‘Streaky bacon?’ Steph shuddered. ‘Yuk.’
‘If you want a really big fry-up, I think there’s even a spicy Cumberland sausage or two and some juicy black pudding.’
Steph put her hands over her ears. ‘Stop torturing me. I can never face fried food again.’ She stuck out her tongue in disgust. ‘Or alcohol come to that.’
‘Yeah, yeah … I believe you.’
‘Yes. Um. I am sorry I ran my mouth off. I didn’t mean to make your life harder. I’ll never forget what you did for me and the girls. What you still do. And I hope I haven’t caused too much friction with your gorgeous Jay.’
‘He’s not my Jay.’
‘I think he could be.’ Steph had a wicked look in her eye so she couldn’t be feeling too bad.
‘Get some rest and give the girls a huge kiss from me. Tell them I’m looking forward to their nativity play.’
‘Oh, no. I just remembered I need to make a donkey and a lobster costume!’
‘A lobster? In a nativity play? Good luck with that,’ Lottie said, heading for the stairs, leaving Steph to stew in her own juices.
She had a headache and dry mouth herself, partly from partying, but made worse by lying awake half the night. But she had work to do. She picked her way through slush en route to the big house. The leaden skies reflected her mood.
It was bad enough having to deal with and try to hide her own feelings of sadness about the wedding, now she was worrying about Jay’s reaction and she’d made Steph feel guilty. Technically, it was no business of Jay’s that she’d been engaged to Connor, or even close to him. She’d told no actual lies. However, it felt like a breach of trust not to have mentioned the extent of her connection with him. She had to speak to Jay as soon as it was practical and explain why she’d kept it quiet. Maybe she wouldn’t have been so worried about holding back the truth if she hadn’t cared about him so much. Their kiss on the terrace had been wonderful; now, she was sure that he felt she’d let him down.
She paused on the steps to the house.
Would it be easier to simply come clean with Jay now? Trouble was, how could she broach the subject when she still wasn’t exactly sure what Steph had told him about her relationship with Connor? She’d just have to play things by ear and hope for the best.
It was a dreary sight that greeted her when she walked into the ballroom. Most of the food and rubbish had all been cleared away by the caterers, but the floor was littered with silly string and party poppers. The murky daylight wasn’t enough to penetrate far so she threw the main light switch. It flickered and then illuminated the room.
She found a broom from the cleaners’ cupboard and started to sweep up, while checking that no damage had been done. There was a dirty scuff on the wall behind the celebrant’s dais so she made a note to get it painted the next day. Apart from a couple of shattered baubles, the tree was intact and, under the care of Jay’s team, should be fresh and well watered for the wedding ceremony. There were a lot of bashed mistletoe sprigs lying around too and when she lifted her boot, she found it sticky with squashed berries. It seemed like a metaphor for the morning after her magical kiss.
Jay walked in with a brush and some bin bags and Lottie braced herself.
‘You’re here already,’ he said.
This wasn’t a very promising start.
‘I only arrived ten minutes ago.’
His reply was a grunt. He put the bin bags on the buffet table, among the discarded glasses, and cast his eye around the room. ‘Some of the greenery has taken a battering but I’ll refresh it all again for the wedding.’
‘Thanks.’ Lottie waited for him to say more but he began gathering up battered mistletoe from the floor. ‘How’s your sister today?’ he asked without turning around.
‘A bit sorry for herself but she’ll survive.’
He plucked a piece of broken mistletoe from the top of a vase. ‘I’m glad she had a good time,’ he said, finally facing her.
‘Maybe she’s wishing she didn’t have quite such a good time but thanks again for helping me get her home safely,’ Lottie replied, wondering if he was leading in to a comment about Steph.
‘No problem.’ He dropped the twig in the bag.
She felt naked and stranded. ‘Jay. I – some of the things Steph might have said last night. I feel I should explain.’
‘You don’t have to explain anything. What went on between you and Connor is your business.’
Her spirits sank to her boots. He did know then.
In her heart, she’d expected it and yet she’d clung on to a slim thread of hope that Steph had been mistaken about mentioning Connor.
‘I’d prefer it if I could talk to you before anyone else. Connor and I did live together for a while but we decided to split up. These things happen,’ she added lightly.
‘Like I said, it’s your business. I respect your decision.’ He picked up a bag of rubbish, as if to signal the conversation was over.
‘Oh God, someone turn off the lights!’ Shayla said as she walked in wearing dark glasses. She sounded very husky.
Lottie exchanged a look with Jay that signalled any further discussion would have to wait; if they ever spoke to each other as more than colleagues again.
Chapter Twenty-Four
With a grim satisfaction, Jay turned up the volume on the music system at the Christmas tree centre. He’d chosen Festive Mix 3 – the one with the floor fillers that normally had even the staff humming along. Probably ones they’d been jigging around to the night
