CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
I stood at the window, staring out into the darkness.
The TV clock said it was four-twenty-five, and behind me, Caleb’s rhythmical breathing told me he was still out for the count. But my mind was far too restless for sleep.
I’d conked out as soon as my head had touched the pillow shortly after midnight.
But then I’d been woken at two-thirty by the throaty noise of an engine, and instantly, my mind had flown into overdrive, thinking about the trial on Monday and how we were going to get through the days until then.
I’d known I’d never get back to sleep so eventually I’d pushed back the duvet and slid out of bed, moving slowly so as not to wake up Caleb.
I felt safe and warm, tucked away in this hotel with Caleb.
But out there, it was freezing. The trees beyond the car park were etched with silver and the ground was a skating rink.
I felt shattered and so bone-weary. But at the same time, I was filled with a growing sense of injustice and bitterness towards the people who were doing this to us.
Maybe it was the fatigue talking, but I was angry – so angry – at these criminals, whoever they were, who were trying to intimidate Caleb into potentially causing the collapse of the Terry Garner trial.
I’d been so looking forward to helping run the Christmas market with my best friends.
We wanted to help the homeless at Christmas and into the future, and I was damned if I was going to be terrorised into being a prisoner in this hotel, instead of being out there, helping Ellie to make the market the success it deserved to be!
Standing there at the window, I raised my chin, my mind made up.
Caleb wouldn’t approve. He hated that he’d got me mixed up in something bad and I knew he was desperate to keep me safe.
But thinking about it, they hadn’t actually harmed me, had they?
Not physically. Yes, they’d scared me all right!
But that was probably all it was: scare tactics.
What could they do to me while I was at a Christmas market, with hundreds of people milling around everywhere?
I’d be lost in a crowd. Hardly an easy target like I was when I was walking along in the dark to my flat, the street deserted, with no one else around to witness that car heading towards me . . .
I would have to be careful, of course. And I would be.
I’d have eyes in the back of my head and so would Caleb. (I knew he wouldn’t let me attend the Christmas market alone, without his protection.)
Whoever had mounted this campaign of intimidation didn’t even know where I was now, hidden away in the countryside. So how would they know I’d be at the Christmas market later today? Unless they had spies everywhere, they absolutely wouldn’t . . .
A yawn escaped. I turned and slipped back into bed.
Warmed by Caleb’s body heat, I snuggled down, nestling my cheek against his shoulder. He stirred and shifted position, murmuring my name, and I fell asleep at last, with Caleb’s arms wrapped around me.
*****
‘I’m going.’
‘No, you’re not.’
‘Ooh, you’re very sexy when you’re cross,’ I teased him. But he didn’t laugh.
I sighed, having anticipated Caleb’s objections.
‘Look, this thing today is in aid of the most amazing cause and I refuse to allow this scumbag’s bloody intimidation tactics to scare me into cowering here, instead of helping Ellie and the girls make the event go with a swing. I need to be there, Caleb.’
He looked at me in exasperation. Then he shook his head. ‘You’re mad. Do you know that?’
I shrugged. ‘I just don’t see why they should be allowed to get in the way of such a fabulous fundraiser.’
‘I never knew you could be so obstinate,’ he said, with the hint of a smile.
‘If it’s something I believe in, you can bet I’ll do what’s right.’
He gave a helpless shrug, levered himself up on one elbow and grinned down at me. ‘I’m starting to realise that.’
‘Good.’ I reached up and drew him down to me, and we kissed long and lingeringly.
After that, we lost all sense of the world outside our own private bubble for a while. And when we finally came up for air, Caleb said, ‘If you’re determined to man that bloody Christmas market stall today, I’ll be there manning it with you, okay?’
‘Perfect,’ I sighed, as I snuggled down in his arms. Being with Caleb was giving me the strength to face everything. I was determined that nobody was going to stop me helping to make that Christmas market a success.
We’d even had the perfect fall of snow overnight – not too much so that people would be deterred from driving in it, but just enough to set the scene at the glamping site and make the Christmas market all sparkly and festive.
It was going to be a lovely event. And Caleb and I would come back to this cosy hotel afterwards, and make the most of the spa and enjoy a romantic dinner in the candlelit restaurant.
What could possibly go wrong?