Page 63 of New Beginnings at the Little Christmas Inn
‘Thank you, Mark.’ She let out a breath in relief. ‘Thank you so much.’
He leaned in and kissed her swiftly on the top of the head. ‘It’s the least I can do.’
CHAPTER 34
Tequila – distilled from the blue agave plant. Strong, earthy flavour. High alcohol content
Livvy was only too aware of Mark sleeping a few doors away and it gave her a restless night. She got up early to see him out. ‘Thanks for staying over,’ she said, as he unlocked the kitchen door. ‘Are you sure I can’t make you breakfast?’
‘No, best be off. Get on the phone to find someone to sort the car.’
Both studiously avoided looking at the wrecked vehicles.
‘I hope Nats was okay on her own.’
‘Bingeing on aDownton Abbeybox set was the last message. And drinking her way through my wine stocks. She’ll be fine.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘And won’t be in the land of the living yet. It’ll give me time to get ringing round.’
‘Walk safely.’ Livvy peered at the sullen grey sky. ‘They might be right about The Beast from the East Mark II. And the frosthasn’t lifted. Don’t slip and break a leg to add to the bill I owe you.’
‘You don’t owe me anything, Livvy.’
‘I’ll say Happy Christmas then. If you do get to York, I won’t see you until afterwards.’ Livvy tried to keep the desolation from her voice. She was trying hard to be the independent woman but, at the moment, all she really wanted was for him to be around.
Mark hovered on the kitchen doorstep. ‘I suppose. Can’t believe you’re still going ahead with the Christmas Eve party.’
She shrugged. ‘Everyone’s expecting one and besides, I don’t want to let the events of last night defeat me. I’ll be damned if he scares me off.’
‘Attagirl.’
They stood awkwardly facing one another.
‘I suppose I’d better get off then,’ Mark said, not moving.
‘I suppose you better had. Give my love to Nats and wish her Happy Christmas.’
‘Will do.’ He reached forward, smelling of her toothpaste. It made the gesture feel intimate and familiar, as if they were an established married couple. Kissing her cheek, he whispered, ‘Happy Christmas, Livvy. Keep safe.’
She watched him walk gingerly away over the icy surface of the car park until he reached the carriage arch and then turn uphill and disappear. For a second, she was alone. It was horrible. She felt naked and vulnerable, and as if someone was watching. At her whistle, Angel came bounding in from the beer garden just as a black Range Rover turned in off the main road.
‘Bernie’ Winters was an old family friend, trusted and reliable. Her father, just before he’d left on holiday, had ignored Livvy’s plea that she could ring and had called him himself. Today was the only time Bernie could conduct a stock take. He got out of his car, looked curiously at the van and at Mark’s Mercedes and inched warily over to her. A solid man with sandy-coloured hair and on the verge of retiring, he was exactly the fatherly sort she wanted about her today.
‘Looks like you’ve had a wee spot of bother,’ he said, in his soft Edinburgh accent.
‘Hi, Bernie. I’ll explain later. Get yourself in. It’s icy out here. What are the roads like?’
‘Och. Not too bad for the moment.’
‘Thanks for coming.’
‘Not a bother. I told your dad I’d do what I could to help.’
Livvy bit her lip. First Mark, now Bernie. She was calling in so many favours, it was making a mockery of her going it alone.
Bernie bent to pet an ecstatic spaniel. ‘Now, who’s this wee girlie?’
‘This is Angel. Let Bernie in, will you,’ she said to the dog, grabbing her collar. ‘We haven’t all got a fur coat.’ Livvy bustled them all into the kitchen. ‘Bacon sandwich and a mug of tea do you?’ The springer barked in approval.
‘Grand. Then, if you don’t mind, I’ll crack on. Weather forecast’s looking lively and I’ll want to get home.’
