Just for Christmas - Emily Harvale Page 0,27

been nothing but trouble.

Except he wasn’t. Not really. He was just a lost dog who needed love as much as anyone else. And right at that moment, Molly knew it would break her heart to know that she was the one who would be taking that love away from him.

But she couldn’t take him on. She would have to leave him alone in her apartment for most of the day while she was at the homes of clients, or sourcing merchandise for them, and that wasn’t fair to anyone.

Vicky couldn’t adopt him either. Molly knew that, what with her upcoming operation and all the ongoing treatment that would entail. Chance would be looking after Beauty as it was. Well, Chance and Jolene, who would, by then, be Chance’s fiancée. And Chance wouldn’t take Miracle on. She couldn’t expect him to. He had already told her that once the holidays were over and they had the results of Vicky’s operation, he’d need to start up a building firm in Easterhill, from scratch. He’d already agreed a sale of his building firm in the States so he would have the money from that to tide him over, but the cottage and all the work he’d done on that must’ve cost a small fortune and eaten into his savings. Not to mention the money he’d be spending on the interior.

When Molly had gone to bed on Saturday night, she’d been just as upset at the thought of losing Miracle as she was about losing Chance.

But today was another day. And the sunshine brought light and hope and a promise of better things to come.

It also brought dappled rays of sunlight onto the bed and Miracle chased the beams as if they were sticks.

Molly hugged him tight and he licked her face.

‘We’ll find a way, Miracle. I don’t know how yet, but you’re not going to a shelter if I can help it. Now let’s get up and go for a walk in the sunshine.’

She would shower when they got back. The Christmas Market didn’t open until eleven and although she and Sarah would need about an hour to pack the car, unload it at the shopping centre and set up the stall, there was plenty of time.

She went downstairs to find that no one else was up yet. She let Miracle out into the garden for a pee while she made Vicky and Chance some coffee. Yesterday, they’d brought her coffee in bed, so this was her opportunity to repay them. Although that hadn’t turned out well for her, so she’d better make sure Miracle remained outside.

She asked the Smart Speaker to play some cheery Christmas music and she also asked for the weather for the day.

‘Playing cheery Christmas music,’ the speaker replied, and ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day’ by Wizzard blared out.

‘The old classics, I see,’ Molly said, rolling her eyes even though she was alone in the kitchen.

‘The weather for today is some sunshine mixed with cloud and a light, chilly breeze. Heavy snow is forecast later.’

‘Excellent! Thank you.’

She made coffee and went upstairs humming the song she’d heard as she tapped on Vicky’s door.

‘Come in,’ Vicky said, sounding sleepy.

‘Did I wake you? Sorry.’ Molly popped her head around the door. ‘I’ve brought some coffee. Would you like me to let Beauty out for a pee?’

Vicky smiled and sat up in bed. ‘Thank you, sweetheart. That’s very kind. Yes please. I think I stayed up too late last night chatting with Chance.’ She was giving Molly a curious smile. ‘We had a very interesting talk.’

‘That’s good.’ Molly wanted to ask what it was about but she knew she couldn’t. She set the mug down on the bedside table and called Beauty to her. ‘You can go back to sleep if you like. I’ll take the dogs for a walk and then I’ll make breakfast.’

‘But you’re helping Sarah at the Christmas Market, aren’t you?’

‘Yes. But not until later. There’s plenty of time.’

‘I might just have a few minutes more in that case,’ Vicky said, sliding back down beneath the duvet. ‘Thank you for the coffee.’

‘It’s a pleasure.’

Molly left the room and Beauty followed at her heels.

‘Sit, Beauty,’ she said, tapping on Chance’s door.

She heard him say ‘Come in’ and she opened the door and walked inside.

But she got the shock of her life.

Chance was standing in the middle of his room, stark naked, looking as surprised as she was.

‘You’re naked!’ she shrieked, unable to stop her eyes from scanning