Read Online Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Abby Clements - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Abby Clements
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ventured.
‘Oh, me and Alfie,’ Diana said, reaching over to stroke the dog’s tummy and switching to a baby voice. ‘We’re getting along just fine, aren’t we, darling?’
‘Good. Well, I’m glad to hear that. You know that if there’s ever—’
‘I’m fine, Rachel,’ Diana said, her mouth tight. ‘I’m really enjoying being on my own, as it happens. But thanks for asking.’
‘OK,’ Rachel said, wishing she’d kept quiet.
‘Actually I’m still hoping you might reconsider my offer,’ Diana said, her tone softening, ‘to help me out with some interior design for the company.’
‘Oh, I don’t know, Diana. I loved doing up the kids’ rooms, but I’m not sure I’ve got what it takes to be a professional.’
‘I disagree. And you know I could train you. While you’re in London, think about it, at least.’
‘OK then, I will,’ Rachel said.
In bed that night, Rachel rested her head on Aiden’s chest. ‘I’m going to miss you, you know,’ she said, thinking of the days they’d have apart before he could get down to London.
‘Me too,’ Aiden said, tipping her chin upwards and giving her a kiss.
‘And if you can get down any sooner …’ she said, looking up at him.
‘I don’t know,’ he said, ‘I thought we agreed that it was OK—’
‘Of course it is,’ Rachel said, pulling away. ‘I didn’t mean it like that. I understand about your work. I’m just going to miss you, that’s all.’ They hadn’t spent a night apart for years. ‘Once you’re down, if you do have time maybe we could do some things together, as a family.’
‘I don’t know, Rach,’ Aiden said, his voice a little strained. ‘I’ve started the handover, but I’ll be managing the Westley barn remotely while I’m down in London. I can’t say how much free time I’ll have.’
‘OK,’ Rachel said, a truer picture of the coming fortnight taking shape in her mind.
‘Right now I just need some sleep,’ Aiden said, turning away from her on to his side.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Hi Milly,
Ah – I’m gutted to hear you’re going away. As soon as you appear, with your red hair and smiles and lovely eyes – you’re vanishing. Damn.
But, YES. Let’s stay in touch. It’s only a couple of weeks. And in the meantime – London. That’s exciting. I went there last year to visit my cousin – he took me up in the London Eye and it was incredible – you can see for miles. Maybe you can take your little brother up on that?
So, for starters – tell me more about you … I mean I know you live close to the pub, and you drink Southern Comfort and lemonade … and you mentioned you like Adele and The White Stripes. But what else? The good, the bad, the ugly?
Cx
CHAPTER 7
Tuesday 28th November
Laurie knew what she had to do. She was going up to Skipley tomorrow, Wednesday, and she’d already packed, so all she needed to do was leave the keys with someone for Rachel to pick up.
But with Siobhan and Lily both busy, she was going to have to ask Jay. It should have been easy, it was a normal favour to ask of a neighbour. But the idea of going down there, talking to him … they had barely spoken in over two months. Laurie had been standing in her hallway with her hand on the front-door handle for a full five minutes.
Taking a deep breath, she opened her door and walked down the stairs to Jay’s flat. As she buzzed on Jay’s doorbell, butterfly wings beat against the walls of her stomach. Maybe he won’t be in, she thought, half-willing it to be true.
Jay answered a moment later. His dark hair was a little mussed, and he was wearing indigo jeans, brogues and a dark-red sweater. Not just any sweater, one that fitted him perfectly and set off his light-brown skin. One that Laurie had seen in a shop in Soho at the start of the year, and encouraged him to buy, because it suited him. Back when they were friends and she still did that kind of thing. The sound of
‘Oh, me and Alfie,’ Diana said, reaching over to stroke the dog’s tummy and switching to a baby voice. ‘We’re getting along just fine, aren’t we, darling?’
‘Good. Well, I’m glad to hear that. You know that if there’s ever—’
‘I’m fine, Rachel,’ Diana said, her mouth tight. ‘I’m really enjoying being on my own, as it happens. But thanks for asking.’
‘OK,’ Rachel said, wishing she’d kept quiet.
‘Actually I’m still hoping you might reconsider my offer,’ Diana said, her tone softening, ‘to help me out with some interior design for the company.’
‘Oh, I don’t know, Diana. I loved doing up the kids’ rooms, but I’m not sure I’ve got what it takes to be a professional.’
‘I disagree. And you know I could train you. While you’re in London, think about it, at least.’
‘OK then, I will,’ Rachel said.
In bed that night, Rachel rested her head on Aiden’s chest. ‘I’m going to miss you, you know,’ she said, thinking of the days they’d have apart before he could get down to London.
‘Me too,’ Aiden said, tipping her chin upwards and giving her a kiss.
‘And if you can get down any sooner …’ she said, looking up at him.
‘I don’t know,’ he said, ‘I thought we agreed that it was OK—’
‘Of course it is,’ Rachel said, pulling away. ‘I didn’t mean it like that. I understand about your work. I’m just going to miss you, that’s all.’ They hadn’t spent a night apart for years. ‘Once you’re down, if you do have time maybe we could do some things together, as a family.’
‘I don’t know, Rach,’ Aiden said, his voice a little strained. ‘I’ve started the handover, but I’ll be managing the Westley barn remotely while I’m down in London. I can’t say how much free time I’ll have.’
‘OK,’ Rachel said, a truer picture of the coming fortnight taking shape in her mind.
‘Right now I just need some sleep,’ Aiden said, turning away from her on to his side.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Hi Milly,
Ah – I’m gutted to hear you’re going away. As soon as you appear, with your red hair and smiles and lovely eyes – you’re vanishing. Damn.
But, YES. Let’s stay in touch. It’s only a couple of weeks. And in the meantime – London. That’s exciting. I went there last year to visit my cousin – he took me up in the London Eye and it was incredible – you can see for miles. Maybe you can take your little brother up on that?
So, for starters – tell me more about you … I mean I know you live close to the pub, and you drink Southern Comfort and lemonade … and you mentioned you like Adele and The White Stripes. But what else? The good, the bad, the ugly?
Cx
CHAPTER 7
Tuesday 28th November
Laurie knew what she had to do. She was going up to Skipley tomorrow, Wednesday, and she’d already packed, so all she needed to do was leave the keys with someone for Rachel to pick up.
But with Siobhan and Lily both busy, she was going to have to ask Jay. It should have been easy, it was a normal favour to ask of a neighbour. But the idea of going down there, talking to him … they had barely spoken in over two months. Laurie had been standing in her hallway with her hand on the front-door handle for a full five minutes.
Taking a deep breath, she opened her door and walked down the stairs to Jay’s flat. As she buzzed on Jay’s doorbell, butterfly wings beat against the walls of her stomach. Maybe he won’t be in, she thought, half-willing it to be true.
Jay answered a moment later. His dark hair was a little mussed, and he was wearing indigo jeans, brogues and a dark-red sweater. Not just any sweater, one that fitted him perfectly and set off his light-brown skin. One that Laurie had seen in a shop in Soho at the start of the year, and encouraged him to buy, because it suited him. Back when they were friends and she still did that kind of thing. The sound of
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