‘I like that thought.’ His words sent a warm glow through her. ‘And I can remember us all dancing and having the best time. Oh, and Jimby’s dancing; it was hilarious.’ She couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Though, I can kind of remember him going flying and sending Lycra Len’s drink all over us.’
She took a sip of her tea. And I can remember how wonderful it felt to have your arms around me, how it felt to press my face to your broad, strong chest and hearing your heart beating. It felt perfect and I never wanted that moment to end.
They exchanged a look for several long moments. Was he feeling the same way as she was? She wished she knew.
Zander broke the silence. ‘Ah, yes, good old Jimby. He’s the most accident prone bloke I’ve ever met. I’m surprised he hasn’t ended up with some serious injuries before now.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Actually, I think I’ll still nip down to the shop to get some bits and bobs to tide us over before it shuts for the day, but when I get back, remind me to tell you about the photo shoot last summer; I still have a good laugh whenever I think about it.’
‘Ooh, I’m intrigued; I can’t wait to hear about it.’ She watched Zander down the dregs of his tea.’ Would you like me to come with you?’
‘Not unless you really want to. I’ll take Alf with me, give him a quick run around on the track along the moor. I won’t be long; the shop closes soon so I’m just going to throw my clothes on and have a shower when I get back. I’m glad I de-iced the car earlier though, the frost was thicker than I expected and it took a while.’
‘I guess that doesn’t give me enough time to sort this birds’ nest of mine out.’ She pointed to her hair which she was dreading taking a brush through.
Zander laughed, getting to his feet. ‘It’ll just be a fleeting visit, but if the roads are fine we can both pop down tomorrow; it’s a great little shop that stocks pretty much everything you can think of, deli stuff too, with a tea shop on the side – I’m told Lucy’s famous for her chocolate-dipped flapjacks.’
‘I’ll look forward to that, it sounds great and I absolutely adore chocolate-dipped flapjacks.’
From the kitchen window, Livvie watched Zander’s Jeep pull away and head off steadily down the lane. The view of the moors was still stunning, covered in its thick eiderdown of sparkling white. Overhead, the sky was crisp and blue, with no hint of the blizzards they’d been warned of. She watched a blackbird pulling the blood-red berries from a holly tree in the garden; she hadn’t really given it much thought before now, but the stunning bright fruit weren’t there just to look pretty, they were obviously a useful winter food reserve for wildlife. The blackbird was soon joined by a robin who hopped along the snow-topped dry-stone-wall, tilting its head quizzically before pecking at the branches. In the distance, Livvie could see the resident barn owl, gliding over the field they’d been sledging in only yesterday. It flew to an ancient oak tree, alighting on one of its thick, frost-covered branches where it swivelled its head around in search of food and other predators.
‘This is such a beautiful place.’ She’d never felt so content, or so comfortable anywhere before. She knew if she said it out loud it would sound crazy, but Livvie felt as if her heart belonged here.
As she was gazing at the view, Bryony popped into her mind and the promise Livvie had made to text her again yesterday. ‘Oops.’ The day had turned out to be busier than Livvie had expected and texting her friend had completely slipped her mind. She’d do it now, before she had chance to forget again.
Livvie was in her bedroom, hunting for her phone, when there was a knock at the door. ‘That was quick, I’ll bet Zander’s forgotten his house key,’ she said as she hurried downstairs.
She opened the door, the smile dropping instantly from her face as her blood ran cold.
23
Zander
Zander’s waking thought, before he’d even had chance to open his eyes, was that Livvie had told him he was lovely. He played the moment over and over again; it made his heart swell inexorably and pushed a warm glow through him, right to his fingertips and toes. As did the memory of holding her in his arms as they’d swayed to the music. This feeling he had with her was overwhelming and he didn’t know how to articulate it other than it just felt “right”, like they were meant to be together. As plain and simple as it sounded, that was it. He sensed a powerful connection with her and a certain glimmer in her eyes told him she could feel it too. That they’d only known each other for a couple of days seemed irrelevant.
He threw his arms above his head and smiled as he relived the previous evening. Livvie had slotted in perfectly with his friends from the village; he knew she would, she was easy to talk to and friendly, just like them. He loved how she’d enthusiastically thrown herself into the dancing, her face a picture of unbridled happiness. Mel popped up in his mind, hurling cold water over his happy mood, she would never contemplate doing anything like that.
Mel, he sighed. What to do about her? Whenever he thought about her, he could feel his mood slump. How on earth had they managed to carry on as long as they had, with their stumbling, unhealthy relationship, limping on, not seeming to make either party particularly happy, he wondered. A habit, that’s what we’ve become; and a bad one at that. They hadn’t started off that way; Mel had been independent and full of life and enthusiasm when they’d first met. He didn’t know what had happened to change her – or them – but the dynamics had shifted so gradually, he’d barely noticed. He should really text her and see if she was okay. Though he hadn’t heard anything from her – he hadn’t expected to – she’d done this sort of thing before, eventually turning up out of the blue after things hadn’t quite gone her way. He’d send her a quick message when he got up, just a “checking in” sort that wouldn’t really warrant a response, which was just as well, because he knew she’d have no intention of replying to it.
After breakfast, Zander climbed into his Jeep and made his way steadily along the icy twists and turns of the lane, the demisters on full blast; he was glad he’d had the foresight to warm the car up for a few minutes before he’d set off. The toastiness of the cottage belied how bitterly cold it was outside. As he focused his eyes on the road ahead, he found his mind wandering onto Livvie as it was wont to do since he’d first set eyes on her. She’d looked cute when she first came into the kitchen, her hair all mussed up, her large hazel eyes still heavy with sleep. And he couldn’t help but smile as he remembered how she’d tucked into her breakfast with such enthusiasm; she had a hearty appetite; unlike Mel who seemed to survive on lettuce leaves, strong black coffee and even stronger cigarettes. His heart rate surged as he recalled how Livvie had shyly said she’d like him and Alf to stay. He knew she felt it, too; that gesture all but told him.
This break was turning out to be something really rather unexpected, he thought as a burst of happiness bloomed inside him pushing a wide grin across his face.
Before long, Zander stopped at a quiet track and let Alf have a quick run around, laughing as the Labrador leapt gazelle-like at the snowballs he threw for him before rolling around in unadulterated happiness, kicking his legs everywhere. He was panting heavily and covered in snow when Zander bundled him back in the Jeep. ‘Have fun there did you, fella?’ he asked. Alf replied by swiping his tongue across Zander’s face. ‘Ughh! Dog breath! What have I told you about that?’ Alf wagged his tail and Zander couldn’t help but laugh, ruffling the Labrador’s head. ‘What are we going to do with you, eh?’
More noticeable in daylight hours, the hedges and drystone walls were still piled high with frozen-hard snow that sparkled quietly in the pale winter sun. The winding roads were made narrower than usual, thanks to the snow that had been banked up at the sides by the plough. Zander was thankful that they were, at least, still driveable, but it was easy to see how such conditions could be treacherous when added together. He made his way steadily along the lanes, mindful of oncoming vehicles in the middle of the road as well as wildlife with a death wish that had a
disconcerting habit of appearing in front of him as if out of nowhere.
As he took the turn onto the road to Lytell Stangdale he spotted a white van heading towards them. The driver, seemingly without any awareness of rural road etiquette, barged straight past a pull-in place, forcing Zander’s Jeep to skid into the snow, narrowly missing a wall. Owing to the narrowness of the lane, white-van-man was forced to slow down a little, mouthing what Zander could only assume was a torrent of foul-mouthed abuse and shooting him a glare that made his blood run cold. In that instant, something spiked in his senses; adrenalin kicked in and began pulsing round his body as a memory of something sinister hovered at the back of his mind, albeit frustratingly out of reach. He’d seen that face before, he was sure of it; the unnerving evil glint in the eyes made the hairs on the back of his neck bristle.
Unable to shake the feeling of unease, Zander nosed his way into the village and parked up near the shop. ‘Right Alf, you be a good lad, I won’t be long,’ he said, winding his window down a couple of inches. He was just about to climb out of the car when the ear-splitting squawks of a cockerel spliced through the peace, the snow seemingly intensifying its shrillness. Zander turned to see Hugh Danks - known locally as Hugh Heifer - on his daily walk with his prize-winning heifer Daisy. He was battling with Jimby’s Leghorn cockerel Reg who seemed to have taken exception to Hugh’s wellies that were making a loud slapping sound as he walked.
‘Get out of it you feathery little shit!’ Hugh kicked out at the bird while Daisy bellowed woefully. ‘Go on, bugger off before I neck you!’
Zander stifled a laugh, his unnerving encounter with the road-rage driver temporarily forgotten.
Just then, a cyclist shot by, attracting Reg’s attention. The bird flapped his wings and shot after the bike leaving Hugh shaking his fist at him and hurling a mouthful of expletives. ‘And don’t bother coming back, you little bastard!’
‘You alright, Hugh?’ Zander was making his way across the road to the retired farmer.
‘Aye, fair-to-middlin’, Dr Gillespie, no thanks to that bloody wayward bird of Jimby’s. Got a thing about me and Daisy, it has. Summat needs doing about it.’
‘It does seem a bit bad-tempered.’
‘Bugger wants putting in a bloody pie if you ask me.’
Zander chuckled. ‘Have a good day, Hugh, and I’ll see you later.’
‘Right you are, doc.’ Hugh made his way down the road chuntering and grumbling.
The door-bell jangled cheerily as Zander stepped into the shop. ‘Morning, Zander.’ Lucy smiled from behind the counter. ‘Did you and Livvie enjoy last night?’
‘We did, thanks, we had a great time; we’d just headed down for a drink and a bite to eat in the pub and weren’t expecting anything like the eighties evening.’ Zander grabbed a wicker basket and started filling it with provisions. He picked up a rare-breed joint of beef from the fridge. ‘This looks good.’
‘Ooh, it’s delicious; it’s from a farm yon side of Middleton-le-Moors, has a lovely, rich flavour,’ she said.
Zander nodded, slipping it into the basket followed by some fresh looking winter vegetables, earth still clinging to them.
‘Now then, Zander.’ Freddie popped his head round the door from the back. ‘What are the roads like up at Dale View?’
‘Not too bad; icy, and there’s quite a bit of snow on the sides where the plough’s been and where it’s drifted, but they’re passable in a four-wheel-drive.’ Zander slid a bottle of red wine in alongside the joint of beef.
‘Aye, there’s more on the way, too. You’d best make sure you’ve got plenty of bread and milk in, in case you get snowed in.’
‘Good plan,’ said Zander.
The door-bell jangled again, heralding the arrival of Little Mary, her usual huge shopping bag that was almost as big as her hung over her arm. ‘Well, hello there, young Zander, this is a nice surprise.’ Her petite face was wreathed in smiles.
‘Hello, Little M, it’s good to see you, and if I may say, you’re looking very lovely today.’ Zander towered over the tiny old lady who didn’t even scrape five feet.
Little Mary gave a coy giggle and patted her neat rows of curls that were usually pure white but today bore a distinctly pink hue. ‘Thank you, I had my hair done yesterday, specially for Christmas. My hairdresser said this colour’s all the rage at the moment so I thought, why not and treated myself. I daren’t wear a hat, though, in case it squashes it, so my ears are absolutely nithered.’
‘Ah, you fashionistas, eh?’ Lucy smiled fondly at the old lady. ‘Well, it looks very fetching on you.’
‘It does indeed,’ said Zander.
‘Thank you.’ Little Mary blushed to the roots of her newly coiffed hair. ‘And I hear you’ve got a lovely young lady on your arm, Dr Gillespie.’
‘News certainly travels fast round here.’ Zander’s eyes flicked over to Lucy who shrugged her shoulders and gave him a “don’t ask me” look. ‘The young lady you’re referring to is called Livvie, who is indeed lovely, but she’s not mine; it’s complicated.’
‘Oh,’ said Little Mary looking from Zander to Lucy and Freddie.
‘Looked like she was your young lady last night when you were having a cheeky little smooch at the village hall.’ Freddie grinned, mischief twinkling in his eyes. ‘The pair of you looked very cosy.’
‘And I’m afraid I have to agree,’ said Lucy.
Zander could feel heat rising up his neck and spreading across his face; he was relieved when the bell jangled again, and in walked Molly’s mum Annie, wrapped up well against the cold.
‘Morning, by it’s raw out there. Even though the sun’s shining, that wind’s picking up and making it bloomin’ cold.’ She shivered, her nose red from the chilly air. ‘Oh, hello, Zander, lovie, I’d heard you were staying here, and with a lovely young lady friend by all accounts.’ She fished her shopping list out of her pocket. ‘Are you staying long or is this just a fleeting visit?’
Zander ignored Lucy and Freddie’s sniggering. ‘Hi, Annie. I’m here until the New Year. How’s Jack, by the way?’
‘He’s doing well, thanks. Dr Beth made him an appointment with the new consultant at Middleton Hospital who prescribed some different tablets for him, and they’ve really helped manage his Parkinson’s symptoms; he’s a lot steadier on his feet. Cheered him up no end, it has.’
‘It’s good to know he’s being well cared for.’ Zander placed his basket on the counter, hoping he’d be able to pay for his goods and make his escape before there was any further interrogation about Livvie.
‘Yes, they’re marvellous at Middleton Hospital; we’re so lucky to have it, and Dr Beth at the surgery, too, she’s fantastic. I’m not so keen on her colleague though, that Dr Goodliffe. His bedside manner’s a bit abrupt; makes everyone feel like they’re a nuisance. I don’t mind saying, I was quite pleased to hear he’s leaving.’
‘You and everyone else,’ said Freddie. ‘Poor old Madge Danks went to him with a bad stomach ache and he sent her away saying it was trapped wind, turned out she had a burst appendix and ended up being blue-lighted to hospital.’
‘Yes, our Molly told me about that,’ said Annie, shaking her head.
‘It’s shocking.’ Little Mary tutted. ‘I always ask for Dr Beth, even if I have to wait a while for an appointment.’
‘Yes, we do too,’ said Annie. ‘Anyway,’ she nudged Zander with her elbow, ‘enough about that grouchy old misery guts Dr Goodliffe, tell us all about this young lady of yours; our Molly says she’s absolutely lovely and that you’re very well suited.’
‘That’s what I’d heard.’ Little Mary chuckled. ‘And it would be so good to see you settled with a nice young wife.’
‘Steady on there, Little M,’ said Zander. ‘I hate to disappoint you all, but there’s nothing to tell, other than she’s not my young lady and we’re just friends, that’s all.’
Freddie arched his eyebrows.
‘It’s the truth, you can ask her y
ourself.’ Zander couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Anyway, I’m off before you all get totally carried away with yourselves and have me married off without me realising.’
‘Ah, me think the gentleman doth protest too much,’ said Freddie. ‘That’s twenty eight pounds seventy five thanks, Zander.’
‘There you go.’ Zander passed him two notes, smiling. ‘Put the change in the Air Ambulance tub. And I’ll see you all later.’
‘Bye,’ three amused voices chorused.
Outside, Zander fussed Little Mary’s miniature dachshund Pete who was wrapped in a snug fleece-lined jacket; he was waiting patiently, his lead fastened to a hook on the wall. ‘Hello there, little fella. I bet you struggle in this deep snow with those short, stubby legs.’
‘Oh, by the way,’ the shop door was flung open and Freddie peered round it, ‘there was a bloke in here about five, ten minutes before you arrived; he’s not a local, bit shifty looking to be honest. Anyway, he was asking about your place, said he was a plumber or something and you were expecting him. I forgot to mention it with us all teasing you about Livvie. Sorry.’
‘Oh, right, thanks, Fred, no problem.’ Zander’s gut twisted, instinct telling him something wasn’t right. His mind scrambled over Freddie’s words; for some reason, they seemed to be slotting together with a conversation he’d been having with Livvie the previous day. It was then that it hit him; he knew exactly where he’d seen those piercing evil eyes before. ‘Oh, shit, Livvie!’ With his heart pounding, he hurried to the Jeep, throwing the shopping on the backseat. ‘Bastard!’ he said, as he put the car into gear and drove off out of the village.
24
Livvie
‘Donny!’ A chill spiked up Livvie’s spine.
‘Hello, Livvie, been hiding from me, have you?’ The cruel sneer that distorted his face made goose bumps spring up all over her skin.
A Christmas Kiss Page 17