Carole Singer's Christmas (12 page)

‘I think he’ll probably just toss a piece of material over some MDF or something, dear. He’s a very capable and talented young man but I don’t think this sort of thing is really his forte. I’ll rope Matilda in to help and she’s got a wheelchair in her garage so that’ll come in handy for me.’

***

The population of Jutsdown village may only have been around two hundred but when all of those two hundred people seem to be talking about you, it feels like a baying mob of thousands, Carole thought as she stepped into the post office stores later in the afternoon.

‘It’s so good to hear that you and Sebastian have made up. Will we be hearing wedding bells for you two, after all? Although, haven’t you got a fiancé already? And of course, Sebastian will have to divorce his current wife first. Still nothing can get in the way of true love, can it?’ Mrs Stevens said the moment Carole opened the door.

‘I could have sworn I saw her open the door to Nick last night, and this morning I saw him leave before it was even light and it looked as if he’d had a nose bleed or something!’ Miss Grimshaw was saying to Mrs Edwards, the doctor’s wife. ‘You get those from physical exertion, don’t you? I thought she was a nice girl but it seems like she’s a bit of a man eater – and he’s such a nice young man too. Poor Nick.’

Carole wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry and when she spotted Sebastian coming towards her on her way out, she did her best to avoid him.

‘Carole!’ he yelled. ‘Wait up, angel.’

She stopped in her tracks at his use of the word ‘angel’; she could feel her temper rising.

‘Sebastian, I’m in a hurry and I really don’t think you should be calling me ‘angel’ in the middle of the village.’

‘Sorry, angel ... I mean, Carole. Old habits die hard. I always called you ‘angel’.’

‘Yes. Ten years ago. Have you heard what everyone’s saying about us? We’re the talk of the village.’

‘I know but so what? You never cared what they said in the old days.’

‘That was different. A lot has happened since then, not least that you’re a married man and I’m practically engaged. I told you I’ll call you next week. I don’t think we should be seen together for a while.’

‘Ooh! That sounds like we’re having an affair. I rather like that.’

‘Well I don’t, so stop it. I mean it!’

‘Okay! I suppose asking you to come to the pub with me on Saturday night is out of the question then? They still run the end of the month pub quiz. Can you believe that?’

‘Yes it is, and yes, I know. I’m busy on Saturday anyway, so I can’t.’

‘Oh? Who with? I’m not the only person being linked with you, you know. Nick’s name’s been mentioned quite a few times within my earshot.’

‘And mine. And I’m even less happy about it than you seem to be, so don’t start, Seb. I’m really not in the mood. I’ll see you next week.’ She turned and dashed down the road before he could say anything more.

Her mind was a whirl and she wondered how she had got herself into such a mess. It was a good thing that Dominic wasn’t coming down this weekend. How on earth was she going to be able to explain all this to him? Would he understand? Could she save their relationship? Did she want to, now that Sebastian was back?

She ran across the road without looking and only heard the screech of brakes seconds before she saw the Land Rover swerve. How it missed her, she had no idea. Unfortunately, it didn’t miss the tree that was in the way of the only path the vehicle could take to avoid hitting her.

The sound of a vehicle compacting and an engine exploding was something she’d never heard before and she was frozen to the spot for what seemed like an eternity. She heard groaning metal, like a poor sound effect from a horror film when the ancient castle door opens, and she watched in stunned silence as a blood-soaked Nick staggered towards her.

This time she had killed him, she thought, as the terrifying realisation that he couldn’t be covered in that much blood, and live, sank in.

‘Nick!’ she shrieked, finally pulling herself together and running to him as she grabbed her mobile and dialled for an ambulance.

‘Are you okay?’ Nick asked in a voice that sounded shocked but very much alive. ‘What were you thinking? I could have killed you?’

‘Killed me? Nick! You’re ... you’re covered in blood! I’ve killed you! I mean ... No! You’ll live. You’ve got to live! I’m calling an ambulance. Why won’t they answer?’

Nick grabbed the phone and pressed the end call button.

‘I don’t need an ambulance – I need a mechanic and the only thing dying around here may very well be that tree – and possibly my Land Rover. Thank God I didn’t have Nicodemus with me.’

‘But ... you’re covered in blood, Nick! Don’t try and be brave for my sake. You need an ambulance!’

His head and shoulders were almost completely covered in the bright red, thick liquid and she couldn’t understand why he wasn’t in agony.

He smirked. ‘Despite your repeated attempts to end my life, I can assure you, I’m fine. I was wearing my seat belt, and my Land Rover and the tree took the brunt of it. This,’ he said, wiping his forehead with a completely red hand, ‘is red paint.’ He yanked a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face. ‘I had a large tub of it on the seat behind me and I obviously didn’t secure the lid properly. I now seem to be wearing most of it, which is a shame, because I’d planned to use it to paint the arch for my Christmas Tree Land.’

‘I ... I … thought I’d … killed you!’ she stuttered, choking back her tears.

‘Better luck next time,’ he quipped. ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were the one with the dastardly plan to do away with me and obtain total control of the garden centre for you and Mitsy. Don’t worry though, I’m sure you’ll think up lots more ways to achieve your goal.’

‘That’s not funny!’ she shrieked as she threw herself on to his paint-covered chest and sobbed.

‘Oh!’ he exclaimed before he wrapped his equally paint-covered arms tightly around her.

It took her several minutes to realise what she was doing and regain her composure. When she finally eased herself away from Nick’s embrace, she felt more than embarrassed by the exhibition she’d made of herself.

‘I think I can safely say, I need a new coat,’ was all she could utter. ‘First it’s covered in compost and now it’s red paint.’ She couldn’t meet his eyes.

‘I’m afraid you’ve got paint in your hair too. Oh, and on your face.’

He reached out to rub her cheek but she moved away and rubbed it herself. She needed to put some distance between them.

‘Is there anything I can do to help with the Land Rover?’ she asked. ‘Will your insurance cover it? I’ll pay for the damage if not, because it was my fault. I hope it’s not a complete write-off.’

‘You’ll do no such thing and it’ll be okay. They’re pretty sturdy vehicles.’

‘I thought I heard the engine explode.’

‘I suspect that was the tub of paint when it hit the back of my seat. It was plastic and it hit with considerable force. Why don’t you get back to Mitsy’s and get yourself cleaned up if you’re feeling up to the walk? I’ll drop by later, if that’s okay?’

‘Of course. Thanks Nick. I really am so very sorry ... about everything. I’m ... I’m so relieved you’re not hurt.’

She turned and walked away from him as fast as her shaking legs would carry her.

CHAPTER TEN

Carole sat in the study at her gran’s about an hour later and tried to concentrate on one of her commissions. Unfortunately, it was a book cover for a romance novel and that was far too close for comfort in her present state of mind.

Ever since the accident, her mind had felt as if it were a three-lane motorway leading her in several different directions but none of them reaching a destination. It had been bad enough before when she realised she still had feelings for Sebastian, but now…

Mitsy stirred and opened her eyes. She’d been fast asleep when Carole returned.

‘Hello sweetheart. I must have dozed off for a few minutes. When did you get back?’

Carole smiled. ‘Not that long ago. How are you feeling? Would you like a cup of tea?’

Mitsy gave her a worried look. ‘Is everything all right, dear? You look ... upset. Have you been crying? What’s happened, sweetheart? What’s wrong?’

Mitsy held out her arms and Carole rushed into them. For the second time today, she needed to feel the comforting hold of someone’s arms around her.

‘I’m so confused, Gran. Now I really do need to talk.’

‘Well then dear, let’s open a bottle of something, shall we and you can tell me all about it?’

Carole got up, retrieved a bottle of wine and a sherry for her gran and headed back into the study. She briefly glanced at the clock and noticed it was a little after six; she couldn’t stop herself from wondering what Nick was doing now.

She poured the drinks and took several gulps of wine before telling her gran what had happened that afternoon, including the comments in the post office stores, the meeting with Sebastian and the accident. She also told her everything that had happened since she arrived on Wednesday night, less than two short but action-packed days ago.

‘And finally,’ she said, ‘I lied to you about this weekend and Dominic. He’s not away on business, he’s going to Manchester to see his favourite band with some of his friends. I didn’t tell you the truth because I knew what you’d say.’

‘I think we both need a top-up,’ Mitsy said, ‘before we tackle these problems.’

‘I don’t know how I’ve got myself into this mess, Gran. On Wednesday, all I could think of was whether Dominic was going to propose and now look at me. Now I think I’m very possibly in love with three different men and I have no idea what I’m going to do about it. Worse still, my best friend is also in love with one of them and if I try to start anything with him, she’ll never speak to me again. Not that I’m sure he’d want to start anything with me so that may not be an issue anyway. And why would he when I’ve accused him of such dreadful things and then tried to kill him several times and wrecked his Land Rover and–’

‘Let’s just take one thing at a time shall we, dear?’ Mitsy said reassuringly. ‘Do you still love Dominic? Think about it for a moment before you answer.’

Carole sipped her wine and pictured Dominic. ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘I definitely do.’

‘Enough to spend the rest of your life with him?’

‘I ... I think so.’

‘But you’re not absolutely certain?’

Carole shook her head. ‘No. I ... I thought I was but now ...’

‘And Sebastian. Are you sure your feelings for him are real and not just a memory of what you once had?’

Carole nodded. ‘Yes. When I saw him I ... well, it was as if none of the last ten years had happened. I even forgot about Dom for a while there.’

‘And yet you’re not throwing yourself in his arms and when he kissed you this morning, you pulled away.’

‘Yes, but that was because of Dominic. I felt guilty. Despite what Nick thinks of me I’m not the sort of girl who cheats on her boyfriend – at least, I didn’t think I was. I’m not. No. That was what stopped me kissing Seb back. I can’t restart my relationship with him until I end my relationship with Dom. If that’s really what I want to do and that’s what I have no idea about.’

‘And that brings us to Nick. You say you feel things for him that you don’t feel with either Dominic or Sebastian.’

‘Yes. Mainly anger,’ Carole said with a sardonic laugh. ‘I feel as if I would like to hit him sometimes and I’ve never felt like that about anyone. That’s definitely not a good sign and yet, when I thought he was dying this afternoon, I would have done anything to save him, absolutely anything. And when I threw myself in his arms and felt him holding me, I ...’ she shrugged. ‘I don’t know what I felt. I just know I didn’t want to let him go.’

‘That could have just been shock sweetheart, and relief because he wasn’t injured. Don’t confuse that with love because they are different things entirely. Out of the three men, I can say with all honesty that I prefer Nick but this isn’t about me, it’s about you. Love is love and it’s often blind so only you can decide which one you really want. And then you must decide whether they’re worth it and whether you can cope with all the baggage that inevitably comes with any relationship. Mmm, I’m not sure that was much help.’

Carole grinned. ‘Possibly not but it was lovely to talk like this with you. We haven’t done this for such a long time and that’s my fault I know. One thing I promise, whatever comes of all this and whether I end up with one of them ... or none of them, I am definitely going to make sure I come and see you on a very regular basis.’

‘I’ll drink to that!’ Mitsy said, holding her glass out for a refill.

‘And so will I,’ Carole added, filling both of their glasses up to the brim.

***

Carole spent the morning trying to avoid Nick just as she had last night. She told her gran she couldn’t face him, so Mitsy had called and asked him to let himself in as Carole was having a relaxing bath and an early night.

She still felt embarrassed by her display of concern after the accident and she needed to keep a bit of distance between them. The garden centre was fairly busy, as she assumed it probably was every Saturday morning, so that wasn’t too difficult until just before lunchtime when she popped into the kitchen to make all the staff a cup of tea.

‘I get the feeling you’re avoiding me,’ Nick said, closing the kitchen door behind him.

Carole nearly dropped the kettle. ‘No. I’ve just been busy.’ She avoided eye contact and continued to make the tea.

‘Really? This hasn’t got anything to do with yesterday then?’

She gave him a sideways glance. ‘No. Why should it have?’

‘It shouldn’t, but I thought you may be feeling embarrassed because ... because you were ... in my arms yesterday. There’s no need to. I know it was just the shock and you needed comforting, that’s all.’

‘Thank you. Yes. It was the shock. How’s the Land Rover? I meant to ask earlier but ... it’s been busy today.’

‘It’s a bit like you. In a state of shock but it’ll get better with some love and affection.’