Page 15 of Christmas in Mistletoe
When they were safely onto the layby, Fran let out a relieved sigh. She flicked on her hazard lights. “Luckily, my parents buy me an AA membership for Christmas every year.” Fran cut the engine and picked up her phone. “Let me see what the issue is, and then call them.” She grabbed her coat and got out of the car, slamming the door. Then she disappeared out of sight.
Ruby twisted around, then back. She bit her lip. There wasn’t much she could do. It began to snow more steadily, and the traffic started to inch forward again. She was glad they were tucked into an emergency layby and not just on the hard shoulder. She didn’t fancy being there with cars whizzing by. They could be stuck for a while.
Ruby closed her eyes. She should have got the train. She’d bargained on two to three hours for this trip. However, now it could be double that. Ruby grabbed her phone and texted her mum to let her know what was happening. She got a sad-face emoji back, and a message that Mum would keep dinner for her.
The driver-side door opened and Fran sat back in her seat, rubbing her hands.
“It’s bloody Baltic out there. I swear, it’s not normally this cold at the start of December.” She put her key in the ignition and jabbed the heater on, then breathed into her hands in a bid to warm up.
“What happened? Could you see?”
Fran nodded, still shivering. Her dirty-blond hair glistened with snow, as did her dark grey coat. “It was the exhaust. It’s hanging off the car. I called the AA, and the bloke reckoned a bracket’s come loose. He might be able to fix it roadside or he might have to tow us, but it’s likely to be at least an hour until they can send someone, so get comfortable.” Fran lifted up a bottle of water. “We have fluid. I also have wine in the boot if things get desperate.”
“And I have Christmas biscuits. That’s almost a party.” Ruby gave her a grin. “If we have to eat my sister’s present, so be it.”
“Not Audrey’s?”
“Are you mad? I value my life.” Ruby tapped her fingers on her knees. Another hour in the car with Fran, maybe longer. This was going to be a challenge.
“How about we play a game. You ask me a question, then I’ll ask you. It’s how we used to pass the time on long car journeys when I was little.”
Fran didn’t look convinced. “So long as they’re not too personal.”
Ruby shook her head. “Not at all.” She tapped her foot. “Let’s see. What’s your favourite colour?”
Fran threw her a withering look.
“Would you prefer to sit in silence?” Ruby was trying her best. “Work with me.”
“Okay.” Fran paused. “Yellow.”
“Really? But you’re always dressed in dark colours when I see you.” She wiggled her fingers in front of Fran. “Grey shirt, blue jeans today. You were all in black when I saw you at the pub the other day.”
“You’ve got a good memory.”
Ruby blinked. She did. “I look at people’s clothes.”
Fran shrugged. “Yellow is still my favourite colour, even if I don’t wear it all the time.”
“Do you haveanyclothes that are yellow?”
Fran turned to Ruby. “I had some yellow socks once.”
Ruby laughed. “Daring. You need to get some colour into your wardrobe. It might cheer you up. Colour has an effect on mood.”
“Is that right?” Fran tilted her head.
“Yep. I wrote a song about it. Called ‘Multi-coloured Dreams’.” Ruby paused. “Have you ever written a song, or do you just sell the music?”
“Isn’t it my turn for a question?”
Ruby held up her palms. “My mistake. It is.” Fran had flipped from being friendly Fran to spiky Fran. She clearly didn’t deal well with motoring hiccups. Perhaps that’s why her dads looked after her car for her.
“I got it.” Fran pointed a finger in Ruby’s direction. “Favourite band and album.”
Ruby blew out a breath. “Impossible to narrow it down to one.”
“Try.”
