Page 38 of Christmas in Mistletoe
“I love the plain one, where you shake the icing sugar over it. It’s delicious. Not so keen on the one with the candied fruit in it. A little like Christmas pudding and Christmas cake, I give that a swerve.”
Ruby pulled the door of The Bar shut, turned the key and gave it to Fran. “You don’t like Christmas pudding? Perhaps we can’t be friends anymore.”
“More for you to have, look at it that way.”
Ruby smiled. “Good point.”
Fran put the key in her bag, and they fell into step, walking away from the shop.
“How’s your dad doing?” Ruby asked.
“My Pop,” Fran replied. “Sorry, I don’t expect you to know that, but I call them Dad and Pop. It’s been that way forever.”
Ruby shook her head to tell Fran it was no problem. “How’s your Pop doing?”
“He’s okay, being brave, but I can tell being in plaster is messing with his village dreams. I’m spending the day with them tomorrow as I’ve been busy working. It’s Saturday, so I promised. I’m going to cook them dinner, too.”
“Daring after what you told me.”
“It’s my Malaysian curry. Nothing too fancy. I’m thinking a bottle of wine, some hopefully edible food, and then maybe watchingElfto get us in the festive mood.”
“Sounds great, what time do you want me over?” Ruby gave her a wink.
“Can I take a rain check?”
Ruby nodded. “A Malaysian curry rain check is my very favourite kind.” She paused. “But that’s good you’ve come around to the dark side and are taking some time to be with your family. You came back, too, after saying you couldn’t. I’m impressed. You dropped everything when they needed you. You didn’t put your job first. You’re fooling me into thinking you have a heart.” Ruby bumped Fran’s hip as she spoke.
Warmth thundered through Fran, which was bonkers as it was hovering around zero. Being around Ruby did something to her. “I do have a heart, it turns out. It was buried, but I found it.” Fran gave Ruby a grin. “But you’re right. It’s good I came home, especially as I have The Bar to work from. Thanks again for coming to my rescue with that.” Fran shook her head. “Can you imagine that ever happening in London? You just gave me the keys to a bar. I might go in there tomorrow and drink the place dry. But you trust me.”
“We know where you live, so if you do go mad on the Aperol, we can hunt you down and force-feed you Christmas pudding.”
Fran’s laughter shook the air. “The very worst kind of punishment.” She took a deep breath before she continued. The night was cold, and the air was sharp as it made it to her lungs. “I don’t know what it is about this place, but it’s giving me something I never even knew I needed. Community. Laughter. Relaxation. Who would have thought I would do such great work in a bar in Suffolk? But today I was focused, and I got loads done. And then the village arrived and we had a drink and sing-song. It was weird, but kinda lovely.”
Ruby reached out a hand and put it on Fran’s arm.
Fran’s whole body tingled at the connection. She knew why, too. It was to do with Ruby’s intense stare, the way her lips had parted slightly, the way her gaze now caressed Fran’s face, all the way down to Fran’s mouth.
When she got there, Ruby froze, took back her arm and looked away.
Fran bit her lip, then cleared her throat. That hot feeling inside her was still there. Ruby had been checking her out.
The weird thing was, Fran had no qualms with it happening. She began walking again, clearing her throat, her brain stuck on repeat.
I like her. Even though she’s a singer.
That was the thought that was flashing on and off in her brain, like a faulty neon sign.
She couldn’tlikeRuby. She didn’t need another singer in her life. She had enough of them at work.
Ruby wasn’t like the others though, was she? She wasn’t chasing fame. She wasn’t trying to make up for all the attention she never got in her childhood. Ruby came from a loving family. She could sing. She wanted to do it for the art itself.
“You’re not the first person to ask what it is about this place. Mistletoe holds magical qualities. But it’s not the place that makes it. It’s the people. Even Audrey.” Ruby’s tone held a smile.
“Especially Audrey,” Fran laughed. “Also, I wanted to ask: are you okay with the gig idea? I really do think your home town would love it.” She stopped walking. “But I also know I was probably over-stepping the mark when I mentioned it. It’s a speciality of mine.” She waited for the answer.
Even though, now she thought about it, she was pretty sure Fast Forward had something next weekend. An appearance or an interview, perhaps both. Shit, how could she have forgotten that? She gulped. But this gig was important for Ruby and the village. She’d have to check her calendar and speak to Damian. Maybe she could do both? But she wasn’t going to worry about that right now.
Ruby studied her, blew out a deep breath and shook her head. “Strangely, I am okay with it. Mistletoe hasn’t seen me perform, and this is the perfect way to do it. I won’t lie, you are tipping me out of my comfort zone. But if it helps the farm, that’s a good thing. Plus, I didn’t come up with it. You did. It makes me look like less of a diva that way.”
