Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
A gain, Erin glanced at the table set for one and felt a heaviness in her stomach. Until then, she’d been feeling fine about her first Christmas without her family. The lively morning video chat with her parents had made her feel that she wasn’t alone at all. Hanging out at the bar with Lewis had helped, too.
The invitation from his mum was sweet, and as soon as Lewis left, she wished she’d accepted it. That would have been awkward though, given how uncomfortable Lewis had seemed by the idea. And it probably would have been strange. Just because she felt so at ease with him didn’t mean she should gatecrash his family Christmas.
It didn’t matter now anyway. She’d sit and drink her wine, then stuff herself with food and maybe have a stroll around the village before relaxing in the lounge and watching the other hotel guests come and go.
Perhaps she might get to spend time with Lewis again later. And maybe there’d be some conveniently placed mistletoe––
“Erin?”
She almost jumped out of her skin. Her cheeks flushed as she looked up at Lewis, standing beside her in his coat. She reminded herself that even though he’d interrupted her thoughts, he wasn’t a mind reader, so there was no need for her embarrassment.
“I was just wondering,” he said. “Even though it might be a bit weird and my family are kind of mad… would you like to come?”
“Yes,” she said, her lips stretching into an uncontrollable grin. “I’d love to.”
“Really?” His shoulders drooped.
“Yes.” She almost laughed at his expression. “Why do you look so surprised?”
“I just didn’t think you’d want to. You know, due to all the weirdness and madness…”
“That doesn’t bother me at all. Keeps things entertaining, I find.”
“Yes. There is that.”
“I had the impression you didn’t want me to before.”
“I just didn’t know if it was a completely weird invitation. I’d really like you to come.”
“Good.” She slid down from the stool and instinctively touched his arm as she did. “I’ll grab my coat,” she told him.
He nodded. “I’ll wait at the front door.”
The twenty-minute drive to Bourton-on-the-Water was a treat in itself. Passing through the quaint villages with the gorgeous stone cottages had Erin enthralled.
Bourton-on-the-Water was also ridiculously beautiful. Low limestone bridges arched gently over the river that ran through the town while cottages and shops lined the quiet street beside the river. All of it was lit by the glow of fairy lights which draped over tree branches and webbed across the street.
“We don’t need to stay too long,” Lewis said when they pulled up in a quiet cul-de-sac on the outskirts of the village. “They know I need to get back to the hotel later, anyway, but if you want to leave at any time, just let me know.”
“You’re making me nervous,” Erin told him, unbuckling her seatbelt.
“Sorry.” He smiled across at her. “No need to be nervous. You saw what they’re like last night, so it’s not as though you’re expecting anything remotely civilised, right?”
“God, no. I hope not, anyway. Civilised sounds incredibly boring.”
He stepped out of the car and they were halfway up the drive when the front door burst open. Fiona flung her arms wide as she burst into a loud rendition of I Wish It Could be Christmas Everyday while wiggling her wide hips.
She hugged them both together while still singing.
“What time did you start on the wine?” Lewis asked her.
Pulling back, she gave his arm a playful slap. “I’m not drunk – just high on Christmas spirit.” She gave Erin another hug. “I’m so glad you joined us. I didn’t like to think of you in the hotel alone.”
“It’s lovely at the hotel, but it’s also great to get out for a bit. Thanks so much for the invitation.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Let them come in out of the cold!” a deep baritone boomed from inside, right before Santa stepped into view. Lewis’s dad, that was. Dressed in his Santa suit.
“Why are you wearing that?” Lewis asked, his expression hovering somewhere between amusement and embarrassment.
“I heard we had a guest coming.” He wrapped Erin in a tight embrace. “So I thought I’d get my best Christmas suit on!” He squeezed Erin’s shoulders. “Ho ho ho!”
The laughter bubbled up from her stomach and she couldn’t have stopped it if she’d tried .
“Let’s just be thankful it’s not his birthday suit,” Fiona muttered, ushering them inside.
Within minutes, Erin had a glass of fizz in her hand and was sitting beside Lewis on the soft, pale blue couch. From across the coffee table, Anna asked Erin about her job, and then her family. Nicholas listened intently from the armchair, while Fiona kept coming and standing behind the couch and briefly joining the conversation in between trips to the kitchen to check on the food.
“Someone find out how long Carla is going to be,” she said, during a gap in the conversation. “The food is ready and she was supposed to be here ages ago.”
Anna brought her phone to her ear and had a brief conversation. “She’s almost here,” she said when she ended the call. “Apparently there was some issue with a gift and that’s why she’s late.”
“Sounds about right,” Fiona said. “She was probably still finishing making them this morning.”
Lewis leaned in Erin’s direction. “Carla has a tendency to make gifts instead of buying things.”
“That’s cute,” Erin said.
“It might be if she had any creative talent,” Anna said and shared a knowing look with Lewis.
“If she’s on her way, we can move to the table.” Fiona made some elaborate arm gestures to get them moving. “Everything will be cold if we don’t eat soon.”
Erin stuck beside Lewis as they went into the large kitchen with a solid farmhouse-style table all decked out in the centre of the room.
They’d only just sat down when the sound of the front door opening reached them. Carla called out a greeting.
“In the kitchen,” Fiona called back. “You’re late.”
“Not my fault!” she shouted. To Erin’s ears she sounded angry, but she’d only met her briefly, so maybe it was her normal tone of voice.
“Is she talking to herself out there?” Anna asked, looking in the direction of the hallway where a muttered one-sided conversation was taking place.
“I told you my family is a bit mad, didn’t I?” Lewis whispered in her ear. “There’s usually some drama when Carla is around.”
Erin only smiled and looked to the door which eased open.
“Happy Christmas,” Carla said weakly as she shut the kitchen door firmly behind her. As everyone murmured greetings it was clear something wasn’t quite right with Carla’s entrance. The entire family stared at her quizzically.
“What’s wrong?” Lewis asked, turning to face his sister.
Carla pressed her palm to her forehead. “I would just like to say that this was all Dad’s idea. I was firmly against it––” She stopped speaking when her gaze landed on Erin. “Oh, no.” She sucked in a breath and when she continued talking it was with the faraway quality of someone talking to themself. “Why is there someone else here? I didn’t know there’d be someone else here. Why did no one mention this?”
“Carla!” Lewis hissed, glaring at her.
She seemed to come back to herself then and gave a gentle shake of her head as she moved to Erin. “That sounded rude. I didn’t mean to be rude.” She lay a hand on Erin’s shoulder and gave a gentle pat. “It’s great that you’re here.”
“Thank you,” Erin mumbled, confused.
Carla eyed her sombrely. “I apologise in advance for the scene you’re about to witness.”