Page 55 of A Not So Quiet Christmas
Chapter 32
Ifelt guilty for leaving Frank home alone all afternoon, so after changing out of Aunt Lillian’s clothes and getting the open fire burning ready for a relaxed evening ahead, I eased my conscience by taking the dog on a longer than usual walk.
As we meandered through the village, stopping and starting thanks to Frank’s nasal curiosity, thoughts of that afternoon swirled through my head. Missingham House had been impressive. It was grand and beautiful and, with its very own Winter Wonderland, had taken me to another world. And while the less said the better about me sitting on Santa’s knee, most wonderful of all was Oliver’s kiss. I could still feel the softness of his lips caressing mine. I smiled and feeling happy, warm and fuzzy I could have hugged myself. My afternoon with Oliver had been the most romantic few hours I’d ever experienced, and on so many levels.
Frank’s lead suddenly snapped tight, bringing me to an immediate standstill. I turned to see the dog scratting at a wooden gate that led into a small field. A sign told me the path running up the side of the stretch of grass was a right of way and that walkers should close both entry and exit ways behind them. Wondering if I should let Frank follow his nose a while longer, my eyes scanned the area beyond. With no people, sheep or other animals in sight, I thought it only fair the dog had some fun too. Letting us in, I did as instructed and shut the gate safe and secure behind us.
Unleashing Frank altogether, he surprised me by setting off on a run and seeing him race around the field as fast as his stumpy legs would allow, it was as if I had the old Frank back. I chuckled as I watched him swerve this way and that, knowing that if he wasn’t careful, he wouldn’t be able to stop. I smiled at his antics, before calling out to him. “Slow down, you could get hurt,” I said. My words suddenly resonated, leaving me unsure as to who needed that advice more. The dog or me?
Finally, I put Frank back on his lead. He’d found yet another stick that he just had to have, and it seemed no matter how many times I tried to relieve him of it, he was going to carry it back to Number 3. Reaching the house and unlocking the door, I shook my head as the dog dropped his latest addition onto the pile that he’d already collected. “You really are one strange hound,” I said.
Stepping inside, we headed straight for the kitchen. I filled Frank’s bowl with water, but he didn’t drink for long. The poor dog was shattered following his extended exercise and after a few slurps, he trotted off into the lounge to, no doubt, plonk himself in front of the fire. I set about making myself a hot drink and just as I’d finished, my phone suddenly sounded. I pulled it out of my pocket and checked the screen. Smiling to myself, I took both my mobile and drink with me into the lounge.
Settling myself down on the sofa, I inhaled deeply as I clicked the answer button, readying myself for the onslaught of questions.
“Where have you been?” Jules asked, as her face appeared on screen. “I’ve been trying to get through for ages.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. Chuckling at her impatience, I could imagine the number of missed calls that would flash up once we finished talking. “I was going to ring. But Frank’s been stuck in all day and needed to get out.”
“I’ve been on pins thinking about you and Oliver,” Jules said. “Wondering how things were going. There was no point me even trying to get on with my jigsaw.” She flipped her camera to show me hundreds of unconnected puzzle pieces scattered over a huge board that balanced on her lap. “See!”
Once of a day, such a sight would have surprised me, but after all the crafting Jules had partaken in of late, I had to admit progressing onto jigsaws felt scarily inevitable.
“We could have talked while you walked,” Jules carried on, her face reappearing. “How is the little munchkin, by the way?”
I directed my screen at Frank so she could see him lazing in front of the flames. “Comfortable,” I said. “It’s his favourite spot in the house.”
“I can see why,” Jules replied. “That fire. I’m so jealous of you both right now.”
I turned the phone back on myself. “You wouldn’t say that if you were the one cleaning it. Soot gets everywhere,” I said. “Something you’ll find out for yourself once you’re up and moving again.”
Jules dismissed my train of thought with a wave of her hand. “Enough about that,” she said. “I’m more interested in your date with you know who.” She shuffled in her seat, straightening herself up. “Tell me. How did it go?”
I smiled, at the same time feeling a tad embarrassed. “Very well actually.”
“Really?” Jules said, her jaw dropping.
“Do you have to look so shocked?” I asked, laughing. “You could at leasttryand hide your amazement.”
“Sorry,” Jules said. “It’s just you usually end your dates with a list of complaints.” She reached down for her flask and poured herself a drink, before making a show of getting comfortable. “Right. I want to know everything,” she said, excited. “And I meaneverything.”
As I began to divulge, it felt like we were teenagers again. Dissecting events and words to make sure no statement or signal had been misread. And just like in the good old days, Jules was more than happy to give her opinion.
“Good thinking,” she said, when I told her I’d had to raid her aunt’s clothing. “Although I might’ve been tempted to wash them first.”
“That’s so special,” she said, almost swooning when I described how we’d climbed through a wardrobe into a magical winter wonderland.
“You sat on Santa’s knee?” she asked, incredulous, when I explained where the enchanted forest had led us. “I’ll need photographic evidence.”
“He was suggesting what?” she asked, as if ready to have a heart attack when I said Oliver had hinted at me staying on a while longer.
Taking in her response, no way was I telling her about our kiss.
“Oh, Antonia,” she said. “I think that’s a great idea.”
“Excuse me?” I replied, forced to wonder what the woman was thinking.
“Well, you don’t have anything keeping you here.” She took a sip of her drink. “Present company excepted, of course.”
