A Kiss in the Snow - Rosie Green Page 0,47

no. If there were shards of glass everywhere, the amount of rolling around on the floor they were indulging in would have resulted in a very nasty accident. She obviously thought I loved her so much I’d believe anything. But she was wrong about that.’

‘That must have been such a shock.’ His tone is light-hearted but his eyes can’t hide the pain.

‘It was. But then, life with Amy was never straight forward. She’d fly off the handle at the slightest thing. It was like riding a roller coaster - exhilarating at times but mostly just bloody exhausting.’

‘Why were you up the tree? Were you doing some work for your friend?’

He nods. ‘He had a tree with branches hanging over into next-door’s garden. I said I’d deal with it for him, and when I came back earlier than expected from a job that afternoon, I decided to just call in at Tom’s and see to the tree for him before I went home. I thought he’d be at work so I didn’t even bother knocking.’ He grins wearily. ‘Big mistake. I climbed the tree, ready to start lopping off branches, and I happened to glance over at the house. The light was on in the living room, the curtains were open…and, well, you know the rest.’

‘You were living with Amy?’

He nods. ‘We’d been together a year, both renting. She convinced me we should buy a house together, which we did, and we moved in together in May. It…started to go wrong almost from the start. I guess it’s only when you live with someone that you really get to know them.’ He pauses. ‘I’d leave a book and a coffee cup on a table and she’d instantly be tidying them away, and my laid-back attitude to life drove her crazy. To be honest, I miss my mate more than I miss Amy.’ He shrugs. ‘You live and learn.’

I nod. ‘You do indeed.’

He shifts his position slightly and the airbed undulates beneath me. ‘What about you, Carrie? Is there no hope for you with Adam?’ His eyes are intense…they seem darker than usual in the soft glow of the candlelight.

‘No, but it’s fine. As long as he and my sister don’t end up together. I wouldn’t really fancy being bridesmaid.’ I paste on a smile. ‘Actually, that’s rubbish. Of course I’d be her bridesmaid. She’s my sister. And if it turned out Adam was the one for her, I’d be really happy for her.’

‘You would?’ He looks surprised.

I shrug. ‘It wouldn’t be ideal, but Krystle’s happiness is important to me. Obviously.’

‘You do a lot for your sister, don’t you?’

‘Do I?’ It’s my turn to be surprised.

‘Don’t get me wrong. You’ve obviously got a strong bond. But you don’t think she might take you a bit for granted?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, the way she phones you all the time for advice about things around the house? I guess she normally relies on you to do most of the practical stuff when you’re there?’

‘I suppose I’m a lot more practical than she is, so I guess that’s natural.’

He nods. ‘Sometimes you can do too much for a person, though. To the extent that they start expecting you to take charge?’

I stare at him, bristling a little. ‘Are you telling me I molly-coddle my sister? Because I absolutely don’t. We’re there for each other. She’s just as supportive of me.’

His eyes widen. ‘Of course. I’m sure she is. I’m only saying maybe she wouldn’t rely on you quite so much if you let her learn to do these things for herself.’

‘Such as?’

‘Sorting out her own MOT and car tax?’

I frown at his reference to my phone conversation with Krystle the day before. She was in a flap about the renewals and in the end, I said I’d phone a garage and organise an appointment for her. I also organised her car tax on-line.

I shrug. ‘Ryan used to do it all for her, so it’s only natural she’d ask me now they’re no longer together. And I’m hardly going to say no, am I? She’s been going through a horrible time, adjusting to life without Ryan. I want to make her life smoother, not more problematic.’ I shrug. ‘And besides, I happen to have the number of a really good, value-for-money car mechanic. Krystle would probably pay some stranger over the odds without realising it.’

‘Exactly,’ says Ronan. ‘Everyone learns by making mistakes and doing it better the next time. But they have to be allowed to