Ginny’s laughter came out white on the cold air that whipped up and down theButterbury streets. ‘That sounds like an apt description.’
‘How did she persuade you, by the way?’
‘She made out Grandad was on his last legs.’
‘Really? To me he seems to have shed ten years since being up at the lodge.’ They rounded the corner and took in the sight of Lantern Square resplendent with the Christmas lights dotted everywhere, strung across the street, the enormous tree tall andproud at one end. ‘Then again,’ Daisy added, reality kicking in, ‘if there’s something wrong, he’d be the last one to complain.’
‘That’s what I’m worried about.’ Ginny shivered. ‘I hope we get to enjoy Grandad for a lot longer yet.’
‘I guess you never know when the time’s up,’ Daisy muttered dolefully as they walked past the railings that surrounded the square where people milled about and thescent of doughnuts and churros tried to entice them over.
The pub came into view and when they opened the door to the Butterbury Arms, Christmas music flooded out.
They’d bustled all the way to the bar and, once they were in position, removed hats and scarves. Ginny took out her purse. ‘What’s it to be?’
‘Ginny!’ It was Colette the landlady and she flew around to their side of the bar to hugthe new arrival. ‘Welcome home! I haven’t seen you in forever, you never come in when you’re here.’
‘I’m usually busy with Grandad,’ Ginny confessed, although Daisy knew it was more that she didn’t want to bump into Lucas. Daisy suspected had she not seen him already, she might not have agreed to come to the pub. Ginny usually avoided such places when she was home and although she’d never toldDaisy, Daisy had to wonder how strong her sister’s feelings for Lucas still were. Their break up had broken Ginny’s heart at the time and all it had done for Daisy was cement her belief that no matter how strong a relationship, something could still come along and break it.
‘What can I get you?’ Colette listened to the girls recite their orders, Daisy requesting a bottle of Becks.
‘No gin foryou?’ Ginny quizzed as they went to find a space to stand towards the end of the bar.
‘I no longer drink gin, or any other spirits, for that matter.’
‘Glad to hear it.’ And she added a smile, probably in case it started an argument, because Daisy didn’t have the best track record when it came to alcoholic beverages, and she’d never been allowed to forget the mistakes she’d made because of it.
Daisy shouldn’t have worried about what to talk to Ginny about because so many people at the pub came over to say hello that they were rarely alone. Daisy even began to relax and have a good time, the pressure off, at least for now.
The girls had been in the pub a few hours when they decided to say their goodbyes, only for Ginny to bump into Lucas again. Daisy surreptitiously watched them asthey stood far closer to one another than they needed to, he said something and she laughed, and Daisy wondered whether she was the only one in here who could practically see the sparks flying off each of them. No doubt her sister still had feelings for the man who’d once broken her heart.
She decided to give them some time alone to catch up and headed for the door to go outside and wait in thefresh air. But she didn’t make it very far because Joshua was next to come in to the pub and as the crowd swelled as though last orders were about to be called rather than being a long way away yet, they were thrust together, Daisy’s chest pressed against his.
‘Stop apologising,’ he insisted, and with his hand gently on her elbow guided her away to the side of the pub and a bit of space. ‘It’scrazy in here tonight.’ He looked over people’s heads.
‘Lucas is here already.’ She assumed that’s who he was looking for. ‘Talking to my sister.’
Eyebrow quirked he asked, ‘Really? It’s been a while for both of them. So you’re giving them space?’
‘I thought I should. I don’t think they’ve talked since they split up. There was no real closure for either of them.’
‘Do you think that’s whatthey want?’
She watched his lips move as he spoke. ‘Honestly? No.’
‘Me neither,’ he said returning her grin and holding her gaze for longer than he needed to. He offered to buy her a drink and she took another beer even though she’d probably had enough. She suspected Ginny wouldn’t be in a rush to go now. She was still talking to Lucas as though he wasn’t due to meet his brother and she hadn’tarrived with someone else. It was as though time had stood still for both of them and Daisy felt a stab of envy that Ginny might well be prepared to take a chance on love when putting her heart on the line like that had always filled Daisy with dread.
‘Talking of relationships,’ Joshua said, handing her a beer and clinking his bottle against hers as he came back to the side of the pub where theyhad some breathing room. ‘How’s it going between you and Ginny?’
‘Fine.’ Her lips twisted awkwardly. ‘OK, so nottotallyfine. It’s civil, it’s polite, and actually a lot better coming here. It’s less under Mum’s watchful eye, which I think helps as well as having other people to talk to.’
‘Fern not shown up yet?’
‘No. And I’m not sure how it’s going to be when she does. How dysfunctional isthat?’ she sighed. ‘Three sisters who can’t have a decent conversation these days.’ The alcohol had definitely loosened her tongue already, but he was easy to talk to.
He leaned one arm on the wooden ledge jutting out from the wall in a space that wasn’t filled with empty glasses. ‘It’s not like it’s been years since you’ve seen one another.’
‘I know, and like I said, we talk, but … I don’tknow.’
