Two years later…
“Rubytubes! You made it back! How was Rome?” Dad and Chipper greeted her at the farmhouse door. Chipper, now ten, wasn’t quite as jumpy as he used to be.
“Italian.” Ruby bent and rubbed Chipper behind his ears, then gave her dad a hug. “How’s the Treasure Hunt going? Fran and I were admiring the trees on the way in.”
Her dad pushed his glasses up his nose. “Going great! We’ve got nearly 50 trees this year. Nearly running out of places to put them.”
Ruby walked through to the kitchen and stopped in her tracks. She hadn’t been home since the summer, and things had changed massively.
“Am I in the right house?” Ruby glanced at her mum, who was standing by the sink with a massive grin on her face. “This new kitchen looks incredible. You’ve gone from country crumble to country slickers.” Ruby leaned against the new quartz counter-top her mum had raved about to her on the phone. “An island, too. Your dreams have come true, Mum.”
Mum walked over and hugged her tight. “To have you both home for Christmas is my dream coming true.” She paused. “Where’s Fran?”
Ruby indicated with her head. “Michael and Dale were out in the garden, so she was hijacked by them. She’ll be over in a bit. We met their new rescue dogs, Cagney and Lacey. They’re adorable.”
Mum nodded. “Cagney is blind in one eye, but they’re so sweet. They’ve found a wonderful home for their final years.”
“Looks like it,” Ruby replied. “I’m going for a shower as we’ve been travelling for what seems like forever. I swear, the dirt is ingrained.”
“Take all the time you need. The Christmas gig’s not for another,” her dad checked his watch, “eight hours. Plenty of time.”
“Paul! The girl’s just walked through the door, let her relax.” Mum put a hand on Ruby’s arm. “This kitchen is all because of you. The number of fans coming to the farm to see where Ruby O’Connell is from grows every time you release a song. They’re all buying coffee, scones, wreaths, the works.” She shook her head. “Good job you’re not out there selling trees; you’d be knee-deep in autograph hunters.”
Ruby was just about to brush her mum’s comments off, but then she remembered what Fran always said to her: take the compliment and be gracious. Ruby had learned so much from Fran since she’d given up her job to become Ruby’s full-time manager. The pair of them were now travelling the globe touring. It was tough work, but it was so rewarding.
One downside was that the new flat they’d bought together in London was hardly lived in, yet. But now, Ruby got to play to crowds there just for her. It was everything she’d never dared to dream of, and it felt just right. A little like coming back to Mistletoe for Christmas. Even if it did mean staying with her parents again.
“I’ll go out there in a bit, sell a tree for old time’s sake. Test your theory.” Ruby picked up her suitcase.
“You will not!” Mum replied. “Go get cleaned up. I’ve made sausage rolls, turkey-and-stuffing bites, cranberry-and-brie parcels. Plus, mince pies, of course. All the Christmas favourites. Fill you up before you go on stage.”
Ruby smiled. It was good to be home.
“There she is, my sister, the superstar!” Victoria and Eric hugged Ruby and Fran, before handing over their daughter, Eleanor.
Fran and Ruby had met the baby once before their tour schedule had whisked them away.
“She is so adorable.” Fran held Eleanor up in the air.
Eleanor gurgled and grinned as if on cue.
“Couldn’t you just eat her up?” Victoria grinned. “She’s very excited about seeing her Auntie Ruby sing tonight.”
Eric nodded. “Wouldn’t stop going on about it earlier.” He turned to Victoria. “Or maybe that was you.”
Victoria drew herself up to her full five feet three inches. “I’m unashamedly proud of my sister, so sue me.”
“You should be,” Fran told her. “She’s been killing it on tour.”
“We’ve been killing it on tour,” Ruby corrected Fran.
Fran let out an exasperated growl. “Please take a compliment! She’s a bloody nightmare.”
“We’ll leave you two to fight about who’s the best. See you out there.” Victoria squeezed Ruby’s arm. “Break a leg.” She took her daughter from Fran and kissed Eleanor’s chubby cheek. “Come on, my little munchkin. Let’s go and let the whole village coo over you. Try not to cry when Audrey holds you as you do every single time.”
The new family left the barn office, and then it was just Fran and Ruby.
Fran walked up to Ruby and pushed her back against the desk, a smirk on her face. “Remember this move?”
Ruby coughed. “How could I ever forget? The first time you fucked me was in my dad’s office. That’s a country song if ever I heard one.”
Fran laughed. “Begging to be written.” She kissed Ruby’s lips. They were still her favourite place in the entire world.
“Did I tell you my parents gave me my Christmas bauble this year, and it’s a photo of the two of us, not just me?”
Fran sucked in a breath, then clasped her hands over her heart. Coming home to Mistletoe was always special, because all the people she loved most were here. Even Damian and Isla were in the crowd tonight. They had VIP seats right next to her parents, who they were staying with again.
“I love that more than I can say. I think that means your parents approve of me, right?”
Ruby kissed her. “How could they not?”
Fran hugged Ruby tight, squeezing until Ruby coughed.
She pulled back, laughing. “Talking of parents, my dads are livid, by the way. They entered a tree in the contest again this year. Second year running they didn’t win. As someone who has a hotline to the O’Connell family, they wondered if you could put in a good word.”
“They should speak to Victoria. She hasn’t won either after years of trying.” Ruby’s lips quirked into a smile. “She never will, either. It’s a Mistletoe scandal.”
But Fran’s attention had moved on. She held Ruby’s stare, then slipped a hand between her thighs. “Back to me, you and the desk. How about it? For old time’s sake?”
Ruby was just about to reply when there was a knock on the door. “Ruby! Fran! Can I come in?”
Fran grinned, then stepped back. “Parental interruptus strikes again.”
Ruby laughed, then smoothed down her favourite tweed suit, normally too hot for indoor venues. For tonight, though, it was perfect.
Fran opened the door to find Paul standing there. “I brought some special guests.” He stepped back to reveal Delilah and Gretchen. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Delilah and Gretchen gave Fran a hug, closely followed by one for Ruby.
The farmhouse kitchen wasn’t the only thing to alter drastically in two years. Delilah, Gretchen, Ruby, and Fran were now good friends.
“You’ve got some beefy blokes doing security out there,” Delilah said. “Bet it wasn’t like that when you played two years ago.”
Fran shook her head. “Back then, we wondered if anyone would turn up. Now, we’re squeezing 1,500 in and we could have sold the place out a few times over.” She pointed at Delilah. “Imagine if you were on the bill, too.” A plan began to form in Fran’s mind.
Delilah glanced at her ex. “I can see pound signs in Fran’s eyes. Can you see it, Ruby?”
Ruby nodded. “Tell-tale signs. She’s gone quiet and her face is a little pale.”
Fran pursed her lips. “Mock all you like, but who’s the best manager?”
Delilah, Ruby and Gretchen all pointed at Fran.
“We could put on a festival with an all-female line-up.” Fran pointed her finger at the performers one by one. “You, Delilah, Gretchen, and also Fast Forward. Do your parents fancy starting the next Glastonbury?”
Ruby made a face. “I think they’re more interested in retiring. But we could ask Scott. We’ve got the extra land.” She held up a hand. “But can I get tonight ticked off first, please?”
Fran nodded. “Of course you can.” She glanced at Delilah. “Any shift this year from your parents? Are they still saying you’re going to hell?”
“Last time I checked.” Delilah put an arm around Gretchen. “But they can go to hell for all I care. Gretchen and I are getting married, my fans and career are intact, and my life is actually better without them. I don’t have to look over my shoulder anymore. I should have come out years ago.” She smiled at Fran. “But you knew that.”
“I’m thrilled for you,” Fran replied.
“We just came to say hi and we’ll stick around after for a drink.” Delilah fist-bumped Ruby. “Looking forward to your set.”
Fran waited for them to leave, then resumed her position. She took Ruby’s hand in hers and kissed her knuckles one by one. When Fran raised her eyes, Ruby’s gaze was on her.
“You’re beautiful; have I told you that lately?”
Ruby smiled. “Once or twice.” She kissed Fran again. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”
Fran shook her head and frowned. “Not for a good two hours. You’re slacking, O’Connell.” She winked, then slapped Ruby’s bum.
“By the way, I’ve got a surprise for you tonight.”
Fran gulped. “What kind of surprise.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to propose at a gig.”
“I would absolutely kill you.”
“I know.” Ruby laughed. “But I do have a new song in the second half of the set. One I wrote just for you.”
Fran melted. “Oh, fuck. Are you going to make me cry?”
“Happy tears, I hope.”
Fran stared at Ruby, then shook her head. “You really are something, you know that? I’m so proud of you.” She checked her watch, then snapped into professional mode. “Ten minutes to the anniversary of the gig that changed your life.”
Ruby shook her head. “You changed it,” Ruby replied. “You change it every day. I love you, Fran Bell.”
Fran pressed her lips back to Ruby’s. Her heart swooned. “One, two, Mistletoe,” she said, kissing Ruby once more. “I love you right back, Ruby O’Connell.” Fran took Ruby’s hand in hers and pulled her towards the office door. “Now, let’s go and wow your hometown all over again, shall we?”
Ruby took a deep breath. “Let’s do it.”
The End