Page 29 of Home This Christmas

TWENTY-FOUR

‘I am afraid I have some bad news,’ Marilyn tells me when she calls the following morning. ‘Planning permission has been passed for the houses. It seems the library will be no more.’

‘What? I don’t believe it! It was only the other day that Will told me things were still in progress…’ I reply.

‘Well, I am afraid it’s true.’ She sighs.

‘Maybe the council decided to rush things through before Christmas, who knows? Perhaps Will chased it up. All I know is that the project has been okayed. And it was as I thought: apparently the proposed plans had been secured to a tree near the church. The council claim it must have been blow away or something. I mean, really…’ she says in frustration.

‘But surely the plans can be challenged? In fact, I’ll contact my colleague at the news station. It is time to stage a protest.’

‘Do you think there is any point?’ she asks doubtfully. ‘Because I have a feeling that only the person who has lodged the planning application has the right to appeal if it has been declined.’

‘We have to try – there’s nothing to lose,’ I tell her, realising how much I want to support the library.

‘Yes, yes. You are right. Perhaps the protest will whip up some local support.’

‘That’s the spirit!’ I say, feeling positive. ‘We can’t give up now.’

It seems to be a morning for calls, because not long after I say goodbye to Marilyn, my phone buzzes.

‘Are you telling me you aren’t coming home for Christmas?’ asks Coleen after I tell her about everything that’s happened.

‘I’m not sure I am… I have things to do here.’

‘What things?’ She laughs.

‘Well, you know the library thing I was telling you about? It turns out the planning permission has just been agreed. We need to be full steam ahead with protests and I’m hoping regional news will cover it on television.

Marilyn has launched an online petition that already has a thousand signatures! ’

‘So where will you stay?’ she asks. ‘It’s entirely your decision of course, but do you really want to be spending Christmas Day in a hotel?’

‘I have been offered an alternative actually,’ I reply, wondering whether I am actually considering Nathan’s offer, that is metres away from his farmhouse where he lives with his dad.

As I prepare to tell Coleen about running into Nathan, I can feel my fingers tingle with excitement.

‘I ran into my first love the other day…’ I tell her, hardly able to believe what I am saying.

I had told Coleen all about Nathan during one of our many girly film and wine evenings at her place when her hubby was out and we had discussed our first loves.

‘Nathan? You’re kidding! Tell me everything, what did he look like?’ she asks excitedly.

‘No different, in fact more handsome if anything. Gorgeous in fact.’ I let out a sigh as I think of him. ‘Why do some men get better looking with age?’

‘I don’t know, it’s hardly fair, is it? So is he married?’

‘Divorced.’

‘Oh my goodness. Hang on a minute. Let me switch on the camera.’

A few seconds later, I am staring at Coleen’s face in her house, a row of pretty dresses on a rail behind her.

‘Fancy running into Nathan, although I guess there was always the chance of that, him living in the village…’ she reasons.

‘I suppose so. He has sold up the old dairy farm and now runs a crop farm complete with shop, children’s park, and accommodation. He’s invited me over to see the farm tomorrow.’

‘So, is he offering you the holiday accommodation?’

‘I’m guessing so; I guess all will be revealed tomorrow.’

‘How exciting. So, was there still a little bit of a spark?’ she asks with a big grin on her face.

More like a burning fire, if I am honest with myself. ‘I think there was, yes,’ I tell her, maybe not wanting to fully admit it to myself. ‘It was as if I had only seen him recently, as the years just seemed to roll back,’ I say, recalling our first meeting outside the hotel.

‘They say you never forget your first love, although I am more than happy to mine,’ says Coleen, pulling a face.

It is hardly surprising really, as the boy she thought would love her forever left to join the army at seventeen without a backward glance and a shrug, telling her he never thought they were serious and that they were too young to be tied down.

‘He did me a favour really, although it took me a long time to realise that,’ she admits. ‘He was right, though; we were too young to settle down.’

‘Well, I do believe everything happens for a reason,’ I say firmly. ‘Some things are definitely meant to be.’

‘Like you running into Nathan?’ she asks.

‘Who knows? Oh Coleen, I wish I had never had this stupid accident and been laid up here…’ I sigh. ‘Everything seems to make sense in London.’

‘Does it?’

‘I think so. I mean, I have my work and my gorgeous flat. And you of course.’

She blows me a kiss.

‘I was completely content with my life.’

‘Were you? You did hint from time to time that you miss being in a relationship…’

‘Well, yes maybe, and I would love to see a little more of Mum, but no one’s life is perfect. Overall, though, I was happy with my lot.’

‘And now?’ she asks, always one to get to the heart of the matter.

‘I don’t know…’ I sigh. ‘Seeing Nathan has made me question everything but even if we rekindled something, it could never work between us; our lives are so different now.’

‘Oh Ruby, it sounds like you have really made a connection.’

‘I don’t know what I think. If he was happily married, then I wouldn’t be giving us a second thought.’

‘But having discovered he is divorced?’

‘I’m not sure. Anyway. I’m sure things will work themselves out.’ But I am not sure how.

‘Because everything happens for a reason, remember.’

‘Exactly.’

When we finish talking, I sit on the window seat and look out across the street, once more admiring the shops and their decorated windows. I think of the accident outside the hotel, and how it has changed everything.

The one-day train strike is long over, and glancing at my train app on my phone, I could be heading home today if I wanted to.

I tell myself that I’m simply intrigued to see what Nathan has built up over the years, but the fact is, I can’t wait to see him again.

There is also the small matter of supporting the locals of this village to keep their library open.

An hour later, I decide to go to the reception after all, so I slowly make my way along the corridor. Disco lights are flashing along the wooden dance floor in the dining room, and a cheesy Christmas song is playing, as children and adults alike are happily dancing away.

I glance around the room looking for Nathan, and when my eyes fall on him, he is sitting at a table having a conversation with an attractive woman, who looks maybe in her thirties.

‘Ruby, you made it!’ he exclaims, standing to greet me. If looks could kill, the woman at the table would have been responsible for my immediate demise.

‘I did. Sorry, I don’t want to disturb you,’ I say, nodding to the woman who looks younger than I first thought.

‘Don’t be silly, let me get you a drink,’ he insists, as he heads to the bar.

The woman at the table gathers her flouncy dress into her hands, and wanders off somewhere, without even saying a word.

‘Gosh, what’s up with her?’ I ask when Nathan returns with a bottle of wine and two glasses.

‘No idea.’ Nathan laughs. ‘She is one of the bridesmaids. We were chatting about her returning to college to study make-up. She wants to be a wedding make-up artist,’ he tells me as he pours the wine.

‘I bet you were riveted.’ I roll my eyes.

‘I like to hear about people’s ambitions,’ he tells me. ‘Although she lost me a bit when she was talking about the importance of primer. I thought that was something you put on walls.’ He laughs.

Glancing around, I can see the young woman, who is now talking to a group of people, casting glances our way.

‘Maybe she read more into your interest – she keeps looking this way.’

‘Forget it, although I hope I didn’t give her the wrong idea,’ he says, frowning. ‘Anyway, she is far too young for me.’ He laughs away any suggestion of something between them.

As the evening draws to a close, the bride and groom slide along the dance floor to a slow number. After a minute or two, other couples have joined them, wrapped in each other’s arms, swaying to the music.

‘Shall we?’ says Nathan, holding his hand out.

‘I don’t want to risk it – I don’t want anything else to get broken.’

‘I wouldn’t want to be responsible for that,’ he tells me, and I wonder if he knows I’m not just talking about my bones.

When it is time to head back to my room, Nathan offers to escort me there.

‘Sure,’ I say, although I don’t plan on inviting him in as I did earlier. I can feel the effects of the wine and think it’s time to get some sleep. Besides, I honestly don’t know if I could control myself if he tried to kiss me.

‘See you tomorrow, Nathan, thanks for this evening.’

‘The pleasure was all mine,’ he says as he leans in and kisses me on the cheek. ‘Goodnight, Ruby.’