Page 28 of The Christmas Catch
Morgan blinked. She’d been to enough Christmas markets in the UK to know they were usually half-arsed. A dirty Santa’s grotto, lukewarm mulled wine, smashed fairy lights. This was nothing like that. Snowton really cared about Christmas and its festivities. The elves were smiling, the band played at full pelt, and all around her, families clutched hot chocolate and gazed at the festive merriment.
Beside her, Ali’s mouth hung open.
“Do you think somebody spiked our turkey sandwiches and we’re actually tripping?”
Ali shook her head. “I would say yes, but I didn’t actually eat the sandwich.”
“True,” Morgan replied. “This is like a Christmas parade from one of those cheesy Hallmark movies. That I love, by the way.”
“You better be careful. You know what happens in all of them. You might meet the man of your dreams and then you’ll have to move back here and bake cookies all year round.” The smile Ali gave Morgan lit up her face.
It made Morgan melt. Whatever barking madness they’d walked into, at least she could finally relax.
No more broken-down trains.
No more nosy cows.
For now.
“I wouldn’t mind baking cookies all year round. I’m pretty good at it.”
“What about the marrying a man part?”
Morgan raised an eyebrow in her direction. “So long as it was platonic and I could shag his sister on the side, I’d be cool.”
Ali cackled, just as an elf approached and offered them a candy cane.
“Aren’t they for kids?”
The elf shook her head. “For everyone. It’s Christmas!”
Ali took one, as did Morgan, then they looked at each other.
“Shall we find this bed-and-breakfast before this dream ends?”
* * *
The bed-and-breakfast was calledSnow Place Like Home, which Morgan had to give props to for its pun-wizardry. And, despite the odds, it was a decent find. The pillows were plump, the bathroom sparkled and there was a bowl of individually wrapped chocolate Hobnobs next to the kettle. From what she’d been expecting, it was a win. The only slightly awkward glitch in the plan—could she call any of what had happened today a plan?—was that they only had one bed. A king-sized bed, but still only one.
However, it was only for one night. They could muddle through.
Morgan didn’t enjoy sharing a bed with a stranger, but Ali wasn’t that. What was she to Morgan, exactly? Before this morning, a vague memory. But today, Ali had made sure she was very much at the forefront of Morgan’s mind. An attractive, funny part of her day. The woman who’d sorted more problems than Morgan of late, and when did that ever happen? She’d got them past the cow and got them this place to stay.
When they arrived, Ali jumped straight into the shower, ignoring the one-bed issue.
Morgan sat on the bed and emptied her bag onto it. She’d been putting this off until she was on her own, but now she really hoped her phone was here. She scanned through her life on top of the duvet. Notepad, pens, tampons (small, medium, extra-large), wallet, tissues, shopping bag.
No fucking phone.
Her stomach churned. She’d been half-expecting it, but it was still a kick in the teeth.
Morgan moved the tissues to reveal her phone charger (the irony). She blew out. There were cards from three companies she’d worked with in the past month, a little dog-eared. But no phone. She must have left it in Dave’s truck. A killer blow. She’d have to call him to ask. If it wasn’t there, it was lost to the phone gods. Again. She could beat herself up, but it wouldn’t change anything.
She got off the bed and walked over to the window. The main street was lit up with festive lights as the parade came to a close. At the far end, a gigantic fairy-topped Christmas tree stood tall. At least they’d landed in Christmas Central, where it was almost illegal to be glum. Despite losing her phone, she was going to put on a brave face. There was nothing she could do about it now.
The door opening made Morgan turn her head.
Ali walked out of the bathroom wrapped in only a white towel that she held in place at her side with her elbow. She glanced up at Morgan, then quickly looked away.
