Page 77 of Christmas in Mistletoe
Her dad parked his bum on the sofa, letting out an “ooof!” as he did. “No surprise. You were magnificent.” He paused, tilting his head. “Although, the gig made me realise this has to be your last year working at the farm. Your mum and I appreciate everything you’ve done for us over the past few years. Coming home, putting your career on hold year after year. You are a very special daughter.”
Ruby swallowed down emotion, covering it up with a shrug. “It’s what we do, isn’t it? Christmas is not Christmas without selling trees.”
“But it should be for you.” Her dad looked her in the eye. “The farm is finding its feet again. The pumpkin patch, the contest, your gig. You need to put you first. You were incredible. You should be incredible everywhere.”
Ruby glanced back to the monitor. The streaming numbers were still there. Belief surged through her. Could next year really be her year, finally?
“Have you been talking to Fran about this?”
Her dad frowned. “No. Should we have been?”
Ruby shook her head. Everyone in her life agreed. But Ruby still wasn’t sure she was ready to take the next step.
Coming back to Mistletoe year after year, she was able to hide, to pull back. If she put her music first and really committed, what happened when it all went wrong? Or, more to the point, what happened when it all went right? Was Fran right? Was Ruby scared of success?
“What I’m saying is, we’re all paid to be here. This is going to be Scott’s business if he wants it. Your Mum and I, it’s what we do. It’s not what you do. You’re destined for bigger things.”
Ruby stared at him. If she didn’t have to come back to Mistletoe for six weeks and effectively take two months off her year, she could put so many more things into motion. She could make that video she’d been promising. Finally record a few more solo songs and some with Tom. She could open all the emails and messages she’d been avoiding forever. She could really plan ahead.
Was she ready for it? Ruby knew what Fran would say: yes.
“If you give me one thing for Christmas this year, I’d like it to be you putting your whole self into your career. Will you do that for me?”
Ruby was just about to answer when Victoria burst into the office, out of breath. She’d clearly been running. Victoria hated running.
“Great, you’re here. I’ve been trying to call you, but you’re not answering.”
Ruby shook her head. “My phone’s over there charging.” She pointed towards the drinks station where the coffee machine was unplugged to juice Ruby’s phone. “Where’s the fire?”
“On Instagram. On Delilah’s Instagram, to be precise.”
Cold fear slid down Ruby as if someone had just dumped a bucket of ice on her. Had Fran and Delilah been photographed again? She jumped up and grabbed her phone, then called up Instagram. She’d been tagged. By Delilah.
A part of Ruby said this was good news. A chart-topping pop star had tagged her.
But the other half told Ruby this was bad. That Delilah was trying to ingratiate herself with Fran.
Fran was Ruby’s girlfriend. The sooner Ruby got back to London to press that home to Delilah, the better.
Ruby clicked on the tag and blew out a breath.
“What is it? What’s going on? And who’s Delilah?” Dad asked.
Victoria threw her hands in the air. “She’s a major-league pop star, Dad! She’s had a few number ones. She’s a big deal, and she’s posted a video of Ruby singing on Saturday night on her feed!”
“That’s brilliant news!” Dad looked from Ruby to Victoria, taking in their stern faces. “Isn’t it?”
Victoria looked at Ruby. “I’m not sure, ask her.”
Ruby should be thrilled, but her emotions towards Delilah were all mixed up with her emotions towards Fran. Did Fran know about this? Had the two of them discussed Ruby? Why wasn’t Delilah back on tour? Because she still harboured feelings for Fran?
Ruby scrolled down Delilah’s Instagram feed. The next photo was a shot of Delilah, Fran, and Damian. Ruby’s insides churned.
She walked back to the monitor. Her streams were still going up. The comments were rolling in. Her inbox was busy. This explained it all. It wasn’t about Saturday night. It was about Fran posting her video. Then Delilah taking that video and running with it. Ruby could already feel the control of her career slipping through her fingers.
Ruby’s stomach fell. Had Fran planned this with Delilah? Had she been scheming to force Ruby’s hand, then play the hero by signing her? Had it been about business all along? Ruby had told Fran she wanted to take it at her own pace, but Fran had ignored that.
Ruby felt like someone had just put on size ten boots and stamped out her insides, leaving her hollow. Had Fran betrayed her, after everything?
