Page 46 of Christmas in Mistletoe
“And did you get a lot of work done today?”
“Loads. Also, sorted some stuff out with my colleague, so now I don’t have to rush back tomorrow, fingers crossed. It’s been a good day.” Fran reached over and flicked some snow off a branch of the Christmas tree. It was force of habit now. “It’s just a shame I didn’t get to play in the snow today. Too much work. I need to make more time for play. I haven’t built a snowman since I was 11.”
Ruby tilted her head. “Not since you were 11? That’s scandalous.”
“I know.”
“I would say we could play in the snow tomorrow, but we’re both working.” Ruby paused. “But there’s nothing to stop us now.”
“Now?” Fran flicked her head skywards. “But it’s dark.”
Ruby shrugged. “You can still build a snowman in the dark. We did it plenty of times when I was little. Scott and I used to sneak out of the house early and build them in the field around the back of the barn. If you turn the outside lights of the back barn on, it gives you just enough glow. How about you show me your designs, I’ll agree with them, and then we can play?”
Fran knew Ruby was talking about building a snowman, but it didn’t stop heat flooding her body. Playing with Ruby had just shot to the top of her to-do list. “Can we do the design part at mine so I can drop my laptop off?”
Ruby nodded. “Let me grab my snowman backpack and we’ll go.”
* * *
Fran letherself into Hollybush Cottage, wiping her feet on the doormat as she did. She pulled off her orange bobble hat, conscious of her hat hair. Was it doing that thing where it stuck up at the back? Probably. She finger-combed it in an attempt to repair the damage. In her heart, she knew it was futile. Fran put her hat and scarf on the coat rack, followed by her jacket. Then she hung Ruby’s coat up, too.
Ruby eyed her approvingly. “Nice bright green top.” A smile creased her face.
Fran wriggled under the spotlight. “Thank you.” She pointed down the hall. “Better go and say hi to my dads.” Self-consciousness dug its heels into her skin. She felt like she was 14 again, bringing home her first girlfriend. Not that she’d had a girlfriend at 14. Or been out. She wasn’t that cool.
However, Fran’s toes were curling at the thought of what her dads might say when they saw Ruby was here. They weren’t embarrassing parents — far from it — but sometimes when she brought a woman home, they could be just a little too over the top.Toowelcoming.
Which was why she hadn’t brought a woman home very often. When had the last time been? Probably over ten years ago. Having gay parents was great, but they were still her parents. Even though she was 36 years old. Did Ruby even count as someone she was bringing home when she was their neighbour? Having told her dads there was nothing going on, this would send their imagination into overdrive.
When they entered the kitchen, Dad sprang up.
Pop reached for his crutches, too.
Fran shook her head, waving a hand at them. “Don’t get up. Ruby’s just come back so I can show her the designs I got today.” That sounded like a line, didn’t it?
Ruby gave them a smile. “Then we’re going to make a snowman.”
Fran shot her a panicked look.
Ruby looked like she wanted to curl up and die. Too late. It was out there now. Two grown women were going out into the twilight to build a snowman.
To their credit, her parents didn’t laugh. Rather, they gave each other that look that parents did. The one that told Fran she was fooling nobody.
No matter. Fran was going to act as if she was a stealth agent. Cool, calm, collected.
“You wanna come upstairs?” The blood rushed to Fran’s cheeks as soon as she uttered those words. She wasn’t going to even look at Ruby, let alone her parents.
“Sure,” Ruby replied.
Fran put her head down and walked out of the kitchen. Did Dad just let out a small guffaw?
She wasn’t going to focus on that. She grabbed her bag and headed up the carpeted staircase, Ruby’s footsteps providing a reassuring beat behind her. Fran shut her bedroom door and let out a breath she’d been holding ever since she left the kitchen. Then she took another deep one as the enormity of the situation crept up on her.
Ruby was in her bedroom. She picked up a trophy Fran won playing pool when she was 15.
“A pool shark. I would never have guessed.”
“We had a table at the youth club. I spent a lot of time there.”
