Page 81 of Christmas in Mistletoe
“It might not be so bad.”
Delilah cocked her head. “Stop it with your glass half full, you’re freaking me out.” She kissed Fran’s cheek. “Have a great Christmas.”
* * *
Fran got backto Mistletoe around 7pm, after the Porsche purred its way along the M11 and got her home in record time.
Her parents wouldn’t stop hugging her.
“You don’t need your car back when you’ve got this, do you?” Dad ran his hand along the Porsche 911’s sleek exterior.
“Talking of that, any update from the garage?” Fran asked.
Dad shook his head. “I spoke to the bloke yesterday. The part still hasn’t arrived. It’s looking like January.” He gave her a small pout, then grabbed her bags and they walked inside.
“You look laden with presents this year.” Pop closed the front door with one of his crutches.
“Got to spoil my favourite men,” Fran replied.
“But first, let us spoil you. We haven’t eaten yet, we’ve been waiting for you. Dad made your favourite: salmon en croute!” Pop’s face lit up.
Dad stood next to him, his festive apron covered in flour. Fran hugged them again. Her love life might be up the spout, but she could rely on her parents to put a smile on her face. Also, the dinner smelt incredible. She already knew there was an obscene amount of butter in Dad’s pastry.
“It smells delicious and sounds heavenly. Let me put my stuff upstairs, freshen up and then I’ll come down for a glass of wine and some food.”
Fran hung up her coat, scarf and hat, then followed her dad upstairs, after he insisted on carrying her case. Left alone, she changed, then gave herself a pep talk in the mirror about putting on a brave face and not spoiling her parents’ Christmas Eve. She was ready to do just that when she walked down the stairs, smoothing down her light-grey jumper. Her Christmas face was on, even though being in such close proximity to Ruby made her heart quake. She’d deal with tomorrow when it happened.
Fran reached the bottom stair when there was a knock at the front door.
She opened it with a smile that was soon wiped from her face when she saw who it was.
Ruby.
Fran gulped. She wasn’t prepared to see her yet. She had a speech written in her head for tomorrow, a list of how their relationship could and couldn’t work.
But now Ruby was in front of her, all that was out the window. Looking into Ruby’s green gaze, Fran’s body lit up. She recalled how dark her eyes got when she was aroused. How sparkly they got when she spoke about Christmas. How just being this close to her made Fran’s pulse race. These were the factors she couldn’t account for on paper.
“Hi.” Ruby shivered, then folded her arms across her chest. Her eyes darted to Fran’s face, then pulled away. Ruby’s gaze skittered around until it eventually landed back on its initial target.
“I know you only just got home. I was in the front garden when I saw your Porsche drive by.” She held up a hand. “I’m not stalking you, I promise. I just thought I’d act now, before I lost my nerve. I got the message you didn’t want to talk with me last week when you didn’t answer my texts and calls. I know I was in the wrong. I know I still am. I just wanted to come over and smooth things out before tomorrow. To make sure we can be civil to each other for Christmas, at least.” Behind Ruby, the snow had stopped, but the night was still freezing.
“Who is it, Fran?” Dad called, before appearing in the hallway.
When he saw it was Ruby, he raised both eyebrows. “I’ll leave you to it.” He disappeared at speed.
Fran had given him skeleton details on the phone earlier in the week. She stared at Ruby, battling with herself, then relented. She wanted to talk to her, so she might as well do it now. “Come in.” Fran shut the door when Ruby was inside.
“I’ve never seen a parent disappear so quickly.”
“Sometimes, they’re well trained. Most of the time, they’re not.” Fran stared. “You want to come up?”
Ruby nodded. “Sure.” She took off her boots and coat, then followed Fran upstairs.
This was the second time Fran had invited Ruby to her bedroom, but this time, annoyance pulsed inside her. Fran had no idea how this was going to go. Ruby had broken their relationship, and Fran had no idea if it could be fixed. The doctors had mended her pop’s leg with a cast, and time. Fran was sure if their relationship could heal, it would also take time. The first move would determine their future, and it was Ruby’s to make.
Fran cleared the bags of gifts from the floor by her bed and invited Ruby to sit. Her parents had left her fresh towels, along with a sprig of mistletoe. Fran frowned. She wasn’t sure that was going to be needed. She moved them to the opposite side of the bed.
Ruby smoothed down her jeans as she sat next to her.
