Just for Christmas - Emily Harvale Page 0,17

go Christmas shopping with Sarah at some stage, if that’s okay, but I’ll fit in with you as much as possible. It does mean that I’ll be throwing myself on your mercy and asking you to look after Miracle for a couple of hours though. I can’t take him with me. He’ll probably decimate the shopping centre.’

Chance grinned at that. ‘Why don’t you go shopping this morning and we’ll work at the cottage this afternoon? I’ll take him and Beauty for a long walk while you’re at the shops. That might tire him out. Especially as there’s several inches of snow out there. Would that fit in with your plans?’

‘Perfectly. Are you sure you don’t mind?’

‘Not at all.’ His grin widened. ‘But ask me again later.’

Molly grinned back and glanced at Miracle who was standing beside Beauty munching down his breakfast and slowly edging his bowl closer to hers, no doubt in the hope that he could steal some of her food without her noticing.

‘I’ll wash your PJs,’ Vicky said, ‘and when they’re dry, I’ll re-sew some of the buttonholes so they’re not so wide. If you’ve got anything else to go in the wash, let me have it before you go out.’

Molly blushed at the memory of earlier.

‘Thanks. But there’s really no need. I can do that later.’

‘You can sew?’ Chance sounded doubtful. ‘I’m sure Terry said you weren’t very good with a needle and positively lethal with a pair of scissors.’

Molly tutted and tried to avoid his gaze. ‘You shouldn’t believe everything my brother says.’

‘So that’s not true?’

She blushed deeper. ‘Er. No. Or yes. It is true. But I’m sure I can sew a few buttonholes.’

‘But you don’t have to, sweetheart,’ Vicky insisted. ‘I’m happy to do it. So that’s that.’

There was no point in arguing. Especially as Molly really didn’t want to do any sewing. The last time she attempted that, it ended with a trip to A&E and four stitches. Scissors were definitely not her friend.

‘I’ve already got a few ideas for the cottage,’ she said, changing the subject. ‘I’m thinking hand-blown glass pendant lights in three colours to go above the kitchen island, hanging from that fabulous oak beam you installed. I know someone who makes the most gorgeous shades and the glass looks so delicate but is actually quite sturdy. I’m seeing one gold shade, one amber and one vermilion. And I’m picturing something like maybe an inverted teardrop, with the widest part at the top, narrowing at the bottom so it looks as if the glass is melting onto the hob that you’ve built into the island.’

‘I love that!’ Chance beamed at her. ‘So basically, yellow, orange and red?’

‘Heathen.’ Molly playfully slapped his arm. ‘Gold isn’t yellow, amber isn’t orange, and vermilion isn’t red. They’re all so much more and come in a variety of hues. Some soft, some strong. But I think a splash of bright colour will highlight the dark grey floor tiles and the pale grey units. Have you decided on the splashback? Last night you said you were considering grey glass, but what about amber or vermilion to really make a statement? And to add more colour. Or maybe two-tone, with vermilion at the base fading into pale amber at the top? Or glass tiles to match the pendants?’

Vicky tapped Chance’s hand. ‘I love the idea of those lights, darling, and a two-tone splashback sounds wonderful. The kitchen looks superb but with some added colour, it would look sensational.’

Chance nodded. ‘I agree.’

‘I think the sitting room needs deep, bold colours. I haven’t decided on those yet. But last night I was thinking about your bedroom.’ She cleared her throat. She’d been thinking about his bedroom quite a bit. But it had nothing to do with the colour scheme. She’d actually dreamt about being in bed with him, and it had been so vivid that when she first woke up, she half expected to find him sleeping next to her. Instead, she’d been face-to-slobbery jowl with a snoring dog. ‘Umm. I know how much you love blue, especially the darker tones like navy, so what if you paint those superb built-in wardrobes of yours a deep, rich blue, with maybe a soft pink for the walls to add more warmth?’

‘The deep blue wardrobes sound good, but pink walls?’ Chance pulled a face. ‘I know pink is your favourite colour, Molly, or at least it was, but I’m not sure I can see myself in a pink bedroom.’ He grinned.

‘I think