Read Online It Started With a Kiss by Miranda Dickinson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Miranda Dickinson
Ads: Link
‘Enlighten us, darling niece.’
I feigned a protest, but inside I was delighted she had asked. The fact was, I needed their advice – and my aunt and uncle were quite possibly the only people I knew who had the ability (and inclination) to fully understand.
They listened intently as I relayed the events of the fateful day, stopping me every now and again to ask questions.
‘Why were you running through the Christmas Market?’
‘Because I’d just told Charlie I loved him.’
They exchanged raised-eyebrowed glances. ‘Oh.’
‘But that doesn’t matter because it was a mistake. The point is , the guy who kissed me changed everything.’
‘He kissed you?’
‘Yes. It was only for a moment, but …’ I stopped, suddenly unsure whether this was appropriate territory for a niece to approach with her aunt and uncle. But their mirrored expectant expressions – instantly reminding me of the two china Staffordshire dogs that guard each end of Mum’s mock-alabaster mantelpiece – urged me to continue. ‘It took my breath away.’
Uncle Dudley patted his wife’s hand excitedly. ‘Magic! It’s just like me and you, love!’
Rolling her eyes, Auntie Mags gave a loud tut. ‘Ignore him, Romily, he’s deluded. Carry on.’
‘That’s all, really. I know I should just chalk it up to experience – one of those heart-stopping, fleeting moments that will always give you a thrill. But I keep thinking …’
‘The attraction of possibility ,’ Uncle Dudley chipped in. ‘No matter how unlikely, you can’t shake the feeling it might happen.’
My heart skipped a beat. ‘That’s it exactly!’
‘And you want to find him again,’ Auntie Mags nodded. ‘But you don’t know where to start.’
‘I love you guys. So what do I do?’
Uncle Dudley rose to refill the kettle. ‘I reckon you should go for it. What’s the worst that could happen, eh?’
‘Humiliation, disappointment and an unwanted reputation as a desperate woman?’ I ate a forkful of cake and stared at my aunt, who was deep in thought.
‘Pah, that’s nothing ,’ Uncle Dudley said. ‘I’ve had worse than that in my life and I’m still smiling, aren’t I?’
‘You were called a desperate woman?’
‘Eh? Oh, good one. Our Romily’s sharp as a needle, eh, Magsie?’
‘Quiet, Dudley, I’m thinking.’ She placed her elbows on the table, folded her hands and rested her chin on them.
My uncle clapped his hands in delight. ‘Ooh, I know that look, Romily. You’re in for a proper treat now if your auntie’s got that face on her.’
We waited in silence, the only sounds the lapping of the canal waters against the side of the boat and the distant chug of a slowly approaching narrowboat, until the shrill ascending whistle of the kettle broke through.
‘If you’re going to do this, you need to think about how best to let people know you’re looking,’ Auntie Mags said, finally. ‘The more people you can involve in your search, the greater your chances of finding him.’
Uncle Dudley clapped his hands. ‘Brilliant, our Mags!’
‘That’s what I’ll do then. But how do I begin?’
Uncle Dudley tapped the side of his nose. ‘Now don’t you fret about that, bab. You just leave it to your Uncle Dudley.’
Just as I was about to leave home for the band’s annual Christmas party, Mum rang.
‘I just wanted to check you’re still coming for Christmas Day,’ she said. I could hear the theme music of The Great Escape drifting into the background where Dad was no doubt glued to the television for its umpteenth showing. Rather apt, I thought, given the topic of conversation.
‘Yes, I’m looking forward to it,’ I lied, putting on my heels as I held the phone against my ear with my shoulder.
‘Good. I thought you were going out with your musician friends this evening?’
‘I am,’ I replied, checking my reflection in the bathroom mirror.
‘You’re leaving it awfully late, aren’t you? It’s seven fifteen
I feigned a protest, but inside I was delighted she had asked. The fact was, I needed their advice – and my aunt and uncle were quite possibly the only people I knew who had the ability (and inclination) to fully understand.
They listened intently as I relayed the events of the fateful day, stopping me every now and again to ask questions.
‘Why were you running through the Christmas Market?’
‘Because I’d just told Charlie I loved him.’
They exchanged raised-eyebrowed glances. ‘Oh.’
‘But that doesn’t matter because it was a mistake. The point is , the guy who kissed me changed everything.’
‘He kissed you?’
‘Yes. It was only for a moment, but …’ I stopped, suddenly unsure whether this was appropriate territory for a niece to approach with her aunt and uncle. But their mirrored expectant expressions – instantly reminding me of the two china Staffordshire dogs that guard each end of Mum’s mock-alabaster mantelpiece – urged me to continue. ‘It took my breath away.’
Uncle Dudley patted his wife’s hand excitedly. ‘Magic! It’s just like me and you, love!’
Rolling her eyes, Auntie Mags gave a loud tut. ‘Ignore him, Romily, he’s deluded. Carry on.’
‘That’s all, really. I know I should just chalk it up to experience – one of those heart-stopping, fleeting moments that will always give you a thrill. But I keep thinking …’
‘The attraction of possibility ,’ Uncle Dudley chipped in. ‘No matter how unlikely, you can’t shake the feeling it might happen.’
My heart skipped a beat. ‘That’s it exactly!’
‘And you want to find him again,’ Auntie Mags nodded. ‘But you don’t know where to start.’
‘I love you guys. So what do I do?’
Uncle Dudley rose to refill the kettle. ‘I reckon you should go for it. What’s the worst that could happen, eh?’
‘Humiliation, disappointment and an unwanted reputation as a desperate woman?’ I ate a forkful of cake and stared at my aunt, who was deep in thought.
‘Pah, that’s nothing ,’ Uncle Dudley said. ‘I’ve had worse than that in my life and I’m still smiling, aren’t I?’
‘You were called a desperate woman?’
‘Eh? Oh, good one. Our Romily’s sharp as a needle, eh, Magsie?’
‘Quiet, Dudley, I’m thinking.’ She placed her elbows on the table, folded her hands and rested her chin on them.
My uncle clapped his hands in delight. ‘Ooh, I know that look, Romily. You’re in for a proper treat now if your auntie’s got that face on her.’
We waited in silence, the only sounds the lapping of the canal waters against the side of the boat and the distant chug of a slowly approaching narrowboat, until the shrill ascending whistle of the kettle broke through.
‘If you’re going to do this, you need to think about how best to let people know you’re looking,’ Auntie Mags said, finally. ‘The more people you can involve in your search, the greater your chances of finding him.’
Uncle Dudley clapped his hands. ‘Brilliant, our Mags!’
‘That’s what I’ll do then. But how do I begin?’
Uncle Dudley tapped the side of his nose. ‘Now don’t you fret about that, bab. You just leave it to your Uncle Dudley.’
Just as I was about to leave home for the band’s annual Christmas party, Mum rang.
‘I just wanted to check you’re still coming for Christmas Day,’ she said. I could hear the theme music of The Great Escape drifting into the background where Dad was no doubt glued to the television for its umpteenth showing. Rather apt, I thought, given the topic of conversation.
‘Yes, I’m looking forward to it,’ I lied, putting on my heels as I held the phone against my ear with my shoulder.
‘Good. I thought you were going out with your musician friends this evening?’
‘I am,’ I replied, checking my reflection in the bathroom mirror.
‘You’re leaving it awfully late, aren’t you? It’s seven fifteen
Similar Books
