A Surprise Christmas Wedding - Phillipa Ashley Page 0,115

for a happier moment? If that happier moment came. Lottie fought down panic. What if she there was bad news? More aggressive treatment? No treatment? How would they help the girls to understand? How would they tell their parents?

The joy of her time with Jay evaporated, but at least she now had someone she could share her own worries with. Someone to support her, who understood her fears and who, she sensed, would always be there for her and never run out.

That thought gave her the renewed strength to be positive for Steph’s sake.

An hour later, Lottie found herself sitting on a chair outside the consultant’s office, waiting for the door to open and find out the answer. Would Steph be smiling or grim-faced? Lottie would know in an instant.

The time stretched on. Ten minutes, twenty, half an hour and just when Lottie felt she might scream with tension, Steph emerged.

Oh God, she had tears on her cheeks. Lottie could see them glistening. She jumped up, grabbing her bag as the door shut behind Steph and she walked slowly forward.

Lottie hurried over to her. ‘Love …’ she murmured.

‘I-I’m OK. It’s gone. They can’t find anything …’

‘Oh God.’

‘Can w-we get out of here?’

‘Mmm …’ Lottie let out a breath and found her eyes full of tears. Her shoulders shook and she grabbed a handful of tissues from her bag.

It wasn’t until they reached the car park that they both gave in, hugging each other and sobbing with relief.

‘I am so so happy. I’m so relieved.’

Steph lifted her face to the sky. ‘I am going to be OK!’ she shouted.

‘This calls for champagne!’ Lottie said. ‘For you, anyway. I’m driving so maybe I’d better bring it over on Christmas Day.’

‘Look what happened the last time I had some! I put my foot in it with you and Jay!’

‘Ah – I have news about that.’ Lottie remembered that she’d also intended to tell Steph about Nadia and Jay. With all the chaos, and worry and excitement of the past few days, she hadn’t got round to it. Although it was her own relationship with Jay she wanted to focus on from now on, she didn’t think Jay would mind her explaining what had happened to Steph.

Steph wiped her eyes and they widened. ‘What news?’

Lottie grinned. ‘Jump in the car. I’ll tell you on the way home.’

After she’d taken Steph home and they’d had a cuppa and given the twins the good news, Lottie went back to the Bothy and she and Jay headed up to the fells with Trevor. It was a crisp winter afternoon, the fell tops were covered in snow, the setting sun turning them pink as the day drew to a close. Nearing Firholme, lights began to pop on in the windows of the villages around the lake, and smoke spiralled from the chimneys. Sharing the place they both loved, Lottie was filled with a sense of excitement and joy she hadn’t felt before, even with Connor.

The next morning, she had the very happy experience of waking up to a man beside her. A naked man, at that – Connor had favoured discreet grey shorts and T-shirt. Already awake, Jay got out of her bed, and crossed to the window, treating her to a pretty fabulous rear view. Lottie was in no mood to cut short her admiration so simply ran with it, drinking in his broad shoulders, toned thighs and bottom.

‘Sun’s out,’ he said, peering around the side of the curtain. He turned back to her, with a front view that was equally impressive. ‘I wish I could stay in bed with you all day but I have to get to work. The tree sales centre closes today and we need to start winding things up.’

‘I have another day off. Do you have time for breakfast?’

‘Yes, but …’ He sat next to her and pulled the duvet back. ‘There are better uses of that time.’

‘What about Trevor?’

With a smile, he climbed back into bed. ‘He’ll forgive me, just this once.’

Jay eventually left, crunching down a piece of toast on the run. Five minutes later, she watched him jog towards the forest with Trevor lolloping alongside him. She stood in the middle of her sitting room, trying to adjust – to even believe – that finally, she and Jay had got together. Instead of feeling exhausted after a night with little sleep, she was fizzing with energy.

Connor and Keegan were far away on honeymoon. They were a memory, already receding