‘Jacob. What on earth are you doing here?’ I say, a tiny fluttering like butterfly wings starting deep in my chest.
‘I already felt guilty that you had no transport over Christmas after I smashed into your car and then it started to snow. I thought maybe I could bring you a bit of shopping to save you having to trek down to the local shops. I’ve probably got you a load of stuff you don’t like, but I just wanted to do something to try and make amends.’
It feels as though my pulse has doubled in speed. People don’t usually do such thoughtful things for me, especially people who are very handsome and charming.
‘Um, well, you’d better come in,’ I say, noticing for the first time that he is carrying generously stuffed supermarket bags in each hand. They are the festive ones and it crosses my mind that he probably had to buy them along with the contents if, as he has suggested, he was acting on impulse.
He steps into my narrow hallway and stamps his feet on the doormat that bids him welcome to rid his shoes of the snow, which I can see on the path behind him is now several inches deep.
‘Shall I carry them through to your kitchen? Then I’ll leave you in peace, I don’t want to intrude.’
‘You’re not,’ I say, a little too quickly. ‘I mean, I’ve finished what I had planned for today and I was just going to make a coffee if you’d like one?’
‘If you’re sure, and then I’ll be on my way. This snow doesn’t look like it’s stopping anytime soon and I wouldn’t want to get stranded.’
I immediately picture the two of us sitting side by side on my parents’ old sofa in front of my roaring log fire, my head resting on his shoulder, and then I blush furiously at where my thoughts have taken me to. Honestly, the poor bloke does a good deed by bringing me a few groceries and I’m planning on seducing him. Perhaps in the film Misery, Kathy Bates’ character started out with similar fantasies. I shake my head to clear the unwelcome thoughts away and fill the kettle with water.
‘It really is so kind of you,’ I say, ‘but totally unnecessary. The garage collected my car on Monday and said I could have had it back tomorrow if they gave it priority but I said there was no rush. I’m going to my sister’s with my mum and dad over Christmas so it would only have been parked out on the road.’
‘Waiting for some other careless idiot to crash into it.’
‘It wasn’t your fault. If it had been a cat rushing out, I would much rather you collide with my car than hit an animal.’
Jacob pauses, a jar of ploughman’s pickle in his hand. He has a sheepish expression on his face.
‘Actually, that wasn’t exactly the truth.’
The warm cosy feelings I have been harbouring towards him come to a shuddering halt, a prickle of panic replacing them. Why would he lie about what had caused him to brake so suddenly? No-one was hurt and it was the black ice which had actually caused the accident. I am acutely aware that I don’t know this person I have invited into my home. He could be a rapist or a serial killer for all I know.
‘W-what do you mean?’ I ask, trying to keep the fear from my voice and wondering if I’ll make it to my thirty-third birthday tomorrow.
‘I saw you putting the bin out.’
Before I can say anything in reply, there is a knock at the door, making me jump almost out of my skin. With Jacob turning up out of the blue, I had completely forgotten about Leanne. Her timing, despite being over an hour late, is impeccable.
‘I need to get that,’ I say, licking my lips nervously and wondering if she would hear me scream if he tried to prevent me.
‘Of course, I should get going anyway, I don’t want to outstay my welcome.’
Maybe I was over-reacting.
‘Perhaps we can have coffee another time,’ I say, leading him out into the hallway, ‘as a thank you for the groceries.’
‘Good idea,’ he replies, but I get the feeling I may have seen the last of him. Shame, really; he is not my usual type but maybe that’s where I have been going wrong. I think my first impressions of him were right. He seems thoughtful and kind where the men I’ve dated in the past have been the opposite. I might have been prepared to forego my dating break for him although I’m a little less keen now that I know he lied to me, unless he has a really good reason for it.
He is standing behind me as I open the front door and a woman, who I presume is Leanne, is already halfway back down the path, probably regretting her decision to venture out on such a filthy afternoon.
‘Thanks so much for coming,’ I say, ‘and in such dreadful conditions. I really appreciate it.’
She turns back and walks towards me, the fur-trimmed hood of her coat pulled down low over her face, protecting her from the icy flakes and swirling wind which is already creating small snowdrifts. Her voice is muffled by her scarf when she speaks.
‘I wasn’t going to come. I don’t like driving in the snow, but I couldn’t bear the thought of you being without a gas supply over Christmas. I thought you were out when you didn’t answer.’
‘Sorry. We were just in the kitchen. Come in out of the cold. The kettle’s boiled if you’ve got time for a coffee or tea to warm you up.’
‘If it’s all the same to you, I’ll just sign the paperwork and get on my way,’ she says, stepping on to my door mat and stamping her feet to rid them of snow just as Jacob had done ten minutes previously.
‘No problem, I’ll fetch it. Jacob’s just leaving.’
Leanne’s bowed head shoots upright causing her oversized hood to fall back from her head.
‘You’ve cut your hair,’ Jacob says, ‘it suits you.’
‘Jake? What the hell is this? Why is he here?’ Leanne asks, looking accusingly at me.
She turns to leave, but Jacob has positioned himself between her and my front door which he has pushed closed with his back.
‘Just hear me out, Annie. It wasn’t planned, I swear, but now that you’re here please can we talk?’
Everything slots into place. Just as Annie is an abbreviation of Leanne, Jake is a shortened version of Jacob. While I have been wondering what my next steps should be in my plan to bring Annie and Jake together, fate has already obliged. No-one knew Leanne was calling at my house today, especially not Jacob, and yet here they both are standing in my hallway. I think I now know what he had been about to tell me before Leanne knocked at the door. He saw ‘me’ putting the bin out on the night of the crash but he must have thought it was her. I wonder how many times he has driven down the lane hoping to catch the merest glimpse of the woman he is clearly still so in love with.
Leanne has been standing very upright glaring firstly at Jacob, then me, then back at Jacob. Suddenly, her legs seem to give way and she begins to fold like a rag doll. In an instant, Jacob has swept her up in his arms and I spring into action.
‘Bring her through here and put her on the sofa. I’ll go and make tea. Poor girl; what a shock it must have been to see you here.’
Jacob raises his eyebrows questioningly then drops his eyes back to Leanne’s face, stroking her forehead with a tenderness I am almost embarrassed to witness. I offer up a silent prayer as I wait for the kettle to boil, hoping beyond hope that when she hears the truth about what happened on the night before their wedding she will give him another chance.
Chapter 12
I’ve stirred three spoons of sugar into the steaming brown liquid and am carrying it through to the lounge when my mobile phone starts to ring. Leanne is just starting to rouse as I hand the mug to Jacob and excuse myself to take the call. It’s my dad.
‘Hi, Dad,’ I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
‘Is that you, Carol? Can you speak up a bit, love, I can barely hear you?’
‘Hang on a minute, Dad.’
I grab my coat off the newel post and my front door key and step outside, the porch offering very little protection from the near-blizzard conditions. I shiver, shrugging deeper into the quilted fabric.
‘Is that better?’
&nb
sp; ‘A bit. Where are you? It sounds like you’re outside.’
‘I am. I popped out to get some milk,’ I say, crossing my fingers as I lie, effortlessly. How hypocritical do I feel when I have just been mentally chastising Jacob for doing the same thing? ‘I was in the shop, that’s why I had my voice lowered.’
There doesn’t seem much point in trying to explain to my dad why I’m stood outside my own front door in a snow storm.
‘Have you got snow there?’
‘Yes. It started just before three and it’s really quite heavy now.’
‘Same here. That’s why I’m ringing. I don’t think we’ll be able to make it across to you tomorrow if it doesn’t ease up. I thought it would be better to let you know now rather than spoiling your birthday morning.’
That’s typical of my dad. Even though he has no way of knowing what the weather will be like by the morning, he is planning for the worst-case scenario. His ‘glass half-empty’ attitude used to really annoy me but now I can see the merit of it. If things turn out badly, everyone’s had chance to prepare for it but if they are better than expected, it’s a bonus.
‘We’ll just have to play it by ear, Dad. It’ll be a shame not to see you but missing one birthday lunch isn’t the end of the world. Let’s speak in the morning.’
I’m digging in my pocket to retrieve my key when a voice says, ‘None of my business, but why would you lie about your whereabouts, especially to your dad?’
I peer through the snow and am surprised to see Matt, the collar up on his coat and a woolly hat, which I immediately recognise as Sally’s, pulled as far down as possible without covering his eyes, also standing outside his front door.
‘It’s a long story. Can you believe Leanne and her boyfriend are currently in my lounge? It turns out that Jacob, the guy who ran into my car the other night, is Leanne’s ex.’
‘What?’
‘I know. When my phone rang, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to give them a bit of space. Hopefully, she’ll listen to what he has to say. I’ll fill you in next time I’m invited round… assuming there will be a next time,’ I add quickly, my cheeks colouring up.
‘I’m sure there will be.’
I can hear the amusement in his voice.
‘So, what’s your excuse?’
‘Excuse?’
‘Why are you out here in the freezing cold? You haven’t had a row, have you?’
The cold must have got to my brain. I can’t believe I’ve just asked such a personal question of my new neighbour. I could blame the television report I saw earlier still being fresh in my mind about there being the most relationship break-ups over the festive period, but Christmas hasn’t started properly yet, and anyway, you can’t just blurt out things like that. Mind you, he did quiz me about lying to my dad, so I guess we’re quits.
‘Not yet,’ he laughs, ‘but it’s early days. I offered to come out and sweep the snow off the path before it freezes because then it becomes a much bigger job with a shovel. Sally’s given me some rock salt to sprinkle. I can do yours too, if you like?’
I notice the broom in his hand for the first time. Fancy me assuming they’d had a row and fancy Matt offering to clear my path too. I much prefer this version of him to the one at supper the other night. Maybe that’s why he’s offered; he’s trying to make amends.
‘That’s really kind and yes please, if you’ve still got the energy when you’ve finished yours.’
‘I’ve got stacks of energy,’ he says, winking, ‘and, as a thank-you, maybe you can offer me a bolt hole for a couple of hours if things get too tetchy over Christmas.’
OMG! My neighbour, my soon to be MARRIED neighbour, just winked at me in a provocative way. Did he think I was flirting with him when I asked about his energy levels? How embarrassing. I mumble something about checking on my guests and escape to the safety of my hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. I hope he doesn’t tell Sally about our little encounter; how would I ever face her again if she thought I was trying to steal her husband?
I’m suddenly aware of loud sniffing, the kind that normally accompanies crying, and then I hear Leanne say, ‘It’s too late.’
Chapter 13
23rd December - My Birthday
Unfortunately, on this occasion, my dad was right to be pessimistic. When I opened my curtains first thing this morning I was greeted by the sight of a white carpet so thick that the cars parked outside our cottages were little more than rounded mounds. In a way, Jacob did me a favour by crashing into my car as she will be locked away safe and warm in Mac’s Automobiles repair shop. Somewhere under the snow is Leanne’s car, but not Jacob’s four-wheel-drive Audi.
My heart had plummeted the previous afternoon when I heard Leanne say, ‘It’s too late.’ I had been sure that she would forgive him once she knew the circumstances that led to her being stood up at the altar. I didn’t want to interfere any further but I couldn’t let their chance of happiness slip away. I took a deep breath and tapped on the lounge door before pushing it open. The sight that greeted me made my heart soar. They were kissing, quite passionately, actually, and I had to clear my throat to make my presence known. They broke free of each other and turned towards me, neither looking in the least bit embarrassed. Jacob spoke first.
‘You knew?’
‘Not everything. In fact, I had no idea that you were Leanne’s Jake when you turned up here this afternoon. You scared me when you said you’d seen me putting the bin out and told me that’s why you crashed. I thought maybe you were some kind of weird stalker and I’d innocently welcomed you into my home. It was pure coincidence, or maybe fate, that you were here when Leanne arrived.’
‘But why did you get me to come here?’ Leanne said. ‘I’m assuming the whole thing with the gas company document was just a ruse?’
‘I thought you should see Jake’s card.’
‘I did see it, last year. That’s why I moved so suddenly. I couldn’t believe he’d found out where I was living and I was afraid he might have knocked on my door. I wasn’t in any fit state to speak to him after… what happened.’
Jacob had pulled her closer to him at that point.
‘Not the card that was in your box of Christmas decorations. Another one arrived a few days ago, and I recognised the hand-writing. I know I shouldn’t have, but I opened it.’ I had turned to Jacob at this point. ‘It broke my heart to think that Leanne might never know what happened.’
‘Well, she knows now and, thanks to you, we’re going to get back together.’
‘But… I heard you say, it’s too late, Leanne.’
‘Too late to arrange things before Christmas as Jake suggested, but we are going to get married as soon as possible once he has cleared everything up with my parents. They adored him; that’s why they were so devastated when he didn’t show up at the church.’
‘Speaking of which, we should get going. I might as well face the music sooner rather than later. Even the four-wheel-drive is going to find it tough going in this snow. Is it okay if Leanne leaves her car outside and we pick it up when the weather has cleared? Perhaps we can even have that coffee you suggested?’
‘Of course, and forget having a coffee; I think a glass of bubbly would be far more appropriate.’
It had been such a satisfying feeling watching them walk hand in hand down my freshly brushed garden path where the snow was already beginning to resettle despite a liberal sprinkling of rock salt.
There had been no visible evidence of a path when I looked out this morning, just pure virgin snow without so much as cat or fox tracks across it. I glance out of my bathroom window and am surprised to see great big footprints that weren’t there a couple of minutes ago when I came upstairs to clean my teeth. I’m just thinking, surely Rick, the postman, hasn’t ventured out in this, when there is a knock on my door.
I dry my hands quickly and run down the stairs calling out, ‘Coming.’
I pull open the door and about three foot of
snow tumbles in.
‘Oops,’ says Matt from next door, ‘that’s made a bit of a mess. Shall I give you a hand to clear it up?’
Remembering the inappropriate wink from yesterday, I reply rather frostily, ‘I can manage. What do you want?’
He looks rather taken aback by my sharpness. Serves him right.
‘Matt sent me round to check that you’re okay.’
What is he talking about? Surely, he can’t be drinking already, it’s not even lunchtime.
‘Does Sally know you’re here?’ I ask, my tone even icier than before.
‘They both do. Look, have I done something to upset you? Are you mad at me because I confronted you about lying to your dad? I didn’t mean anything by it, I just don’t think lying is very cool.’
I’m looking closely at Matt now. I’ve only met him on a couple of previous occasions but he does look a little different somehow.
‘Who are you?’
‘Luke, Matt’s brother. I thought Sally told you I was coming to stay for a few days over Christmas?’
‘Yes, she did,’ I say, feeling more than a little stupid, ‘she just omitted to tell me you were twins. I’m assuming it was you sweeping the paths last night?’
‘Too right. Matt would probably have made Sally do it.’ He winks at me again. ‘Only kidding, he’s not that bad. Sally says you are to come around to us at twelve thirty.’
‘Why?’
‘Maybe I mentioned that I overheard you were meant to be having lunch with your parents. Obviously, that’s not going to happen so she’s making you lunch instead. Will you be able to manage in the snow, or shall I come and fetch you?’
‘I’m quite capable, but thanks for offering. I’ll bring the bottle of wine we were going to have.’
I arrive on their doorstep an hour and a half later having slipped and slithered all over the place. Why didn’t I just accept Luke’s offer of help? It’s a good job it’s not a fizzy wine or we wouldn’t be able to open it for a couple of hours without the froth going everywhere. I raise my hand to knock on the door but it opens before I have chance. The three of them are crowded into the hallway, Sally holding a birthday cake, and they give a raucous rendition of ‘Happy Birthday to You’.
Christmas at Carol's Page 5