A Kiss in the Snow - Rosie Green Page 0,11
Liam’s brother, Chris…’
Maddy grins. ‘So what are you going to do with your month off?’
‘What indeed.’ I groan. ‘To be honest, given the chance, I’d get away from Sunnybrook altogether. Just take off for a few weeks on my own and hopefully sort out my head. But I’m short of cash at the moment,’ I add, thinking about the new dress and the shiny blow-dry I splashed out on for my ‘date’ with Adam.
‘What about camping?’
‘In December?’
‘You’ve got a point.’ She frowns, thinking. Then her face lights up. ‘Hey, I’ve got a brilliant idea!’
‘You have?’ I cast her a doubtful look. ‘Hm. Why do I feel nervous?’
She grins. ‘I don’t know because it’s perfect. Honestly, Carrie, you’re going to absolutely love it!’
CHAPTER FOUR
As I navigate the country lanes on the way to my destination – the small, picturesque village of Silverbells – I’m trying hard to feel positive.
Snow is drifting from a leaden sky, flakes of white flying at the windscreen and swirling around. It’s been snowing for days now, on and off, and usually, I’d be filled with excitement. But right now, even the prospect of a white Christmas isn’t enough to prise me out of the pit of misery I’ve fallen into over Adam.
I’ve also got Krystle’s parting shot ringing in my ears: ‘I can’t believe you’re just going to bugger off and leave me for a whole week! What am I going to do on my own? I don’t even know where the stopcock is.’ (My reply: ‘You’ll have the whole flat to yourself for a change, and it’s under the sink.’)
But as I headed out of Sunnybrook for the ninety-minute drive to Silverbells, I felt a weight roll off my shoulders. It felt odd, leaving my twin behind, so I understood her annoyance. But deep down, I felt a twinge of relief at the thought of leaving all her emotional outbursts and melodrama behind.
As I’m driving over the quaint little hump-backed bridge into Silverbells, a text pings through. I’m tempted to ignore it. I’ve had a couple of calls already from Krystle in the time since I left, one asking me when bin day is, and the other begging to borrow a jumper because all hers are in the wash basket. (I was tempted to direct her to the large white machine thing in the kitchen but exhaustion took over and I just said ‘fine’.)
With a resigned sigh, I drive along between the two rows of pretty cottages and red-brick terraced houses that make up Silverbells’ high street. Glancing around, I’m quite surprised at the scant presence of Christmas lights and decorations. Maybe Silverbells just doesn’t ‘do’ the festive season in a big way. (Or perhaps I’m just used to Sunnybrook and its dazzling fairy lights in every shop window and enough flashing images of Santa, bells and Christmas stockings to give the local council a permanent headache, anticipating the electricity bill!)
Drawing into the side of the road at the far end of the high street, I park the car and fumble for my phone. If I don’t reply immediately to Krystle’s text, she’ll probably panic and start demanding to know if I’m all right. I’d hate her to feel I’ve deserted her.
The text isn’t from Krystle.
Hey you, what do you think you’re doing, going off on holiday without telling me?! You’ll be missed, Lady Carrington-Barrington-Harrington. Give me a call to let me know what a fantastic time you’re having. Adam xx
I tense up inside, wanting to delete it. But I can’t bring myself to do it.
He’s going to bloody miss me? I grit my teeth. Thundering arse-baskets! The whole point of going away was to help me get over him. How the gibbering anthropoids will I do that if he’s going to keep popping up all over the place?
I shove my phone away without replying, trying to ignore the whisper in my head that’s making my heart beat a little faster: He’s going to miss me…maybe when I’m gone, he’ll realise he’s made a mistake and that he really cares about me…
Snorting at such a ludicrous idea, I pull on my woolly hat and gloves, and step out into the winter wonderland. The snow is coming down more heavily now, settling on the roof tops and the branches of the trees. Feeling the icy needles of falling snow prickling my face, I slither my way onto the pavement. I’ve parked outside a boarded-up building that looks like it might have been a community centre or