Page 44 of Christmas in Mistletoe
“You’re the local superstar.”
Ruby ignored her. She was terrible at taking compliments. “Anyway, I will be singing my stuff, but that doesn’t need as much practice. I thought I’d run through the Christmas stuff, and leave my songs until I have some musical back-up. Is Eric going to be around to rehearse soon?”
Victoria nodded. “He is. He said to just let him know when. He’s been practising with what you sent him.”
Ruby put her lyrics folder down on a nearby chair. She shivered, even though the heat was on. She shouldn’t stay out here for too long.
“How are you feeling about the concert? I know there was pressure in the bar, but I’m really excited to see my big-shot sister sing live. I’ve only seen you perform twice before.” Victoria’s smile was genuine, which only made Ruby more nervous. Was she going to cope with the pressure and make her family proud? There was a lot riding on this gig for her.
“I’m hardly a big-shot. I'm someone who gigs, and teaches on the side.”
“Don’t be so ridiculous. I'm a shopkeeper. You're a singer. If anyone ever asks me, that’s what I tell them.” Victoria pointed at her. “You need more belief in your ability. To be less fearful of it all. Maybe then you’d put yourself out there a bit more.” Her sister tilted her head. “And yes, I know you’re going to tell me you’re happy where you are, you get by just fine, but I don’t buy it. Neither does Fran, which I love.” Victoria paused. “She’s working in The Bar again today. Hard worker, that one.” Victoria waved a hand. “Anyway, we both think you should be doing more gigging and recording. You're a born singer. I'm looking forward to seeing you, and so are Mum and Dad. Even Scott.”
Ruby snorted. Her brother was not a music fan. “Now I know you’re lying. Scott would rather stick pins in his eyes than see me sing.”
“He’ll be there. If nothing else to admire the stage he and Eric built.” Victoria paused. “Talking of Fran, anything to tell me about Friday night?”
Ruby perched on the edge of one of the office desks, and shook her head. She could do poker face, no problem. “No, nothing.”
Victoria’s look told Ruby she didn’t buy it. “Nothing at all? I thought I picked up a little frisson between you two in the bar.”
“You’re seeing things that aren’t there. Plus, how could you possibly have picked up anything while we were in the bar? There were people all around us fighting to be heard. Norman banging on about his pint. Audrey being Audrey. It’s hardly the place where romance blooms, is it?”
“You can tell me that all you want, but I know subtle looks and smiles when I see them. Plus, you did lock up together. Nothing happened on the way home? No kissing under the snowy stars?”
A jolt of electricity hit Ruby as she recalled exactly what happened under the snowy stars. A snowy kiss that hadn’t strayed far from her memory ever since it happened.
“No, no kissing at all.” Ruby’s stomach did cartwheels as she lied. “Besides, I can't get involved with a music exec. I wouldn't hear the end of it from everyone I know. It’s like sleeping with the enemy.”
“She's not a music exec when she’s here though, is she? She’s your neighbour. An attractive, funny, available neighbour.”
Ruby checked her watch. “She’s coming over later to talk about the gig. Who knows, we might go for coffee afterwards. So stay by your phone for reports of us tearing each other’s clothes off in the farm cafe.”
Victoria’s face lit up. “Some of us are older and married. We have to get our kicks somehow.”
“I'm sure the other patrons might disagree.”
“I don’t know. Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow now and again, don't they?” Her sister was incorrigible.
“Haven't you got a shop to run, Mrs Shopkeeper?
“You're no fun. You’re also very prickly on the subject of your love life.”
“I don’t have a love life!” Ruby threw up her hands. “Now get lost so I can keep practising in peace.”
Victoria held up her hands, palms facing out. “All right, I'm going. Happy singing and let me know if I can do anything. We've got all the stuff bubbling in the background for the food and drink for Saturday.”
“Good. We put some stuff out on social media. We're already getting positive feedback. It looks like I’m really doing it now. Scott reckons we might pull in a few hundred.” Ruby’s stomach flipped at the thought, as it always did. But nerves were good. Just so long as there weren’t too many of them.
“No backing out. The village is going to love it. Our own homegrown singing superstar for one night only.”
“One night only is right, so tell your friends.”
“I wouldn't miss it for the world.”
When Victoria was gone, Ruby rehearsed a few more Christmas numbers, before she sat on the red sofa, going through her lyrics. She came across her new song, ‘Pieces Of You’. The one she’d sung a few times in London. Every time she did, the crowd went wild. She’d written it about taking a chance on love. The irony wasn’t lost on Ruby, because she hadn’t done that in quite a while. She hadn’t been in a relationship for two years. Hadn’t had sex in 12 months. She also hadn’t kissed anyone in that time, either.
Until she met Fran. Being around Fran was bringing to the fore a swirl of feelings she’d hidden away. Some that she’d wondered if she’d ever feel again.
