to mention it though, at least not right now.

‘Would you like some music on?’ Kian asks.

‘Sure, that would be nice.’

He finds Classic FM and the sound of something familiar fills the car.

‘Was this on a TV advert or something?’ I ask.

‘That’s right, it was on an airline ad, I think. George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue”.’

‘Maybe that’s where I have heard it. Are you into classical music then?’ I ask.

‘Not particularly. I just thought it might set a nice mood.’ He smiles.

‘You could try Smooth Radio,’ I suggest.

‘So you like smooth guys, huh?’ He turns to me.

‘Not smooth guys, no, just the radio station. They play nice ballads.’

‘I know they do, I am playing with you. Smooth Radio it is then,’ he says, finding the station, where Boyz II Men are belting out one of their biggest hits that says something about coming to the end of a road.

‘Blimey, I hope not. We’re only just getting started, both metaphorically and literally.’ He laughs.

So he thinks this is just the beginning of something? I find myself feeling excited by that thought.

We drive down a forest road, a silvery moon shining through the branches of the trees. It makes me think of the evening of the moon bathing where I first met Audrey, and I tell Kian this.

‘She seems like a nice girl?’

‘She is. And she is super talented at making things,’ I say, recalling the centrepiece for the dinner and winning first prize at the gingerbread evening.

‘Well, she is lucky to have met you, and so am I,’ he says.

‘It wasn’t maybe under the best circumstances.’ I pull a face.

‘Do you mean dousing me in Prosecco, or stealing my hall space?’ he teases.

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