Page 89 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
Chapter Seventeen
‘Just lunch. Surely you have time for lunch?’ Marco’s charmingly accented voice drifted down the phone and I could almost see the perfect, wide smile he was so well known for.
‘An hour. That’s all.’
‘Hmm, OK. It will be plenty long enough to tell you what I need to, but it’s still not long enough for me personally.’
‘It’s practically Christmas, Marco. One of the busiesttimes for us.’
‘It sounds so strange listening to you talk about this. It’s like a different life.’
‘It is a different life,’ I replied quietly.
‘And do you like it, this new life?’
‘It’s … different.’
‘So you said.’
‘Can we not leave it at that then?’
Marco made the audible equivalent of a Gallic shrug.
I sighed in response. ‘I don’t know, Marco. I guess I do. I mean, yes. I do. But Ialso know it’s not what I’m supposed to be doing.’
‘Supposed to be doing?’ he echoed.
‘Yes. You know. The racing stuff. It’s what I’m trained to do. What I’m good at.’
‘Forgive me if I mention that you sound less than enthusiastic about what you are “supposed to be doing”, then.’
‘Oh. Ignore me. I’m just tired. And I guess it’s a little frustrating that I’m going to this team several stepsbelow where I’d worked myself up to. You must understand that.’
‘I do. Completely. So, you’ll meet me for lunch?’
***
Marco had reserved a table at a ridiculously exclusive restaurant about a half hour drive from the village. As much as I enjoyed spending time with Marco, especially having lost his friendship for a time, the shop was busy and I didn’t want to let my family down either. A lunchhour at the pub would have suited me but that wasn’t exactly Marco’s style and when I explained it to my family, they immediately rallied round and my afternoon shift at the shop was soon covered.
They didn’t ask but I hadn’t missed the hint of concern in a few of their expressions when I’d said I was meeting him. I wasn’t entirely sure what it was they were worried about.
Unlike many peoplethese days, my family – thankfully – weren’t the type to be impressed by either fame or fortune, illustrated by the fact that Joe had given a little raise of his eyebrows and my mum had just said ‘Oh, that’s nice’. Joe had never been able to keep his thoughts from showing on his face and my mum was terrible liar. It’s where I got it from.
‘It’s just meeting up with a friend. Nothing for anyoneto get excited about.’
‘No one’s excited,’ Joe replied, before heading past me on the way to the office above the shop. I stood and blew out a sigh. Dan stood from where he’d been sat warming his feet on the Aga door and emptied the remnants of his mug down the sink before popping it neatly in the top drawer of the dishwasher.
‘Don’t worry about him. Cal’s a good friend and everyone knows howhe feels about you.’
‘And despite appearances, he’s enjoying having you back. He’s under the impression Marco’s got plans to whisk you back out of everyone’s life.’
I threw up my hands. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake! Mum, is that what you think too?’
‘I don’t know, darling. We all know he was broken-hearted when you left.’
‘Which is exactly why we’re now just friends. And I’m lucky he’s even talkingto me these days. I hurt him really badly and I’m not about to do the same thing again – to him or anyone else! Honestly, the last thing Marco is going to want is to start something up again with me. We both know it was a mistake. It’s completely over! I am certainly not about to swan off to Monte Carlo to live with Marco.’
‘Nobody’s saying you are.’ Dan’s tone was even and calm. In completecontrast to mine.
