by Clare Lydon
“I’m starting to believe that.”
Fran put a hand to Ruby’s face. Then she went to take it away. Was it too soon? Should she make Ruby wait longer?
But Ruby didn’t think so. She caught Fran’s hand as she moved it and pressed it to her cheek. “I want to pick up where we left off. I want to give us a go back in London.” She paused, fixing Fran with her stare. “I’m sorry for this week, more than you can imagine. When I said I want to start making the right decisions, this is my first one. Also, my most important.” Ruby took a deep breath. “What do you say? Clean slate from now on?”
Fran moved towards Ruby before she could stop herself. In seconds, her lips were inches from Ruby’s. “I’m still fucking mad at you.”
“I know.” Ruby’s breath was hot on Fran’s lips.
“But you’re asking for help. Finally.” Fran shook her head. “Let’s try a clean slate. Don’t make me regret doing this. Although, I don’t want to wipe out certain memories we’ve made together.” Fran flicked her gaze to meet Ruby’s own.
“Those memories are burned into my mind forever.” Ruby moved forward. “Can I kiss you now?”
Fran stared into Ruby’s vibrant eyes. Then she leaned forward and their lips met. Ruby’s mouth finally on hers after so much upset this week felt like salvation. Fran moved her hand into Ruby’s hair, and Ruby released a sharp breath against her lips that made Fran’s stomach dip. The bubble of resentment and worry that had built this week inside her burst on contact.
She didn’t want to be angry at Ruby. She wanted to be her girlfriend, and for them both to be happy. One of the ways that could happen was by Ruby kissing her exactly as she was at that moment.
A kiss that spoke of their future together. One filled with passion, romance and love. Ruby’s hand pulled Fran closer, and Fran didn’t resist. She didn’t want to. Now she’d given in to her heart, she was ready to embrace the next stage. Ready to embrace Ruby.
When they pulled apart, Ruby’s eyes were misty. “I wondered all week if I’d get to do that again.”
“Me, too.” Fran kissed Ruby once more. “But I have a first test of your commitment to us. I promised my dads I’d have dinner with them.”
Ruby stood. “I’ll leave you in peace.”
But Fran shook her head. “That’s not what I’m saying.” She took Ruby’s hand. “Would you like to join us for a spot of salmon en croute? My dad makes the best one ever.”
Ruby’s smile was so wide, it almost took up the whole room. “I would absolutely love to.”
Chapter 33
The next morning, Ruby jerked awake as pain shot through her foot. She sat bolt upright as her foot contorted. She tried to straighten it, but knew she was fighting a losing battle. When she glanced right, Fran was already awake, sitting up in bed, phone in hand. Her face wore a frown.
“Are you okay?”
“Cramp!” Ruby reached down and grabbed her foot, forcing it into a stretch. She let out a cry of angst. This was not the alluring wake up she’d been hoping to showcase on Christmas Day.
“You want me to massage it?” Fran dropped her phone and knelt up, giving Ruby an alarmed look.
Ruby gritted her teeth and shook her head. Eventually, she got her breath back and sat up the bed again, her back against the padded grey headboard.
Fran twisted her head and ran a hand up Ruby’s arm. “Better?”
Ruby’s body thrilled to her touch. She leaned down and kissed Fran’s arm. “Yes. Although I’ve just realised it’s Christmas Day and I don’t have any presents for you. They’re back at the house, so you’ll have to wait until later.”
“You mean Santa didn’t come?” Fran pouted.
“He came to the farmhouse,” Ruby replied. “It’s your first year here. He’ll know for next time.”
Fran jumped out of the bed and rustled in one of her bags. “In the meantime, I have something for you.” She sat back on the bed with a gift in her hand, neatly wrapped in gold paper with a matching bow.
However, Ruby’s attention was snagged by the mistletoe on Fran’s chest of drawers. She reached across to get it, then sat next to Fran, holding the sprig over their heads. “Here’s my first present to you.” Ruby pressed her lips to Fran’s, and Christmas Day got that little bit brighter. “Happy first Christmas, new girlfriend.” Ruby gazed into Fran’s eyes. “I’ll never get tired of kissing you.”
“You might, you’ve only been doing it a few weeks.” Fran gave her a wicked grin, then took the sprig from her hand. “Open your gift, please!”
Ruby laughed, and kissed Fran’s naked skin. She tore open the wrapping paper to reveal a red box. When she opened that, she pulled out an intricately made shiny golden star.
“I saw it and thought of you, because that’s what you are: a shining star.” Fran paused. “But now you’re holding it, I’m worried you’re going to think I’m being pushy again—”
Ruby silenced Fran by kissing her again. Ruby’s fingers clutched the star as her lips slid over Fran’s, and Ruby’s heart swelled in her chest. When she pulled back, she smiled at Fran. “I don’t think you’re being pushy. I get it. I know you want me to embrace whatever happens, and I’m going to try. To be brave. With you beside me, it’s going to be a whole lot easier.” She held up her present. “I love my star. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Fran blushed bright red.
She was adorable.
“Thanks for last night, too. It was fab having dinner with your parents. They’re so cute together.”
Fran smiled. “They are, aren’t they? I’ve neglected them over the past few years, but I’m not going to do that anymore. Especially now we’re together. I was thinking this week — before you threw a huff at me — that if you do have to go away for festivals or to tour, I could take some of my holiday and come with you. I never take time off, but that’s going to change.”
“You’re getting a bit ahead of yourself. My bookings at the moment are both in small pubs in London. No time off needed.”
“I’m thinking long term. Your song’s in the charts now, right?”
Ruby nodded. “Amazingly, it is. I’m being interviewed on national and international radio this week. My inbox is overloaded. All thanks to you and Delilah.”
Fran shook her head. “I think it’s down to you.” She kissed Ruby again. “But back to my point. You’re stuck with me now. We’ve sung ‘Last Christmas’ in the world’s smallest bar. Built a snowperson. Had sex in a barn. There’s simply no way you can escape now.”
Ruby laughed. “There’s no way I would want to, either. Not after the barn sex. Although having sex in a bed is way more comfortable.
“Where’s your sense of adventure? Honestly, pop stars these days…”
“I’m not a pop star yet!”
“You will be. If Taylor Swift can do a country-pop crossover, why can’t you do the same with folk-pop?”
“Because she’s Taylor Swift?”
“And you’re Ruby O’Connell.”
Ruby pulled up the charts on her phone. Her song, ‘Pieces Of You’, was at number 15. She still couldn’t quite believe her eyes. She scrolled down to the number one slot, occupied by the Skinny YouTube Boy. Fast Forward were at number two.
“Sorry you didn’t get your Christmas number one.” Ruby flashed her phone screen at Fran.
Fran shook her head. “Fast Forward have done amazingly well. We can build on it. Plus, I got the number 15 star naked in my bed. I’m pretty pleased with my work.”
She took Ruby’s phone from her hand and pushed her back on the bed, climbing on top of her.
Ruby groaned as their skin connected. She could happily stay like this all day, but her parents might not be so happy.
“By the way, did your dads make you a cool Christmas card like you told me all those months ago?”
“I climb on top of you and you start talking about my dads?” Fran gave her a crazed look, then a kiss. “The short answer is no. The broken
leg derailed their plans. They just watched a lot of Christmas movies, baked, and had fun.” Fran grinned. “When we get back to London, I want to have fun and go on an official date with you. Take you out to a restaurant. Wine and dine you, instead of just falling into each other’s beds. What do you think?”
“I never realised you were so conventional. It’s not what pop stars do.” Fran’s lips were so close, Ruby could feel her breath.
“No? What do pop stars do?”
“This.” Ruby kissed Fran’s lips. She didn’t see a time she’d ever tire of it.
Fran slid down Ruby’s body, kissing a path from her neck to her belly button.
Anticipation danced on Ruby’s skin. “Can one of our dates be you cooking me dinner, too? Because I’ve wanted to taste your Malaysian curry ever since you told me about it when we broke down.”
Fran parted Ruby’s legs and slid her shoulders between them. “You’re thinking about eating right now?”
Ruby grinned down at her, licking her lips. “In a way.”
Fran licked her lips, too, her hot breath hitting Ruby’s centre. “Happy Christmas, my shining star.”
“Something’s burning! What’s burning?” Mum had her fingers in her hair. “Not the turkey again. Paul!”
Victoria rolled her eyes at Ruby as their dad ran to the oven and grabbed the handle.
“Argh!” he cried when he forgot the handle would be hot. He grabbed a tea towel from the counter, and opened the oven door at the second time of asking. Grey smoke billowed from the oven. Her dad’s glasses steamed up so he couldn’t see a thing.
Ruby tried not to laugh. Eric wasn’t as successful. It was the same every year. Dad burned the turkey. Mum shouted at him. Everyone ate the turkey and made reassuring noises that it wasn’t dry. It always was, but that was where her mum’s gravy saved the day.
“What do you normally do at Christmas when you haven’t just moved to the madness that is Mistletoe, Michael and Dale?” Victoria handed them both a glass of Merlot as requested.
“We normally see Michael’s parents or his sister and her family, but they’ve taken themselves to the Caribbean this year. I think they’d always wanted to and us having other plans was the excuse they needed,” Dale replied.
“Particularly good now our families are joined together in a new way.” Victoria bumped Ruby’s hip with her own. “I called it when I first met Fran, but Ruby was very insistent that just because they were both lesbians did not mean they were going to get together.”
“To be fair, when we met here, I did vomit sausage roll onto her slipper, so it wasn’t the best start,” Fran said.
“Isn’t that how all the best love stories start? With some sort of mishap? Then they morph into something beautiful.” Michael’s face went all dreamy.
“Ignore him,” Dale said. “He’s been overdosing on far too many Hallmark Christmas movies.”
They made way for Audrey, who bustled in waving her Christmas cracker. “I want my hat. It’s not Christmas without a silly hat. Who wants to pull me?”
“There’s an offer you don’t get every day,” Victoria said.
Audrey ignored her. Her gaze landed on Fran. “You can pull with me, seeing as you look like a Christmas cracker in your green top and red trousers. Ready?”
Fran grabbed the end of Audrey’s cracker and pulled.
It snapped, and Audrey came away with the winning end. She fished out the silver paper hat and put it on, then waved around her prize: a mini pot of Mum’s home-made gooseberry jam. “Delicious! Ready for the joke? What kind of motorbike does Santa drive?”
Nobody offered an answer.
“A Holly Davidson.” Audrey shook her head. “That joke was terrible, Paul. It’s got you written all over it.”
Mum clapping her hands got their attention. “Can everyone please sit and pull your crackers. I’m not responsible for the jokes. To save arguments, I’ve put name tags on everyone’s places, so play nice and sit where I put you. That includes you, Audrey.”
Audrey clucked like she’d never dream of doing anything else. She stalked the table until she found her place. She sat next to Norman, rolling her eyes. “I can’t believe you put me next to him.”
Norman, used to Audrey’s lip, roared with laughter. He put an arm around Audrey and kissed her cheek. “Merry Christmas to you, too, Audrey Parrot.”
Mum caught Dale’s eye. “Dale, I’ve put you on the corner to give you room for your cast.”
Ruby sat in her place — Victoria on her left, Fran on her right. She glanced around the table: she had so much to be grateful for. A loving family, food and drink to celebrate, and Fran. The Christmas gift she hadn’t ordered, but the one it turned out she wanted the most. So much so, she was willing to turn her life upside down for her.
It was about time.
Ruby put a hand on Fran’s thigh under the table.
Fran turned and gave Ruby a wink, before accepting the tray of roast potatoes from Scott.
Ruby had never had Christmas with someone special at her family table before. She’d never even imagined it. But now it was happening, it felt exactly right.
Fran and her parents were the perfect addition to the O’Connell family Christmas. The previous owner had lived in Hollybush Cottage for eight years and never come to dinner once. The Bells had lived there for three months but it might as well have been forever.
A warmth burrowed its way into Ruby’s thighs. She looked down to see Chipper’s pleading eyes staring up at her. It was the same every dinner, every day. Anyone would think the dog never got fed.
“Chipper, in your bed.”
Chipper didn’t move.
Ruby got her firm tone out and repeated the instruction.
Chipper slunk away.
“Glad to see you’ve got turkey and ham on the table, Mary and Paul,” Audrey said. “Not bending to the London types who want tofurkey.”
Ruby laughed. “I’m still not vegan, Audrey.”
“Ridiculous,” Audrey muttered, piling turkey onto her plate. “Shall I do yours, Norman?”
“Careful,” Norman replied. “People will think we’re a couple.”
In response, Audrey shoved the plate into his hands. “Second thoughts, do it yourself.”
A tapping of metal on glass stilled the chatter and din of plates being filled. The whole table looked up.
Dad stood at the end of the table, glass raised.
“Before we all eat this delicious turkey that I lovingly cooked, I just wanted to say how grateful both Mary and I are. To our family, to our friends old and new, and to the community of Mistletoe. We came together like we always do this year, and the farm has had a great festive period that will hopefully set us up for years to come. Mistletoe Farm is a destination, a place to make Christmas dreams come true, a place to make Christmas memories.” He glanced at Ruby. “Our wonderful daughter gave us a lasting Christmas memory this year, and we’re so proud she’s finally getting the recognition she deserves.”
The whole table broke into spontaneous applause.
Ruby blushed the colour of Santa’s suit.
“But today is all about being together with the people who matter most, and I’m glad to say we’ve achieved that. So raise your glass with me to the true spirit of Christmas, before we all eat far too much food than is good for us.” Dad raised his drink. “To Christmas in Mistletoe!”
Ruby brimmed with happiness as she raised her glass. “To Christmas in Mistletoe!” she chorused with everyone else. Then she looked at Fran. “And to my first Christmas with you,” she whispered in Fran’s ear.
“The first of many,” Fran replied, kissing Ruby’s lips.
Epilogue
Two years later…
“Rubytubes! You made it back! How was Rome?” Dad and Chipper greeted her at the farmhouse door. Chipper, now ten, wasn’t quite as jumpy as he used to be.
“Italian.” Ruby bent and rubbed Chipper behind his ears, then gave her dad a hug. �
�How’s the Treasure Hunt going? Fran and I were admiring the trees on the way in.”
Her dad pushed his glasses up his nose. “Going great! We’ve got nearly 50 trees this year. Nearly running out of places to put them.”
Ruby walked through to the kitchen and stopped in her tracks. She hadn’t been home since the summer, and things had changed massively.
“Am I in the right house?” Ruby glanced at her mum, who was standing by the sink with a massive grin on her face. “This new kitchen looks incredible. You’ve gone from country crumble to country slickers.” Ruby leaned against the new quartz counter-top her mum had raved about to her on the phone. “An island, too. Your dreams have come true, Mum.”
Mum walked over and hugged her tight. “To have you both home for Christmas is my dream coming true.” She paused. “Where’s Fran?”
Ruby indicated with her head. “Michael and Dale were out in the garden, so she was hijacked by them. She’ll be over in a bit. We met their new rescue dogs, Cagney and Lacey. They’re adorable.”
Mum nodded. “Cagney is blind in one eye, but they’re so sweet. They’ve found a wonderful home for their final years.”
“Looks like it,” Ruby replied. “I’m going for a shower as we’ve been travelling for what seems like forever. I swear, the dirt is ingrained.”
“Take all the time you need. The Christmas gig’s not for another,” her dad checked his watch, “eight hours. Plenty of time.”
“Paul! The girl’s just walked through the door, let her relax.” Mum put a hand on Ruby’s arm. “This kitchen is all because of you. The number of fans coming to the farm to see where Ruby O’Connell is from grows every time you release a song. They’re all buying coffee, scones, wreaths, the works.” She shook her head. “Good job you’re not out there selling trees; you’d be knee-deep in autograph hunters.”
Ruby was just about to brush her mum’s comments off, but then she remembered what Fran always said to her: take the compliment and be gracious. Ruby had learned so much from Fran since she’d given up her job to become Ruby’s full-time manager. The pair of them were now travelling the globe touring. It was tough work, but it was so rewarding.
