Page 7 of A Cornish Winter's Kiss

‘That bit is sweet, but some of the gifts that have been sent in…’ Jasmine shuddered. ‘I thought the industrial-sized box of out-of-date chocolate was bad enough, but that teddy bear with a recording of your voice was something else, and you can bet your life that Christian from Slough got himself one too, and that he tucks it up in bed with him at night.’

‘Well, the bear might as well have some romance in its life, because the real me definitely hasn’t.’ When Sophia’s publisher had forwarded on the gift, she hadn’t known whether to be as freaked out as Jasmine seemed to think she should be, or whether to just laugh. It had been the accompanying note that had given her the most reassurance.

Dear Emily

I hope you don’t mind me getting in touch with this gift, but I wanted you to know how much comfort I get from listeningto you read audio books. I lost my mother last year. We were very close and when I was a child, she used to read to me all the time. In the last stages of her illness, which lasted almost two years, I returned the favour. After she died, I had no one to read to, and no one to read to me, but listening to audio books helped me feel less alone, especially the ones you read. I am sure someone like you never feels lonely, but in case you ever do, I wanted to send you this little friend, to thank you for being a friend to me, despite the fact we’ve never met. Wishing you all the best with your career and many more wonderful narrations. Best wishes, Christian.

The note had resonated with Emily, because of the echoes of her own experience of reading to her mother. There was nothing sinister about it, no request for personal details or an expectation of anything in return for his kind gesture. It wasn’t the only gift she’d received, but it was certainly the most unique, and she was secretly touched. The truth was that there were times when she was lonely. Since Jasmine had moved out of the flat they’d shared and got married, life in London had begun to lose some of its appeal. The draw to be back home in Port Agnes with her family was growing stronger and, despite the fact it was only the first week of November, the countdown to Christmas and a longer visit home was well and truly on.

The Christmas lights in Regent Street would be turned on the day before the reading of Sophia’s new book, which was a big part of the reason why the publisher had timed the event the way they had. Everyone would be starting to feel festive, and it was a time of year Emily loved, when twinkling lights gave the whole world a more magical feel. It was the perfect season to set a romance novel in, and who didn’t want to be cosying up with someone special beneath the mistletoe? It was no wonder so many of her favourite films were set at Christmas too. Fictionalromance was the only kind she had in her life, but she was trying not to obsess any more about the idea of meeting someone to share forever with. She’d found a different kind of happy ever after that she was incredibly grateful for. Emily wasn’t giving up on love, she just didn’t want to make the search for it her sole focus any more. Unfortunately, her newly married best friend didn’t seem to understand.

‘Why don’t you give that speed-dating event I sent you a go? Or stop living in the last millennium and get on the apps.’

‘I’ve told you before, that’s not for me. Anyway, I’m already in love.’ She kept her face as deadpan as her tone, but Jasmine still grabbed Emily by the shoulders, her eyes wide.

‘Why didn’t you tell me? Who is it? When did you meet him? I need to know everything!’ Her words came out in a rush and Emily laughed, despite a twinge of guilt that she was about to disappoint her friend.

‘It’s not a he.’

‘Well, that’s okay, of course it is.’ A flicker of shock had crossed Jasmine’s face, but she was still smiling. ‘Maybe that’s been the answer all along; you just needed to embrace other possibilities, and I could see you with a woman, I really could. We all just want you to be happy, Em, and it’s brilliant if you’ve found that, whoever it’s with.’

‘Well, that’s good then, because the woman I’ve fallen in love with is me.’ Emily shrugged and Jasmine’s face fell in response, her mouth moving silently for a moment or two before any words came out.

‘Oh God, please tell me you’re not going to do one of those weird-arse things where you marry yourself.’

‘No, nothing like that. I just mean I’ve fallen in love with the life I’ve made for myself. I’m doing a job I can’t believe I get paid for, I’ve got the best friends I could ask for, and a fantastic family back in Port Agnes.’ There was a wistful tone to her voice thatshe couldn’t stop from creeping in, because the truth was she was torn between two loves just lately. But that was a problem for another day.

‘I’m so happy that you’re happy, and I’m incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved in your career.’ Jasmine gave her a hug. ‘But I still want you to meet someone. I don’t want to become old, boring and settled all by myself.’

‘You could never be boring, Jas, you like leopard print too much.’ Emily nudged her again, looking down at the ridiculously impractical killer heels in Jasmine’s favourite print that she’d decided to wear for their shopping trip. ‘And if I meet someone, I meet someone, but if I don’t that’s okay too, because I really am happier than I’ve ever been.’

‘Just make sure those fictional heroes you spend all day reading about don’t put you off the real thing. A real man might not be anywhere near as perfect, and you might feel an almost overwhelming desire to hold a pillow over his face when his snoring wakes you up at 3a.m., but it does give you something to warm your feet on. You can give Sophia that line for one of her books next time you see her, if you like.’ Jasmine grinned.

‘I’ll bear it in mind. But weren’t you the one telling me last time we met not to get involved with another man after Ed?’

‘No, what I actually said was not to get involved with another manlikeEd. You don’t need another emotionally unavailable man-child.’ Jasmine shook her head, her sheet of shiny black hair swinging back and forth. ‘You need to find yourself a nice, normal guy. Not one like a character from the books you read, who gives off the air of being mysterious and aloof but who’s really a complete knob. You need someone who realises how amazing you are, Em, that’s all, and who loves you more than they love themselves.’ Jasmine made it all sound so simple.

‘And where exactly do I find this nice, normal guy, who worships the ground I walk on?’

‘Not on the pages of a Sophia Wainwright novel, that’s for sure.’

‘I know you find it hard to believe, but I’m quite content with my fictional heroes for now. As for finding someone in real life, I’ll leave it to fate, because I really am happy.’

‘Okay, I believe you.’ Jasmine held up her hands. ‘But if you change your mind, just promise me you won’t let anyone mess you around again and keep you dangling. If this really is Emily Anderson’s independent woman era, you need to fully commit to it.’

‘I promise.’ Emily held up the hanger in front of her. ‘Now the question is, do I buy this ridiculously expensive dress for less than ten minutes in the spotlight or what?’

‘If you don’t buy it for yourself, I’ll buy it for you as an early Christmas present. I’ll even lend you these shoes if you want them, despite the fact I’m almost more in love with them than I am with Sam. And who knows where ten minutes in the spotlight will get you? You’d never have thought that a train journey back to Port Agnes would have led where it did.’

‘That’s true. Right, I’m doing it.’ Emily headed back into the changing room. She knew exactly where she wanted her ten minutes in the spotlight to lead her – to more work doing the job she loved. A job that was still providing regularly pinch-me moments three years after it had begun. There was nothing else she was expecting from the event, and nothing she could imagine it leading to. But as Jasmine had already reminded her, sometimes life had its own surprises in store.

4

Jude could feel the irritation building up inside him for the entire journey from Paddington to Piccadilly. He didn’t want to be crammed inside a Tube carriage, face to face with a man who stank of stale alcohol and cigarette smoke, just to be introduced to a bunch of people he’d usually have absolutely no interest in meeting. He wanted to be at home on his sofa, with just his Labrador, Rufus, for company, but somehow his editor had railroaded him into attending Sophia Wainwright’s book launch.

‘How are the revisions going?’ Jude had known Marty’s question was coming when he’d asked if they could set up another call, just two weeks after the Zoom meeting with him and Adele.

‘I’m still mulling it over.’ Jude had done his best to sound casual, as if the whole thing would be easy once he put his mind to it, but he’d already put his mind to it and the revisions had stalled completely. Deep down he was terrified that nothing he did would make any difference and that his career was over, but he hadn’t been anywhere near ready to admit that. Despite his attempts to play it cool, the tightness of his tone had clearlygiven him away, because Marty had realised he needed all the help he could get.

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