The Best Christmas Ever: a feel-good festive romance to warm your heart this Christmas

by Karen King

  The snow had stopped now and had formed a crispy layer over the ground, so Lexi was pleased her boots had soles with good grip, the last thing she wanted was to fall over. As she set off, she wondered if she would bump into Joel and his cute little dog again. Sweetie had been absolutely adorable, but Lexi could see that she was a handful for Joel.

  The snow was soft and crunchy under her feet, and the air brisk. She felt the tension leave her as she walked down the street, admiring the snow-covered bushes and plants in the gardens she passed. It had only been a light fall of snow but it was enough to make everywhere look like a winter wonderland. It would be Christmas on Saturday, she hoped it would be snowing then. It would be wonderful to have a white Christmas.

  Some children were already scooping up handfuls of the fallen snow and giggling as they threw snowballs at each other. She stopped to watch them, her spirits lifting. She was so glad she’d come to spend Christmas with her parents, already she felt a lot happier.

  ‘Uuurgh!’ Joel spluttered as something wet and slobbery licked his face. He opened his eyes, then quickly closed them again as the dog’s tongue aimed for his eyelid. ‘Sweetie!’

  ‘Woof!’ Sweetie barked happily. He felt the dog move and risked opening his eyes again. ‘Woof! Woof!’ She was standing up now, wagging her tail, obviously ready to go out and do her business. He glanced at the clock – almost eleven! He’d overslept – hardly surprising, as Sweetie had kept him awake half the night.

  ‘Okay girl, I’m getting up,’ he said, edging himself up on his elbow. Sweetie jumped off the bed, trotted over to the door, then turned to him, wagging her tail.

  ‘Coming!’ He got out of bed, grabbed his jeans and jumper off the chair and pulled them on, then went downstairs to let the little dog out. Snow still covered the ground and Sweetie didn’t seem that fond of it. She quickly squatted down to do her business then came running back in through the back door he’d left ajar for her.

  ‘A bit chilly for you, is it?’ he said, stroking her head. ‘Want something to eat?’

  Sweetie wagged her tail and went over to her bowl. He wasn’t sure if that was because she understood him or had learnt the routine. Hazel said she always gave Sweetie a small meal in the morning, and her main meal in the evening.

  Leaving Sweetie to eat, Joel made a black coffee and scrambled eggs on toast. He was feeling hungry this morning, and also more than a bit apprehensive. What did Toni want to talk to him about?

  After breakfast was finished, he took Sweetie for another trip outside then she curled up in her basket to sleep. Joel went up to have a shower and get changed. When he came back down, Sweetie was still fast asleep. He looked at her, wondering if it would be best to try and sneak out while she was still asleep, or to say goodbye to her. He was hopeless at looking after a dog, he realised. As though she knew he was staring at her, Sweetie suddenly opened her eyes. She looked at him for a moment, then slowly got out of her basket and came over to him. He knelt down and fussed her. ‘I’ve got to go out, girl, and I’m sorry but you can’t come. I’ll be back soon, though, and then I’ll take you for a walk,’ he promised, although he wasn’t sure that Sweetie would actually like walking in the cold, wet snow. He’d probably end up carrying her.

  Giving her a last fuss, he went out the front door, with Sweetie trying to squeeze past his legs and yapping furiously when she didn’t manage it. He shut the door behind him feeling guilty and worried. He hoped that she didn’t yap for long, it was distressing for her and disturbing for the neighbours. This arrangement wasn’t working out as well as he’d hoped – Sweetie was so demanding and unsettled. Hazel had promised that Sweetie was happy to be left for a few hours, and she must be, as both Hazel and Al worked, although Hazel was based from home a lot, she still had meetings to attend. Hopefully, the Maltese terrier would get used to him and settle down soon.

  He zipped up his jacket as he strode up the garden path, glancing left towards his van which was parked a little way up the road – he really should put it in the garage around the back – as he opened the gate and stepped out. An elderly man was walking towards him, carrying a bag of shopping, when suddenly, he lost his footing and slipped. Joel immediately dashed forwards, reaching for the man’s arm to prevent his fall.

  Ouch! Someone else had noticed the old man’s predicament and raced to save him too, coming from the right, and they’d both collided with a bang. Joel’s elbow hit the other person hard, and the impact of hitting his funny bone sent Joel reeling. He grabbed the fence nearby for support, while still holding onto the old man’s arm to stop him from falling.

  ‘Sorry,’ he apologised, steadying himself and looking around to see who he’d bumped into. Horrified, he saw the woman he’d met last night – Lexi – on the floor, her jean-clad legs sprawled out in front of her. He had obviously knocked her flying off her feet. Damn. Why hadn’t he looked before he leapt? Because the old man would have fallen over, that’s why, and at his age that could be fatal.

  ‘I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you,’ he apologised, checking that the man was holding onto the fence securely before going over to help Lexi. ‘I think I caught you with my elbow. I guess we were both too busy trying to stop this man’s fall to notice each other. Are you hurt?’

  ‘Hello, again.’ She smiled and glanced up at him. She looked even more gorgeous than last night, he thought, trying not to stare at her cute button nose and rosebud lips. Then his eyes rested on the lump peeping out from below the rim of her hat, which had been pushed back when she fell. ‘Oh God, I’m so sorry! You’ve got a huge bump coming up on your forehead. I feel dreadful.’

  ‘It’s fine, don’t worry.’ She grabbed the hand he held out to her and scrambled to her feet. Then she brushed herself down and rubbed her head where his elbow had obviously hit her.

  ‘I really am sorry.’

  ‘Seriously, it’s okay. How’s your elbow?’

  ‘Sore. I suspect that there might be a bruise there too.’

  ‘We’re a right pair, aren’t we?’ She turned to the elderly man, who was clutching the fence, his shopping bag still in his hand. ‘Are you all right? You did slip a bit before we could catch you. Have you hurt yourself?’

  Good-natured as well as pretty, Joel thought as the old man shook his head.

  ‘I managed to grab the fence in time. I always try to walk near a fence when the ground is a bit slippy, in case I lose my footing. The snow is beautiful but treacherous.’ He looked from Joel to Lexi. ‘Thank you both for coming to my rescue’ His eyes rested anxiously on Lexi’s forehead. ‘I’m so sorry that you clashed in the process. I think you’re going to have a nasty bump there. Would you like to come in and put some ice on it? Have a cup of tea while you’re there.’ He turned to Joel. ‘You too.’

  ‘That’s very kind of you. Do you live far?’ Lexi asked him.

  He shook his head. ‘The next house is mine. It’s so annoying that I almost got home before I slipped. I’m Lloyd, by the way, Lloyd Winston.’

  Two doors away. Joel hoped Sweetie wasn’t being a nuisance to him. ‘I’m Joel Dexter, I’m temporarily living next door but one.’

  ‘Ah, you must be Hazel’s brother. She said that you were going to look after the house, and Sweetie, while she and Al were away.’

  ‘And I’m Lexi and I’d love a cup of tea – and to put some ice on this bump before it swells into a golf ball.’

  ‘I’m sorry but I have to dash,’ Joel admitted reluctantly. ‘If you’re sure you’re both okay? Shall I at least see you to your front door, Lloyd?’

  ‘You carry on, we’re both fine and I can walk Lloyd to the door.’ Lexi reached over and opened the latch on his gate, then linked arms with Lloyd, who was still clutching his shopping bag. ‘We can lean on each other,’ she said.

  Lloyd grinned at her. ‘I’m not going to deny that it’s good to have a beautiful woman hanging onto my arm.’

  Lexi grinned back.

  Honestly, he was a charmer, Joel thought.
And Lexi was beautiful. Kind, too. He wished he had time to stop and have a cup of tea with them both.

  Joel stood at the gate, watching as they walked down the path. When they reached the front door, Lloyd fumbled in his coat pocket, took out a bunch of keys and inserted one in the lock, his hand trembling. That stumble had shaken him up.

  ‘Let me.’ Lexi took the key out of his hand and then turned it and pushed the door open for Lloyd to go through first. They both turned to wave to Joel.

  ‘Right, I must go. Remember to put some ice on that bump, Lexi – and I apologise again. I’ll pop in and see you later, Lloyd.’ He gave them another wave and headed for his van, glancing at his watch. He was going to be late and Toni hated to be kept waiting.

  You’re not married to her anymore, he reminded himself.

  Chapter Seven

  Lexi wondered if Joel really did have to dash off, or whether it was an excuse not to come in for a cup of tea? Some people didn’t have time for old folks. He seemed kind, though, and had been very concerned about her head. And had stopped to make sure that she and Lloyd both got safely inside.

  He was a looker too, not in a ‘film star’ kind of way, but in an interesting way. Tall, with short, thick, light-auburn hair, vivid green eyes, a wide mouth that looked like it laughed a lot, and a sexy smattering of designer stubble. He looked strong and muscular, like he worked out. Maybe he was a fitness instructor.

  ‘Are you coming in, lass?’ Lloyd asked, and she suddenly realised that she was still staring after Joel, and that Lloyd was standing inside the hallway.

  ‘Err, yes,’ she stammered, stepping in and closing the door behind her.

  ‘Take your coat off, dear, and go into the living room – first door on the right – and make yourself at home. I’ll go and put the kettle on,’ Lloyd said.

  Her head was throbbing, she had to admit. She glanced at her reflection in the hall mirror and looked at the big bump peeping out from under her hat. That would turn into a bruise soon. Had Joel got a bump on his elbow? she wondered.

  ‘I’ll come through to the kitchen and get some ice, then I can chat to you while you make the tea,’ she said, wishing that Lloyd would let her make it, slipping like that must have been a nasty shock to him. If she and Joel hadn’t been around to prevent his fall, he could have ended up breaking his hip – and she knew how serious that could be for someone of Lloyd’s advanced years.

  ‘That would be very pleasant.’ Lloyd took off his coat and hung it on one of the pegs on the wall, then replaced his shoes with slippers. Lexi did the same with her fake-fur coat, then looked down at her boots, wondering whether to take them off.

  ‘Leave them on, dear, they’re fine,’ Lloyd told her as he set off up the hall. ‘This way.’

  Lexi gave her feet an extra wipe on the mat, just to make sure that the soles of her boots were clean, and followed him. The house felt warm and cosy, she noticed; she knew that a lot of elderly people worried about heating bills and lived in one room in the winter. She wondered if Lloyd lived on his own. There was no sign of anyone else living here, but they could have popped out for a bit. There were no Christmas decorations about either, she observed, but then not everyone was as Christmas-mad as her family! Lots of people just decorated one room or put up a small tree.

  The kitchen was clean and tidy, if a little dated. In the corner was a small wooden table with two chairs. Did that mean someone else lived here?

  ‘At least let me put the kettle on while you put your shopping away,’ Lexi said as Lloyd took a carton of milk and some butter out of his bag and put them in the top part of the fridge-freezer that stood in the corner of the kitchen. Then he opened the freezer, took out a bag of frozen peas and wrapped it in a tea towel before handing it to Lexi.

  ‘Sit yourself down and put this on your forehead. I’ll make the tea,’ he insisted.

  She obviously wasn’t going to get anywhere with him, Lexi thought, and he did seem to have pulled himself together now, so she gave in. ‘Thank you.’ She sat down at the kitchen table, took off her hat and placed the bag of frozen peas on her forehead. She could feel the relief already.

  ‘So, you know Joel, then? Do you live nearby too?’ Lloyd asked as he filled the kettle up. ‘I can’t recall seeing you before, but then I don’t get out much in the winter.’

  ‘No, I live in Gloucester but I bumped into him last night. Sweetie had escaped when he was taking her for a walk. Luckily I caught hold of her. I’ve come down to spend Christmas with my parents. They own the village bakery,’ she added.

  ‘Ah, Paula and Craig. Lovely couple.’ Lloyd put a small loaf in the bread bin on the worktop then glanced over his shoulder at her. ‘Your gran lives with them too, doesn’t she? She’s quite a character.’

  ‘You could say that,’ Lexi agreed, wondering how well Lloyd knew Granny Mabe and if he was aware that she was part of the Yarn Warriors.

  ‘We’ll take this into the lounge, it’s cosier in there,’ Lloyd said putting the two mugs of tea and a tin of biscuits on a tray.

  ‘Let me carry that,’ said Lexi. She took the bag of frozen peas off her forehead. ‘Has my bump gone down a bit?’ she asked. ‘It doesn’t hurt as much.’

  Lloyd’s gaze rested on her forehead and he shook his head. ‘Not yet. I think you’re going to have a nasty bruise. I feel so guilty about that. You and Joel were trying to help me.’

  ‘Accidents happen, and I’m glad we managed to break your fall,’ she said. ‘Now, please let me carry that tray.’

  ‘I can manage. You put those frozen peas back on that bump.’ Lloyd was already on his way out of the kitchen. He really was stubborn, she thought, holding the frozen peas onto her forehead with one hand, and picking up her bag and hat with the other. She followed him into the living room, where he was now putting the tray down on the coffee table.

  ‘Sit yourself down, lass,’ Lloyd said, indicating the sofa. He sat down in the big armchair opposite and reached for his mug.

  Still holding the frozen peas on her forehead, Lexi eased herself down onto the sofa, her backside felt a bit tender from where she had fallen, and quickly glanced around. The room looked cosy and tidy, although the carpet and three-piece suite were a bit worn. There were a couple of Christmas cards on the sideboard, and some tinsel draped around a photo frame with a picture of what she could see was a younger Lloyd with his arm around the shoulder of a woman, probably his wife. There was no Christmas tree or any other decorations, though. She wondered if that was because putting up the tree was too difficult for him. She’d try to steer the conversation around to it, then offer to help him if he did want to put up a tree or any decorations, she decided.

  ‘This is a lovely cosy room,’ she remarked. ‘Have you lived here long?’ she asked.

  ‘Me and my Ruby moved here over thirty years ago,’ he said. ‘Ruby died fifteen years ago. I’ve been on my own ever since.’

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’ She picked up her mug of tea and took a sip. That was so sad. She felt really sorry for Lloyd, on his own in his twilight years. She wanted to ask if he had any family but didn’t want to overstep the mark. Old folk could be proud and hated anyone interfering.

  ‘We had a good marriage, she was the love of my life and her death broke my heart, but it was a long time ago now. Time heals.’

  ‘It was the same with Granny Mabe. We thought she would never get over Grandpa Huey’s death but thankfully she did.’ She took another sip of her tea. Granny Mabe had Lexi’s parents, though, and a group of friends. Lexi had the feeling that Lloyd was alone. That was such a shame.

  ‘You’re late,’ Toni said with a pout as Joel strode over to the table where she was sitting. ‘I’ve been waiting ages. This is my second skinny latte.’

  Joel looked at the half-full glass cup in front of his soon-to-be ex. ‘Sorry. I got a bit caught up.’ He sat down in the chair opposite her. ‘What’s the problem?’

  Toni had sounded distressed when she’d called him and h
ad insisted that she couldn’t discuss the matter over the phone but had to talk to him personally. He studied her face. She didn’t look distressed now. Her shoulder-length blond hair was perfectly styled, her make-up carefully applied to achieve the natural look she loved – and he knew took at least half an hour to achieve. She was wearing a red coat with a black faux-fur collar and black trousers. She looked dressed to impress.

  She bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes.

  Okay, so she is distressed. He softened his tone. ‘Has something happened?’ he asked gently.

  She nodded, her eyes holding his, but before she could speak, a waiter came over to take his order. ‘Black coffee, please, no sugar,’ Joel said, waiting for the waiter to leave before asking again. ‘What’s happened, Toni?’

  Her bottom lip quivered. ‘I’ve made a mistake, Joel. A terrible mistake . . .’

  What the hell has she done? How serious is it? Her distress was making him panic now, Toni always had been impetuous, jumping into things before weighing up all the consequences. She’s not your problem now, he reminded himself.

  She leant forwards and placed her hand on his. ‘I made a mistake, I realise that now. I don’t want to divorce you. I love you.’

  What? Joel pulled his hand away and leant back in his chair, staring at her. Was she serious?

  ‘I know I hurt you and I’m so sorry, but Drake, he was a mistake. It’s you I love. You I’ve always loved.’ Her green eyes held his, tears brimming in them, her expression pleading. ‘Please say you’ll give me another chance. The Decree Absolute isn’t through yet, we can still stop the divorce.’

  Joel could hardly believe he was hearing this. When Toni had told him she wanted a divorce after only two years of marriage, he’d been devastated. She’d been upset, saying that she didn’t want to hurt him, but that they were two different people on two different paths. He’d wanted to plead with her, to tell her to reconsider, but his pride wouldn’t let him. If she didn’t love him, then he didn’t want to talk her into pretending to love him. And she was right, they were two different people who wanted different things, but he’d hoped that their love was strong enough to see them through their differences. Apparently it wasn’t. It was six months later before he learnt that Toni was involved with someone else. Drake Phillips, a hotshot with a company they liaised with. A good-looking go-getter like Toni. Even Joel could see that Drake was much more her type than himself; in her eyes he was a boring tree surgeon who loved walks in the country and the quiet life. Toni finally admitted that she’d been seeing Drake for the past year, and that he was the reason she’d wanted a divorce, so Joel had filed for it on the grounds of adultery. Toni had moved in with Drake, Joel had stayed in their house until it was sold and then split the proceeds in half. He’d kept communications as pleasant as he could in the circumstances and was now about to build a new life for himself. Then along comes Toni telling him it was all a mistake. Up until a few months ago, he might have been tempted to give her another chance, but now? Well, time was a great healer, and an eye-opener, and he realised that he hadn’t been happy when he was married to Toni, but had simply plodded on, hoping things would get better.