Second Chances at the Log Fire Cabin

by Catherine Ferguson

  We hear someone come in and, a moment later, Jed pops his head round the door. ‘Hi, folks. Is Poppy in bed?’

  ‘Yes, I think she just needed to sleep.’

  ‘She’s working much too hard. I’ve never seen her look so exhausted but she point-blank refuses to talk about it.’ He gives a heavy sigh. ‘I know she’s desperate for the business to be a success but I just wish it wasn’t at the expense of everything else.’

  He looks so defeated, I want to go over and give him a hug. If only he knew what was really going on with Poppy. It seems so cruel that he’s being kept in the dark. But I do understand Poppy’s dilemma. And I’m not about to break her confidence by revealing that she’s pregnant.

  ‘You okay?’ asks Jackson when Jed has gone. ‘You’ve got that look you get when you’re mulling something over.’

  ‘Yes, I’m fine. Just a bit worried about Poppy, that’s all.’

  He smiles and smooths back a lock of my hair. My heart stalls. ‘You’re a natural carer, Roxy. No wonder everyone comes to you with their problems.’

  I laugh. ‘You think so?’

  ‘I do.’ He tries to put his arms around me but I pull away.

  He looks exasperated. ‘What is it? Is there something wrong? Is it me?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘You pull away from me. You always did. Even when we were together. I mean, you obviously fancy me, so why …?’

  I swallow hard. I’ve kept it from him for far too long. It’s time he heard the truth.

  Chapter 23

  Jackson listens attentively as I tell him all about being trapped in the fire on my nineteenth birthday. He looks horrified when I start talking about the scars I’ve been left with, although I prefer to think he’s aghast because of the struggles I went through, not because he’s revolted at the thought of my damaged skin.

  When I’ve finished, he gives a long whistle and says, ‘Why didn’t you tell me all this before?’

  I shrug. ‘I was frightened you wouldn’t like me any more if you knew I was scarred.’

  He nods thoughtfully.

  ‘You know, that you might find my scars repulsive?’

  He smiles sadly at me and folds his arms.

  ‘Silly of me, I know. Because of course you’d like me just the same …’ I say, trying to prompt a positive response from him. When he still doesn’t reply, I can’t help adding: ‘Wouldn’t you?’

  He looks puzzled. ‘Sorry?’

  ‘I’m saying I’m sure you’d like me just the same, with scars or without.’

  His face clears. ‘Of course, of course. So, have you had proper plastic surgery? They can really work wonders these days apparently.’

  I’m saved from having to give him a run-down of my procedures by the sound of a key in the lock. Everyone else piles into the hallway, all sounding very merry, except for Alex who’d offered to do the driving.

  Sophie barges into the kitchen. ‘Jackson? What the hell happened to you?’ she demands.

  He shrugs. ‘I did explain but you were busy on the phone. Poppy wasn’t well. I brought her and Roxy back.’

  Sophie’s eyes narrow fractionally as she casts an icy glance in my direction.

  Hastily, I say, ‘Speaking of Poppy, I’m just going to check on her.’ The last thing I need is to be caught in the middle of a Jackson/Sophie row.

  Hurrying out of the kitchen, I can hear the others in the living room chatting around the log fire, but I head for the stairs. And not a minute too soon, apparently, because Poppy is standing at the top, peering down at me, an anguished look on her face.

  ‘Oh, Roxy, I’m really scared.’ Her voice is a whisper. I guess she doesn’t want to disturb Jed.

  ‘Why?’ I look up at her in alarm and start climbing the stairs.

  ‘I’m bleeding.’ She looks so small and vulnerable, standing there barefoot in just her cotton T-shirt-style nightie, clutching a towel in front of her.

  My heart dives into my jewelled shoes. Impatiently, I kick them off so I can get to her faster, then I guide her down the stairs.

  ‘We need to get you to hospital,’ I murmur. ‘You have to let me tell Jed now.’ I’m pleading with her but even in her frightened, weakened state, she’s still resolute that he mustn’t know.

  ‘He’s asleep,’ she whispers. ‘Don’t wake him up.’

  I’m about to bellow for Jackson to come but, instead, I tell her to sit down on the stairs while I run into the kitchen.

  He’s now alone and can see immediately that something’s wrong.

  ‘It’s Poppy. She’s pregnant. But don’t tell Jed; he doesn’t know. She’s bleeding.’

  ‘Oh. Right.’ He frowns. ‘Should I call an ambulance?’

  I rush back through to Poppy, telling her not to worry. We’ll get her the help she needs. ‘Jackson’s going to phone for an ambulance.’

  When I turn, Jackson is standing in the doorway, looking shell-shocked.

  ‘Did you phone?’ I prompt him.

  ‘No. Right. I’ll just get my mobile.’

  He disappears into the kitchen and I sit down next to Poppy, who’s looking white as a sheet. She gets up gingerly. ‘I just need to …’ She points at the downstairs loo and I jump up and follow her.

  While she’s in there, Alex and Clemmy come out of the living room, wondering what’s going on. Quickly, I explain. ‘Jackson’s phoning for an ambulance. At least, I think he is. Jackson?’ I call for him, feeling panic starting to rise up. If we don’t get Poppy to hospital soon, I dread to think what will be the result …

  The door opens and a white-faced Poppy appears. ‘It won’t stop.’

  I glance worriedly at Alex.

  ‘Right, come on.’ He moves swiftly into action. ‘We’ll take my car. Roxy, can you get Poppy’s coat? Get her into some warm clothes and I’ll just grab my keys.’ He sprints down the hall, while I run upstairs and creep into Poppy’s room, desperately scared I’ll awaken Jed, who’s in bed fast asleep. I grab Poppy’s tracksuit from a nearby chair then run into my own room for some socks.

  Alex helps me to dress a bewildered Poppy, then he gently guides her to sit down on the bottom step while he quickly but carefully puts on her socks and boots, all the time talking in a brisk but gentle tone. I’m so grateful for him taking charge, I feel like hugging him.

  Finally, he gives me his keys. ‘Can you unlock my car, Roxy?’ He smiles at Poppy. ‘Ready for a lift? We don’t want you slipping on the ice.’

  She gives him a wan smile.

  As I pull on some loafers lying by the door and run out to Alex’s car, he scoops Poppy up and carries her out.

  ‘What about Jed?’ he asks, as I hold the passenger door open.

  Quickly, I shake my head and he seems to get the message. ‘Are you coming?’ he asks me.

  When I nod, he says, ‘Probably best if you’re both in the back.’

  I open the back car door then dive into the house for my coat. When I return to the car, Poppy has been belted up and Alex is in the driving seat, the engine humming.

  When we’re on our way, I take Poppy’s hand. ‘I can phone Jed now, if you like?’

  She turns, her face full of anguish, and I think she might change her mind at last. But she shakes her head. ‘There might be nothing to tell now,’ she croaks, and my heart plummets at her meaning. She thinks she’s losing her baby.

  I squeeze her hand, desperately hoping she’s wrong …

  Chapter 24

  We make the ten-minute drive to the hospital in tense silence, Poppy gripping my hand the whole way.

  When we arrive outside A&E, Alex hands me the keys to park the car, then he supports Poppy in through the main entrance, practically carrying her again as she’s so weak with fear. I watch them disappear into the hospital. Then I fumble for my phone and make a call.

  When I finally go into the building myself, I see Poppy lying on a gurney with Alex standing by, waiting to be seen by a doctor. He’s actually managing to make h
er smile, which is quite a feat in itself, and my heart swells with affection for him. Alex has been so great in all of this. He’s exactly the sort of guy you want on your side when the going gets tough …

  He sees me and smiles. ‘I was just telling Poppy I once heard a joke about amnesia but I forgot how it goes.’

  I groan at Poppy and she shakes her head. ‘Your jokes should come with a warning,’ she grins.

  It’s a relief to see Poppy looking more relaxed, although goodness knows how she’s feeling beneath the smile.

  My insides shift uneasily thinking of the phone call I made out in the car park. She might not be smiling for long and it will be all my fault …

  The nurse comes to check on Poppy, and Alex and I stand back.

  ‘So no one else knows she’s pregnant?’ he murmurs.

  I frown. ‘It’s complicated. She asked me to keep it to myself.’

  ‘Jed doesn’t know?’

  I turn at the sound of voices along the corridor. A nurse is pointing someone our way, and my heart sinks. ‘He’s not in the dark any more.’

  Jed is striding towards us, his face wreathed in concern. ‘Poppy?’

  Poppy and the nurse look up at him.

  He stands by the gurney staring down at his girlfriend, running his hands through his hair. ‘I came as soon as I got Roxy’s phone call. Why on earth didn’t you tell me?’

  The nurse stands back to let him take her place and he hunkers down so his face is level with hers. He takes her hand as if it’s something very precious, and when she tries to sit up and explain, he shushes her gently and makes her lie back down again, murmuring that what’s important now is that she’s okay.

  ‘How did you know I was here?’ she asks.

  ‘Roxy.’ Jed smiles back at me and she just nods.

  Alex and I say our goodbyes, thinking it best to leave Poppy in Jed’s care, and as we walk away, I glance back.

  Poppy is being wheeled away, still holding Jed’s hand. But the look she gives me makes my heart go cold.

  Will I actually have a job tomorrow?

  More importantly, will Poppy ever be able to forgive me for telling Jed about the baby?

  On the journey back, Alex breaks the silence. ‘I take it you let Jed know about the baby?’

  I nod miserably and he says, ‘Good call, Roxy. He needed to know. Especially now.’

  ‘Do you think?’

  ‘I do think. So stop worrying.’ He smiles across at me – it’s a really warm smile this time – and I feel my whole body relax a little.

  Perhaps Alex is right. Maybe when Poppy’s had time to think about it, she’ll be glad I told Jed. I can only hope so. I’ve known Poppy for just a few short weeks but already I think of her as a good friend. I only hope I haven’t destroyed our fledgling friendship.

  We draw up outside the Log Fire Cabin and Alex switches off the engine.

  Neither of us moves. We both just sit there, listening to the clicks of the engine cooling down, watching the occasional snowflake float gently past the windscreen.

  ‘Why didn’t she want Jed to know?’ asks Alex. ‘Isn’t she serious about their relationship?’

  I turn to face him. In the semi-dark, I can see reflected in his eyes the white fairy lights strung in a nearby tree. They look like stars.

  ‘Quite the opposite, actually. Poppy’s crazy about him, but she doesn’t think he feels the same.’

  He nods and stares pensively ahead, his big shoulders hunched against the cold that’s creeping into the car. ‘I have a feeling he’s crazy about her, too.’

  ‘I hope so.’

  ‘Yeah, me too. They seem good together.’

  I stare at Alex, thinking what a lovely, warm person he is. He’s the sort of man you could literally trust with your life.

  ‘And what about you, Roxy?’ he asks.

  He turns his gaze on me and, in the silence of the frosty night, it suddenly feels incredibly intimate to be sitting there in the car with him. He’s quite tall – his head almost brushes the car roof. Not as tall as Jackson, who has the build of a runner. But Alex’s shoulders are attractively broad, as if he’d be more at home on a rugby pitch than a running track. He’s regarding me intently and I’m vaguely aware he just asked me a question but my muddled brain can’t seem to remember what it was. I find myself unable to tear my eyes away from his, which is strange because, normally, I find it quite hard to hold a man’s gaze. Especially a man I find attractive. I suppose I’m always afraid they might see past the superficial to my imperfections beneath.

  My heart does a little flip of surprise as I acknowledge that Alex is a really attractive guy. Why have I never noticed it before? I suppose I’ve always just thought of him as Jed and Jackson’s friend.

  His eyes look very dark but what colour are they actually, in daylight?

  ‘Are you still crazy about Jackson?’ he asks.

  I know he’s got long lashes – I notice that every time we speak. I think his eyes are green …

  Alex’s question filters through.

  Am I still crazy about Jackson?

  I swallow hard. ‘He says he’s going to end things with Sophie and then … who knows?’

  Alex nods and gives a funny little wistful smile.

  He takes a big breath and says, ‘Come on, then. Let’s go in. I suppose we keep Poppy’s pregnancy to ourselves for now?’

  ‘Yes. I guess so. It’s up to her and Jed now to break the news to everyone.’ I shiver, wondering what the news will be. ‘God, I hope it’s a happy ending.’

  I stare miserably at Alex.

  He sighs. ‘You and me both, Roxy.’ He reaches over and pulls me into a big bear hug and I relax into his arms. ‘Hopefully, it’s just a scare,’ he murmurs into my hair, ‘and she’ll have to be careful. That’s what happened to my sister and it all worked out fine in the end.’

  ‘You’ve got a nephew? A niece?’ My face is pressed into the warmth of his chest and my voice sounds muffled.

  ‘Nephew. He’s five now and a right little rat-bag.’

  I sit up. ‘Why? What does he do?’

  Alex laughs. ‘Oh, nothing. He’s mischievous but charming with it. In Australia, “rat-bag” is used as a term of endearment.’

  ‘Oh, right.’

  I sink back against his chest. Then I suddenly realise what I’m doing and pull away. ‘God, sorry.’ Thank goodness he can’t see my blushes in the semi-dark!

  ‘Hey, no worries!’ he says, mimicking the Australian accent perfectly.

  He lets us into the house, holding the door for me.

  ‘Alex, thank you. You’ve been brilliant, seeing to Poppy and everything.’

  ‘It’s fine. I was glad to do it.’

  ‘You’re definitely one of the good guys.’ I grin at him but he doesn’t acknowledge my compliment. He just walks on through to the kitchen and my throat tightens. Perhaps he’s just exhausted. I know I am.

  I take off my coat and the oversized loafers in the hallway, suddenly struck by the strange wailing sound that’s coming from the kitchen.

  What on earth …?

  It sounds like a cat in pain.

  Hurrying in, an odd scene greets me.

  Sophie is slumped at the breakfast bar, lying across the counter, the skirt of her lovely dress ballooning out. ‘I can’t believe that bitch is taking my place,’ she wails to Clemmy, who’s sitting next to her in her Cinderella dress, patting Sophie’s back and looking completely out of her depth.

  ‘What’s happened?’ I mouth to Clemmy.

  She heaves a sigh and shakes her head. ‘Dazzle magazine have told Sophie they’re moving her from London to head up a brand new office and she’s really not happy about it.’

  So it’s true what Jackson was saying.

  ‘Oh, dear.’ My exclamation is drowned out by another wail from Sophie.

  ‘My staff have apparently been hearing rumours about this for weeks but did anyone bother to tell me?’ she demands. ‘No, of course
they fucking didn’t!’

  ‘That’s terrible,’ says Clemmy.

  I nod. ‘And what an awful time to break news like that. Just before Christmas.’

  Sophie raises her head and glares at me. ‘Plus the bastards are moving me to Malta! I mean, where the bloody hell is that on the world map?’

  ‘Um, it’s a little island in the Mediterranean just below Italy,’ says Clemmy. ‘I went to Gozo once, which is right next door, and it was lovely!’

  ‘I know where bloody Malta is!’ screeches Sophie. ‘I’m talking about where it sits in the rankings of fashion capitals of the frigging world! Right at the bottom just above Western Siberia, I should imagine!’

  Clemmy and I watch in horror as she starts wailing and banging her fists on the counter, working herself up into an even greater frenzy of despair.

  Clemmy glances anxiously at me and indicates the kettle.

  I nod. ‘A nice strong black coffee would be lovely,’ I say calmly.

  Sophie has apparently drunk enough alcohol tonight, following her terrible news, to sink a small fleet of ships.

  Clemmy gets up and tiptoes over to the kettle, as if any sound from her and Sophie might blow her top altogether, like a lid flying off a pressure cooker.

  ‘How could they do this to me?’ agonises Sophie. ‘When I’ve been at the helm of Dazzle for so long!’

  ‘How long have you been there?’ I ask gently.

  ‘Eighteen months. But that’s not the point. I’ve done a great job. A bloody brilliant job and they know it!’

  ‘Isn’t it a compliment that they want you to head up a brand new office?’ I point out. ‘That’s a big responsibility.’

  She rears up and stares at me as if I’ve suddenly sprouted another two heads. ‘If it was Paris. Or New York. Or Rome. Then I might be cheering. But frigging Malta?’

  I’m at a loss to know what to say, but she’s staring at me with such despair, as if she expects me to say something that will make it all better.

  I open my mouth. ‘I – well, I haven’t been there, but Malta’s meant to be gorgeous. So maybe it’ll turn out to be a great move.’ I swallow hard. ‘And Jackson can come out and visit you. How romantic will that be?’