Page 24 of The Secret Holiday Kiss

‘But how can I have turned out well if I’m forty, divorced, without a proper home of my own – one that isn’t currently a strange sort of waterfall – and have had to scurry back to my brother’s house to hide out?’

‘Or how about an alternative narrative,’ Winnie countered. ‘Your awful husband showed his true colours, you got out of the marriage with your dignity intact, you experienced another calamity and weren’t too proud to ask your family for help when you needed it. And despite everything, you have enough headspace to offer your expert services to Mary and me.’

Daisy didn’t blush often, but in some ways the heat in her cheeks was a welcome armour against the cold grey day. ‘Only if you like my ideas,’ she said, dealing with the part of Winnie’s assessment that was easiest to tackle. ‘I’ll work up a proposal – free of charge – then, if you’re happy, we can talk about next steps.’

‘Excellent. Let’s see if we can get into the house, then.’

Avery’s team were working, the sound of an angle grinder sharp in the still air, but she hadn’t seen the man himself. ‘Let’s do it.’

As they approached, one of the team – a tall man with biceps that belonged on a gladiator and short, grey-at-the-temples hair – came to meet them at the low wall of what would be the front garden.

‘Winnie.’ He nodded. ‘And …?’

‘I’m Daisy.’ She held out her hand, and it disappeared inside his much larger one.

‘I’m Kyle. What can I do for you on this freezing morning?’

‘I’d like to give Daisy a tour,’ Winnie said. ‘She’s an interior designer, and she’s drawing up a proposal for when the house is complete.’

‘Does Avery know about this?’

‘I mentioned it to him, yes.’ Winnie’s tone had sharpened, as if she sensed a fight.

‘There’s nothing on my log.’ He tapped the clipboard he was holding with his pen. ‘Nothing about a visit this morning.’

‘Is he here? Can I talk to him?’

Daisy held her breath, though she didn’t quite know why.

‘No can do.’ Kyle shook his head. ‘He’s out meeting a supplier this morning. He’ll be back after lunch.’

‘We’ve got a group booking arriving after lunch,’ Winnie said. ‘I can’t get away then.’

‘Look, I’m sorry. It’s health-and-safety rules, and Avery would have my balls – my job – if I broke them. He’s intent on being squeaky clean on this one.’

‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Winnie said, then turned to Daisy. ‘I’m sorry. I can arrange for you to have a tour with Avery when he’s back on site? But I appreciate that you’re doing this for free, so—’

‘I don’t mind at all,’ Daisy assured her. ‘It’s not as if it’s a long journey for me. I’ll come back, but if you have half an hour now, I can tell you what I’m thinking just from seeing the exterior and its location, some initial ideas I’ve had. Then, if you like the sound of those, I’ll wait to get in with Avery, and draw you up a proper proposal.’

‘That’s very generous.’ The older woman narrowed her eyes.

‘That surprises you?’

Winnie gestured for them to walk back to the hotel, and Daisy was glad because her fingers had gone numb. ‘You didn’t have much time for me when you were a teenager. You didn’t seem to have much time for anyone.’

‘It was over twenty years ago.’ Her defensiveness was automatic, and she regretted it immediately. ‘I was really unhappy,’ she continued, softening her tone. ‘I hadn’t dealt with Mum’s death, because nobody wanted to talk about it. Harry was kind to me, he looked out for me, but he wasn’t exactly an open book emotionally, and then he moved to London. Getting a response from Dad was like squeezing blood out of a stone, so I guess I shut down, too.’

‘It was a horrible situation.’ Winnie held the door open for her. The Christmas tree was finished, and it took Daisy’s breath away because it was so unapologetically festive. The lights were set on a slow fade, setting off the glitter and shine of the baubles and bells and Christmas-pudding-shaped decorations as they reached full brightness.

‘That’s gorgeous,’ she murmured.

Winnie laughed. ‘We try our best with the tree. If you’re staying in a hotel at Christmas, you want all the bling.’

‘Of course you do.’ She followed Winnie into the lounge, where couples were eating scones and drinking tea poured from china teapots.

‘It must have been even worse, in that big house.’ Winnie waved at the waiter and pulled out a chair for Daisy, before sitting opposite her. They were in the corner furthest from the window; Winnie probably wanted to save the prime sea-view tables for guests. ‘Rattling around by yourself.’

‘It wasn’t a whole lot of fun,’ Daisy admitted. ‘But I remember that you and Mary were kind to me, that you did try to reach out. I’m sorry I pushed you away.’