Looking around at the place she had called home for so long, feeling Luke wrapped around her, she smiled.
‘I feel like I’m still standing right there.’
She pointed to the tip of the slope.
‘In a good way?’ Luke frowned.
She looked at her parents, who were now standing next to Hans, pretending not to watch them. Hans looked like he was asleep. He kept wobbling a little, his eyes fluttering.
‘In the best way. I have all that.’ She nodded to the view. ‘But the best stuff is found right here, at the bottom.’
Luke pulled her to him and kissed her till they were pulled apart by the excited revellers.
Chapter 14
Pocklington, Yorkshire
Frank pulled the comb through his hair for the fiftieth time, tutting into the hall mirror. His face still didn’t look the same. It looked a lot better, but the last few months had taken their toll. He was a little slower, but he’d get there. He wondered why Marilyn didn’t seem to mind. She looked amazing, had always kept herself well. He thought back to how they had been over the years, why he was such a blind idiot. She’d always been there, right there. God, he couldn’t wait another blessed minute. He was going to take life and give it a good squeeze, get the juice out of it. No more someday. He gave his reflection another look and winked at himself in the mirror. Go get em’ Tiger.
He turned to the sound of a snigger behind him, and he jabbed his cane out. ‘Oww! Dad!’
‘Serves you right, mocking him.’ Rebecca straightened Frank’s tie, smoothing the hair at the back of his head. Luke had the same fluffy hair. ‘You look great Frank. All set?’ Frank tapped his pockets, picking up the small bunch of flowers he’d hand-picked from his garden up and tucking them under his arm. She dropped a kiss on his cheek, smoothing the lip gloss off. ‘Go and have fun. No pressure.’
‘Top of the mountain,’ he said, winking.
‘Top of the mountain,’ she beamed.
‘Home by twelve, or we lock the doors.’ Luke dodged the cane swipe this time, but Frank got faster with every mock. ‘Missed me.’
The taxi beeped outside, and Frank stood to attention like an army cadet.
‘Come on, Dad, Marilyn’s here.’ Marilyn was sitting in the cab. They were headed out to dinner, their first official date. Luke went to help his dad, but he stopped him with a steady hand.
‘No son, it’s okay. I can do this.’ He stood out onto the path, cane in his hand, flowers in the other and off he went. Luke and Rebecca watched from the door, watching Marilyn’s face as Frank walked towards her down the front path. He got to the taxi, and Marilyn got out.
‘He’s done it! Knew he would.’ He pulled Rebecca into his arms as they watched the two say hello.
‘Of course he did! He’s bloody stubborn, like you. He wanted to go on this date on his own steam. He’s been waiting a long time for this.’
She felt Luke nod behind her. ‘Months, bless him. I never thought he’d ever leave the hospital that first week. Oh, she likes the flowers.’ Marilyn had pulled Frank in for a hug, and the next minute, Frank was kissing her. His stick fell to the floor, forgotten.
‘Something tells me that he’s been waiting a lot longer than months.’ Rebecca closed the door, pulling Luke away from the lovebirds. ‘You Sommersby men are not naturally great with the ladies, are you?’
Luke huffed, bending to lift her into a fireman’s carry. She squealed as he took her into the lounge, twirling her around in front of the tree. They’d had such a laugh, the three of them. Decorating the house, seeing the Yorkshire sights, meeting Luke’s friends … She was a world away from Alpine Bites and dinners for one, but she felt so connected now. To home, and here. They were heading to her parents next week, before heading back home.
‘I think we do alright. I’ll have you know, my girlfriend is the current Alpine Ice Queen, and word is, she’s going to beat her personal best next year.’
‘The word’s out, eh?’ The two of them sat together in front of the fire. ‘Well, must be true then. Hans thinks he can take me on, he’s still wounded he slept through most of last time.’
‘What a baby. The marker pen genitalia rubbed off eventually. You looking forward to going home?’
Rebecca thought of their lodge above the café. Luke’s old room was now his office, and he worked all over the world from right in that spot, whilst she baked downstairs. The skiing baker. Their trophies stood behind the counter on a shelf, along with a photo of them from that day, standing with their friends and families – Luke holding up a phone screen, Frank and Marilyn’s little faces in the frame. She thought of the upcoming season, and the thrill of standing on the top of that mountain again, with the world beneath her feet and people to share it with.
‘Mr Alpine Ice Queen.’ She kissed his neck, making him shiver. ‘Wherever we are, I’m home.’
He took her into his arms, and they sat watching the fire.
‘Bubble,’ they said in unison.
Swept away by Rebecca and Luke’s romance? Don’t miss The Second Chance Hotel, another uplifting love story from Rachel Dove. Available now!
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Acknowledgements
Every book is special, and the people involved make it special too. Big thanks to Belinda Toor and the HQ team, I love working with you guys. Here’s to many more books. Thanks to Lina Langlee for being my agent on this book, and thanks to the Kate Nash Agency.
A big shout out to
