Christmas at Lilac Cottage - Holly Martin Page 0,104

neighbour came home drunk one night and accidentally trod on one of her gnomes and an umbrella was reported stolen from a pub. Apparently it had been left to dry in a rack by the door and when Mr Sampson came to collect it on his way home it had been taken. It was, however, returned to the pub a few days later so Mr Sampson was reunited with it and no further action was taken. That’s it as far as crime goes in White Cliff Bay. We don’t have axe murderers.’

‘What if the axe murderer is from out of town?’ Daisy said, obviously slightly mollified.

‘Well, that’s entirely possible. You are completely out the way though there. You know it takes a good two minutes to drive from the main road to our house, longer to walk with a heavy axe.’

Henry put his foot down and she was thrown back in her seat.

They reached part of the town that was in complete darkness and people were out on the streets with candles and lamps, obviously making a big party out of it all.

‘You can’t even see our house from the main road,’ Penny went on, trying to calm Henry down too. ‘I can’t see someone making that journey just to kill a stranger.’

‘I suppose not.’

In the background, Penny suddenly heard Bernard barking furiously, immediately undoing all Penny’s hard work to calm Daisy down. Daisy gave a little whimper of panic.

‘It’s rabbits, I promise you, Bernard hates them. There is no one in the house with you. Look, where are you?’

‘In my bedroom.’

‘OK, so you have that white chest of drawers right next to the door, can you push it in front of the door?’

‘Hang on.’

Penny listened as she heard a few grunts and the sound of furniture being dragged across the floor and then Daisy came back on the line.

‘Done it.’

‘OK, you’re safe now. No one is going to get through that door and we will be home in five minutes, well probably two with the rate your dad is driving.’

‘Is he scared?’

‘He knows you’re upset, he just wants to be there for you.’

‘Is he clenching his jaw?’

Penny glanced over him. He was scared, there was no doubt about that. His hands were gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were determinedly on the road. Perhaps all the talk of axe murderers had done more damage than good because he was clearly more upset than Daisy was.

‘No, he’s fine.’

Daisy laughed. ‘You’re such a liar.’ The laughter faded from her voice. ‘Dad doesn’t do scared very often.’

‘He does when it comes to you, honey.’

She somehow knew Daisy was smiling at that.

‘Bernard has stopped barking,’ Daisy said, there was an edge to her voice.

‘Because the daft sod has got tired of barking at the rabbits and probably fallen asleep again. Next time we go out you can have Bernard in your room with you, he’d protect you from any axe murderers.’

‘Is he a good guard dog?’

‘Is he heck but his farts are lethal, enough to scare away the bravest of men. Plus he’s really good at shagging anything that moves. Bernard could shag the axe murderer whilst you made your getaway, but the farts would probably kill the axe murderer before he came anywhere near your bedroom.’

Daisy laughed.

‘We’re pulling into the driveway now, we’ll be there in two minutes, just stay in your room until we get there.’

They bounced down the dirt track, slamming through pot holes in a way that couldn’t possibly be good for the car. She sort of expected this overreaction from Daisy, but not from Henry; it was clear to see that Daisy was his entire world.

The house loomed up over the edge of the hill and, shrouded in darkness, it did look slightly foreboding and sinister.

He skidded to a halt at the side of the house, narrowly missing the back of her freezer van.

They got out and he ran round the back before she could stop him. It’d be too dark round there to see the key hole, whereas at least she had the moon to help her get in the front door. She quickly let herself in and ran past Bernard who was snoring loudly on the sofa. She pushed through the connecting door and raced up the stairs. She wasn’t scared for Daisy’s safety, she just wanted to get to her as soon as possible.

‘Daisy, it’s me, open the door.’

There was a second’s hesitation and

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