Chapter 37
Lauren’s evening had been a cosy mix of festive films and a few more Christmas treats.
It felt deliciously decadent to be munching on shop-bought confectioneries, rather than the ones that she made herself, but she figured at Christmas she could allow it.
It was only when she realised she had absently eaten five of the six mini yule logs she had bought while watching Finn Sanderson’s and Montana de Santo’s latest festive film, A Crown for Christmas, that she realised she was just eating for the sake of it.
But wasn’t that what Christmas was all about? she thought, with a smile.
Both Finn and Montana were well into their forties now but were riding the wave of a career resurgence.
Their on-screen chemistry was still undeniable, even with the local insider knowledge she had that both were happily married to other people.
Their partnership had lasted well over twenty years in the business and they had faced some tricky times both personal and professional, but both had found their happily ever after.
As she watched the handsome Finn embracing his beautiful leading lady for the inevitable, wrapped-up-in-a-bow climax of the movie, Lauren wished that real life could be as straightforward as a FilmFlix Christmas special.
She wondered how Marc was doing, and hoped he’d regained his emotional balance.
Knowing he had his family around him put her mind at rest, but she ached to be there to support him, too.
Keeping things low key in front of the kids had been the right decision, but his disequilibrium had touched her heart, appealing to her natural instinct to look after people.
Their last interaction in the hallway had been so full of cross-currents that she’d been thinking about it a lot this evening.
She hoped they’d get a chance to talk again soon.
Marc had certainly said he wanted to, and she definitely did.
They were on the verge of something, and she found herself, most uncharacteristically, wanting to take the plunge.
Despite the phone call from Susanna, though, Marc seemed happy and relaxed in the company of his family.
She was envious of him for having them around him at Christmas.
After everything he’d been through, though, he deserved the closeness of a loving family.
Grabbing her phone, feeling the urge to talk to Myriam, Lauren sent her mother a quick WhatsApp message, wishing her a happy Christmas evening.
She was pleased when Myriam sent back a snapshot of her herself and Gary, obviously taken by the ship’s photographer, of them both looking relaxed and super glamorous in their evening clothes.
She was so used to seeing her mother just in paint-stained overalls, with an equally colour-splotched scarf keeping her hair back from her face as she painted, that this new, super-groomed Myriam took a moment to get used to.
But it wasn’t so much the clothes she noticed, as the expression of happiness on her mother’s face.
She would never stand in the way of Myriam’s future. Gary seemed to be taking very good care of her, and if things were to change, and Myriam decided to take their relationship to a more serious level, Lauren would be fine with that.
All the same, she wondered how the land would lie when Myriam and Gary returned.
If her mother decided to move back to Manchester to be with Gary, what would become of her and the café?
Could she afford to run the place on her own?
Would she really want to? That was an answer she’d have to ponder, should the situation arise.
But one romantic holiday did not mean a changed future.
There was no point overthinking it. She was thinking about it because she was alone and she missed her mother.
As she settled back onto the sofa and scrolled through FilmFlix to find her next watch, Marc drifted like woodsmoke back into her thoughts.
One kiss, or even two, doesn’t make a relationship, any more than a romantic holiday does, she told herself firmly.
The second kiss had been wonderful, but she wasn’t just going to sit around waiting for her texts to ping.
In fact, while she had the time, perhaps she’d head into town and take advantage of the Boxing Day sales. It would be nice to get out and about.
She was beginning to doze on the sofa, when her phone chirruped again. Expecting another message from Myriam, it surprised her when Marc’s name appeared on the screen. Heart thumping, she swiped to the message and then couldn’t help smiling broadly at its contents.
Hey Lauren, it was great to see you today. Thank you for your kindness. The boys and I would like to say thank you again for those brilliant birthday cakes. Would you like to come to tea on 27th December? They want to make cakes for YOU! X
Smiling, Lauren wondered what she was letting herself in for, agreeing to have the twins baking for her.
Was there some compromise to Marc’s plan?
Texting him back that yes, she’d love to come over, and what time should she arrive, she was just about to press ‘Send’ when she hit on an idea and rewrote her message.
She was relieved, and pleased when Marc got straight back to her with a ‘Sounds great!’ She was even happier when she saw he’d also ended that text message with another kiss.