Page 64 of Christmas in Mistletoe
Fran stared as she left the office. She turned to Damian. “Did that just happen? My ex, who used to cause me no end of problems, is now the expert problem-solver?” Fran’s mind was still whirling.
“Maybe singers aren’t the tyrants you make them out to be,” Damian replied.
Fran shook her head. “Maybe not.”
“Now you can go back to Mistletoe with no worries. I’ll take care of things this end.”
Emotion rose up through Fran. Damian wasn’t just a work colleague. He was a friend, too. She got up and hugged him.
He hugged her right back. “One condition, though,” Damian said. “I want a present from mystical Mistletoe. Plus, I want to come to the Tree Contest next year. It sounded awesome.”
Fran smiled. “You’re on. My parents can put you and Isla up.” She put a hand to her chin. “A present from Mistletoe.” She twisted her mouth. “How about some shit on a twig?”
Damian let out a howl of laughter. “That would be perfect.”
Chapter 27
Ruby jumpedoff her quad bike and grabbed the chainsaw from the back. The Nolan family — two mums and twin girls around seven — stared at her with wide eyes. That it was a queer family made this extra-special. What did the girls call their parents? Mum and Mummy? Mum and Mamma?
Ruby recalled the chat she’d had with Fran about what she called her two dads. It seemed an awfully long time ago. Especially because she hadn’t heard from her since yesterday morning, and today was Saturday, the day of the concert. Ruby was still forgetting words. Still googling those photos. Still thinking the worst.
“Okay, I need you to stand back behind that tree with the yellow flag on it.” Ruby wasn’t going to focus on Fran. Instead, she was going to chop this tree and start this family’s Christmas.
The family moved, then Ruby grabbed the chainsaw and ripped the cord. Power rippled through her. She pulled her visor over her eyes, then got to work felling the tree. When it collapsed to the ground with a thud, one of the girls grabbed her mum’s leg, the other whooped. Ruby had been a whooper as a child, following her dad around the farm like he was some kind of Christmas magician. Now, she held the magic.
She collected the farm’s walkie-talkie from them, and made sure they knew how to get back to the barn. “See you there in half an hour to collect your tree!”
Ruby had one more tree to cut before she made her way back. That was going to be her final one for the day, before she headed back to the house and started getting ready for tonight. A gig it looked like Fran wouldn’t make it back for. The trains weren’t working, and Fran was clearly too busy. Chopping down trees had helped Ruby to rationalise it a little.
But this was showbiz. The show must go on.
The buzz of another quad bike approaching made Ruby look up. She waved at her dad, but at that distance, she couldn’t make out the person he was giving a lift to. However, she recognised the yellow coat. Her dad cut his engine, and the passenger hopped off.
It was only when the woman removed her helmet that Ruby was sure. Fran. She’d made it back.
Ruby’s skin tingled all over.
“You got any more to do before you go back?” her dad asked.
“One more,” Ruby replied, keeping one eye on Fran.
“Okay. Do that, then give Fran a lift back to the barn. Scott can take over from there. You need to get ready!”
Her dad hauled the Nolan’s tree onto his bike. “See you later.” He put his helmet back on and rode off.
Ruby gazed at her dad’s departing bike, before turning her attention to Fran.
She clutched her helmet in her hand, but looked anything but comfortable.
“Of all the forests in all the world,” Ruby began. She walked nearer to Fran. “Why didn’t you let me know you were coming back? I thought Fast Forward and Delilah had won.”
“It was never a contest. I’m sorry I didn’t let you know.” Fran winced. “Yesterday was manic with the gig, then I was going to tell you on the drive here, but my phone ran out of charge. So I thought I’d make it a surprise.”
“It’s certainly that,” Ruby said.
They stood awkwardly looking at each other. Ruby couldn’t quite work out what the next move was.
Fran took a lungful of air. “Have I mentioned the smell in this forest is still insane?”
