‘Oh, well, erm…’ Livvie had resigned herself to having a permanently scarlet face that evening.
‘Yes…?’ Molly winked at her. ‘There’s no need to be shy with us, we share everything, don’t we lasses?’
‘Well, maybe not everything,’ said Kitty. ‘But most things…’
Livvie cleared her throat and launched into how she’d ended up staying at Dale View Cottage; ever-so-slightly aware that the Prosecco had loosened her tongue a little.
‘Oh, you poor thing, going through all that just before Christmas.’ Kitty rubbed Livvie’s arm sympathetically.
‘That Donny sounds like a right bastard,’ said Molly, taking a drink of her wine. ‘I’d have ripped his balls off.’
Livvie’s eyes widened.
‘She would, as well,’ said Vi.
‘Anyway, that’s all very well, but don’t you think fate’s trying to tell the pair of you something here? I’m a great believer in fate, by the way,’ said Molly.
‘She is,’ said Rosie. ‘Molly and Camm are a classic example of it bringing people together who are meant to be, well, together.’
‘Oh … right.’ Thoughts were stampeding through Livvie’s mind. Could fate be the reason she and Zander had been thrown together at the cottage? There were certainly a few things that would suggest so.
‘Look at it this way,’ said Vi, ‘don’t you think it’s odd that the pair of you were having trouble with your partners and ended up on the holiday cottage website at exactly the same time?’
‘Well…’ Livvie stole a glance at Zander. He was looking heart-stoppingly handsome with his strong jaw, punctuated by the dimple in his chin, his bright blue eyes that seemed extra dazzling tonight, and his mouth that permanently turned up at the corners and made you just want to kiss it. Oh, and don’t get her onto those broad shoulders. ‘I suppose it’s understandable that Zander should have been looking at it; it’s his cottage after all. And as for me, it was the first website that came up in the search, so maybe there could be something in it. But there’s one major thing that kind of scuppers your theory; Zander is still with his girlfriend. Unlike Donny and me, they haven’t split up.’
‘Yet,’ said Molly.
‘Well, from the way he’s been looking at you, I’d say it’s only a matter of time.’ Vi peered at her over the rim of her glass of apple juice.
Kitty scrunched up her nose. ‘I’m afraid I have to agree.’
‘Me, too,’ said Rosie.
Just as Livvie’s mind began to process what her new friends had been saying, Bea declared the buffet open and everyone joined the queue for food. She felt a hand squeeze the top of her arm and turned to see Zander looking down at her, smiling. ‘You okay? he asked. ‘You seem to be enjoying yourself, chatting with the girls.’
Her heart flipped as she looked up into those blue eyes she’d just been thinking about. ‘I’m having a great time, thanks. They’re lovely, so welcoming, I feel like I’ve known them for ages.’
‘I thought you’d fit in well.’
His hand was still on her arm, triggering a flurry of butterflies in her stomach. An image of him folding his arms around her and pulling her close flashed through her mind. Could the girls be right about them, she wondered? Did fate really exist? She suddenly remembered Mel. There was no way she was going to even think about having a relationship – or dalliance even – with a man who already had a girlfriend; that would make her as bad as Donny and there was no way she wanted to be put in the same category as that loser.
‘Hello, my dear, are you enjoying yourself?’ Livvie’s thoughts were interrupted by the plummy tones of a tall, skinny Boy George whose glasses were perched perilously on the end of his aquiline nose. ‘I’m Jonty, by the way, landlord of the Sunne.’
‘Oh, I’m pleased to meet you.’ She beamed at him. ‘I’m having a lovely time, thank you. I’m Livvie.’
‘Pleased to meet you, Livvie.’
‘Livvie’s staying with me up at cottage,’ said Zander. ‘She’s a friend.’
Livvie’s heart plummeted at Zander firmly placing her in the “friend” category.
‘Ah, right, I see.’ Jonty looked from one to the other; he clearly didn’t see at all.
‘Great outfit, by the way. And apologies for us not dressing-up but our trip was a spur of the moment thing and so we had no idea about the eighties evening,’ said Zander.
‘Thank you, old chap, and no worries, you’re here and that’s the main thing. Wait till you see Bea in her outfit. As soon as she’s done in the kitchen she’ll be stepping into a rather glamorous Cher costume; it’s really quite something.’
Zander laughed. ‘We’ll keep our eyes peeled for her, won’t we?’
Livvie nodded and did her best to make her smile reach her eyes. Despite her misgivings about Zander being in a relationship, it didn’t ease the agony of being officially friend-zoned by him.
21
Zander
Bea’s food was as delicious as Zander remembered, offering new twists on traditional buffet classics as well as throwing in a few unexpected bitesize delicacies.
Once they were all back at the table and tucking into their plates of food, Alf showed a sudden interest, leaving his cosy spot by the fire and heading over to the friends, his nose sniffing the air.
‘These korma parcels won’t do your insides any good, young man. And don’t forget, I know you’ve already had your tea, so I think you can get back to your buddies who are far better trained than you are. Go on, scoot!’ Zander pointed to where Nomad and Scruff were keeping a close eye on proceedings by the fire. ‘Go on, go!’ He pointed and Alf, reluctantly, followed the direction of his dad’s finger, turning occasionally to make sure he hadn’t changed his mind and was happy to share his meal with him.
Zander gave him a stern look and Alf continued on his way, before flumping on the floor and resting his head on Nomad’s back.
‘Oh, that face,’ said Jimby.
‘I know, it kills me to talk to him in that tone, but where food’s concerned, I’m afraid it’s necessary or he’d be up here helping himself.’
‘I used to have a Labrador like that; Humphrey was the hungriest dog ever,’ said Kitty.
‘Make that greediest, Kitts,’ Ollie said with a laugh.
‘Hmm, I suppose you have a point, but he was gorgeous and had so much personality.’ Kitty smiled fondly.
‘He did, and the windiest backside from here to next week,’ said Molly, making everyone laugh.
‘Ahh, Alf is so special, I could take him home with me,’ said Livvie.
Zander glanced across at her and something deep inside him stirred, fanning the flames that were burning ever brighter in the pit of his stomach; she was glowing, her eyes were sparkling and her full, plump lips were just calling out for him to kiss her. This was more than just some basic attraction, it was something far deeper, far more primal and the more he spent time with her, the stronger it was becoming. It was killing him not to do anything about it, and there had been a couple of near misses, but his conscience kept telling him he was still in a relationship with Mel – albeit dysfunctional and without depth on either side.
There was one thing Zander was sure of; he’d never felt this way with Clara and he certainly didn’t feel this way with Mel.
‘Is everyone ready for a bop?’ asked Jimby. ‘Or does anyone fancy another drink here?’ The food had been cleared away and numbers were thinning as people headed to the village hall.
Zander still found it disconcerting to see his friend dressed as Phil Oakey. ‘A bop sounds good, but I’ve got Alf and I’m not so sure he’d agree, especially with the volume of the music. Though, if you want to go, Livvie, I don’t mind waiting here for you.’
‘Much as I’d love a boogie, I’m happy to stay here with you and Alf.’ She smiled at him.
‘Well, I’m ready to make some eighties shapes on the dance floor,’ said Molly. ‘I think you blokes have exhausted the topic of Landies,
tractors, farm machinery, sheep, cows and other such boring bollocks; it’s time we dragged you away from it.’
‘Ah, we can always rely on good old Moll not to mince her words.’ Camm smiled and downed the dregs of his pint.
‘Sometimes it’s necessary where you lot are concerned.’
Jimby scratched his head. ‘You’re very welcome to drop Alf off at our house, he gets on alright with our spaniels Jarvis and Jerry.’
‘Or he’s welcome to keep Ethel and Mabel company; Eth’s secretly got the hots for him,’ said Kitty. ‘And Mabes is happy as long as she’s having a cuddle; she’s pretty calm for a working cocker.’
‘Actually, Noushka’s babysitting there so that might be the better option,’ said Vi. ‘There’s just the dogs at our place, and they’ll get over-excited when they see their buddy Alf, which has the potential to be the perfect recipe for mischief. They’re like the canine version of Jimby. No offence.’
‘None taken,’ said the man in question feigning a hurt expression.
‘It’s true though, Jimbo.’ Molly nudged him affectionately.
Zander thought for a moment; he knew just how easily Alf was led astray and he didn’t want to risk him behaving badly in someone else’s house. ‘In that case, if you don’t mind, Kitty, Ollie, then I’d love to take you up on your offer, thanks.’
‘That’s absolutely fine.’ Ollie pulled on his coat. ‘We might as well head over there now, get him settled in. Our two hounds are going to be over the moon when they see him.’
‘Okay,’ said Zander. He turned to Livvie. ‘Won’t be long.’
‘That was painless,’ said Zander. He and Ollie returned to the pub on a breath of crisp, fresh air. ‘Alf settled straight away.’
‘Yep, after Ethel’s raptures calmed down, the pair snuggled up in front of the fire like an old married couple, with little Mabel squidged in the middle.’ Ollie laughed. ‘But, by heck, it’s freezing out there; I know it’s not far to the village hall, but you want wrapping up.’
‘Right, come on you lot, there’s no time to waste.’ Jimby jumped up, rubbing his hands together. ‘My feet are itching to dance.’
‘Oh, Lord, help us,’ said Vi, earning a giggle from the others.
As they were preparing to leave, a tall man dressed as Rod Stewart with a gravity defying spikey blond wig stopped, took Zander’s hand and gave it an enthusiastic shake. ‘Zander, bonny lad, it’s good to see you.’ The booming tones of Wearside Geordie gave the speaker’s identity away.
‘Gerald, it’s good to see you, too; you’re looking well.’ Zander took in the slimline physic of the octogenarian who’d had a heart attack the previous summer.
‘Aye, my missus is keeping me on the straight and narrow with me food, aren’t you, Mary, pet?’
‘Aye, I am that, Gerry.’
Zander struggled not to laugh at Mary who was dressed as Madonna complete with a pair of the largest conical breasts he’d ever seen.
‘Flaming Nora, I’m not sure that’s what Jean-Paul Gaultier had in mind when he designed Madonna’s outfit,’ Molly said under her breath, making Vi snort. ‘They’re more like traffic cones.’
‘Mind where you’re pointing them things, Mary, you’ll have someone’s eye out,’ Jimby said, chuckling.
‘Aye, they’re like a couple of nuclear weapons, Big M,’ said Camm.
‘Well, you’d better watch out the pair of you, hadn’t you?’ Mary gave a gap-toothed grin.
‘And who’s this bonny lass here, then?’ Gerald asked, eyeing Livvie up and down. He reached into the pocket of his skin-tight leopard-print leggings and pulled out a pair of false teeth, popping them into his mouth with a rattle.
Molly leaned in to Livvie. ‘And there was me thinking he was pleased to see me.’
Livvie did her best to suppress a giggle.
‘Ah, you can always tell when he spots a bonny lass; the teeth go straight in.’ Mary put her hands on her generous hips and rolled her eyes.
It was Livvie’s turn to snort and Zander pressed his lips together, trying not to snigger. ‘This is Livvie,’ he said. ‘She’s staying with me up at the cottage; or rather, I’m staying with her.’
‘Don’t ask; it’s complicated.’ Livvie released her giggle. ‘Pleased to meet you.’
‘Likewise, pet. I hope you have a lovely stay. Mind, once you’ve been here for a couple of days, you won’t want to leave. Isn’t that right, Gerry?’
‘Aye, it is that, my angel of loveliness. Mary and me originally came here for a week in a holiday cottage, and that was it; we knew we had to live here, didn’t we, pet?’ He moved his ill-fitting false teeth around his mouth with his tongue, making them rattle.
‘Aye, we did, and mark my words, you’ll be just the same. In fact we’re taking bets on how long it is before Zander moves here full time – only joking, pet-lamb.’ She patted him sturdily on the arm.
Zander laughed, but he was beginning to understand what the couple meant; every time he visited Lytell Stangdale, the harder he found it to leave. Would Livvie feel the same way, he wondered?
Outside, the temperature had dipped dramatically and a thick frost had crept over everything in its path. Zander could see that Livvie was a little unsteady on her feet after her glasses of Prosecco. ‘You can link my arm if you like, the trod looks a bit icy.’
‘I think I will, or I’ll end up going in a heap on my bottom – which I know is well-padded but I still don’t fancy falling over and embarrassing myself.’
‘What do you mean, your bottom’s well-padded?’ Zander frowned.
‘Well, my family and Donny are always telling me I’m chunky and that I have a big bum.’
Zander could feel his anger slowly rising. ‘There’s absolutely nothing wrong with your bottom, it’s perfect.’ The words were out before he had a chance to stop them.
‘Oh.’ He was aware of Livvie looking up at him. ‘No one’s ever said that to me before. In fact no one’s ever said any part of me’s perfect before.’
He glanced down at her. Oh, Lord, those eyes, that full mouth, that beautiful face. He swallowed and pushed down the urge to kiss her. ‘You shouldn’t listen to Donny or your family; they’re just trying to put you down and push their insecurities onto you. It’s wrong.’
‘Come on you love-birds.’ Jimby was waiting at the door of the village hall to explain to Harry Cornforth why Zander and Livvie didn’t have tickets.
‘Yep, we’d better catch up,’ said Zander. He thanked Jimby silently for sending him an excuse not to have to dig himself out of a great big hole of embarrassment.
Inside, the vast room was heaving with people; disco lights strobed around the space which smelt of warm bodies and floor wax. The nostalgic tones of The Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian” was blasting out of the speakers and the friends wasted no time in hitting the dance floor, doing the sand-dance and falling about with laughter.
Zander couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much fun or laughed so hard. Livvie had thrown herself wholeheartedly into the evening, sheer joy etched all over her face. He couldn’t imagine Mel letting her hair down in such a way, not caring if she looked silly. In fact, he knew that Mel would have looked down her nose at an event like this, held in a little village hall. “Parochial” she would have sneeringly called it. Unlike Livvie; lovely Livvie, who was the polar opposite and was clearly loving it.
For the first time in a long time, Zander felt he could be himself, and it was utterly refreshing.
After dancing to a medley of eighties hits, including David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”, “1999” by Prince and “I Feel For You” by Chaka Kahn, Vi declared she needed a sit down and the friends were keen to keep her company.
They’d gathered some chairs together while the men went to the hatch in the wall to the kitchen which served as the bar.
Zander stood behind Livvie, sipping on a shandy, watching as she chatted away with her new friends, her face happy and animated, scrunching her
nose when she giggled in the way that made his heart race.
‘You sure you two aren’t an item?’ Jimby asked, raising his voice to be heard above the music.
Zander shook his head. ‘I’m afraid not.’
‘Ah, so you’d like to be?’ Ollie joined them.
Zander looked at the two men and nodded. ‘It’s crazy, I’ve only known Livvie since yesterday but I feel like I’ve known her forever.’ He rubbed his hand over his chin, hoping he didn’t sound foolish. ‘I don’t know what it is, but she’s triggered something deep in here, that I’ve never felt before.’ He pressed his hand to his chest.
‘I know that feeling.’ Ollie glanced across at Kitty.
‘Aye, me too, mate,’ said Jimby. ‘Sounds like you’ve met “the one”.’
‘Shit, I wish it was as easy as that,’ said Zander. ‘I’m still in a relationship – at least, I think I am – and Livvie’s fresh out of one. I live in Leeds and she lives in Rickelthorpe which is a good eighty miles away from me, we’ve both got jobs to think about…’
‘So where is she then, this girlfriend of yours? We’ve never met her and you’ve visited here loads of times; how come she never comes with you?’ asked Jimby.
Zander released a noisy sigh; he knew what Jimby was driving at. ‘It’s a long story, but she’s gone to London to party with friends for Christmas – won’t be back until the New Year. And she’s never come here because she says she doesn’t like the countryside.’
The expression on their faces said it all, though they were too polite to articulate their thoughts.
‘I know what you’re thinking; when I say it out loud, I realise it doesn’t sound good.’ Zander gave a half laugh. ‘I’m suddenly beginning to realise how incompatible we are.’
‘Unlike you and Livvie,’ said Ollie.
Before Zander had chance to reply Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now” boomed from the speakers. Livvie turned from her conversation with the girls. ‘Ooh, I love this song,’ she said, grabbing his hand and dragging him onto the dance floor.
A Christmas Kiss Page 15