Page 107 of The Day After Christmas
‘Sorry.’
‘You don’t look very sorry. Stop smiling.’
‘Sorry.’
‘I need the loo. Wait here.’ And with that Felicity marched off to find the toilets before she said something she’d regret. Guernsey. Of all places. What was he thinking? She stared at herself in the unflattering toilet mirrors and took several deep and what were supposed to be soothing breaths but they only made her feel even more cross. Cross and also excited. Maybe they were going to find their forever home. Maybe he was taking her house-hunting. Still. House-hunting at Christmas. That was new levels ofbah, humbug, even for him.
When she got back James had found them some seats by the Channel Islands desk. He was looking suitably sheepish. Felicity sat down heavily beside him.
‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘Didn’t mean to be ungrateful. I just thought we were… going somewhere else, that’s all.’
‘I know. I should have told you. I thought it would be a good surprise, really.’
‘I just, I haven’t been on Guernsey for Christmas since…’
‘I know. I thought it was high time we laid the ghost of hideous Christmas Pasts to rest.’
Felicity laughed lightly but her heart was pounding. ‘I’m sure you did. It’s a good idea, really. We’ll have a great time. And we’ll get to see Jessica the donkey again, what’s not to like?’
James smiled with relief. ‘See? Look at you pretending to be excited.’
‘How am I doing?’ said Felicity.
‘Not bad. Keep up the good work.’
‘Thanks.’
Well, one part was true. At least they’d get to see Jessica. Life wasn’t so bad, was it?
CHAPTER 51
The Bella Dame Hotel was fast becoming Felicity’s second home, but this time they’d been upgraded to a luxury room with a huge modern four-poster bed and a sitting area by a large set of French windows looking out over the garden. The whole place was decorated with taste and there were bunches of flowers, enormous fragrant white lilies and opulent white roses, on every flat surface.
Felicity ran over to look at the biggest arrangement which was sitting on the coffee table by the window.
‘Are these all from you?’ she said in awe.
‘I wanted red roses but you’re not supposed to put red and white together apparently,’ said James, rubbing the back of his neck.
‘What? Really?’
‘It’s meant to be bad luck.’
‘Oh yes, I’ve heard that. Blood and bandages or bone or something?’
‘That’s it.’
‘What nonsense. They’re beautiful. Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome,’ said James, coming over and wrapping his arms around her.
Felicity turned and buried her face in his chest. ‘Sorry for being an ungrateful whatsit,’ she muttered.
‘S’okay,’ said James, kissing the top of her head. ‘You were only a little bit whatsitish.’
‘I try. Hey, maybe that’s why Bex and Adam had bad luck flowers at their wedding. Doomed from the start, right?’
‘Ah no, I think in their case it was the teal that did it.’
