Page 22 of A Merry Little Christmas
Who had phoned him so late last night? And why hadn’t he spoken to whoever it was?
Whatever was going on for him, he’d not only forgotten my birthday, but it had also clearly slipped his mind that we were supposed to be having dinner together the following night, and that was worrying.
I’d been the one asking to slow things down.
My stomach shifted uneasily. Maybe it was now Caleb who wanted to cool things a little? Yet he’d kissed me so passionately the night before. I felt so confused...
The bracelet was lying on my bedside table. I picked it up, smiling wistfully at how perfect it was. He couldn’t have chosen a lovelier gift for me, and that showed how much he cared. He could have just gone out and bought chocolates and flowers, which would have been nice, of course. But he had clearly spent time choosing something he thought I’d really like.
Was that really the action of a man who wanted to cool things between us?
*****
By the time the evening rolled around and I was getting ready to meet Caleb at a romantic little Italian restaurant in Guildford, I’d convinced myself that there was absolutely nothing to worry about.
All relationships went through peaks and troughs, but Caleb and I were rock solid. There had been no pretence in that passionate kiss. And why would he have given me such a beautiful birthday gift if his interest in me was waning?
I’d phoned him that morning but I’d been unable to reach him, so I’d sent a text, asking him if he was still okay to have dinner with me later. He’d texted straight back to say yes, of course, and what were the arrangements?
I had the feeling it had slipped his mind. But I pushed away my doubts and made up my mind that tonight was the night when we’d get back on track. We’d have lots of time to talk over dinner and I’d be able to find out then if it was just work that was making him seem distracted these days.
I did a happy twirl in front of the full-length mirror.
It was going to be the perfect evening.
I couldn’t stop admiring the gorgeous enamelled bracelet on my wrist. It looked lovely with my midnight blue dress. Silky, knee-length, the dress skimmed in all the right places and the navy diamante low-heeled sling-backs I’d bought specially for that night made me feel pretty and ultra-feminine.
My taxi to take me to the railway station would be arriving in five minutes. I would normally walk – the station was about half a mile out of Sunnybrook – but definitely not tonight in my new shoes!
Caleb had arranged to see Penny and Will in Guildford that afternoon, so we’d arranged that I would get the train in and he’d meet me at the station.
I checked my lippy one last time, grabbed my sparkly evening bag and went to fetch my winter coat, treading carefully in the gorgeous shoes. (I was so used to wearing flats and the last thing I wanted was to come a cropper just before my romantic dinner date.)
My phone buzzed with a text as I was standing in the living room window, watching out for the taxi.
It was Caleb.
So sorry. Held up at work. Should just be another twenty minutes and have phoned the restaurant to put the booking back. Will pick you up and we can leave the car at Sunnybrook station and travel in on the train together
Puzzled, I texted back:
You’re at the site office? Thought you were seeing your sister and Will this afternoon?
Something came up so I couldn’t make it. Are you still okay for dinner if we’re a little late?
Yes. Looking forward to it. Might splash out on a bottle of champagne to celebrate ‘us’!
There was a bit of a delay before he texted back. And then it was straight to the point:
See you in about forty minutes.
I stared at the message, feeling the tiniest prick of dread. He hadn’t even responded to the mention of champagne. Our text banter was usually brilliant. He must be rushing to finish whatever it was he was busy with.
I was slightly at a loose end after that, drifting around the flat in all my finery. I figured it was too late to cancel the taxi, so – eager to see Caleb again – I decided to go over to Lockley Meadow and wait for him to finish what he was doing. It was cosy in that site office, even on a chilly November night, with the heater pumping out warmth.
Caleb would have to collect his car from the station later or in the morning, which of course meant it would be best if he stayed at my flat overnight instead of travelling back to his house in Lockley Meadow.
I smiled to myself, feeling a delicious little leap of excitement. I doubted that Caleb would have any objections to spending the night at mine.
