Christmas at Butterfly Cove

by Sarah Bennett

  Kiki blinked at him. ‘Are you some kind of dog-whisperer?’

  He shoved the damp curls off his forehead and gave her a wink. ‘Just irresistible,’ he said, making her laugh. ‘So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?’

  She peered through the rain-soaked windscreen as though seeking out some blue sky. ‘I’m opening the tearoom as usual, but closing early after lunch to get everything set up. If the weather stays like this, I won’t get many customers, but there’s usually a few of the guests who wander in for a bite to eat. Mia is winding down the guest house for the winter, so she’s only got one couple staying, but the studios have a few guests. Leo’s back down for a few days, so he’s coming to the party too.’

  Luke grinned. ‘I bet he’ll love that.’ The artist was both a client and friend of his brother, and had taken something of a shine to Kiki when he’d first stayed at the studios for their grand opening weekend.

  Kiki’s tut didn’t cover the slight colour rising in her cheeks. ‘Behave yourself.’ Flicking the wipers onto their highest setting, she negotiated her way across the car park, avoiding the biggest puddles under which potholes lurked.

  ‘No chance.’ He settled back into his seat with a smirk; winding Aaron up was his duty and teasing him about Leo fancying Kiki would be too good an opportunity to pass up.

  The car bumped over the curb as they exited the car park, causing the puppy to whimper and squirm inside his jacket. Lowering the zip, Luke adjusted the blanket until the little dog rested across his lap. Black button eyes blinked up at him and a pair of typical French bulldog bat ears twitched. ‘Oh God, he’s adorable.’

  Kiki flicked a glance across at him when she paused at the crossroads leading to Honeysuckle Cottage, the chocolate-box home she shared with Aaron. ‘I know. The children were smitten the moment they laid eyes on him. Charlie cried when she realised we couldn’t bring him home immediately.’ She turned left into the lane, sticking to the centre of the quiet road to avoid more deep puddles. ‘Thank goodness we passed the inspection from the shelter, or I’d have had a mutiny on my hands.’

  They pulled into the short driveway and Kiki parked as close to the front door as possible. Even the miserable weather couldn’t dim the beauty of the place. Luke lifted the puppy up to show him the pretty white cottage with a thatched roof. ‘Hey, fella. What do you think of your new home?’ Tigger yipped, a funny little high-pitched sound, and a trickle of warmth slid down Luke’s wrist and into the sleeve of his coat. ‘Gee, thanks,’ he said as the tang of dog pee filled the air.

  ‘Oh dear, I’m so sorry.’ Kiki’s apology might have been more convincing if she hadn’t been laughing quite so hard. Luke tucked the uncontrite dog back into the blanket and, shielding him with one half of his coat, ducked out into the rain. Kiki dashed out to join him, but her key had barely scraped against the lock before the front door swung open to reveal two giggling, very excited children.

  ‘Did you get him?’ Matty barely spared Luke a glance as he fixed his sparkling eyes on his mother. Luke grinned and pulled aside the edge of his jacket to show the wriggling bundle.

  ‘Yes. Shh, not so loud or you’ll spoil the surprise.’ Kiki pressed her finger to her lips and tried to herd the children further into the hall so she could close the door against the driving rain.

  ‘Surprise?’ Inevitably, the commotion had drawn Aaron from his study. Hands in the front pockets of his jeans, he stared in bemusement at the impromptu party before him. ‘I guess you guys really missed Luke, huh?’

  Caught red-handed, it was too late for Luke to tuck the puppy out of sight. The dog began to squirm in earnest and worried about dropping him, he sank to his knees and placed the blanket on the red-tiled floor. The puppy yapped and wriggled free of the soft material, his tiny claws skittering on the tile as he took a couple of cautious steps forward. Charlie made a grab for the pup, but Kiki held her back, whispering to the little girl to be gentle.

  Aaron crouched down. ‘Who’s this then?’ He extended his fingers towards the puppy and it gave them a tentative sniff, then a quick lick.

  Matty hunkered down beside him, keeping his voice low to match Aaron’s. ‘This is Tigger. He belongs to you.’

  Luke watched his brother glance from the boy next to him to Kiki. She raised her shoulder in an apologetic shrug. ‘I asked the children what they wanted to give you for your birthday, and they were adamant.’

  Matty put his hand on Aaron’s knee. ‘Remember when we were at the beach and that man let us play with his dog? You said you’d always wanted a dog when you were my age, but you weren’t allowed one at home. You have a new home with us now, and we decided you should have whatever you want.’

  Luke coughed around the big lump forming in his throat and he caught a suspicious glint in his brother’s eyes. ‘That’s very kind of you both.’ Aaron’s voice came out so rough it sounded like he’d been gargling rocks.

  Matty leaned in closer to his side. ‘And we didn’t want you to be lonely. When Charlie goes to school, you’ll be all on your own during the day. Now you’ll have Tigger to keep you company.’

  Tigger yipped, like he was accepting the responsibility, and wiggled his bottom in the air. Moving slowly, Aaron scooped the puppy up in one big hand and lifted him close against his chest. ‘Hello, Tigger. Hello, good boy.’ He touched a finger to each of the dog’s little ears then let Matty give him a pat. Mindful of her mother’s soft warnings, Charlie edged closer, giggling when Tigger licked her hand with a tiny pink tongue.

  They painted such a picture of domestic bliss, Luke felt like an intruder amongst them. Tightness spread across his chest, and he pushed to his feet. ‘I’ll grab my bag.’ He held his hand out to Kiki for the car keys. ‘Just the crate from the back, or is there anything else?’

  She smiled up. ‘There’s a few things in the boot.’

  Aaron shifted his weight, like he meant to get up. ‘I’ll give you a hand, Spud.’

  He waved him down. ‘No, stay put. No point in both of us getting soaked.’

  By the time he’d hauled in his bag and about a ton of doggy essentials, the others had decamped to the kitchen. A zesty-chemical smell rose from a shiny patch on the floor tiles and Matty was busy spreading sheets of newspaper by the back door. Tigger had obviously made his mark again. Shrugging out of his wet jacket, Luke held it up to Kiki. ‘Any chance of sticking this in the wash?’

  ‘Of course.’ She nodded to the sleeve of his sweatshirt, ‘You might want to add that too.’

  Luke examined the wet cuff ruefully. ‘How can such a small dog have such a big bladder?’ The soft patter of liquid on newspaper was the only response.

  With the kids finally ushered upstairs by Kiki, Luke and Aaron finished tidying up the kitchen and settled at the table, each with a beer in hand. On the right side of a double helping of chicken stew and dumplings, Luke was drowsily full and grateful he’d changed his mind and decided to come for the weekend. He raised his bottle towards his brother. ‘Happy Birthday, Bumble.’

  Aaron clinked beers with him and grinned with a hint of smug satisfaction, ‘It bloody well is at that.’ A snuffling sound came from the big basket they’d corralled behind a temporary barrier made from a laundry rack with cardboard sellotaped around the bottom half of the rungs. ‘I still can’t believe they got me a dog.’ He sounded pleased as punch about it.

  An image of his big, strapping brother walking the tiny puppy on a lead came into Luke’s head and he covered the laugh welling in his chest with a swig of beer. He was sure Aaron would take to looking after this new addition to his household as well as he had the rest of it. The affection he held for the children showed in every look, every small, reassuring touch he shared with them. And as for him and Kiki… Luke’s heart fluttered at the prospect of once again sharing a love like that. ‘It suits you.’

  Aaron cocked an eyebrow in query so Luke stretched his arms out wide. ‘This. Domestic bliss. A lovely woman, two point four kids and now a dog. You’re a cli
ché, mate.’

  His brother shook his head. ‘Not sure about the point four. Two seems to suit us just fine, and it’s two more than I ever expected to have. Besides, I don’t even know if Kiki wants any more…’

  Luke opened his mouth to point out that people, adults, normally had serious conversations about things like that before they took the plunge and settled down together, then shut it again with a snap. Considering he’d married a woman based on little more than a bone-deep knowledge she was meant to be his, he didn’t have leg to stand on when it came to commenting on the relationships of others. ‘You’ve got plenty of time to sort things like that out. You’re not that old.’

  ‘Cheeky sod.’ Aaron tapped his fingers against the glass bottle in front of him. ‘Things happened pretty fast, you know.’

  He laughed. ‘I know.’ He cocked his head at the gurgle of water passing through the pipes overhead. Sounded like bath time was over, but it would take Kiki some time yet to get the children settled down for the night. He had Aaron to himself for a few more minutes at least. Enough time to ask the one question pounding in the back of his head. ‘So, how is she?’

  His brother relaxed back in his chair, the expression on his face making it clear Luke’s attempt at sounding casual had been a miserable failure. ‘I don’t know.’ He held up a hand when Luke would have jumped in. ‘Physically, she seems better. Lord knows, between Mia and Kiki, she can’t turn around without being fed. Last time I saw her, she’d lost the worst of that gauntness from her frame.’

  ‘Last time?’ His brother and Kiki spent almost more time at Butterfly Cove than they did at home, so how long could it have been?

  ‘Shit. Kiki didn’t tell you?’ Aaron looked stricken.

  His gut clenched, and a sick, familiar dread crept up his spine. ‘Tell me what?’

  Aaron puffed out his cheeks. ‘Nee’s up with their dad. Vivian took a turn for the worse and, well, given how things were between you two at the wedding, Nee thought it would be best if she steered clear of the party tomorrow.’ He frowned and rubbed the heel of his hand against his forehead. ‘Sorry, Spud. It all happened rather suddenly. I know Kiki’s hoping it will mend a few fences between George and Nee, and it certainly took the pressure off her and Mia feeling one of them had to go up there.’

  Forcing himself to unclench his painful grip on his beer, Luke placed the bottle carefully on the table. Everything Aaron said made perfect sense – Nee would certainly have had no expectation of his attitude towards her having changed after their brief encounter at the wedding. She was also the most logical choice of the three sisters to make the journey, and yet he couldn’t shake off the feeling she’d run away from him.

  Again.

  Well, that was something he would have to deal with in due course. He’d let her go without a fight once before. There was no way he was going to do it again. Right now, he needed to get the conversation back on track. He met this brother’s worried gaze and shook his head. ‘Forget about it. I’m sure everyone sighed in relief at not having to deal with the two of us together in the same small space. I also can’t blame you for not wanting to even mention her name to me, given the way I bit your head off at Mum and Dad’s the other week.’

  Aaron reached across the table to give his forearm a quick squeeze. ‘I shouldn’t have stuck my nose in. I’m getting as bad as Madeline.’ They both grinned. The older woman was a huge favourite of theirs, even if she did have a tendency to interfere. His brother’s expression sobered. ‘Kiki’s still worried about her, though. As I mentioned before, it’s obvious something happened in New York, but Nee won’t talk about it, no matter how hard they try to persuade her to open up.’

  Luke frowned. The pale, haunted woman he’d seen in September had been a mere shadow of the bright, sparkling girl he’d fallen head over heels in love with. What could change a person in so short a time? ‘I don’t even know why she went there in the first place.’

  ‘She got a placement at the Reinhold Institute.’ Kiki’s soft voice came from the doorway and they turned to face her. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Charlie wanted a drink.’ She held up a yellow plastic beaker.

  The name meant nothing to Luke, but the way Kiki said it, it sounded like a big deal. Making a note to Google it later, he took a sip of his beer as he tried to corral his racing thoughts. Even in the short time they’d been together, it had been clear to him Nee was ambitious about her art career, and with good reason from the feedback she’d been getting. If this place was as prestigious as it sounded, then of course she would have wanted to go.

  Had she thought he would try and stop her? Luke’s stomach churned at the idea. Had she understood so little about him she believed him to be some misogynist who expected his wife to put aside her own desires and needs for his? As if he would chain her, the freest of spirits, and try to make her less than the very best she could be!

  He looked from Aaron to Kiki, flinching at the sympathy written clear in their expressions. He needed to get out of there and think. Standing abruptly, he grabbed the back of his chair before it could topple backwards. ‘I’m off to bed.’

  The soft murmur of their voices followed him down the hallway. He rolled his eyes, imagining them exclaiming ‘Poor Luke’ and other pointless expressions of pity. Pity him? No! Better pity Nee, because she had no idea what was coming.

  She’d obviously thought the worst of him; it was damn well time he showed her his best. People had always underestimated him – mistaken the easy-going face he showed the world for shallowness or a lack of feeling. But they’d missed one vital detail in their casual dismissal of him. Once he set his mind to something, nothing would deter him. When Aaron had gone up to London, Luke had applied himself to his studies, ensuring he attained the grades needed to win his own placement at the same university. He’d had his fair share of fun during his degree course, but never so much to cause him to miss a class, or risk the prestigious placement he’d set his heart on.

  His mother had done her best to infuse her own misplaced resentment of Aaron into her beloved boy, and he’d set his face against her. Stubborn little sod, his brother had always called him, and Luke took it as a badge of honour. Nee was his wife, and until the moment she stared him in the eye and told him it was over, he would fight with everything he had to reclaim her.

  The following afternoon, Luke paused on the threshold of the teashop, and grinned. If there was one thing the Thorpe sisters knew how to do, it was how to throw a party. Balloons and streamers hung from the exposed beams, adding bright spots of decoration to the light, airy room. Another swirl of colour caught his eye, this time a beautiful swirling mural on the whitewashed wall. Butterflies and flowers danced around a bright ribbon, leading the eye naturally to the glass-fronted counter dominating the top end of the space. Clusters of white-pine furniture were dotted around the room – the tables draped in red-and-white-checked cloths and bright-red bows decorating the backs of the chairs.

  Cheers and laughter rang around as the waiting guests yelled ‘Surprise!’ and Aaron did his best to look shocked as they swarmed towards him offering hugs, kisses and neatly wrapped presents. Inviting smells drifted from a buffet table near the counter, and he edged past his brother’s shoulder to take a better look. He shook his head at the sight – finger sandwiches, fondant fancies, sausages on sticks. Even a rabbit-shaped jelly wobbled at one end of the table, surrounded by little jelly bunnies.

  Turning back, he surveyed the room. Aaron’s mega-watt smile was bright enough to illuminate half of Blackpool pier as he accepted the greetings and congratulations of their friends and family. Hopefully, things would continue to improve between him and Cathy and then everyone who mattered to Luke could be together again.

  Well, almost everyone.

  A sudden rush of annoyance dimmed his mood. Nee should be there. If he could put things behind them and act like a grown-up, why the hell couldn’t she? He was the wronged party in all this. His stomach soured and he drop
ped his half-full plate on the edge of the buffet table – appetite gone. Footsteps came from behind him and Luke forced a smile to his face. This party was important to Aaron so he needed to stop sulking.

  Daniel waved a cheese and pineapple stick at him in greeting. ‘This is the best party ever, mate. There’s a Black Forest gateau in the fridge for later, too.’ His eyes glazed a bit as he mentioned the rich chocolate dessert.

  Luke shook his head. ‘Yeah, if you’re five maybe.’ He hadn’t meant to sound like a miserable git, but damn it, he’d had it all laid out in his head how the weekend would proceed, and she’d put the kibosh on it by buggering off to her dad’s. So much for not sulking.

  His friend gave him an appraising look. ‘What’s crawled up your arse?’

  Sighing, he shook his head. ‘Nothing worth worrying about. Come on, let’s party!’

  And they did, Butterfly Cove-style. It wasn’t just the buffet that was nostalgic; Mia and Kiki had lined up a host of old favourite games. A very competitive pass-the-parcel saw Richard expelled from the circle for holding on to the gift-wrapped box for too long. Musical chairs proved little short of carnage – Luke wouldn’t be the only one to bear a few bruises come the morning. And the current game of statues looked to be going the same way. Insults and outrageous comments flew from those already disqualified as they tried to sabotage the handful of people remaining.

  ‘Been skipping those gym sessions again, Spud?’ Aaron cat-called him. Git.

  Luke gritted his teeth against the urge to suck in his stomach and held still. Apparently not satisfied with his failure to distract him, Aaron crouched down to the puppy at his feet and gave him a little push in Luke’s direction. From the corner of his eye, he watched Tigger scamper over to sniff at his shoe. Don’t you dare… The puppy shuffled his rear end, and Luke’s nerve broke. Scooping Tigger up before he could even think about cocking a leg, he carried the little dog out of the teashop and plonked him down on the ground. Aaron’s laughter followed him out of the door and he span around, checked the kids weren’t looking, then flipped his big brother a rude gesture before pulling the door closed behind him.