Page 116 of Lie For Me

Jack laughed. ‘It certainly has.’ He kissed Lucy and then looked her up and down quizzically. ‘Why are you wearing that massive coat? It’s roasting in here.’

‘I’m heading outside in a minute,’ Lucy said. ‘But first, I have a little Christmas Eve gift for you.’ Jack raised his eyebrows in a question. She dug in her pocket and pulled out a gift-wrapped box. ‘Here, a little something to remember the year we’ve had.’

Jack turned the box over in his hands.

‘What is this? Some Victorian candle from the gift shop?’

Lucy shoved him gently. ‘Just open it.’

Jack ripped off the paper and eyed the plain white box, before flipping open the lid. He dug his hand in and pulled something out, then burst out laughing.

‘Let me see,’ said Cassie, jostling to get a look.

Jack turned to show her a mug that read, I Love NYC. Cassie snorted with laughter.

Jack pulled Lucy to him and kissed her.

‘I think you know it’s not New York I’m in love with,’ he murmured.

Lucy kissed him back.

‘Well, that’s good because I’ve got another surprise for you.’

‘What? In front of all these people?’ He clutched his hands to his chest. ‘Lucy, it wouldn’t be decent.’

Lucy giggled and poked him in the ribs.

‘Shut up and come with me.’

She took his hand, dragged him through the crush of people and led him outside. It was freezing, and the frost had been on the ground for days. The earth was hard, and the grass was crunchy underfoot. Her breath, made hotter from the mulled wine, came out in great puffs.

‘Where are we going?’ Jack asked as they headed away from the house. ‘I wanted to see the reindeer.’

Lucy giggled.

‘You can see the reindeer in a minute. I have something for you first.’

They had reached a small copse on the side lawns. The bright lights from the house sparkled behind them, and a horse-drawn carriage with giddy revellers passed by a few metres away.

Lucy took Jack’s hand and turned to face him. She cleared her throat.

‘When we were at the wedding, I think, looking back, the first moment I realised that something was…different between us, was when you told Ollie and Sophie the story of how we got together.’ She fiddled with the belt of her coat. ‘It all felt so authentic. Me here at the Christmas Fayre, the strain and the hassle and the joy of it all. How you saw me in the middle of it all and…understood. I loved that story more than I think you know.’ She hesitated for just a moment. ‘And I wanted to give us a chance to make every detail of it true.’

She let go of the belt, and her coat fell open to reveal a form-fitting sparkly silver dress. Her voice cracked as she grinned and added, ‘Even the stupid dress.’

Jack’s mouth fell open. ‘Wow, you look….’

‘Cold?’

Lucy shivered and giggled as her teeth started to chatter.

‘Amazing. You look amazing.’ He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into him against the cold. His lips grazed her brow.

‘You always look amazing,’ he said in a gruff voice.

Lucy buried her face into the solid warmth of his shoulder.

After a moment, Jack gently pulled back.

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