Page 66 of New Beginnings at the Little Christmas Inn
Simona preened. ‘Always wanted to be Marilyn.’ She patted her hair, backcombed sixties style. ‘It looks good, doesn’t it? Might regret these heels come midnight, though.’
‘You and me both.’ Livvy stuck out her stilettoed foot. ‘These bad boys are going to be agony. But, you know what they say, you haven’t had a good night if you can’t wait to get the shoes off.’
Simona suddenly caught Livvy’s hand and clutched it to her chiffon-coated bosom. ‘I’m so glad you’ve come to town, Liv. I feel I’ve made a really good friend and I’ve had such fun working in the pub. It’s made me feel alive again and I haven’t felt that for a long time.’
Livvy hugged her. ‘I can’t tell you how much you mean to me too,’ she said realising it for the first time. ‘I’ve never had manywomen friends. Never kept many friends full stop. My parents were always moving onto somewhere new, then they sent me to boarding school and most of my classmates lived abroad.’ She released her. ‘It’s good to have a mate. My bestie’s moved to the US and, now she’s pregnant with twins, I can feel us drifting apart.’
‘Goodness. Twins. And yes, it happened to me when my girlfriends had their children. We grew apart, had little in common. But they’ve come back.’ Simona giggled impishly. ‘Rounder and with bags under their eyes but looking for a bit of fun again. I’m off to Klosters in the new year skiing with a couple of them, actually. It’ll be good to reconnect.’
‘Just don’t tell them they look bigger and older,’ Livvy said, aghast.
Simona made a face and zipped a finger across her lips. ‘I shall concentrate on having some girly time and stay silent.’
Livvy laughed. Simona was outrageously naughty and quite possibly completely amoral, but she was good fun. She was a good distraction and she needed that tonight. ‘I’m enjoying this girly time.’
‘Oh so am I. So am I.’ Simona enveloped her in another scented embrace. ‘And I have a feeling all your worries will come to nothing, kitten,’ she whispered.
‘I hope so. God, Simona, I need to let rip tonight. I need to party.’
Standing up decisively and straightening her dress, teetering ever so slightly on her heels, Simona added, ‘And now, are you ready, wingman?’
Livvy allowed herself to be pulled up. ‘I most certainly am!’
The party was proving a roaring success. The Christmas spirit was alive and well and being thoroughly celebrated. Even Norman turned up. Ostensibly to see Angel, he stayed on to drink cider. Eli had the soundtrack sorted and played it loud. A succession of Christmas bangers got people on their feet. Someone had spread the rumour that it was fancy dress, and Livvy was astonished at how many people had embraced the concept.
‘This town loves any excuse to dress up, even when they’re not supposed to. Actually,especiallywhen they’re not supposed to!’ Simona trilled, as she began to drag Darrell to the middle of the crowd to dance to ‘Step into Christmas’.
‘Maybe I should have opened up the restaurant and cleared a space,’ Livvy yelled back. ‘It’s awfully crowded in here.’
Simona batted off her concerns. ‘Use it as an excuse to get up close and personal, kitten.’ She blew a kiss at Darrell. ‘I am.’
Despite being desperate to enjoy herself, Livvy felt a wave of despondency overcome her. The one person she craved to get up close and personal with wasn’t here and, despite what Simona had said earlier, she still wasn’t sure how Mark felt about her. He was nice to her but he was nice to everyone and his behaviour had given her nothing but friendship vibes. Finding a space at the bar, which was serving as party snack central, she leaned against it and observed. Popping a crab vol-au-vent into her mouth, she chewed thoughtfully. Despite the return of her low mood, she couldn’t help her lips twitching into a smile at the sight before her.
Jonquil and her husband were bopping away. The chimney sweep was dressed as a fairy complete with wand. ‘Alwayswanted to be Tinkerbell,’ Livvy heard her shout. ‘Ooh, Little Saint Nick,’ she yelled as the Beach Boys replaced Elton John. ‘Got to love the old ones.’
Brittany was doing some too cool for school moves, along with Jen, Karl’s wife. Stewie, having a rare night off from the kitchen was dancing with Candice and even Gerry’s group, dressed up as cowboys, were strutting their stuff and seemed to be behaving themselves. The Happy Christmas banners, balloons and flashing lights all added to the slightly frenetic mood.
Livvy laughed out loud as a crowd of dinosaurs – Barbara and her colleagues from the museum – turned up. If she and the pub got through next year, she vowed to make this an annual event. She took another vol-au-vent, this time turkey in a white sauce.
‘Bit retro but always go down well at parties.’ It was Fabio. Wearing a navy velvet dinner jacket and bow tie he looked devilishly handsome.
‘Hi, Fab. Glad you could make it.’
‘Only popped in to see how it’s going. Have to get back to Mama. You know, babe, you should do this for a New Year’s party. Clear the restaurant for dancing. Get in a proper sound system. Charge for entry. Have fireworks.’
‘Great idea. Too short notice for this New Year’s Eve though.’ She gazed at Fabio. He looked tense, a pucker of worry playing about his beautiful dark eyes. ‘You look very dashing. James Bond?’
He shrugged. ‘Whatevs.’
‘Do you know who spread the rumour it was fancy dress?’
‘No idea. Fun though.’
She plucked at her dress. ‘I didn’t get the memo but Simona says I pass muster as a diva.’
He turned to her, took her hand and lifted it to his mouth. ‘Bella,’ he whispered, staring into her eyes and kissing her fingers.
The compliment silenced her. Livvy snatched her hand away, worried it must smell of crab vol-au-vent.
