Chapter 32
Isla hurried back through the park as fast as she could go, which wasn’t terribly fast when she had to hoick her feet up out of the snow with every step.
Her hat was pulled down over her ears and her hands were dug into her pockets, but still the biting cold penetrated through her many layers of clothing.
She was lost in her own thoughts when she felt a thud on the side of her head and realised, with a sense of embarrassment, she’d been hit by a snowball.
The cold, wet sensation as it slid down the side of her face was stinging, in every possible way.
She surveyed the area around her, her senses on high alert, and noticed a couple of boys of about ten years old, laughing uproariously. Worse still, they were on their haunches, loading up, packing together even bigger weapons by the looks of things, about to launch a two-pronged attack.
‘Oh no you don’t,’ she announced, unsure where her fighting spirit had come from.
She bent down and started to build a snowball but it was harder than it looked as the snow was soft and powdery and no sooner had she pulled it together in her hands than it disintegrated through her gloved fingers.
The lads obviously had a better knack than her because snowballs were flying past her ears.
She realised she was no match for the boys so she admitted defeat, holding her hands up, calling for a truce and walked on, laughing, pleased to be out of the firing range.
As she went on her way, focussing into the distance, she spotted a figure at the other end of the path, and her stomach flipped, recognising the tall, rangy frame and the broad set of shoulders.
She was definitely able to pick Guy out across a crowded park even when he was disguised in heavy winter wear.
There was something about the way he held himself, tall and proud, and the distinctive cut of his jaw that made him easily recognisable even at a distance.
Her heart was beating faster than ever, whether from the effort of trudging through the snow or seeing Guy, she wasn’t sure, but coming face to face with him confirmed that he really did have the most wonderful and surprising effect on her.
‘Hey, what are you doing here?’ She beamed at him.
‘Looking for you,’ he replied with that smile that was so endearing. ‘Although I see you’ve been busy terrorising the local children.’
‘They started it,’ she said petulantly.
He pulled her into his arms and she relaxed into his embrace, feeling suddenly warmer despite the sensation of his cold nose against her skin. He kissed her and she felt a jolt of pleasure, before he pulled back to look at her, clasping her face in his hands.
‘The road to the Leaping is pretty bad. It’s not been gritted yet so it’s impassable in places. You’re not going to make it in your car. I’ve brought the four-by-four so I can drive you home.’
‘Did you come into town just to give me a lift home?’ she asked as they started walking. She was glad of his solid presence at her side, the sense of safety she felt at being able to loop her arm through his, the fact that he was here, looking out for her.
‘There’s no “just” about it. I was worried about you. And how you might get home.’
‘Thanks, Guy, I really appreciate it,’ she said, taken aback by his thoughtfulness.
When they reached the car, she was glad to escape the cold, especially when Guy fired up the seat warmers. She turned to look at him as he clipped in his seat belt.
She could hardly believe that it was only yesterday that she’d seen him. So much had happened in the meantime.
‘Look, before we set off, I must tell you something. I have some news.’
‘Really? That sounds intriguing.’
‘Well, there’s good news and there’s bad news,’ she said teasingly, only hoping that he would find that her good news outweighed his bad news.
She took a deep breath. What was it Henry had told her?
That it would be better if she came straight out and said it.
‘You probably won’t have heard yet, but Jon and Miriam have decided not to go ahead with the sale of the bookshop. ’
‘Ah, I see,’ he said, chewing his mouth over. He paused a lingering moment. ‘Let me get one thing clear. Is this the good news or is it the bad news?’
‘It’s good news for the shop and for the people of Bramlingham and for Jon and Miriam, and for me, of course. But it does mean that you’ll obviously miss out on your commission for selling the property. So that’s bad news, isn’t it?’
Guy threw back his head and laughed, the sound filling the interior of the car and Isla wondered for a moment if he was laughing at her.
‘Is that what you believe is most important to me?’ He grabbed her hand in his and shook it with feeling. ‘Do you think that’s what’s been driving me these last few weeks, the real reason why I’ve been popping into the shop at every available opportunity?’
She had wondered occasionally if what they’d had together, their flirtation, had been simply that. A wonderful distraction to see them through the Christmas period.
‘Well, it’s your living, isn’t it? It must be disappointing on that front.’
He shook his head. ‘Okay, so if that’s the bad news… was that the bad news, I’m getting confused… then what is the good news?’ he said with a smile playing at his lips.
‘Well, I’ve had a conversation with Jon and Miriam this morning and we’ve agreed that I will be taking over the running of the bookshop on a permanent basis and I’ll be moving into the flat as well.’
‘Ah!’ His face lit up in a mix of relief and joy. ‘That is wonderful news. Congratulations. It’s what I hoped and suspected might happen.’
‘You did? But what about all that paperwork and contracts that you prepared for Jon? Surely, you were hoping to strike some kind of deal.’
‘Jon asked me to draw up scenarios for all available options for the business and the building, but I knew from the start he didn’t want to sell up. That it would only ever be a last resort. You get a feel for these kinds of things after a while.’
‘Right,’ she said, still shaking her head in wonder.
He squeezed her hand in his tight. ‘You know what this means? I’ll be able to continue visiting you in the shop for our coffee and cake meet-ups then?’
‘I’ll be very disappointed if you don’t,’ said Isla, enjoying the moment, relishing the fact that Guy seemed to be enjoying it as much as she was.
‘Brilliant. Come here,’ he said, opening up his arms, and she leaned across into his embrace, relieved to find he smelled as gorgeous as he always did, excited to discover where their new and budding relationship might take them. ‘Jon and Miriam must be thrilled. It was what they wanted all along.’
Was it? she thought with a wistful smile. Had she been the only one in Bramlingham who hadn’t realised what had been going on?
The journey back to Upper Leaping took twice the time it normally did, but it didn’t matter.
Neither of them were in a hurry because they were happy to be in each other’s company, appreciating the beautiful countryside scenery now doused in a liberal sprinkling of snow, creating a perfect picture-postcard effect.
When they eventually arrived back at Mulberry Close, Diana, and Oscar came running out of the house to greet them as they both climbed out of the car.
‘Oh, darling, I’ve been so worried about you. I tried ringing you several times, but I couldn’t get through and Dad couldn’t even get the car out of the drive. We didn’t know what we were going to do to get you home.’
‘There was no need to worry, Mum. Guy came to my rescue,’ she said, turning to look at him fondly.
‘Oh thank you, Guy! What a Christmas angel you are! Come on in out of the cold. We can have a drink together and celebrate the start of Christmas properly.’
Isla took Guy by the hand and led him into the house, smiling all the time.
There was no way he would be able to decline this invitation even if he wanted to, but Isla suspected that he wouldn’t want to in any case.
Besides, even if the weather got much worse, she knew Guy would be able to walk back to his house from here to see to Lottie.
Inside, they were greeted by Christmas tunes playing from the speakers, the waft of sausage rolls baking in the oven, the sound of animated chatter coming from the living room and the sight of the whole house illuminated by strings of fairy lights. It was very Christmassy indeed.
Once they’d slipped out of their wet clothes and joined the party already underway in the living room, Diana quickly arranged a glass of fizz for them both. Isla saw her mum’s gaze take in the fact that she and Guy were still holding hands.
‘So, does this mean,’ she said, unable to hide her excitement, ‘that you two are… what is it you young people say… exclusive? Dating? A couple?’
‘Oh, Diana,’ breathed Hugo with an exasperated sigh. ‘Leave them alone; they’ve only just walked through the front door.’
Guy’s eyes twinkled in that way that had disarmed mother and daughter alike from the very first time that they had both met him.
‘Well, I would hate to presume. That decision is entirely up to Isla, but I am keeping everything crossed,’ said Guy, holding up his fingers and giving Diana a conspiratorial wink, which made her dissolve into giggles.
‘There’s no need,’ said Isla, laughing along.
‘I am delighted to say that we are very much together now. An item,’ she said, looking up lovingly at the handsome man beside her.
She stood on tiptoes to kiss Guy on his cheek, his expression lighting up with warmth and pleasure at her announcement.
‘And really, Mum, you’ll never believe it, but this is only the beginning of my good news! ’