I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day - Milly Johnson Page 0,20

an early night, we were up at the crack of dawn this morning. My, that seems like another lifetime ago.’

‘There are three bedrooms, two twins and a double. There are plenty of sheets and duvets and towels et cetera in the room opposite the last bedroom,’ said Bridge. ‘It would make sense if you two had the double, Mary and I shared and Jack shared the other twin with… Luke.’ A pause before his name, as if her mouth didn’t want to say it.

‘That does seem the only option,’ said Jack.

Inside Mary a little sigh rose and sank.

‘I think we will say our goodnights now,’ said Robin, hovering over Charlie to help, as he levered himself to his feet. ‘Sleep well, everyone.’

Their words were reciprocated.‘Yes, sleep well.’

‘I’ll come up with you and show you where the bedding is,’ said Bridge. ‘There’s an ensuite in each room, so fingers crossed there’s some hot water.’

The double room was the largest of them, snug and quaint with fussy, floral curtains hanging at two picture windows, which afforded views of snow as far as the eye could see. And it was still falling hard.

‘Deep joy, my lovelies, we have hot water,’ proclaimed Charlie from the bathroom as Bridge helped Robin fit a bottom sheet and pillowcases, dress a duvet with a starched white cover. There were plenty of towels; the fluff factor was lacking but they were soft enough, and smelled newly washed. Bridge also found a quantity of folded white towelling robes, all in monster-large size.

‘I shall look like the bastard child of a snowman and Noel Coward in this,’ chuckled Charlie. ‘Thank you for all your help, dear girl.’

‘Let’s think positive: we’ll wake up tomorrow to green fields and clear roads and then we’ll be happily on our way,’ said Robin to Bridge at the door, both hands raised with crossed fingers.

‘Of course we will,’ she agreed.

* * *

Downstairs in the bar, Mary was collecting the plates and glasses to take through to Jack who had volunteered to wash up. Luke was sitting by the fire, thinking that it would be so easy to nod off in this large wing armchair. At one point, when he had face-planted into some snow outside, he really had wondered if he would ever make it to the inn; it was no exaggeration. But the thought of obtaining Bridge’s signature on the divorce agreement spurred him on so much, he could probably have reached the Arctic Circle if necessary. The prospect of seeing Bridge in person again drove him on too, because he was intrigued by what he’d find. She looked thinner than he remembered; her cheekbones were more pronounced because of it and she’d had her inferno of wild hair cut to just below her shoulders. It suited her, made her appear older and more sensible. She looked like an adult, in other words, less like the girl he’d known. He wasn’t prepared for the sensation in his chest that his heart was smiling to find her safe and sound.

‘So, were you worried about me, Bridge?’ he asked her, as she came down the stairs and over to sit with him, but not too near.

‘I did hope you were alive, I’m not a monster,’ she said, waiting for him to roar with laughter. Sarcasm had long since been a fuel that kept their relationship burning. But he surprised her.

‘I’m glad you found this bolthole, Bridge. I did try to reply to your text but it kept saying the message couldn’t be delivered.’

‘I didn’t expect a reply anyway, I was just letting you know the change of plan. I did wonder if you’d got it, but there was no way I could find out, because I couldn’t get through to you to check. I have no idea what’s going on with all the technology. You’d think it would be weatherproof nowadays.’

‘This is madness, isn’t it? It would have been far more sensible for us to do this another time.’

‘It would. But I’m sure you agree, we both want this over and done with. It’s dragged on for far too long.’

‘Years too long.’

‘Stupid.’

‘Crazy.’

A beat.

‘So, here we are, Bridge. Ending our relationship as we started it, with snow all around us…’

Her heart kicked. Mary and Jack picked the perfect moment to return.

‘I’ve turned the lights off in the back,’ said Mary. ‘The switch is on the left wall by the door if you need it. I’m going to head upstairs.’

‘I’ll come with you,’ said Bridge quickly. Left alone