Raising herself upright, she leapt into the air, stretching her legs wide apart and reaching forward to touch her toes, landing gracefully as she skated forward into a spin. That was followed by more jumps; a triple axel, a double Lutz. She was in her element. Her skin was glowing in the warmth of the sun, her blood was racing through her veins, her muscles flexed and toned. She didn't want to stop.
Skating faster, she made a circuit of the lake, and another. More jumps, more spins. She could stay there all day. Fleetingly, she saw a figure out of the corner of her eye. Had Luke come down to greet her? She carved her blades into the ice and skated into an area where she was blinded by the sun. She closed her eyes against the glare but as she moved forward she heard the crack and felt her blade catch as she came to an abrupt stop. She glanced down as lines, like lots of little blood vessels, fanned out from where she stood. Her eyes shot towards the figure and only now did she see who it was.
'Harrison!' she shrieked as the ice cracked open and she fell into the freezing waters of the lake.
Chapter Eleven
Harrison thought his imagination was running wild. Had his mind gone back twenty years and made his eyes project an image of something he had once seen? Although now she was dressed in black; twenty years ago, she was dressed in white.
But as he walked towards the lake, the sun filtering through the trees and warming his face, he was sure of one thing. That was definitely Juliet skating on the lake.
What was she doing there? How did she get in? His grandfather disliked trespassers so the back gate to the grounds would definitely have been locked – unless someone had opened it for her. Perhaps she still had a key. Perhaps the old man hadn't changed the locks.
Did it really matter? She was there. He wasn't imagining it. He could hear the swish of her blades as she swept across the ice. The gentle thud as she landed gracefully after each jump. Yes. She was definitely real, not a figment of his imagination. She was there and so was he.
Should he stay and watch? Should he go and sit on the bench as he had all those years ago? Should he turn and walk away before she spotted him, and turned and ran away herself?
And then he heard it. The unmistakable crack. The rest of the world seemed silent as his ears focused on the terrifying sound. The ice was breaking, and it was breaking beneath Juliet.
From a distance, their eyes met, the fear in hers matching the panic in his. He heard her call his name, at least he thought she did, and then she dropped like a stone before him, her outstretched fingers the last thing he saw as she disappeared beneath the ice.
He was already running although he hadn't realised that until he was slipping and sliding towards the gaping hole. There wasn't time to think and as foolish as it was, he jumped in after her.
All around was dark at first and then he saw the shafts of sunlight dappled through the water. He twisted and turned, his eyes darting here, there and everywhere until he saw her. He dived down, grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him, searching for the light once he was sure of his grip on her. He had never believed in miracles, but he believed in them now. A wide beam of light was a mere metre or so away and he swam towards it as fast as possible, gasping for air as he broke through the surface water.
But he didn't have time to stop. He had to get her out, before the weight of the freezing water in their clothes dragged them down again. He put his hands on Juliet's waist and with Herculean effort, he pushed her out of the water onto a shelf of ice. The task pushed him below the surface but he found his way back and hauled himself onto the ice beside her.
He had no time to waste but the ice here was also at risk of breaking, so in a prostrate position he dragged Juliet and himself towards firmer ice. Once there, he got to his feet, swept her limp body up into his arms and rushed to the safety of the bank.
Chapter Twelve
Either she was dreaming, or she was dead. There was no other way she could possibly be back in her former bedroom at The Grange.
Juliet blinked several times before reaching out to touch the bedside table. It certainly felt real. But then again, didn't everything in a dream feel real? When she dreamt of falling, it always felt as if she actually was. And more than once she had woken, crying, from a dream.
'Juliet?' The voice certainly sounded real. And it was Harrison's. Clearer and closer than it had been when she'd heard it at the Christmas tree farm on Monday. It sounded a little deeper than it had, and there was a fearful quality to it. But it was definitely his. 'Juliet? Can you hear me?'
'Yes, Harrison. I can hear you. But my head hurts. Am I dreaming? Or am I dead?'
A sigh of relief; a gurgle of laughter; a touch of a hand.
'Neither, Juliet. But you came pretty close to the latter.'
Memory streamed in on her and she tried to sit up, but the effort was too much. She fell back onto her pillows and sunk into the softness as if her head rested on a cloud. But it was still hurting. Why did her head hurt? Had she hit it? No. But the last thing she could remember was dropping through the ice like a bullet and being surrounded by darkness and cold.
'What happened?'
Daphne's voice now. 'You fell through the ice, dear.'
'That much I remember.' Juliet tried to focus as Daphne busied herself adjusting the bedding and adding more blankets.
'Are you warm enough?' Daphne asked.
'Yes thanks. Very. But what happened after I fell through the ice?'
'Harrison saved you, dear. He had to give you the kiss of life. Thank heavens he was there, otherwise God alone knows where you'd be right now.'
'At the bottom of the lake, I expect. Wait. What? He gave me the ...' She turned startled eyes towards where his voice had come from and saw he sat by her bed. 'You gave me the kiss of life? You saved me?'
'Just in the right place at the right time.' He gave a nonchalant shrug.
'But ... You jumped into the lake and pulled me out? Just like that?'
He smiled. 'Not, just like that. But yeah. What else could I do?'
'You could've let me drown. No one would blame you. No one would've known. You could've walked away and pretended you weren't even there.'
His face grew serious and he frowned as his voice sounded cross. 'Why in God's name would I do that?'
Juliet lowered her lashes and looked away. 'Because that's probably what I would've done if our roles had been reversed.'
It was a second or two before he answered, and he gave a little laugh. 'No you wouldn't, Juliet. You might have wanted to, but you wouldn't.'
She glanced across at him and tutted. 'Well, I certainly wouldn't have thrown myself into the lake after you. Only an idiot would do that. Don't you know you could've drowned too? Or did you happen to have a rope with you which you tied around yourself and something fixed to the ground, before you jumped in?'
He shook his head and grinned. 'No rope. I'm clearly an idiot.'
'You're definitely an idiot.'
Daphne harrumphed. 'The man just risked his life to save you, Juliet, and you call him an idiot! A thank you wouldn't go amiss.'
Juliet frowned. 'Hmm. I suppose I should thank you.'
'No need. I just did what anyone else would've done.'
She gave a little cough. 'Well. Whatever. Thank you.'
'You're very welcome. Is there anything else I can do for you?' He leant forward, a smile on his lips, a hint of devilment in his brown eyes.
'Yes.' She gingerly lifted the top of the duvet with her fingers and looked beneath it. 'You can tell me where my clothes are, and who the hell undressed me. And whose pyjamas I'm wearing. Please tell me they're not your grandad's.'
Harrison merely grinned.
'I undressed you, dear,' Daphne said. 'And your clothes are in the wash. The pyjamas are Harrison's.'
'Oh. Thank you, Daphne.' She glanced at Harrison. 'You wear pyjamas?'
'In this house, yes. I'd be a bloody fool not to. Don't worry. That pair is brand new.'
'Thank you. Er. H
ow long will my clothes be, please, Daphne? I've got to get home for lunch.'
'You're not going anywhere,' Harrison said. 'Not until the doctor's been, at least. And I still think I should've taken you to the hospital, or called an ambulance. But Daphne said it was more important to get you warm and dry. And as she was a nurse, I've taken her word for it.'
'The nearest hospital is twenty miles away,' Daphne said. 'And an ambulance would take forever to get here in this weather.'
'That's true,' agreed Juliet. 'The snow may be melting but conditions are still bad. Cars have been abandoned at the roadside, clogging up a lot of the roads; some are impassable and the police have arranged for tow trucks to come and move them. According to the traffic report this morning.'
Harrison burst out laughing. 'Thank you, Juliet Bell for that update from your bed at The Grange. But seriously, you said your head hurt. Do you remember hitting it as you fell?'
'I don't remember anything, except falling. Then being so cold I couldn't think. And everything was dark.'
'It's probably due to the change in temperature,' Daphne said. 'But the doctor will be here any minute, I'm sure. After Harrison spoke to him, Luke drove into Mistletythe to get him because he said it would be quicker, and we know how fast that boy drives. Oh good heavens. Let's hope they haven't—'
'No,' Harrison interrupted. 'They haven't had an accident. He may drive too fast but he's a good driver.'
'Tell that to my wing mirror,' Juliet said.
Harrison coughed and got to his feet. 'Yes. Well. Today he'll be accident-free. I'd stake my life on it.'
'Have you got a death wish?' Juliet joked. 'First you risk it saving me. Now you're risking it on Luke's driving.'
Harrison grinned, but his eyes held some concern. 'I'll go and see where the doctor is. My phone's knackered. It was in my pocket when I went into the lake. I'll have to use the landline again. Oh. And we've called your family but had to leave a message because the answerphone picked up.'
'My family? Oh God. You know they'll be banging the door down the minute they get your message, don't you? That'll please your grandad.'
'I expect he'll invite them to take tea. Now don't move. I'll be back in a minute.' He pointed a finger at Juliet.
'Don't tell me what to do. But I can't go far, can I? Unless I want people to see me running around the streets in your pyjamas.'
He raised his brows. 'Now there's an image that'll be with me for the rest of the day. I'll leave Juliet in your capable hands, Daphne.'
Before Juliet could say anything else, he had gone.
Chapter Thirteen
'Are you okay?' Zoe perched on the edge of the bed and took Juliet's hand in hers. 'Mum and Dad are talking to Harrison and the doctor. They'll be in, in a minute.'
'This is ridiculous. Anyone would think I'm at death's door the way that man's behaving. I'm not allowed to move. I've got to get some sleep. I've got to keep warm. I've got to tell him if I'm feeling confused or dizzy. I'm not to be left alone. I've got to drink hot, sugared water, no caffeine. The list goes on and on.'
'Well, he's a doctor, so you should listen to him.'
'That wasn't the doctor who said all that. It was Harrison. The doctor told me I'm fine, more or less. Just a touch of mild hypothermia but my temperature's normal now and so is my heart rate, so nothing to worry about. I had a headache but that's gone and I feel absolutely fine. No ill effects as far as he can see and no reason why I shouldn't be up and about again very soon. But Harrison's insisting I stay here the night. Can you believe it? The nerve of the man.'
Zoe tutted. 'Just who does he think he is, eh? I mean, he only saved your life at the risk of his own. And he was in that water too, but is he tucked up in bed with everyone running around making sure he's okay? No. He's running around making sure you're okay. You're right. The man's got a bloody cheek.' Zoe burst out laughing. 'I think you need to stop and think, sis.'
'Oh bloody hell. You're right. It didn't even cross my mind. What a horrible person I am! He should be resting too. Do me a favour, Zoe. Please go and tell the doctor to give Harrison a once-over. I don't know much about hypothermia but I think you can get delayed shock or something and if you overdo things, it could affect your heart. But I might be wrong. Tell Harrison he's got to go and lie down. And keep warm. And do all the things he said I must do. Quick. The last thing I need right now is for that man to drop down dead because of me.'
'Okay, I'm going. But I don't think for one minute, Harrison will take much notice of me.'
Zoe hurried to the door and closed it behind her, so Juliet couldn't hear what was going on. But she did hear Harrison's slightly raised voice at one point, say: 'Oh, she did, did she?' But that was all she heard until her mum and dad came in, followed by Zoe.
'Sweetheart.' Rosa rushed to her bed and took her hands in hers. 'Oh darling, we were so worried when we heard. You father was vacuuming. Yes. Don't look so shocked. He was. Anyway. We didn't hear the phone above the noise and it was only when Cinnamon started barking maniacally that we realised something was wrong. I swear that dog has a sixth sense you know. Delayed, but it's there. But we didn't know what was wrong and it was a good five or ten minutes until we finally saw the message light flashing. By that time, Luke had dropped the doctor here and come back down to call on us. Zoe let him in just as we were playing Harrison's message. Not that any of that matters now. The doctor says you'll be fine. I can't tell you what a relief that is, sweetheart.'
'Luke came to tell you?'
'Yes, darling. He drove us here in his car. It took less than a minute. At least it felt like that.'
Juliet couldn't help but laugh, although she wasn't quite sure why. The whole thing seemed so farcical, and yet it could have been a very different story. If Harrison hadn't been at the lake at the exact same time as she was, she might well be dead. And that was definitely not something to laugh about.
But it was something to think about.
Why was he there at that precise time?
Luke said he wouldn't tell Harrison. Was it pure coincidence? Or Fate?
She glanced at Zoe and suddenly, she thought she knew the answer.
Yesterday, Zoe and Luke had 'arranged' for them all to be at Merry's Christmas Tree Farm at the same time. Had Zoe and Luke 'arranged' for Harrison to be at the lake at exactly the same time as her? And if so, why? Harrison was with Kiki, wasn't he? Would Luke really try to set his brother up with someone else under the very nose of the man's girlfriend?
'Is there anything you need, sweetheart?' Bernard was asking.
'What, Dad? Oh. Sorry. No, I'm fine thanks. Daphne – and Harrison – have made sure I've got everything, thanks. I'm sorry I've dragged you all back here under such ridiculous circumstances.'
'Nothing to be sorry about, sweetheart.' Bernard gently tapped her hand. 'Harrison has been extremely kind and considerate. He says we should feel free to go wherever we want and to stay as long as we like. He's even having a room made up so that your mother can stay here tonight.'
'What?' Juliet couldn't believe her ears. 'There's no need for any of us to stay here tonight. I'll get a couple of hours' sleep and then this evening, Zoe can come and get me and bring me home. You don't mind, Zoe, do you?'
Zoe shook her head. 'I don't mind at all. But I'm not going to do it. No. Don't shout at me. If you want to shout at anyone, shout at Harrison. He is adamant that you're not going anywhere until the morning. He even got the doctor to agree it might be wise, so you're here for the night whether you like it or not.'
'Of course you should stay,' Rosa said. 'Shock can be a very nasty thing, sweetheart. You may think you feel fine now but a delayed reaction can occur at any time and then where would we be? No. Harrison's right. He says we're all welcome to stay but your father and I think that it's best if it's just me. Harrison's going to take us home in the morning, providing you're still fine, that is.'
Juliet could hardly argue. Hadn't she told Zoe the exact same thing about delaye
d shock only a moment ago? And, once she got used to the idea, spending a night in her old room might actually be a treat. And one she would never get a chance to repeat. She should make the most of it. It might bring back lots of memories, but in a way, it might be cathartic. It could finally give her closure. And that wasn't such a bad thing.
She snuggled under the covers and smiled. 'Okay. If that's what everyone thinks is best, I won't argue.'
'God,' Zoe said. 'Quick. Get the doctor back. My sister is definitely ill.'
'Oh very funny,' said Juliet.
'Now, now girls,' Bernard said. But he was smiling, and so was Rosa.
Chapter Fourteen
The next time Juliet awoke, it was dark outside. Her bedroom curtains were undrawn and she could see the moon, nearly three-quarters full, through one of the two windows in the room. Its silvery beam was reflected in the full-length, antique cheval mirror in the corner of her room. That mirror had reflected her image throughout the first sixteen years of her life.
A lump formed in her throat as she saw flashes of a five-year-old, pirouetting in front of it in a pink Tutu, her favourite Unicorn toy in one hand, a Prince Charming doll in the other. An eight-year-old going to a party she didn't want to go to. A fourteen-year-old, wondering if her freckles would ever disappear. And a sixteen-year-old trying on dress after dress and tilting the mirror this way and that, to decide which to wear on her very first date with the boy she'd just met at the lake. Just a few weeks later, she looked into that mirror for what she thought would be the very last time. There wasn't room for such large, ornate furniture at 29 Mistletoe Row.
A knock on the door gave her a start.
'Come in,' she said, reaching across to switch on the bedside lamp.
Instead of her mum, or Daphne, or even Harrison, a swathe of long, sleek, mahogany hair appeared around the door, followed by a smile the size of the moon, and a soft, sultry voice said, 'Hi.'
'Hello,' Juliet replied, unable to think of anything else.
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