by Karen King
Saffy grinned at the obvious delight in his voice. Putting up the Christmas decorations had certainly cheered him up. ‘Robbie likes the snow,’ she said to Chloe. ‘I bet he’ll be building a snowman too.’
‘We could have a competition – who can build the biggest snowman,’ Chloe suggested.
‘We’ll need a lot more snow for that,’ Logan said, shuffling the container he was holding a little. ‘Shall I take this through into the kitchen for you?’
‘Sorry, yes, please bring it through.’ Saffy stood back to let Logan and Chloe in. It would be rude to just take the cake off him without looking at it and thanking him properly.
‘You both look frozen. Fancy a hot drink while you’re here? I was about to put the kettle on,’ Robbie said, striding ahead into the kitchen.
Saffy stared after him. Why had he invited Logan to stay for a drink? She really didn’t want to spend any more time with Logan than she had to; he so obviously didn’t like her. Besides, they had the tree to finish decorating. Mind you, she was dying to take a look at the Christmas cake.
They all followed Robbie into the kitchen, where Logan put the cake down on the table.
‘We’ve got a special decoration this year – for you,’ Chloe said. She grabbed Saffy’s hand. ‘Come and see.’ She led her over to the table.
‘Shall I do the honours?’ Robbie asked.
Logan nodded. ‘Be my guest.’
‘Ta da!’ Robbie pulled off the lid to reveal the most gorgeously decorated Christmas cake that Saffy had ever seen. It was a huge square, the white icing piped to look like snow, and the top was covered with cute decorations. The icing around the edge was a bit wonky in a couple of places; she guessed that was Chloe’s doing.
‘I helped decorate it,’ Chloe said proudly. ‘And I helped choose the decorations too. We bought one especially for you. Can you see it?’
Saffy scanned the array of decorations. There was a sleigh with a Father Christmas – no, hang on, that was a Mother Christmas! She shot a glance at Logan, who winked.
Chloe giggled. ‘That’s you, Saffy, because you rescued our Christmas. There’s something else you’ll like too.’
Saffy turned her attention back to the cake. There were tiny houses, a frozen pond and – a polar bear! She smiled as she pointed to it. ‘Did you choose the polar bear too?’ she asked Chloe.
‘Yes. It’s for us, ’cos we like them.’
‘It’s lovely. It looks…’ She stopped awkwardly.
‘Professional,’ Logan finished for her.
She winced. ‘That sounds condescending, doesn’t it? But yes, really professional. You could sell this.’
‘I do sell my cakes. I make them to order for birthdays and special occasions. Obviously, I haven’t charged for this one.’
Double wince. Why had she presumed he was an amateur? ‘Sorry.’
‘No need to apologise. Thank you for the compliment.’ He nodded towards the cake. ‘There should be enough for everyone, I hope.’
‘Plenty,’ Robbie agreed. ‘And it’s totally gorgeous. We’ll put it in pride of place in the dining room so everyone can see it.’
‘We will, but for now, let’s put it in the larder so that Oscar doesn’t get hold of it,’ Saffy said. She put the two baubles she was still holding down on the table, opened the top cupboard of the larder and put the cake inside.
‘Can I go and look at the Christmas tree?’ asked Chloe.
‘Sure you can.’ Saffy picked up the baubles again and handed them to Chloe. ‘You can put these on for me, if you like.’
‘Yes please!’ Chloe clasped the baubles in her hand.
‘I’m going to finish hanging that trimming up,’ Robbie said, filling up the kettle. ‘Bring the coffee in, will you, hun? Come on, Chloe, let’s get decorating.’
Chloe eagerly followed him out of the kitchen.
Honestly, could he make it any more obvious that he was matchmaking!
Logan looked at Saffy thoughtfully as she spooned coffee into three mugs. ‘How are you coping? Do you need help with anything?’
Saffy leaned back against the worktop and pushed a strand of hair from her eyes. ‘I don’t think so. We’ll decorate the tree and the lounge and dining room today, then I’ll bring the presents down and put them under the tree tomorrow. Then we’ll prepare the food tomorrow evening and maybe cook the turkey overnight. I’m saying we, but I’m not expecting Robbie to still be here on Christmas Day. I’m pretty sure he and Duncan will make up by then. That is if they both stop being too pigheaded to speak to each other.’
‘No communication between them then?’ Logan kept his voice low too.
‘I’m working on it.’ The kettle came to the boil so Saffy turned around and poured the boiling water into the three mugs then added milk and sugar. ‘What about Chloe? Shall I warm her up some milk?’ she asked, looking over her shoulder at Logan.
‘Milky tea with one sugar will be fine, thanks.’
Saffy opened the food cupboard to see if there were any biscuits, found a packet of chocolate ones, then put them on the tray along with the mugs and, leaving Oscar chewing a bone in his basket, carried it into the other room.
Robbie had finished putting up the trimming now and he and Chloe were busy hanging baubles on the tree – Chloe in a rather haphazard fashion. Saffy smiled; the little girl looked like she was having fun.
‘It’s looking pretty in here now, isn’t it?’ she said as she put the tray down on the coffee table. ‘Take a break for a few minutes, you two, and help yourself to a drink and biscuits.’
‘Auntie Hannah always has red and gold.’ Chloe hung a red bow on the end of a branch. ‘But we have all colours, don’t we, Daddy?’ she asked as Logan walked into the room. ‘We have a rainbow tree.’
‘We sure do. The brighter the better in our house,’ Logan agreed.
Chloe sat down on the sofa, reached for one of the chocolate biscuits and took a big bite out of it. ‘I bet your tree is silver and really sparkly. You look a sparkly kind of person,’ she said to Saffy.
‘It’s a big white one, and I’ve got silver and blue baubles on it with lots of lights. I put it up on the first of December,’ Saffy confessed. ‘I know it was a bit early but I couldn’t wait.’
Chloe grinned. ‘We put ours up last week and I helped hang the baubles.’ She turned to Robbie. ‘Do you have a Christmas tree?’
‘Oh yes, we always have a massive real tree and we decorate it in a different theme every year. This year it’s red and tartan…’ Robbie welled up, put his cup down and hurried out of the room.
‘Oh, Daddy, he’s so sad,’ Chloe said. ‘Were you sad when Mummy left?’
‘It was a long time ago, poppet,’ Logan said easily.
So Chloe’s mum had walked out on them. How long ago? Saffy wondered. Had Logan been so devastated he’d decided to never have a relationship again? His expression gave away nothing of how he was feeling and she didn’t like to pry. Besides, he didn’t look the sort of guy who would have trouble finding a replacement; more likely he would have them queuing at the door. Still, it was none of her business.
‘I’m sure Robbie and Duncan will make up, lots of couples fall out sometimes,’ she said to Chloe. ‘Now do you want to help me finish decorating the tree or do you have to go somewhere with your dad?’ She turned to Logan. ‘Chloe can stay and help me if you have some jobs to do.’
‘Really?’
She saw the relief on his face.
‘I do have a couple of last-minute presents I need to wrap. I’ll come and collect her at…’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Six–thirty, if that’s okay?’
‘Perfect, longer if you want.’ Chloe was a well-behaved, helpful little girl so she was sure she wouldn’t be any bother.
* * *
‘That’s very kind of you,’ Robbie said when he discovered that Saffy had agreed to look after Chloe for a couple of hours. ‘And, of course, it was nothing to do with making sure you saw Logan again today
, was it?’
‘What? Of course not!’
‘I’ve seen the way you look at him, Saff, and how he looks at you. There’s definitely chemistry between you.’
‘Don’t be silly.’
Robbie wagged his finger at her playfully. ‘Protest all you want but I know two people who fancy each other when I see them. Good job we’ve got some mistletoe in the garden, isn’t it? I’ll go and pick a sprig.’
Saffy stared after Robbie as he went out into the back garden, obviously to get some mistletoe. She didn’t fancy Logan at all, And she was sure he didn’t fancy her.
Did he?
Chapter Twelve
Logan couldn’t believe he’d left Chloe with someone he barely knew, but Saffy was Hannah’s sister – and Chloe had really wanted to stay, and would enjoy decorating the tree. Besides, Saffy was great with her. And so was Robbie. He hadn’t really been looking forward to the Christmas party thinking that it might be an awkward, forced affair this year, not like the usual relaxed, fun day with Hannah and Lee, but now…
Saffy had surprised him. He hadn’t expected her to be so warm and friendly. Or to be so attracted to her. He smiled as he thought of her in that polar bear onesie. She’d looked so cute – and so irresistible when she’d waggled her bum like that. He remembered Hannah saying that Saffy was almost thirty but showed no sign of settling down, laughing that her little sister had always liked to be free, and had given their mother a few hair-raising moments in her teens. Logan had instantly thought that Saffy was like Jade, expecting her to be self-centred and standoffish. Mind you, Jade had seemed warm and friendly at first, he reminded himself.
But Jade would never have worn a polar bear onesie and let a six-year-old help her decorate the Christmas tree. Jade was always immaculately dressed and considered the Christmas tree as another accessory that had to be perfectly decorated and matching, without a bauble out of place.
Logan fetched the last of Chloe’s presents and carefully wrapped them up, adding the pretty ribbons and bows that Chloe loved, and placing them under the Christmas tree. He would fetch the bike from Annie’s and wrap it up when she was in bed. He didn’t want to take advantage of Saffy’s generosity but there were a couple of emails he could do with replying to and it was easier to do it if Chloe wasn’t around. He went into the third bedroom that doubled up as his study and fired up his computer.
* * *
Robbie had collected a few sprigs of mistletoe and hung them just inside the front door and over the other doorways. ‘That’ll get folks in the Christmas spirit,’ he said with a wink at Saffy.
Saffy stuck her tongue out at him and Chloe giggled. ‘You two are so funny!’ she said.
Saffy smiled at her. The little girl seemed to be really enjoying herself and so did Robbie. At least it helped keep his mind off his heartbreak. She still couldn’t believe that he and Duncan had split up, and all because Robbie had proposed. It was such a shame. Well, if she had anything to do with it they would soon be back together again.
‘Shall we take a look through the box and see what other decorations we can find?’ Robbie asked. ‘We want it to look really festive, don’t we?’
‘Don’t forget the inflatable Santa and reindeer we bought,’ Saffy said. ‘Chloe might like to blow them up with you.’
‘Oh yes!’ Chloe clapped her hands in delight. ‘I’m the bestest blower-upper!’
‘I’ll leave you to it then and go and give Hannah a ring to see how the twins are,’ Saffy said. She went into the kitchen and checked if she’d had a reply from Duncan first. She had. She swiped her finger across the screen to read it.
Robbie’s the one who’s left. And at Xmas too. I’ve had to tell everyone the party is cancelled tomorrow. How do you think I feel?
Saffy paused. Duncan had a point. How could she explain in a text how hurt Robbie was? She’d have to phone him. She selected Duncan’s number.
‘I don’t know why Robbie doesn’t call me himself instead of getting you to do it,’ Duncan said, as soon as he answered. ‘Or hasn’t he asked you to do it and you’re just interfering?’
‘He doesn’t know I’m calling you and I’m not interfering, I’m helping. Robbie’s really upset, Duncan. He thought you and him were forever.’
‘He’s upset!’ Duncan snorted. ‘He’s walked out, left me in the lurch over Christmas, and is down in Cornwall partying with you. How the hell do you think I feel?’
‘He proposed to you, Duncan, and you turned him down. He’s heartbroken.’
‘I did not turn him down,’ Duncan snapped.
‘Oh… so you accepted then?’
‘No, but––’
‘Robbie said you looked horrified and didn’t reply.’
‘Yes, I was bloody horrified. Because I’ve bought him a ring and was going to propose on Christmas Day, that’s why. And I didn’t reply because I didn’t know what to say. I was totally stunned.’
Saffy was stunned too. Duncan had been planning on proposing to Robbie? Someone else might have whipped out their ring and proposed too, laughing over it being a double proposal, but not Duncan. He’d have been really miffed that Robbie had stolen his thunder. That’s why he’d reacted the way he did.
‘Then tell Robbie that and he’ll be back like a shot. He left you because he thought you were horrified at the thought of marrying him. He’s heartbroken, Duncan.’
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
‘Duncan, are you still there?’
‘Yes. Okay, so I can see that I might have given Robbie the wrong impression but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s walked out on me at Christmas. We had fifteen guests coming to dinner on Christmas Day and Robbie has upped and gone. He should have talked to me. If he cared about me at all he would have talked to me.’
‘I thought you had a big row?’
‘We rowed because Robbie jumped to the conclusion that I didn’t want to marry him and got all arsey. You know what he’s like.’
‘He proposed to you. You didn’t reply. What’s he supposed to think?’ she pointed out. ‘And I bet you got arsey too. Robbie said that you walked out.’
She knew what Robbie and Duncan were like when they had a row; they were both too hotheaded, they threw insults about then both retreated to have a good sulk. It was usually a couple of days before they made up. This time, though, it was bigger than a normal row and she was genuinely worried they wouldn’t make up. Because Robbie was convinced Duncan didn’t love him.
‘I went for a walk to calm down. I decided to come back, explain why I was put out and accept his proposal but he’d gone. And he hasn’t bothered to contact me since.’ It didn’t sound like Duncan was about to back down.
Saffy hesitated. How was she going to fix this? She could see both sides.
‘Have you cancelled the party?’ she asked.
‘Of course I have.’ There was a sniff the other end of the phone. Was Duncan crying? ‘I’m heartbroken. How can I throw a Christmas party when me and Robbie are over?’
‘Duncan. Do you love Robbie and want to marry him?’
Another sniff. ‘Yes, but I wanted to be the one who proposed.’
‘For goodness’ sake, what does it matter who proposes? You can both propose! Look, drive down to Cornwall now, propose to Robbie and you can both be home for Christmas, together.’
‘I’m not making the first move. Robbie left me,’ Duncan said stubbornly. ‘And don’t you dare tell him that I was going to propose to him. I’ve told you in confidence.’
‘If you don’t do this you’ve probably lost Robbie for good,’ Saffy said sternly. ‘Is that what you want?’
No reply.
‘Think about it, don’t let your stubbornness ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to you. You and Robbie are meant to be together, and you know it,’ she said. ‘Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Do you really want to spend Christmas apart?’
There was a click as Duncan cut her off.
&nbs
p; Well, she’d done all she could. Would Duncan swallow his pride and come down to Cornwall? If he didn’t, could she talk Robbie into going back without telling him about Duncan’s proposal? Although Duncan had asked her not to mention it, she had not actually promised she wouldn't.
Honestly, relationships! And her friends wondered why she didn’t want to get serious with anyone. It was too much heartache.
She texted Duncan the address of Liwus Helyk then gave Hannah a call. There was no reply so she sent her a message asking how the twins were and telling her not to worry, everything was all under control for the party, briefly mentioning that Robbie had come down to help with the party too, then she went back inside. Robbie and Chloe were in fits of giggles, still attempting to blow up the Santa and reindeer, which were now both half-inflated and bent into awkward shapes.
‘We… need… an… air… pump,’ Robbie said, collapsing into a chair, out of breath. ‘How are the twins?’ he asked when he’d finally recovered.
‘I couldn’t get hold of Hannah so I sent her a message,’ Saffy replied. She picked up the wobbly Santa. ‘Maybe Logan has an air pump. I’ll WhatsApp him.’
She sent Logan a quick message, and he immediately replied that he’d be over for Chloe in ten minutes and would bring the air pump with him.
‘Right, let’s get working on this room then,’ Saffy said, picking up a bunch of tinsel. ‘It needs far more sparkle and glitter.’
They all set to work, winding tinsel around the Christmas tree, picture frames and across the window ledge. By the time they’d finished they’d turned the lounge and dining room of Liwus Helyk into a magical grotto. Outside looked magical too. The snow was still coming down and was forming a soft, white carpet everywhere.
‘This is going to be the bestest Christmas ever,’ Chloe said, her eyes sparkling.
Saffy saw Robbie’s eyes cloud over. This would be the worst Christmas ever for him and Duncan if she couldn’t get them to make up. She had to get Robbie to turn his phone back on. What if Duncan was trying to contact him?
