Page 67 of New Beginnings at the Little Christmas Inn
They watched as Austin and Aggie, dressed as Fred and Wilma Flintstone, berate Eli for not having the music up loud enough.
‘That outfit is going to do nothing for Austin’s arthritis in this weather.’ Livvy giggled trying to take the heat out of Fabio’s gesture.
Fabio didn’t join in with the laughter. He caught her hand again. ‘Livvy, it’s probably not the time or place but I need to talk to you about something–’
‘Livvy! Stop standing there like a melon. Come and dance.’ Daisy dragged her away.
As Livvy looked back, she could see Fabio staring down, unseeing, at a tray of pigs in blankets and her heart went cold. Surely he wasn’t leaving?
She’d been dancing with Daisy and Lucie for about twenty minutes when a pair of hands encircled her waist, long narrow fingers digging in.
‘Olivia, may I say how delicious you look?’ It was Jason, his breath hot on her neck. Twisting her round, he pulled her into him. He was dressed in a Father Christmas outfit. With his thin-rimmed black specs jutting out beneath a frizzy white wig, he looked the antithesis of a man bringing good cheer. He was too lean and predatory. It was disconcerting.
‘Oh hello.’ Taken aback, she resented how he always managed to unnerve her. ‘Have you got yourself a drink?’
‘Had one earlier.’ He nodded. ‘Dance with me.’ He slid an arm around her back, his hand cold on the exposed bare skin where her dress dipped down low. He pulled her close. It allfelt very sixth form disco dancing like this to Bob Dylan’s ‘Here Comes Santa’.
She moved away from him a little. ‘Are you having a good time?’
‘I am now.’ His smile glittered down at her.
He reminded her of a black cat, all pale-eyed and watchful. A shiver of revulsion ran through her. ‘Are you staying long?’
‘That rather depends.’
The music changed. David Essex’s mournful ‘A Winter’s Tale’ came on. Some guests moaned but others took the opportunity for a slow dance. Jason put a hand on her bottom and pressed her into his groin.
‘If you’ll excuse me, I rather think it’s time to go and check on how the bar is doing.’ Removing his hand in a deliberate gesture she stepped away from him.
As she went to go Jason gripped her upper arm. His fingers dug in. It was painful. ‘Always working,’ he sneered. ‘Makes Livvy a very dull girl.’
‘But Iamworking, Jason. This is my pub.’ She gave him a tight smile, wondering how drunk he was. ‘I need to go and check on Angel too.’
‘Angel?’
‘My dog. She might not like all this noise.’
He made a moue of disgust. It told her all she needed to know of his opinion on dogs.
The pale eyes were almost hypnotising. And filled with a strange mixture of lust and, could it be hate? But why would he hate her? She walked away, checked that Karl and Eli were okay at the bar and fled into the kitchen. Angel was fast asleep in her bed, unbothered by the music, but she’d been the ideal excuse to get away. Pouring a long cold glass of water, Livvy was annoyed to find her hands shaking.Bastard.She should tell the manwhere to go. It was difficult though; he was a customer.Tact needed, Livvy old girl. Tact.
The springer stirred in her bed, rolling over for a tummy rub. As Livvy bent down to the dog, she forced a laugh. ‘Wonder if Dad has ever been hit on, Angel, girl? Bet he has. What did he do about it, eh?’ She promised to message him to ask. Maybe it was finally time to admit there were some things she needed help with. In the meantime, she’d do all she could to keep away from Jason Lemmon.
CHAPTER 36
Mineral water – a refreshing, natural water filtered through rock and containing beneficial minerals. An excellent choice to maintain
a clear head.
It was getting late but the party showed no signs of flagging. Most of the food had gone, the mulled wine had finished an hour ago and people were still dancing. Livvy had to admit the good folk of Lullbury Bay had stamina.
Going behind the bar she poured herself some mineral water and added a chunky slice of lemon. Dougie and Duncan were dancing with their wives and mum but there was no sign of Number One D. Norman, wearing pair of reindeer antlers, chased a shrieking Aggie around with a bunch of mistletoe. Livvy looked for Simona as it was just the sort of thing that would make her squeal with laughter but realised she hadn’t seen her for the last thirty minutes or so. A lump of disappointmentfell into her gut. Simona and Darrell had been slow dancing earlier, but it had all looked jokey. Surely they hadn’t gone off somewhere together? She hadn’t thought Simona’s immorality would stretch as far as messing about with a married man. And she’d thought more of Darrell too.
Fabio was at the bar talking to Eli and Stewie. Karl was twirling Jen around with abandon and Jason sat in Old Pete’s seat, glaring. He’d removed his Father Christmas wig and beard and was nursing a whisky. His face looked curiously flushed and his hair was awry. Too much booze, or possibly too much cheap red and white polyester dressing-up outfit. Pete had been collected to spend Christmas with his niece and Livvy was glad. The old man didn’t have much time for Jason – she couldn’t say she blamed him – and Skip definitely wouldn’t have tolerated the man sitting in their spot.
As Norman emerged from the crowd of dancers again, this time with Aggie chasing him, a wave of familiar loneliness sweep over her. It would have been so good to have Mark here. He would have found it funny too.
Suddenly she’d had enough. Desperately seeking fresh air, she tiptoed through the kitchen so as not to wake Angel and opened the door. The freezing air hit her like a sledgehammer, but she was glad of it. Mark’s Mercedes sat where it had been parked the night before, its tyres still ruined. Her van, tucked away in its corner, was the same. She doubted anything much could be done for either until after Boxing Day. Wistfully, she wondered why Mark hadn’t come to the party. Maybe he’d hired a car to drive to York.
