‘Are you all right?’ he asked, his voice softening, ‘You look funny.’
‘Of course I’m all right!’ I laughed, ‘You know you need to work on your compliments. In the past couple of days I’ve looked tired, like a marshmallow and now funny.’
He didn’t reply but I saw his gaze drop to my mouth, momentarily.
‘Izzy…’
A flame of hope blazed, as the smile I gave him was returned.
‘Look, I–’
‘Rob!’ His mum called out into the garden. Rob turned his head, then quickly shot up and away from me before I could take a breath, ‘Caroline’s here.’ his mum finished. Her tone was pleasant but had an underlying quality, as though she’d just discovered that Harold had temporarily forgotten he was toilet trained. I pushed myself up into a sitting position and looked over to where Caroline was watching us, a look of forced amusement on her face. Rob put his hand down to help me up but I waved it away and shoved myself up. My whole lower body was now pretty much soaked through, and beginning to react to just how cold it was. I started shivering.
‘Oh God, you’re freezing.’ Rob made to put his arms around me but I stepped away, towards the house.
‘No, I’m fine. I’m going to go in and take a shower and warm up.’ I crunched off and heard his boots falling heavily behind mine.
‘Izzy.’
I purposely waited until we were within earshot of the open door of the kitchen.
‘Umhmm?’ I answered, leaning on the door frame to pull my boots off.
Rob gave me a look. I returned it. The silence said it all. Whatever it was that he wanted to say, he couldn’t say in front of Caroline, or anyone else. And I was done with it all.
‘Just a friendly game of snowballs.’ I said to Caroline as she scanned the state of me. ‘Rob lost.’
‘Is that so?’ she replied, apparently unconvinced that snowballs was the only game being played. And as unlikely as it seemed, for once, I agreed with her. I had no idea if there was another game going on here or not. But what I did know was that I wasn’t playing any more. This might all be a joke for Rob – “nice” as he put it – but it wasn’t for me. For a moment there I thought… well it didn’t matter what I thought. The fact that he’d sprung away from me the moment he saw Caroline spoke far more than anything he could have said. And he might be happy with the odd snog, a ‘friends with benefits’ thing, if that was what he was thinking, but that most definitely wasn’t my scene. Not even with Rob. Especially not with Rob.
‘You didn’t arrive. So I thought I’d come to you. I guessed you’d become distracted.’ She looked at me as she said this. It was obvious she thought that I was the distraction and also obvious that she couldn’t understand why.
‘Oh hell. Yep. Sorry. Give me five minutes.’ Rob said, and headed out to the stairs.
‘Are you all right, dear?’ his mum asked, ‘Would you like a hot drink or something?’
‘I’ll just go and take a shower first but then I might take you up on that.’ I smiled at her and turned to head off to my room, not missing the glare Caroline was sending my way.
‘Bye Caroline. Have a lovely evening.’ I said, sounding as genuine as I could.
‘Thanks. I’m sure we will.’
Touché, Caroline.
Chapter Seventeen
I’d spent the last several hours on Jenny’s dress and my back was killing me. My thoughts had been darting about since the snowy encounter with Rob earlier and I needed to get it out of my mind. I thought a walk with Harold might help loosen up a few tense muscles and clear my head. I made my proposal to the Winchesters and received several offers of company which I thanked them for but declined. The only company I wanted tonight was Harold. I just hoped we didn’t meet a long legged lady dog because I really couldn’t take two hits of rejection quite so close together today.
Taking the dog out had been a good move. I was getting exercise which was good, and it was actually clearing my head. I knew I had to get a grip on this thing with Rob, seeing as how it was perfectly clear that, whatever he’d been thinking in the snow, it was unimportant enough to get knocked into oblivion the moment he saw Caroline standing there. It was stupid of me to ever think that he’d look at me in that way anyway. Every woman I’d ever seen him with was a variation on a theme of Carolines. A fact his mum had backed up when she had commented on his predilection for the “obvious” after he’d hastily made it plain that he and I were not a couple.
I was nothing like her – or them. And I didn’t particularly want to be. Ok, yes, I wanted longer legs but show me a woman that doesn’t! The rest of it I was actually quite happy with. But I wasn’t someone that would make Rob look twice – removal of stockings aside. That wasn’t something I could change and I had to deal with that. And I would. First off, I decided, crunching along with Harold, I would go back to seeing Rob just occasionally. That might happen on its own, of course. I mean, Rob had been trying to contact me because he wanted to check I was doing all right. Now he knows I am. And then the rest of it mostly came about by accident and because of the wedding, and that would be over soon.
I knew I’d be keeping in contact with Jenny as we’d grown close, which I was really happy about, and I absolutely loved Mike. Their happiness inspired me. I couldn’t wait to have a picture of them up on my studio wall. But keeping in touch with Jenny didn’t mean I had to keep in touch – too much – with Rob. At least not until I got over him. Right, so basically I was planning to call him in about five to ten years.
I let out an audible groan. Harold stopped and looked round at me, snow frozen on his whiskers.
‘Just ignore me, Harold,’ I said, which he took as a command and went back to investigating the snow as we marched along.
The walk I’d planned and the one I ended up on were very different in distance, as I somehow managed to take a wrong turn and found myself wandering into the village. It was lit with white Christmas lights and a beautiful, huge, Norwegian Pine stood in the square, looking like an enormous cake decoration with snow on its branches and a star twinkling from its summit. I slowed my pace and peered in shop windows, Harold patiently matching his walk to mine as I cast my eyes over books, antiques and jewellery. A couple of restaurants had their signs lit and appeared to be open, as was the local pub, signalled by the few souls desperately trying to gather warmth from a patio heater in the outside designated smoking area.
I wandered around in a loop and started to head back, passing an Italian restaurant on my way. I stopped to have a look at the menu. Pricey but the choice looked delicious. I walked on, glancing in as I passed the window. It looked busy, considering the period and the snow so I took that to mean it must have a pretty good reputation. Which was probably why Rob had chosen to take Caroline there. Her chartreuse coloured dress caught my eye, and I couldn’t help but stare. She was leaning towards him, her hand resting on his, his face serious. The candlelight highlighted their matching cheekbones. They looked perfect together. Eleanor might not be keen on Caroline but I was pretty sure she’d get some beautiful grandchildren from the deal. Caroline lifted her hand and laid it on Rob’s cheek. I backed up quickly, feeling sick, and promptly fell over the dog who had been sitting patiently the whole time I’d been torturing myself.
I lay in the snow for a few moments, feeling a little dazed, and a lot idiotic. Harold nuzzled my face.
‘I’m ok, boy.’ I shoved myself up, and picked up the lead, brushing snow off myself as the two of us turned back towards the Winchesters’ home.
It certainly seemed longer going back than it had coming and I hoped I was actually heading in the right direction. I’d texted Jenny to say we’d walked further than I planned but that I was ok so that they didn’t worry. I kept Harold to the inside of the lane, just in case, and I was glad he was wearing one of those reflective dog coats. My marshmallow jacket, whilst not reflective, was at least white so I hoped that we’d be visible enough to any cars that did pass, not that we�
��d seen a whole lot of traffic at all throughout the evening. Most people, sensibly, seemed to be staying indoors.
The sound of a car approaching from behind made me shift a little more to the side of the lane. It slowed, so I stopped and shuffled the dog and myself further in again, even though there was plenty of room by now. Whispers of anxiety started to build within me. I wasn’t really worried but I couldn’t shake off the knowledge that I was in the middle of nowhere, on my own, except for a dog. I had a good idea that Harold, soppy as he was, would challenge anyone who threatened me but there was no way I was putting that gorgeous dog in harm’s way. The vehicle still didn’t gain speed and I reluctantly turned my head to see what was going on.
The car pulled level.
‘You scared the crap out of me!’ I blasted Rob when he buzzed the window down, ‘I thought you were a kerb crawler or something.’
‘What are you doing out?’
‘I’m not on day release from the local prison. I am allowed out.’
‘You know what I mean.’
‘I fancied a walk so Harold came too. But I got a bit lost and ended up going a bit further than planned.’
‘You look frozen.’
‘I’m all right.’
‘Come on, get in. We can go the rest of the way back together.’
‘No really, it’s fine. It’s not far now.’ I paused and looked up at Rob, who was now out of the car and opening the boot for the dog to jump into anyway which he did with enthusiasm, ‘Is it?’
‘Not in the car, no. And Harold’s in there now so I don’t think walking down here on your own is a good idea.’
A nice warm car, which I had noticed immediately was Caroline-less, did seem appealing right now. But I didn’t really want to mess up Rob’s seats with my wet clothes. To be honest, I didn’t want to him to know I was wet at all, as that would mean explaining my clumsiness – which, after an evening spent with Caroline, would merely serve to highlight my lack of grace.
‘Why are you wet?’ He frowned at me.
‘Oh.’ So much for him not finding out about my escapade then. ‘Yes, that. I sort of fell over the dog. And don’t think I can’t see that smile just because it’s dark.’
‘I’m sorry. Are you ok?’
‘I’m fine. Luckily the snow cushioned my fall. But, as you pointed out, I am now wet which is why I’m not getting in your expensive car and ruining the seats.’
‘You won’t ruin them. They’re leather. It’ll wipe off. Come on, get in please, Izz. I don’t want you getting ill because you got cold and wet. Jenny would kill me for a start.’
‘I’ll be fine. You fuss too much.’ He opened his mouth to say something but I got there first. ‘So where’s Caroline?’
‘Home.’ he said, indicating with his hand for me to get in, which I did.
He shut the door, walked round to the driver’s side and stepped up into the car, pulling the door closed behind him. We drove along in silence which Rob seemed disinclined to break. I, on the other hand, didn’t last two minutes.
‘Did you have a nice evening?’
‘Nice enough.’
The silence returned.
‘So, you went for dinner?’
‘Yes.’
The words blood and stone came to mind.
‘So, what did you talk about? Anything interesting?’
‘No, not really.’
‘Right.’ That made sense. From what I’d seen and heard of Caroline, conversation wasn’t especially her strong suit, and I guessed that wasn’t Rob’s main interest in her anyway. I gave up, laid my head against the glass and rode the rest of the way home in the silence that had now once more descended.
We arrived back at the Winchesters’, the car tyres crunching under snow and gravel as Rob pulled up. I slid out of my seat and followed him to the back of the car to get Harold out. Rob popped the boot. The dog was sprawled on the boot floor, snoring. Rob chuckled.
‘You really did wear him out.’
‘Is he all right? I mean, he’ll be ok?’ I’d never had a dog. Could you over-walk them? I didn’t know. Oh my God, they’d invited me for Christmas and I’d broken their dog!
‘He’s fine!’ Rob rubbed my shoulder, reassuringly. ‘He’s just had a lot of excitement over the last few days and he’s catching up on his sleep. He always falls asleep in my car for some reason. Bearing in mind you did the same thing, I’m beginning to wonder if it’s got something to do with my scintillating company.’
‘Always a possibility.’
‘Thanks.’
‘You’re welcome.’
‘Come on, boy.’ Rob cajoled the dog a little, and as he shuffled towards the opening, Rob scooped him up and lifted him down out of the vehicle. Harold toddled off in the direction of the house as Rob reached in, grabbed the lead and closed the boot. He pressed a button and a soft sound signalled the car was now locked.
‘You need to get out of those clothes. Wet clothes, I mean.’ he amended hastily.
‘On my way,’ I hesitated, ‘I haven’t broken Harold, have I?’
Rob laughed and gave me a squish. ‘No. You haven’t broken him.’
I nodded, pushing away from the hug as politely as I could. All I could smell was Caroline’s perfume.
***
‘It’s perfect!’ Jenny said, looking at herself in the mirrors her dad had produced after a rummage in the loft, garage and next door, and which now gave Jen a full view of herself in her wedding dress.
‘I just need to take that tiny bit in that I’ve just pinned and then we’ll be done.’ I had to admit I was glad. It had been a lot of work and I’d been up until two the last couple of nights making sure it was finished with the decorative work we’d designed. Jenny had said to leave it off but that wasn’t my style. We’d decided on a design and that was exactly what she was going to get. The look on everyone’s face as she stood there, supported by her dad and brother, told me the long hours had been worth it.
‘Ok, let’s get you out then.’
Rob and his dad left the room for a few minutes as Eleanor and I helped Jen out of the dress, and her braces, and she pulled her t-shirt and leggings back on. The men wandered back in, just as I was hanging the dress back up from a window catch. Or trying to. I really did need longer legs.
‘Need a hand with that?’ Rob asked, taking it from me and hooking it easily.
‘Jen, have you seen–’ Mike took a step back as a cacophony of noises and shouts greeted him. He’d had his head down, looking at something on his phone, when he’d stepped in – but at the noise he looked up, startled. The moment he’d walked in, I’d yanked Rob’s bulk in front of the dress and then stood in front of him, my arms spread. Logically I knew I wasn’t adding to the disguise factor but panic won out over logic. After hiding the dress from Mike for the past couple of weeks, I wasn’t about to have him see it two days before the wedding.
‘Sorry, sorry!’ Mike slapped a hand over his eyes and made to go out backwards.
‘Don’t do that! You’ll trip and that’s all we need!’ Eleanor bustled up to him, ‘Keep your hand up. The conservatory is out of bounds, Michael!’ she chided him gently.
‘Sorry. Forgot.’
John rolled his eyes, smiled and wandered out after them.
When they’d gone, Jenny looked worried, ‘Do you think he saw it?’
‘No, I don’t.’ She didn’t look convinced, ‘Really, Jen, I don’t. He had his head down when he came in, and by the time he looked up, this lump,’ I thumbed at Rob, ‘was blocking his view of the dress completely.’
‘Er, excuse me? Lump?’
I ignored him. ‘Honestly, Jen. He didn’t.’
‘Jen, don’t worry. Not only was I in front of it, but Izzy was in front of me, with her arms spread out, so that made all the difference.’
Jenny’s face lost its concern, replaced with a giggle. I gave her brother a look. ‘You’re hilarious.’
He pulled a face back and then did
an impression of me jumping in front of him with my arms out. His sister giggled again. I covered my smile, and looked at his bare feet.
‘Mind your feet. I wouldn’t want you to step on a pin.’ My tone suggested that was exactly what I wouldn’t mind right at that moment. Only because I knew it wasn’t going to happen. My mega magnetic pin cushion had been scooted over the floor several times as I already had anxiety about the dog coming across one. Rob wiggled his eyebrows at me.
‘I’ll get onto this now,’ I said, pointing at the dress. ‘It won’t take long.’
‘Ok, I’m going to go and find my fiancé and have a talk.’ She wheeled out and I looked at Rob.
‘Do you think he’s in trouble?’
‘Only for about a minute. He didn’t see anything. No harm done.’
‘Sorry about manhandling you. You were the biggest thing close to hand.’
He laughed, ‘First I’m a lump, now I’m a thing. Talk about being objectified.’
‘Oh pfft! You love it.’
‘Maybe.’
I tossed a look over my shoulder and rolled my eyes at him before reaching up for the dress. He leant over me and got it back down.
‘Thanks.’ I said, taking it and turning it inside out to look at where I needed to make this final alteration.
‘It looks amazing, Izz. You’re amazing. I can’t believe you’ve done all this in so short a time.’
‘Needs must.’ I said, concentrating on the dress.
‘You’ve made her so happy.’
‘Rubbish. She’s marrying someone she’s crazy about. That’s what’s making her happy. I’m just helping with the decoration of something that’s already beautiful.’
‘Izzy, she wanted a beautiful dress. You’ve given her one. It’s…’ he paused, ‘added to her happiness immensely.’ He was looking out of the window, and I knew he was waiting for me to argue.
I smiled. ‘Ok, I’ll give you that one. And it’s been a pleasure. She deserves it.’
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