Just for Christmas - Emily Harvale Page 0,37

is done, I think. Apart from giving the place a final clean and tidying up my tools, brushes and paint cans.’

‘I can help with that.’

‘So can I,’ said Vicky. ‘I haven’t been much help so far. I’d like to do my bit on Christmas Eve. And as you said last night, darling, you need to do some last-minute Christmas shopping. Why don’t you do that once the deliveries arrive, and leave me and Molly to do the clearing up?’

Molly nodded. ‘That sounds like a plan. But why do men leave their Christmas shopping until the very last minute? I just don’t get it.’

‘Because we have other, more manly things to do,’ Chance said, knowing he was playing with fire. ‘And because we can buy chocolate bars at any time, even on Christmas Eve.’

‘And perfume,’ Molly said, looking thoughtful. ‘Men always buy chocolates and perfume, don’t they? Oh. And horrendous underwear that they think is sexy but their girlfriends usually don’t.’

‘Don’t you like sexy underwear?’

He had a sudden vision of Molly wearing a sheer, black basque, along with black patent, thigh-length boots. He quickly dismissed the vision. What a cliché. He certainly wouldn’t be buying her underwear. Sexy or otherwise.

‘Of course I do. Just not usually the so-called sexy underwear that any of my boyfriends ever bought me. And no. Before you ask, I am not going into details.’

‘And jewellery,’ Vicky said. ‘A lot of men buy jewellery.’

‘So,’ Chance said. ‘Apart from the sexy underwear, that’s basically everything on my shopping list.’

‘Perhaps you need my help with that,’ Molly said. ‘As well as giving you the benefit of my interior designer talents, I’m happy to be your personal, Christmas shopper.’

He liked the sound of that.

‘New plan,’ Vicky said, smiling. ‘Basically it’s the same plan as earlier except that, once the deliveries have arrived, you and Molly should go shopping, I’ll look after the dogs, and then all three of us can return to the cottage to do the cleaning. How about that?’

‘And put up more decorations,’ Molly added. ‘So far there’s only a tree. And to be completely honest, that still smells a little of Miracle’s pee.’

‘Didn’t you say you won dinner for two at the pub?’ Vicky asked. ‘Why don’t you do that tonight?’

‘It’s Christmas Eve, Mum,’ Chance said, darting a look at Molly.

‘I know it is, darling, but so what?’

‘Well for one, they’re probably fully booked, and for two, aren’t we all going to spend it together? Or do you have plans with Sarah and Terry, Molly?’

‘No. Terry told me weeks ago that he wanted a romantic Christmas Eve meal with Sarah, so I’d be spending the night on my own. I planned to have a long soak in the bath and a pampering session, a few Baileys and a bucket-load of chocolates and watch several hours of Christmas movies. That was before Miracle came into my life, of course.’

‘Oh that sounds like heaven,’ Vicky said. ‘Minus the alcohol. I’d have hot chocolate instead. With whipped cream. And marshmallows. And grated chocolate. That’s what I’m going to do. So even if the pub is booked, I’m afraid I’ll need you two to go elsewhere for a few hours. You can come home at ten-thirty and we can watch a carol concert, or Christmas film, or open a present or two. But not before ten-thirty. Okay? And before you ask. The dogs are staying with me. They both need some pampering too.’

‘Mum!’ Chance sounded cross. ‘That’s not very polite to our guest.’

‘Oh don’t mind me,’ Molly said, laughing. ‘I can make myself scarce. I don’t mind at all. I could still go round to Terry’s. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. You can come too, if you want.’

He grinned. ‘Thanks. I like the sound of the bath, the Baileys and the chocolates. The Christmas movies, not so much.’

Molly tutted. ‘Obviously I’d forego the bath if you were there. And we don’t have to watch Christmas movies, I suppose. But there is no way I’m sitting through a bunch of Star Wars films, so forget it if that’s what you’re thinking.’

He burst out laughing. ‘I wasn’t. But now you’ve mentioned it.’ He rubbed his clean-shaven chin as if deep in thought. ‘Seriously though. If we’re going to be spending the evening together, we might as well see if we can go to the pub for dinner. Or somewhere nicer. I don’t mind. It’ll be my treat.’

‘Somewhere nicer than The Piemaker’s Rest! Does such a place exist?’ Her voice dripped sarcasm. ‘All joking