Escape To Christmas at Corner Cottage

by Sarah Hope

  Taking a deep breath, Luke shrugged his shoulders. ‘I wasn’t planning to.’

  This would be the last time she’d see him. She wouldn’t see him again. She blinked the tears away, she needed to tell him then. She had to. ‘I need to tell you something then.’

  ‘Look, I know you’re sorry. I get that. I’m sorry too. Like I said, if I’d known, if you had told me what you were thinking...’ He held his hands out in front of him, his palms up.

  ‘No, it’s not that.’ Glancing up at the ceiling, Chrissy hugged his jacket to her. ‘I’m pregnant.’

  ‘Pregnant?’ Dropping his hands to his sides, Luke stared at her.

  ‘Yes. I didn’t know how to tell you.’

  ‘Is it mine?’

  Had he really asked that? Who did he think she was? Narrowing her eyes, she took a deep breath before throwing his jacket on the table to her side and turning on her heels and coming face to face with Natalie. How long had she been standing there? Had she heard? ‘Natalie?’

  ‘I just popped in to see if you were both ok.’ Her face blushed ashen.

  ‘Sorry, I need to go.’ Looking at the floor, Chrissy mumbled as she ran out of the marquee. Natalie had heard. Luke thought she’d been sleeping around. Everything was wrong. Everything. She needed to get the twins and get home.

  Chapter 24

  Watching Evie and Sophia pulling presents from underneath the tree, the room buzzing with excitement, Chrissy plastered a smile on her face and tried to keep her eyes open. She couldn’t have had more than an hours sleep after getting home from the wedding last night. She and Luke’s conversation had been on constant replay in her mind.

  ‘Mum, look! I’ve got the guitar I’ve been asking for!’ Grinning, Sophia held up a green acoustic guitar.

  ‘Wow. That looks great.’ Chrissy smiled, a real one this time. Sophia would find a voucher for guitar lessons further under the Christmas tree.

  ‘And I’ve got the roller skates I wanted!’ Pushing the robin adorned paper aside, Evie pulled a pair of bright pink skates from a box.

  ‘Maybe we can go for a walk and test them out after Christmas dinner then.’

  ‘CAN I HOLD STAR’S LEAD?’ Sophia held out her hand.

  ‘Yes, here you are.’ Handing the lead over to Sophia, Chrissy watched as she ran ahead to catch up with Evie, Star bounding along beside her. It had only taken Evie a few minutes and one stumble to get used to her new roller skates before she had zoomed off up the path.

  ‘Girls, we’ll go this way.’ Catching up with the twins at the end of the lane, she pointed to the road out of the village. She didn’t want to go past Natalie and Graham’s house. Luke would likely be round there all day and, even if he wasn’t, she didn’t want to run into Natalie. Not now that she knew about the baby. She shook her head, she wasn’t even going to think about having to face her on the school run in January.

  ‘Can we go to the basketball court? They’ll be no bumps there and I’ll be able to go super-fast.’ Evie spun around on her roller skates, making circles around Chrissy.

  ‘Yes, we can do.’ Pulling her scarf up over her nose, Chrissy nodded.

  Following the girls as they sped ahead, Chrissy checked her mobile. Nothing. No missed call or text message. She shoved it back into her pocket. What had she expected? Luke had made himself perfectly clear last night. She’d just have to get used to the idea of this baby having no father. Wiping her eyes with the tip of her gloved fingers, she watched the girls as they laughed and joked together, each trying to tag the other with Star barking excitedly at the commotion. They were happy. She must be doing something right at least. She’d cope. She’d have to. The girls would probably be overjoyed anyway.

  ‘MUM, ARE YOU OK?’ SKATING up on her roller skates, Evie came to a stop in front of Chrissy.

  ‘Of course I am.’ Smiling, Chrissy held out her arms, wrapping them around Evie as she skated into them.

  ‘You just look a bit sad, that’s all.’ Looking up at Chrissy, Evie frowned.

  ‘Honestly, I’m fine. Thank you for asking though.’ Chrissy kissed her on top of her head. ‘Are you enjoying your Christmas?’

  ‘Yes, definitely! I like being at home for the whole of the day because we can play with our toys.’

  ‘It’s nice, isn’t it? You go off and play with Sophia and Star. I’m fine.’

  ‘Ok. I love you, Mum.’ Pulling away from her, Evie grinned before skating off.

  Turning away, Chrissy walked towards the bin, pulling receipts from her pocket. She didn’t want the girls to see the tears rolling down her cheeks. It wasn’t Andrew she was missing, it was the thought of what she could have had with Luke and the knowledge that it was all her fault that she wasn’t sharing today with him.

  She tore the receipts into tiny pieces and watched as they fell like confetti into the bin. That was her life at the moment, broken, and she knew there was a long path ahead to get back on track. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. Today she just needed to focus on keeping a happy face on in front of the girls, tomorrow when they went to Andrew’s, she’d allow herself to think about it all properly.

  ‘Mum! Look, it’s snowing! It’s actually snowing on Christmas Day!’

  Looking up at the sky, Chrissy allowed the small, cold snowflakes to land on her face. Sophia was right, it was actually snowing and the pure white sky was full of it. Turning around, she smiled. Sophia was spinning around, her arms wide and her mouth open, catching snowflakes on her tongue. Evie raced around the basketball court, every now and then cruising on her skates, letting the momentum propel her along. Star, whose lead had been dropped, jumped excitedly in the air trying to catch the flakes as they drifted down to settle on the tarmac.

  ‘Right, we’d best head back now and start dinner. You two can go and play in the garden while I’m cooking, if you like?’

  BY THE TIME THEY ROUNDED the corner to their lane, the snow was falling thick and fast and had already covered the ground in a soft, white blanket at least an inch thick.

  ‘Look, Mum, Luke’s here.’ Skating back and circling Chrissy, Evie’s voice was softened by the snow surrounding them.

  ‘Luke? Are you sure it’s him?’ He couldn’t be here. Why would he be? Not unless he was here to tell her he was going up North now, earlier than he had planned. Or else, maybe he wanted to know why she hadn’t told him about the baby when she had found out.

  ‘Yep, definitely him.’

  ‘Right, ok.’ She didn’t want to deal with this now. She didn’t even want to see him.

  ‘Come on, then. He’ll be covered in snow and look like a snowman by the time we get there.’ Evie laughed. ‘Or shall I take the key and go and let him in?’

  ‘Good idea.’ Rummaging in her pockets, she located the front door key and passed it to Evie. At least with the girls here, he couldn’t say much. He might be annoyed with her, but he wouldn’t say anything in front of them.

  ‘Ok, see you in a minute.’ Evie skated back to the cottage, the fallen snow slowing her down.

  Slowly, Chrissy made her way down the lane, she’d just give them time to get inside. Once Luke realised that he wouldn’t be able to have any time with her alone then hopefully he’d just go, he wasn’t the sort of person to make a scene in front of the girls.

  GENTLY PUSHING THE gate open, Chrissy looked up towards the door.

  ‘Luke.’ Sat on the front step with his hands shoved in his pockets and his beanie hat covered in snow, Luke looked up.

  ‘Chrissy.’ Standing up, he brushed the snow from the back of his jeans.

  ‘I thought Evie was letting you in?’

  ‘She offered, but I was rather hoping to be able to talk to you by ourselves.’

  ‘Right.’ Glancing behind her, she stood aside as he made his way down the path. Maybe he’d just leave.

  ‘Look, the way I reacted last night...I’m sorry.’ Standing in front of her, he pulled his beanie hat off, running his hand through his hair.

&nbs
p; Looking down at her feet, Chrissy stamped until the snow had flown from her trainers.

  ‘Please, say something.’

  Raising her head, she looked him in the eyes. He looked as though he hadn’t slept at all, dark circles surrounded his bloodshot eyes and the usual stubble had grown that tiny bit too long to be fashionable. ‘I can’t believe you had to ask if it was yours.’

  ‘It’s no worse than what you accused me of, not if you think about it.’

  ‘I guess so.’ He had a point, he must have felt as she did when she’d told him why she had finished with him.

  ‘I shouldn’t have said it though. I know you, and I didn’t need to ask if I was the father. I guess it was just a shock reaction.’

  Nodding, Chrissy clasped her hands in front of her. ‘I’m sorry too. I really am. I completely jumped to the wrong conclusion about you and Laura and ended up spoiling what we had. I should have known you wouldn’t treat me like that.’ She cleared her throat. ‘Are you leaving today? Is that why you’ve come round?’

  Looking past Chrissy and out onto the lane, Luke blinked against the snow before looking back at her. ‘I don’t have to.’

  ‘You’re not leaving early?’

  ‘No, I mean, I don’t have to go.’

  ‘Oh, I hope you’re plans haven’t fallen through? Did you lose the hotel?’

  ‘No, the hotel still needs renovating, but I’ve spoken to a mate of mine who lives a few miles away from it. He’s happy to oversee the project.’

  Where was he going then? Had he decided to go travelling again? He had when he was younger, maybe he had caught the travelling bug again. Maybe Chrissy had driven him away. ‘Where are you going then?’

  Shaking his head, he dismissed her question, instead, he took her hands in his. ‘Did you mean it when you told me you loved me?’

  ‘What? Well, yes. I did.’ He had heard her then.

  ‘Good, because I feel the same way.’ Hooking his finger under her chin, he gently tipped her head up. ‘I love you, Chrissy, and if you still feel the same way, I’d like us to make a real go of it. I want to be a proper dad to our child. I want to be a family, you, me, the twins and our baby.’

  ‘You don’t just feel like you have to? Because you don’t. I can cope on my own.’ Looking into his clear blue eyes, Chrissy didn’t even need to hear his answer to know how he felt, to know that he wasn’t doing this out of obligation but because he did truly love her. Closing her eyes, she let him kiss her, his soft lips warm against hers.

  ‘Is that the answer you were looking for?’ Grinning, Luke wrapped his arms around her, leaning his head against hers.

  ‘It is indeed.’ Breathing in his aftershave, she let herself sink into his embrace. ‘I love you, Luke.’

  ‘I love you too, Chrissy.’

  Pulling away, Chrissy looked back at the cottage and laughed. ‘I think we’ve been rumbled.’ Pointing to the living room window, she watched as Evie and Sophia waved at them, their lips pursed as they pretended to blow kisses out of the window, teasing them.

  ‘Oh, whoops.’ Turning to face the cottage, he waved at them.

  Holding out her hand, she waited until she felt Luke’s warm skin through her gloves and led him towards the cottage. ‘Are you staying for Christmas dinner?’

  ‘I was hoping you’d offer, Natalie’s terrible at cooking.’

  ‘Oi. Is that all you’re here for?’ Laughing, Chrissy patted him with her free hand.

  ‘That and the fact that I’m excited to start our new life together.’

  Epilogue

  ‘Anyone for gravy?’ Holding the gravy jug, Chrissy looked down the long table filling Natalie and Graham’s family room.

  ‘I do.’ Sophia waved her hand and pushed her green paper hat away from her eyes.

  ‘Here you go.’ Leaning over the table, Chrissy poured the gravy. ‘Evie, Adam, Kane, do you want any?’

  ‘I’ll have some please, love?’ Shifting the small bundle in his lap, Luke grinned at Chrissy.

  Making her way down the table towards Luke, Chrissy bent her head and pecked him on the cheek. ‘Did you hear that Harry? Daddy wants gravy.’ Placing her hand on Harry’s small blonde head, she smiled. ‘Do you think he’s enjoying his first Christmas?’

  ‘A noisy, chaotic family Christmas, what’s not to like?’ Gripping Chrissy’s hand with his free one, Luke pulled her down towards him, kissing her on the lips. ‘Happy ‘Getting Back Together Anniversary’, Chrissy.’

  ‘You too.’

  If you have enjoyed reading ‘Escape To...Christmas at Corner Cottage’, please check out these other novels by Sarah Hope:

  ‘Escape To...The Little Beach Café’ (Book 1 in the ‘Escape To...’ series)’

  STUCK IN A RELENTLESS cycle of twelve-hour shifts, dodging bailiffs and motherhood-guilt, Pippa Jenkins can't see a way out.

  Until, that is, she receives an opportunity of a lifetime and she inherits her Great Aunt's cafe by the beach.

  Does she risk the little she does have to follow her dreams?

  Moving her young son to the seaside to run The Little Beach Cafe proves harder than Pippa ever imagined, particularly because she can't actually bake.

  With the help of new friends, can she make a success of her new venture or will she have to return to her life in the City?

  When her son's father turns up, will he be able to win her back or will she find love elsewhere?

  A single parent romance filled with self-belief, second chances and love.

  http://mybook.to/ETTheLittleBeachCafe

  ‘Izzy’s Story: Life After Separation (The Happiness Club Book 1)’

  HEARTBROKEN AND ALONE, Izzy looks up at the dingy bedsit her and her two children must now call home.

  When Izzy's husband tells her their marriage is over and refuses to leave the marital home, she loses everything: her home, her job, her friends.

  She finds herself living in her brother's bedsit, trying to scrape enough money together from the state benefits she is forced to claim to feed herself and her children.

  With her confidence plunging, she struggles to recognise herself and her new life.

  A chance glance at a poster, and a little encouragement from a friend, leads her to join The Happiness Club, a support group for the divorced and separated. Will they offer her the understanding and insight into her new role and help her to carve a new future?

  The rollercoaster of emotions felt after a marriage breakdown are portrayed honestly and realistically in a way any newly single mum will be able to empathise with.

  http://mybook.to/izzysstory

  ‘Izzy’s Story: Moving On (The Happiness Club Book 2)’

  FOLLOW IZZY AS SHE continues on her rollercoaster journey as a single mum.

  The marital home is sold and she knows she must start to move on. But can she?

  She faces practical obstacles such as, who will rent a house to an unemployed single mother to two children? And she faces hurdles of the heart, will she be able to win Matt back? Does she even want to? Does he?

  Will Izzy come to realise that she is on her own?

  That what once was her and Matt against the world is now her, just her?

  Follow her as she dips her toe into the dating game and comes to terms with life in a part-time family.

  http://mybook.to/izzysstorymovingon

  ‘A Locket of Memories’

  A STORY OF TWO NEIGHBOURS and an unlikely friendship.

  Wracked with guilt and loss, the forced adoption of Enid’s son has painfully shaped her life. For the last sixty three years she has dedicated herself to finding her son, but with the cruel onset of angina and health problems she is only too aware that time may be running out.

  Across the street Lynette discovers that her loving husband has been leading a double life. She struggles to hold her family together whilst he tears it apart.

  A tragic night’s events throws the two women together, igniting a friendship that will shape both the
ir futures.

  http://mybook.to/alocketofmemories

  If you would like regular updates and fancy popping along to Sarah Hope’s Facebook page, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/HappinessHopeDreams/

  About the Author

  Sarah Hope lives in Central England with her two children and an array of pets. When she became a single parent, a little under five years ago, she craved novels with single parent characters who she could relate to. Finding the supply of fiction featuring single parents limited, she decided to write the stories she wanted to read. It has become a passion of hers to write true-to-life fiction and to portray the emotional turmoil and some of the repercussions that are faced during the life-changing events of separation and divorce,

  Read more at Sarah Hope’s site.