Page 83 of The Secret Mistletoe Promise
‘Come in!’ Sophie called from the doorway. ‘We’ve got tea, mulled wine and warm mince pies from Dexter, so we’re all set up.’ She looked like someone who had recently returned from a magnificent honeymoon, who had a future with the love of their life stretching out in front of them.
Imogen followed Jazz and Mary through the hall, towards the room where Harry and Sophie had been married, and where she and Dexter had practised their lines in front of the fireplace.
Almost everyone was there, the space full of chatter and the spicy scent of mulled wine, the fire blazing and five dogs in front of it – Darkness, Terror, Clifton, Poppet and Artichoke. Seeing the scruffy brown puppy made Imogenlook for Dexter, and when she saw him standing with Ermin, she realized his eyes were already on her. She waved, her heart pounding double-time.
‘Here we are, then,’ Fiona said loudly, getting everyone’s attention. ‘Well done for battling through the snow. I never thought I’d see Mistingham under so much of it, and I’m incredibly relieved that we listened to the forecast and decided on our Snow Show instead of the traditional Oak Fest. All things considered, it’s a treat.’
‘An inconvenience more like,’ grumbled Valerie. ‘It took me twice as long as it should have done to get here.’
‘You had Frank’s arm, though,’ Ermin said with a smile.
‘It’s not as wonderful as it sounds,’ Valerie said darkly.
‘An inconsistent walk, that’s what you have, Frank.’
‘On account of my hip op several years ago,’ Frank said cheerfully. ‘Never been the same.’
Fiona clapped. ‘On that note. Get yourself a mulled wine and mince pie, kindly supplied by Sophie and Dexter respectively, and when you’re fortified, we’ll start.’
Imogen did as she was told, biting into the buttery, crumbly pastry, the thick, spicy fruit filling. She was looking around for a napkin when Dexter said, ‘Ready for today?’ Imogen almost dropped what was left of her mince pie.
‘As ready as I can be. We’ll be all right, won’t we?’
‘Of course.’ He brushed his fingers over her chin. ‘Crumbs.’
‘Where’s Lucy?’
‘Playdate with Amber. Her dad’s allergic to dogs, so I’ve got Artichoke.’
‘She looks like she’s having fun with the other dogs.’
‘She’s a sociable puppy,’ Dexter said affectionately.
‘Places everyone,’ Fiona called, and Imogen wondered if she should have used her few minutes with Dexter to have a serious conversation with him. Would there be time after the rehearsal? She needed to tell him what she had decided.
He took her hand and led her to the back row. They sat next to each other, and Dexter laid his arm along the back of her chair.
‘I’m sorry.’ He leaned in, his voice low and rumbly. ‘The last couple of days have been manic, what with goat rescues and bakery orders.’
‘That’s OK.’ Imogen kept her eyes on Fiona in case they were called out for being naughty kids at the back. ‘Therehasbeen a lot going on. But maybe after this—’
‘When we’ve done our bit—’
‘We can catch up.’
They smiled at each other, and Imogen felt a bit more settled. Fiona called Valerie and Frank first, then May with her poem, and every time one group finished and Fiona got to her feet, Imogen sat up like a meerkat, waiting for their names to be called.
‘It’s creeping death,’ she whispered to Dexter.
‘What’s that?’
‘On training days, or when you have to do big group meetings, there’s usually some hideous ice-breaker activity, where everyone has to introduce themselves in a funny way, or say two truths and a lie, and if you’re left until last, the dread grows and grows until it’s unbearable.’
‘Sounds hideous.’
‘That’s what this is! Don’t you hate being at the end?’
Dexter shrugged. ‘Whenever we go, we’re either going tobe great or terrible, but people will be entertained and we’ll have been part of Mistingham’s Christmas celebrations.’
