Carole Singer's Christmas (25 page)

His mouth moved on hers with growing longing and as the kiss deepened, she felt herself matching his yearning. Her hands gripped his coat and she clung to him, never wanting to let go.

‘Carole?’

She recognised Sebastian’s voice; immediately, the spell was broken. Nick clearly heard it too because he let her go so abruptly that she almost tripped but he reached out and steadied her.

‘Damn Sebastian,’ Mitsy said.

‘It’s a kiss under the mistletoe,’ Sarah called out to him, pointing upwards again.

‘Oh!’ Sebastian replied as if that made things all right.

Carole tried to pull herself together. ‘Y …yes. Just a silly kiss under the mistletoe, that’s all. Mum made us do it. We really didn’t want to, did ... did we, Nick?’

Nick stared at her without taking his gaze from her face. ‘No. We really didn’t want to.’

‘Well,’ Sebastian said, striding towards them. ‘I’d better have a kiss under the mistletoe too, hadn’t I? And at least you’ll want to kiss me.’

Nick’s eyes narrowed momentarily. ‘I’ve got to go. Nicodemus needs a walk. Goodnight.’ He turned and walked away.

‘Now that’s what I call a kiss,’ Jamie remarked as Nick was leaving.

‘We’ll see you later, Nick,’ Sarah called out.

‘She’s all yours,’ Carole heard Nick say as he passed Sebastian, ‘for now.’

Carole desperately tried to think of an excuse not to kiss Sebastian but she couldn’t.

‘Just a quick kiss, Sebastian,’ she said, trying to smile. ‘I’m beginning to feel a bit like a cow at a market.’

Jamie had the good grace to wheel Mitsy to the study and Sarah followed.

Sebastian kissed Carole as he had before and he even tried to fondle her breast but she grabbed his hand. When she finally managed to ease herself free, her lips felt bruised and sore.

‘I’m going to bed,’ she said. ‘Goodnight, Sebastian.’

She closed the door before he could say anything and leant against it, shaking her head.

‘Thanks for that,’ she said sarcastically when her mum poked her head round the study door. ‘I’ll be glad when this day’s over.’

‘What was it like? With Nick, I mean. He looks like a really good kisser.

Carole let out a long, lingering sigh. ‘He is. He … really, really is.’

***

She felt as if she’d only been asleep for ten minutes when she was woken up. Her mum assured her it had been at least four hours as it was three forty-five in the morning and Nick would be here any minute.

Carole dragged herself out of bed and threw on some clothes. She knew she should have made an effort but she was too tired, confused and upset. She’d hardly got a moment’s sleep. She’d been tossing and turning all night with strange dreams about Dominic, Sebastian and Nick, but she couldn’t remember what they were

It was still dark outside and bitterly cold. Carole was glad she’d worn two pairs of socks in addition to her fleece-lined boots. She had a T-shirt, jumper and her coat on but she still shivered as she, Sarah and Jamie walked down the path to meet Nick who was holding Nicodemus firmly by his lead in case Arkenarten should be out and about.

‘Good morning, Nick,’ Sarah said cheerfully. ‘Did you sleep well?’

‘Yes thanks. You?’

‘Not bad thanks but I could have done with a few more hours. Carole got hardly any and she’s feeling a little fragile this morning, aren’t you cherub?’

Carole was dragging her feet and trying to avoid looking at Nick, which was proving to be harder than she thought. How could the man look so bloody gorgeous at this ungodly hour whilst she looked like a ragdoll with very tangled red hair? It struck her that she only thought of her hair as titian when it looked sleek and well styled, and just plain red when it looked like something Medusa would have envied. This morning, she felt her hair looked very red indeed – and Medusa would be seething.

‘Carole?’ Sarah said.

‘Oh sorry, what?’

‘You see,’ Sarah commented, ‘she’s still half asleep now.’

Nick didn’t say a word but Carole could feel his eyes staring at her as if they were little drills boring into her soul.

They weren’t the only ones who had come out to see the meteor shower and as they approached the top of the lane and the green near the village hall, they saw several others all oohing and aahing at varying intervals.

Carole looked up to see one shooting star after another and marvelled at the majesty of it. It really did make one feel rather small and insignificant, yet somehow very special to be a part of such a diverse and magical universe; a universe where fragments of rock from outer space could enter the earth’s atmosphere and become the heavens own firework display.

To think that a piece of matter could travel through space at hundreds of kilometres an hour to appear before her eyes as a streak of bright silvery light, a flash across the clear, dark sky and disappear, leaving only a memory of what it once was, seemed unimaginable.

It was only after she’d seen several that she remembered her wish from last night. She shot a sideways glance at Nick, who almost immediately looked in her direction, their eyes locking for just a moment before he looked away and up into the heavens.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Carole didn’t see Nick or Sebastian all day. It wasn’t until she and Josie, Sarah and Mitsy, being wheeled along by Jamie, went to the tree lighting ceremony that she saw them both, and to her surprise, they were standing side by side.

She wasn’t sure whether this was a good or a bad thing but she was inclined to lean towards bad.

‘Hello Nick,’ Mitsy called out.

He turned and smiled warmly but the warmth seemed to fade as his eyes reached Carole. Nicodemus, who’d been sitting in front of Nick and hidden by Nick’s legs, also turned, bounded towards her and gave her a much friendlier greeting by licking her hand and nuzzling against her legs. He looked delightful, if somewhat comical, in a bright red, dog coat with a white fleecy collar and a headband of tinsel. Two Christmas stars bounced around on springs at the top, adding the finishing touch.

Nick looked gorgeous and surprisingly not at all comical but rather sexy, in a Santa hat, black and red fleece and a pair of jeans. Sebastian looked good too in a pair of black trousers, a brown leather jacket and, she noticed in astonishment, a Christmassy reindeer jumper which she was certain was the one she’d knitted for him over ten years ago. Surely he hadn’t kept it for all these years ... had he?’

Sebastian stepped forward and gave Carole a quick kiss on her cheek.

‘I need to talk to you,’ he whispered, ‘but not now. I’m here with Mum so it’ll have to be later. Are you free this evening? I’ll call round.’

He was gone before she had a chance to answer.

Nick turned to Mitsy. ‘It’s quite a turnout, isn’t it? Let’s hope none of the bulbs are blown.’

He was right about the turnout. It looked as if the entire village were there. In fact, the only people conspicuous by their absence were Justin Jarvis and Josie. She had no idea why Mr Jarvis wasn’t there but she did know why Josie wasn’t. She had called Carole first thing this morning and told her that Nick had been absolutely right about Aidan; that she’d tell her all the details later but suffice to say, she couldn’t talk now. At least Josie’s wish on her shooting star seemed to have come true.

Bert Threadgold, who appeared to have stepped into yet another role Justin Jarvis would normally have played, gave a speech about how grateful they all were to Nick for the tree and all his hard work and how this year was going to be a wonderful Christmas for everyone.

‘And without further ado,’ he announced, ‘let there be light!’

And there was. Hundreds of multi-coloured bulbs lit up the tree and cast a kaleidoscope of colour onto the grass around it. The gold star glinted in the glow from the lights and as if the gods were adding their own special something to the event, the Geminid meteor shower began its repeat, and final, all night performance of the year.

Carole wiped a tear from her eye.

‘It is pretty magical, isn’t it?’ Nick said.

She turned to look at him, not realising he was standing beside her. ‘Yes, it is.’

‘Have you heard from Josie? Was her night a success?’

‘Yes … it was.’

Carole wondered why she seemed to be having difficulty saying anything else.

‘Speak of the devil!’ Nick exclaimed, grinning broadly. ‘Here she is now. I take it that’s Aidan and his son with her?’

‘Yes it–’

She stopped as Nick gave her a look of irritation. ‘Fine. You obviously don’t want to have a conversation with me,’ he said, marching off in Jamie’s direction.

Carole tutted but she really couldn’t think of anything to say to him. Well, nothing he’d want to hear anyway.

‘Hi ya!’ Josie said, smiling like the cat that had not only got the cream but also the cow that produces it and the farmer who makes it. ‘I’d like you all to meet Aidan and his son, Jason. This is my best friend Carole, her mum Sarah, Sarah’s partner Jamie, Carole’s gran Mitsy and her ... this is Nick, a friend of ours.’

Everyone greeted Aidan and Jason enthusiastically and Carole could see why Josie was so happy. Aidan, apart from being good-looking in a comfortable, homely way, with his light brown hair, gentle facial features, and glasses, was clearly besotted with her. Even Jason seemed at ease with both Josie and the fact that his dad had his arms wrapped tightly around her. If Carole didn’t know otherwise, she would have thought that the three of them were a family.

‘I thought Jason was with his grandparents for the weekend,’ Carole said as Nick took Aidan and Jason over to where the hot drinks and mince pies were being served.

‘He was,’ Josie replied, ‘but when I told Aidan about the tree lighting and the meteor display, which we missed last night – although I saw a few shooting stars of my own if you get my drift – he said that it was a shame Jason couldn’t see it. He called him this afternoon and here we are.’

Carole smiled. ‘You look like a ready-made family. You seem to ... belong.’

‘I know! It’s weird, isn’t it? Good weird obviously, not bad weird. I’m so unbelievably happy. Who’d have thought that one evening can possibly change your life forever?’

‘I’m so pleased for you Josie, and you deserve it.’

‘Thanks Carole. And so do you. Are you any nearer making a decision yet?’

Carole sighed deeply. ‘Not really but I’ve got something to tell you. Nick and I ...’ She trailed off as Nick returned with Aidan, Jason and a tray bearing glasses of mulled wine and a plate of mince pies.

‘Okay. Tell me later,’ Josie said.

They looked around the happy throng as Bert waved his hand and the village choir, which consisted of most of the actors in the Christmas musical, burst into song. Aidan, Jason, Nick, and Carole’s family joined in but Carole and Josie sipped their mulled wine.

‘Aren’t you singing?’ Aidan asked, taking Josie’s hand in his and smiling lovingly at her.

‘No. This is a happy event. Carole and I don’t want to ruin it.’

He leant across, kissed her on the cheek and resumed singing, rather well in fact, along to Silent Night.

‘Speaking of weird,’ Josie continued, ‘where’s Justin Jarvis tonight? I can see Sebastian and his mum but no sign of JJ.’

Carole shook her head. ‘No idea. I haven’t seen him since the night he ... well, you know. Perhaps he really does have health problems.’

‘Either that or Sebastian and his mum have locked him up somewhere. I hope it’s somewhere very dark and very unpleasant. That would match his hidden personality. It’s odd isn’t it that we think we know someone and they turn out to be completely the opposite of what we’d believed?’

Glancing between Nick and Sebastian, who seemed to be avoiding her this evening, Carole couldn’t have agreed more.

***

‘Let’s all go back to the cottage,’ Mitsy suggested after several more carols had been sung.

Carole was only too pleased to leave, having endured the inevitable, “For someone called Carole Singer, you don’t seem to do much of it,” and similar comments, all made in good fun, she was assured but getting more tiresome by the minute. She was less pleased to find that Nick was included in the ‘all’ as the atmosphere had been rather frosty between them since their ‘conversation’ about Josie. She was very glad however, to discover that Josie, Aidan and Jason were also invited.

‘But what about Arkenarten?’ Carole asked. ‘He doesn’t like Nicodemus and–’

‘Well, he’s going to have to start getting used to him,’ Mitsy said. ‘It is the season of goodwill after all, and if he doesn’t, he can always find a quiet spot or go to his usual place in the study. Nick can make sure Nicodemus behaves himself, can’t you, Nick?’

‘I can, but I think Carole’s right and–’

‘Nonsense!’ Mitsy said. ‘Nicodemus, you behave yourself, you hear.’

To Carole’s amazement, the hound actually nodded, although as it was followed by a sneeze, it may just have been a coincidence.

They walked towards the cottage and as Nick was talking to Aidan, Josie hung back to speak to Carole.

‘Well,’ she said. ‘You and Nick did what exactly?’

‘Oh! Um ... we kissed. But not like that, so don’t get excited. Mum set it up. She hung mistletoe outside the cottage and then when Nick was leaving, she pushed – and I do mean pushed, me outside so that we were both standing beneath it.’

‘And ...?’

‘He really didn’t want to kiss me, Josie. I was so embarrassed. He kissed me on the cheek but Mum and Jamie insisted he give me a real kiss. He seemed very reluctant and then he said, “Oh for heaven’s sake,” as if it was a chore. He yanked me into his arms and ... and he gave me one of the best kisses I think I’ve ever had.’

‘Wow!’

‘Double wow, Josie! It was ... incredible. So much so that ... that I kissed him back and I actually forgot everyone was watching us!’

‘Triple wow! Then what?’

‘Then Sebastian appeared and he said he wanted a kiss under the mistletoe too. Nick let go of me, like a handful of hot coals and told Sebastian he was welcome to me. Well, he said, “She’s all yours, for now,” or words to that effect. Then he left.’