Page 100 of Christmas Wishes at Pudding Hall
It was pink. Of course, it was pink. When she had been with Simon her evening wear was always black and quiet. Minimal and streamlined.
This was nothing like that.
Fuchsia pink silk that fell below the knee, with a fitted top and a flared skirt.
The V-shaped neckline showed off her creamy skin in both the front and back, and the gathered shoulder strap detail was delicate and flattering. A thin black velvet ribbon was tied around the waist and she had black velvet pumps that were surprisingly comfortable.
There was so much fabric in the skirt that Christa had to resist the urge to do a spin in the dress as she walked towards the house.
Something cold fell on her back and she put her hand out and saw snow.
‘Oh come on,’ she said aloud, looking at the sky. She really was living the fairy tale. Before she got to the front door, she stood in the snow and looked up at the sky and twirled around, letting the pink skirt spin out around her.
‘What a moment,’ she heard and stopped twirling and looked up to see Marc standing in a dinner suit on the steps of the house.
Christa smiled. ‘I just felt so pretty, and it’s snowing,’ she said. He looked incredible, as though the dinner suit was cut just for him. It probably was, she reminded herself, hoping her pink dress was enough.
‘You look incredible,’ he said and he came down to take her hand and they walked to the front door together.
‘Happy birthday, Christa,’ he said turning to her.
‘Thank you, Marc,’ she said and he kissed her on the cheek and opened the door.
The Christmas tree was dressed in all her glory and beneath the tree were piles of presents in all colours.
Marc led the way to the formal sitting room, a room Christa hadn’t seen but to walk past. She didn’t think anyone had used it during her time at Pudding Hall but now when he opened the door she wondered why it wasn’t used every day.
The fire was burning in the grate and the room was filled with pink flowers.
Candles and soft lighting warmed the room and Marc took her to sit in a large armchair with an archway of balloons in different shades of pink over the top, and a sign above reading,Christa, the Birthday Queen.
Christa felt the tears fall as Marc helped her sit and she bit her lip to try and stop them falling.
‘Happy birthday,’ she heard and then the door burst open and in came her favourite people.
The twins in little dinner suits, which was too cute, she thought, and Adam and Paul looking so handsome and glamorous.
‘Oh wow, you’re wearing a velvet dinner jacket,’ she said, touching Pauls’ arm as she went to hug him.
‘And you have on velvet shoes. Do they come in men’s sizes?’ he asked as she squeezed him tight. Paul had been a true friend to her during her time at Pudding Hall.
Adam kissed her cheek and looked her in the eye. ‘Happy birthday, Christa. You are one in a million, and I mean that.’
She hugged him. ‘Thank you, Adam.’
And then walked in Peggy and Petey. Peggy in a sparkling top and a long black skirt and Petey looking like a happy penguin in his dinner suit.
‘Oh my God,’ she cried. They were like surrogate parents and now she knew how much they meant to her.
‘You knew!’ she accused them.
‘Of course I knew, Christa, I know everything that happens in this house,’ Peggy said firmly and Christa laughed.
Waitstaff in white shirts and black trousers came in then with trays of drinks.
‘This is a Love Potion,’ said Marc to Christa as he handed her a gold-rimmed martini glass, with what looked to be a steaming liquid but then she realised it was dry ice.
‘Goodness,’ she said as she took the glass from him. ‘What’s in it?’
