10

  ‘This is very nice,’ Will said, settling back down at the table. ‘You’ve managed to secure a very nice spot indeed.’ We all stole a glance at the flames of rainbow orange that crackled and hissed from the pit. After placing the tray on the table, he blew into his hands, rubbed them together and held them up towards the fire to warm. ‘It’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas! All we need now is a few chestnuts to roast on the open fire.’

  Ann and I, who were now beginning to feel rather tipsy, burst into song. ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.’

  ‘Jack Frost nipping at your nose,’ Will joined in.

  ‘Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, and folks dressed up like Eskimos.’

  A strong male voice had joined our makeshift choir – one that wasn’t Will’s, and I looked up.

  ‘M-Marcus,’ I stuttered.

  Ann raised her eyebrows suggestively at me.

  ‘Do you two know each other?’ Will asked, looking at Marcus then at me.

  Marcus and I grinned at each other.

  ‘This is Marcus, my neighbour,’ I said, as he pulled up a chair and joined us at the table.

  Ann nudged my elbow. ‘Your Marcus?’

  I stared at Ann, wide-eyed with horror – I couldn’t believe she’d blurted that out. I stole a glance in his direction and we exchanged looks; he was still grinning at me.

  ‘Your Marcus?’ he mouthed then kicked my foot playfully under the table.

  I bit my lip and shook my head, giggling. He was making me feel so nervous, and I was totally captivated by his smile.

  ‘It’s a small world,’ Will piped up, clearly amused by the whole situation.

  ‘How do you all know each other?’ Marcus asked, confused.

  ‘Oh Will is a lifelong friend of ours,’ Ann declared, nudging my elbow across the table.

  ‘Seriously?’ Marcus looked amazed.

  ‘Yes, we’ve known him for what? All of a couple of hours.’ Ann laughed.

  Marcus began to grin then pointed at us. ‘Aha! You must be the criminal women off the bus?’

  Will nodded. ‘Indeed.’

  ‘Hang on, hang on a minute, how do you know we were even on a bus?’ Ann asked.

  ‘Because there are no secrets between me and my brother.’ Marcus smiled.

  ‘Your brother?’ Ann and I chorused, shaking our heads in disbelief. What were the chances of that?

  ‘Yes, obviously I’m the young, good-looking one!’ Will joked.

  Marcus shook his head in despair.

  ‘Will texted me to say he’d had a close call with a couple of women toppling onto him on a bus. He thought you were trying to pickpocket his wallet.’

  ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘No!’

  We all laughed.

  ‘I think his exact words were…’ Marcus delved into his pocket and retrieved his phone. Just as he was about to swipe the screen, Will grabbed it from his hand. ‘I’ll take that, thank you very much.’

  ‘Spoilsport,’ Ann joined in.

  ‘Anyway, Marcus, this is Ann, my best friend,’ I said, finally managing to introduce her.

  The mood was jovial and the atmosphere felt relaxed.

  ‘Beer?’ I smiled at Marcus, lifting up the pitcher.

  ‘Thank you.’ Marcus smiled back.

  I topped up all the glasses on the table from the jug of beer while pressing my lips together to try and hide my delight that I was in Marcus’s company.

  ‘I’ve just heard your phone beep.’ Ann nodded towards my pocket.

  ‘Has it? I didn’t hear it.’ Probably due to the loud thumping of my heartbeat. I reached inside my pocket, my mood dipping a little when I saw the text was from Henry. I was no psychic but I already knew what the message said.

  ‘What’s for tea?’

  I switched the screen towards Ann. She read the message and rolled her eyes.

  Quickly typing, I replied:

  ‘Your tea is plated up in the fridge. It needs to go in the oven for approximately twenty minutes to warm through. The oven is the silver object at the far end of the kitchen.’

  Maybe I shouldn’t have added the sarcasm but it was too late now. It had been sent.

  Switching the phone off, I placed it back in my pocket and glanced up at Marcus.

  ‘Everything OK?’ he enquired.

  ‘Yes,’ I answered, swigging back another mouthful of beer to avoid any conversation about Henry.

  ‘Oh by the way, I need to thank you,’ he continued.

  ‘Me, what for?’ I looked up, puzzled.

  ‘For making me the most delicious beef bourguignon. Lizzie, you are an absolute superstar.’

  I had completely forgotten that I’d prepared his tea, and now I felt a little embarrassed he’d brought it up in front of everyone. I could feel Ann’s eyes burning into the side of my face.

  ‘Most considerate, superstar.’ Ann was watching me very carefully.

  Ignoring her sarcastic comment, I turned towards Marcus. ‘You’re welcome. I hope it helped.’

  ‘Like I said, absolute superstar,’ he repeated.

  ‘So, Marcus, what’s your story? Wife, kids?’ Ann asked.

  ‘Ann, the poor guy is out for a few beers with his brother, he doesn’t need an interrogation,’ I interrupted.

  ‘I’m just interested.’ She shrugged innocently.

  ‘It’s OK – no wife, no kids, just Frank,’ he answered.

  ‘Frank?’ Ann queried.

  ‘My mad Old English sheepdog.’

  ‘Why is someone as good looking as yourself single? What’s wrong with you?’

  Everyone laughed.

  ‘I think there was a compliment in there somewhere.’ Marcus smiled, still not giving much away.

  ‘Isn’t there even a girlfriend?’ Ann asked, trying to interrogate him further.

  Marcus shook his head. ‘No girlfriend,’ he confirmed.

  ‘Well I’m amazed. I think we need to delve into your mysterious past further,’ she suggested, narrowing her eyes at him then smiling.

  ‘Honestly, there isn’t anything to discover except maybe I’m a workaholic!’

  ‘Boring! Well let’s move on to Will then. Wife, kids? Old English sheepdogs?’

  ‘No wife, no kids and definitely no English sheepdog,’ he confirmed.

  ‘Girlfriend?’

  He laughed and shook his head.

  Ann raised her eyebrows at me. ‘There’s something seriously wrong here. You pair aren’t mass murderers, are you?’

  ‘Please excuse my friend. It appears the drink may have gone straight to her head,’ I butted in.

  We all laughed.

  ‘Before the night goes any further, I need a cash machine,’ Marcus piped up, flipping his wallet open and riffling through it.

  ‘The nearest one is by the market entrance. I’ll come with you. I need some extra cash,’ Will said, thrusting his hands back inside his gloves and standing up.

  ‘Two minutes, ladies. Don’t go anywhere.’

  We watched them sauntering off up the marketplace, chatting and laughing amongst themselves.

  ‘You won’t be going anywhere.’ Ann turned and faced me with a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

  ‘What?’ I shoved her shoulder gently from across the table.

  ‘Let me get this straight.’ Ann looked amused.

  ‘Get what straight?’ I said and smiled, knowing full well what was coming next.

  ‘You made Marcus’s tea? Why didn’t you mention it? And more to the point, you never said you had a key to his house.’ Ann leant back in her chair, narrowed her eyes and watched me carefully.

  ‘Because I knew you would overreact and think there was more to it than there actually was.’

  ‘And why would I think that?’ Ann grinned.

  ‘Just because.’

  ‘Just because there is more to this than you’re admitting,’ Ann teased.

  ‘I can neither confirm…’

  ‘Or deny,’ Ann jokingly interrupted.

  ‘Shhh, they’re on their way back already.’ I craned my neck and could see the men only a few tables away.

  My stomach fluttered with nerves while I watched them both walk back towards us. Marcus certainly had a presence about him, and when he caught my eye, I looked away coyly.

  Thirty seconds later they were standing by the side of the table, grinning down at us. Marcus was rubbing his hands together. ‘Right, ladies, who fancies ice skating?’

  ‘Ann?’ I asked, glancing towards her.

  ‘I think I’m going to have trouble standing up, never mind sliding one foot in front of the other trying to balance. I already feel a little tipsy, but don’t let me stop you – you go.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ I asked hesitantly, not wanting to abandon her.

  ‘Yes, I’m sure – go and have some fun with Marcus.’

  ‘I don’t mind staying here by the fire and keeping Ann company – if that’s OK with you, Ann?’ Will said, glancing towards her.

  ‘I don’t mind at all,’ she answered happily while Will pulled up a chair next to her and sat back down.

  ‘Are you absolutely sure?’ Marcus asked, hovering at the side of the table looking at Will.

  ‘Yes, honestly, you go,’ he said, flicking his hand in our direction.

  ‘OK,’ Marcus replied, slapping Will on the back and giving me a smile. ‘Are you ready, Lizzie?’

  ‘As ready as I’ll ever be,’ I joked, standing up and wondering what I’d let myself in for.

  ‘We won’t be long, an hour max.’

  ‘Take your time – we aren’t going anywhere,’ Will answered, pouring more beer into his glass.

  We waved goodbye to them and began to stride in the direction of the ice rink. Our boots crunched through the powdered snow.

  ‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,’ Ann shouted after us. I smiled back over my shoulder through gritted teeth. As much as I loved Ann, subtlety wasn’t exactly her middle name.

  As we turned the corner, I realised Marcus was walking very closely beside me. His hand accidently brushed against mine and for a brief moment our eyes locked. Feeling a flutter in my stomach, I thought back to Henry. I remembered this feeling and it reminded me of how he used to make me feel when we first met all those years ago. For a moment Marcus and I strolled in silence before he spoke.

  ‘I can’t believe you’re here!’ He beamed at me. ‘What were the chances of that?’

  ‘I know! But, Marcus, I’m actually a little nervous,’ I admitted.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I’ve never ice skated in my life.’

  ‘What, never?’

  I tried to ignore his surprised look.

  ‘Never, ever.’

  He squeezed my hand tight, then let go. Goose pimples pricked across my skin at his touch.

  ‘You’ll be great – I’ll look after you.’ He smiled encouragingly at me.

  ‘Well in that case, I’d love to have a go,’ I said, feeling my eyes twinkle towards him.

  He bumped his shoulder against mine and grinned. ‘Come on, before you change your mind. This is going to be fun.’

  11

  The magical view of the ice rink took my breath away. It was lit by a soft glow, the trees surrounding the rink were decked out in twinkly fairy lights and Christmas music filtered out from the wooden hut next to the boot shack. Standing in the queue, we admired the view. It was busier than I’d imagined, and there was a buzz of excitement all around. Skaters bustled on and off the ice, couples holding hands glided around with ease, and children held on tightly to their parents as they tried to keep their balance. I shivered at the cold and the coolness tingled against my cheeks. With my hands firmly stuffed inside my pockets, I shuffled my feet from side to side trying to keep warm.

  ‘You’re cold,’ Marcus said.

  ‘Definitely a hot chocolate for me after this.’

  ‘Here, take this,’ he said, unwinding his own scarf from his neck and wrapping it around mine.

  I smiled. ‘Thank you.’

  I was a strong believer in fate – things happen for a reason in my book. I wasn’t sure exactly why I was shivering to death on a cold December night with a man I barely knew, but time would tell.

  My life had been rumbling along at a very unexciting pace for as long as I could remember. Twenty-four hours ago, I would never have imagined I was about to attempt to ice skate for the first time in my entire life. Feeling like I’d been transported back in time, Marcus made me feel strangely at ease, and I’d felt as happy in the last hour or so as I’d felt when I first met Henry. I was enjoying myself for the first time in a long time.

  Battling with my conscience, Henry and the girls were in the forefront of my mind. Was it so wrong to enjoy myself in the company of another man?

  The queue for the skates was moving along quickly, and in no time at all we were standing at the front of the hut. A bunch of mistletoe was tied to the top of the hatch of the boot shack, and it dangled down above our heads. I smiled. We both spotted it at the same time and our eyes exchanged a playful glance.

  A fleeting memory of my wedding day flashed through my mind. We’d got married in winter, and when the vicar said the words, ‘You can now kiss the bride,’ Ann had quickly passed a bunch of mistletoe to Henry, which he’d promptly held above our heads before kissing me passionately.

  ‘Don’t worry, I’ll step away. You’re quite safe,’ Marcus said, laughing. I wasn’t sure whether I was relieved by his remark or whether I actually felt a little deflated.

  We exchanged our boots for a pair of white ice skates and moved away into a space at the side of the boot shack. Leaning against the wooden hut, I slipped my feet into the white bladed boots. I laced them up, pulled them tight and tied them in a double knot. They felt heavy on my feet, and I wobbled when I attempted to stand up straight.

  ‘Are you ready?’ Marcus asked, putting his hand out to steady me.

  ‘I’m not sure I can walk in these – never mind skate,’ I answered, nervously swaying in front of him. ‘I’m beginning to think Ann and Will had the right idea, staying by the warm fire, drinking pitchers of beer.’

  ‘Whatever happened to living for the moment?’ he smiled.

  ‘I lost that attitude a long time ago.’

  ‘Until now,’ Marcus corrected.

  ‘Until now,’ I repeated with a grateful smile.

  ‘So are you ready?’

  ‘Just remember what I told you – I have never skated in my life,’ I reminded him.

  I placed one foot in front of the other and attempted to look like I knew what I was doing. Marcus slipped his arm through mine and supported my elbow with his other hand.

  ‘This has disaster written all over it,’ I said awkwardly.

  ‘But you’re smiling, so all is good.’

  When I reached the white barrier that stretched around the rink without falling, I heaved a sigh of relief.

  ‘So far, so good,’ Marcus exclaimed.

  ‘Don’t speak too soon!’ My knuckles were white as I gripped onto the railing.

  I was envious of the people gliding gracefully on and off the rink with ease. I must look ridiculous.

  ‘They make it look so easy,’ I murmured.

  ‘It is easy when you know how. It just takes a little practice. Shall I show you first?’

  ‘Go on then,’ I replied. ‘I’ll watch you for a second, and you show me how it’s done.’

  ‘Don’t move!’ Marcus joked.

  ‘I’m going nowhere fast!’ I shouted after him.

  Marcus walked with ease towards the rink and launched himself onto the ice. He powered one boot in front of the other and moved smoothly across the white sheen. Faster and faster he glided, weaving in and out of the other skaters. Where did he learn to skate like that? He made it look so easy. He waved as he passed me and lapped the rink once more.

  I waited, grasping on tightly to the white barrier while skaters bustled past me.

  He beamed as he picked up speed, skating faster and faster towards me and pushing his skates wilder on the ice. Then a couple cut straight in front of him and caused him to wobble. It felt like I was watching him in slow motion as ice sprayed from his boots and both skates left the ground. He catapulted backwards into the air. I narrowed my eyes, not daring to look while my heart beat faster.

  Bang. He’d crashed to the ground.

  ‘Oh no,’ I muttered to myself, barely able to watch.

  The couple who’d knocked Marcus clean off his feet were soon by his side, yanking him back to his feet. It looked like they were apologising profusely.

  After he brushed himself down, Marcus looked in my direction and waved. He began skating towards me and was soon grasping on to the barrier in front of me.

  ‘Ta-dah, I’m all in one piece,’ he said, grinning.

  ‘Do not do that to me again! I’ve turned into a wibbly wreck of a woman. I’m shaking!’ I replied.

  He laughed. ‘Hopefully that’s the only impression of Bambi I do today! Now it’s your turn. Come on, let’s get you on this ice.’ He held out his hand. I placed my hand in his, and he walked me along the barrier towards him.

  ‘Are you ready?’

  ‘As ready as I’ll ever be.’

  12

  Grasping tightly on to his hand, I squealed as Marcus led me slowly towards the ice.

  ‘Just relax,’ he said, smiling warmly.

  Despite my nerves, I was still standing upright, but time would tell how long I stayed that way.

  ‘Place both feet on the ice and I’ll pull you along until you feel steady. Don’t worry about actually moving your feet on the ice just yet.’

  I smiled, nervously looking down at my feet.

  ‘It’s easier to look where you’re going than at the ground,’ Marcus suggested, looking amused.

  Feeling the crunch of the metal blade against the ice beneath my boot I completely froze, every muscle in my body locked.

  ‘Marcus, I’m going to fall!’