Kate appeared and laughed as she caught the tail end of what Connor had said. She was holding a gin glass.
‘I need advice,’ I said. ‘Ben and I kissed tonight.’
Connor gasped. ‘Wow – Olivia will be chuffed in heaven tonight.’
Kate nodded. ‘So, what’s the issue? Is he a naff kisser?’
‘Washing machine kiss?’ Connor enquired. ‘Or was it a cold clamp kiss?’
I shook my head. ‘It was a great kiss. His technique is brilliant, but…’
Connor peered at the nativity scenery behind me. ‘Did you paint that?’
I nodded.
‘Did you not want to make out with him in front of the nativity scene?’ Connor asked, arching his eyebrows at me.
‘Stop it,’ I snapped, getting frustrated with Connor’s quips. ‘Someone told me that Ben is a heartbreaker and a player.’
Kate took a sip from her gin glass. ‘Olivia wouldn’t have set you up with a love rat.’
Connor nodded. ‘She had a red flag radar. One of the best. Remember when I was dating that hygienist guy. Olivia told me after one look at him that she sensed he had a lot of red flags. I ignored her and on the fifth date the guy told me he was bankrupt and on bail for an assault charge. To this day I still don’t know how she knew all that in one glance.’
‘Olivia knew you were fragile,’ Kate explained.
‘I don’t want to get hurt again,’ I said, rubbing my chest. ‘Also, I will be gone after Christmas.’
‘And?’ Connor asked. ‘Surrey and London are not hundreds of miles away. Relationships have survived across longer distances.’
‘How have you left it with Ben?’ Kate asked.
‘He left looking embarrassed.’ I wiped a layer of sweat from my forehead. ‘I feel bad because he’s a foodie and he made us these delicious Christmas stacked sandwiches. He’d remembered what Olivia had told him about me and my love for a good sandwich.’
Connor drained his flute of fizzy wine. ‘I hate to say this, but heartbreakers don’t do stuff like that. They turn up with a bag of chips, a battered sausage, a cheap bottle of wine and a cheeky smile. They certainly don’t do embarrassment. Trust me, I have dated quite a few.’
Kate nodded. ‘I agree. Also, Olivia will be managing this situation from heaven, and she won’t let anything mess up her good work.’
I smiled. ‘You’re right.’
‘Talk to Ben,’ urged Kate.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
I finished the scenery, took several shots on my phone, and sent them to Abi. She rang me and squealed down the phone. ‘Oh, my goodness, Rachel, that’s amazing. That sky is so dramatic and I love the stable.’
‘I’m glad you like it.’
Abi laughed. ‘Like it? I love it. Seriously, you have some talent there.’
‘Thanks, that means a lot.’
I packed everything up and made my way home. On the way I thought about Ben, our kiss, and the rumours of him being a player. Inside me, a war was raging. Half of me wanted to run away from him and protect my wounded heart. However, the other half of me wanted to kiss him again and ignore the rumours.
The manor house was silent when I entered. I assumed everyone was asleep but I was wrong as Aunty Bev was sitting at the kitchen table. She’d taken out her curlers and her long brown hair extensions were full of bouncy curls. Her pearl-coloured silk shirt offset her dark, tanned skin. At her feet was a snoozing Humphrey.
‘You still up?’ I said, as she lifted her head and grinned. She gestured for me to grab a glass and join her in a bottle of red. Once she’d poured me a glass, she leaned back with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
My heart began to thump. Aunty Bev was making me nervous. Over the years we’d all been witness to one of Aunty Bev’s impish looks. They usually preceded trouble like when she announced one family Christmas that she was going on a cruise with a ninety-year-old millionaire who had paid for her ticket and had agreed to cover all costs. That announcement had started with the same look of mischief. My mother nearly dropped the roast turkey in shock as she carried it to the table.
