A Kiss in the Snow - Rosie Green Page 0,77

a lovely lyrical version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. It’s a song that’s full of hope and yearning, and she sings it so beautifully and sincerely that by the end, I’m having to clench my teeth really hard to stop myself breaking down altogether.

I really want to run out of there and go back to the cottage. And I would, if it wasn’t for the fact that I could never do that to Becca. So I sit there in the dark, my nose blocked with tears, dabbing it from time to time, wishing I’d thought to bring a hanky.

The applause at the end is rapturous. People are standing up to clap. And Becca is smiling, looking rather overwhelmed. She goes off to more applause and Bella, the show’s compere, comes on stage.

‘Wow,’ she says. ‘That was exquisite, Becca.’ She smiles into the wings and then turns back to the audience, rubbing her hands together. ‘And now, folks, we have a very special guest singer up next for you.’ She looks into the wings again and gives the mystery act a big grin and a thumbs-up. ‘I need you to be kind because this person has never performed in public before. But he’s good. Very good.’

I’m still concentrating on keeping my snotty nose from embarrassing me. But I’m suddenly aware of Anita turning to grin at me. I stare back at her and she gives me a sharp nudge.

‘What?’ I mouth at her.

She points at the stage and murmurs in my ear, ‘Your Christmas present from me.’

‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ announces Bella, ‘I give you…Ronan Mackay!’

Shock shoots through me like I’ve touched a live wire. I stare up at the stage, and sure enough, there he is. Larger than life and doubly gorgeous in his matinee idol dark suit and white shirt, the bow tie hanging sexy and loose.

Oh. My. God.

He’s testing the microphone, grinning but looking a little nervous.

‘What the hell is going on?’ I hiss at Anita, and the woman in front of me turns and glares at me.

‘You’ll see. He came back the next day, after you left. He came into the store looking for you, saying he should never have left without leaving a contact number. I told him you were upset and he’d have to do something really impressive to make it up to you. And this is it.’

I’m so gobsmacked, a reply is beyond me. And I just sit there, my heart doing a joyous dance, as Ronan murmurs into the microphone: ‘Someone here told me that she’s never been serenaded before. Carrie, this is for you.’ Then, taking a breath, he starts to sing. You’re just too good to be true, Can’t take my eyes off you, You’d be like heaven to touch, I want to hold you so much…

He’s good. Really good. Even better than when I heard him that time in the shower. And he’s smiling straight at me, singing to me and only me. And the audience are absolutely loving it.

When it comes to the chorus, everyone starts singing along with gusto.

It’s seriously the campest thing I’ve ever seen in my life and I can’t believe Ronan is doing it all for me. People in the row in front are turning to see who he’s singing to, and I clamp my hands to my hot cheeks, thinking he might actually make me die of embarrassment or complete and utter happiness. Maybe both.

But then the song comes to an end and it feels great to be alive! I’ve survived the most amazing experience of my life. Ronan gives me one last smile and walks casually off-stage, as if he’s performed that song every night for the past decade!

I’m trembling as Anita grabs my hand.

‘How amazing was that?’ she laughs. ‘You need to go and find him.’

‘When? The show isn’t over.’

‘Doesn’t matter. Just go!’

I smile at her, wondering if I’m about to wake up from the most incredible dream I’ve ever had. ‘Okay. Wish me luck.’

‘You don’t need it, I promise you. He’s crazy about you. He told me so.’

I flick my eyes to the ceiling, wondering if I can take any more of this. But I can. I definitely can, I think, as I stumble out of my seat and hurry over to side of the stage.

Ronan appears and spots me, and my heart flips over.

He takes my hand and leads me to the back of the barn. And somehow, he opens one of the doors and we slip out into