The knock on the bedroom door woke Nessie up.
Kathryn poked her head into the room, smiling. ‘Oh good, you’re awake. You’ve got a visitor.’
She pulled back the door to reveal Sam, who managed a watery smile. ‘Hey, you. How are you feeling?’
It was a question Nessie wasn’t sure she could answer. The general anaesthetic had left her woozier than she’d expected; there’d been a moment when she’d first come round when she could have sworn she’d seen their mother standing beside the bed. And now the after-effects of the medication had worn off, she felt tired and empty. Empty, as though something precious had been taken away from her.
‘I’m okay,’ she said, trying to smile back. ‘Been better, you know.’
‘You’ve certainly looked better,’ Sam said, her voice warm.
This time, Nessie’s smile was easier. ‘Thanks. I love you too.’
‘I’ll go and put the kettle on,’ Kathryn said and she closed the door as she left.
Sam stepped forwards to perch on the bed beside Nessie. ‘I promise I won’t stay long.’ She reached into her bag and pulled out a box of Italian chocolates. ‘These are from Franny and Henry. She wanted to deliver them herself – I don’t think she trusted me not to eat them – but I managed to put her off.’
‘Good,’ Nessie said, feeling weak at the mere thought of having to entertain Franny from her sickbed. ‘Will you thank her for me, though?’
‘I will,’ Sam said. She fixed Nessie with a look that radiated concern. ‘But seriously, how are you? I’ve been so worried – you were like a wraith when you came back from the hospital on Tuesday and I’ve barely seen you since.’
Nessie’s fingers fiddled with the edge of the duvet. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t really feel like facing everyone.’
‘Bloody hell, Ness, you don’t have to apologise,’ Sam exclaimed. ‘I can’t even imagine what you’re going through – you and Owen. But you know I’m here for you, right? And don’t even think about rushing back to work. We’re coping perfectly well without you.’
It was something that had been worrying Nessie. The whole village knew what had happened and she wasn’t sure she was ready to face their well-meaning sympathy yet. In fact, she wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready, but that was a thought for another day. ‘Thank you. I’m fine. Bearing up, you know.’
Sam studied her. ‘I’m not sure I believe that, but okay. And how’s Owen? Is he looking after you?’
Owen. Nessie resisted the urge to glance out of the window, to the forge where she knew Owen would be, taking out his suppressed pain and fury on white-hot iron and steel. She wished she could tell Sam the truth, that he’d become introverted and silent and almost someone she wasn’t sure she knew, but it felt disloyal to talk about him behind his back when he’d suffered exactly the same loss she had. But the truth was she’d lain in bed beside him each night after that first visit to the antenatal department and she hadn’t known how to reach him. It was as though he’d retreated into an inner castle and pulled up the drawbridge. She knew he was grieving. But she didn’t know how to help.
‘He’s doing his best,’ she told Sam eventually. ‘Kathryn says he was the same after Eliza died – quiet and withdrawn. But he took me back to the hospital today and waited while they did what needed to be done. And then he brought me home again.’
Sam’s eyebrows shot up, as though she didn’t think much of Owen’s bedside manner. ‘That sounds like the bare minimum he should be doing. How is he with you – emotionally, I mean.’
Nessie hesitated from a fraction of a second, then smiled. ‘He’s fine. Honestly.’
‘Hmmm,’ Sam said, clearly far from convinced. ‘Are the two of you talking things through?’
Once again, Nessie thought of Owen lying sleepless beside her, his back turned. ‘It’s a bit soon. But we will.’ She let out a yawn. ‘Sorry. I’m a bit wiped out.’
‘No problem,’ Sam said. ‘I should probably get back anyway, before Laurie and Gabe end up punching each other.’
‘What?’ Nessie said, suddenly alarmed. ‘Why would they be punching each other? What’s going on?’
‘Nothing!’ Sam said brightly. ‘Just my little joke – forget I mentioned it. Get some rest – I’ll see you soon, okay?’
She bent to plant a kiss on Nessie’s cheek and then hurried out, leaving Nessie to wonder whether her sister had been joking at all. But her eyelids felt suddenly heavy and her limbs seemed to be made of lead. She turned her head towards the window, gazing at the forge for one last second before sleep came to claim her.
*
‘Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!’
The door of the Star and Sixpence slammed back and Micky Holiday stood there, silhouetted against the grey afternoon skies.
‘Micky!’ Ruby squealed, jumping from her usual seat by the fire and hurrying over to embrace him. ‘How lovely to see you!’
The silver-haired rock star bent his head to kiss her and then beamed as he gazed around him. ‘By god, it’s good to be back.’
It was the Monday before Christmas Eve and the bar was quiet. By the evening, it would be busy, but for now, there were just a few regulars sitting around chatting or dozing. Laurie was behind the bar and Sam saw he wore an expression of astonishment and awe.
‘Is that—’
‘Micky Holiday, lead singer of the Flames,’ Sam confirmed. ‘And currently Ruby’s boyfriend, although neither of them will admit it.’
‘Blimey,’ Laurie said, shaking his head in disbelief. ‘She puts it about a bit, doesn’t she?’
Sam gave him a sharp look. ‘Hey. That’s no way to talk about Ruby, or any of our customers for that matter. I know you two have had your differences in the past, but you put that to one side when you step behind this bar.’
Laurie had the grace to look embarrassed. ‘Okay. Sorry.’
With a shake of her head, Sam hurried towards Micky to greet him.
‘Sam,’ he said, kissing both her cheeks. ‘It’s so good to see you.’
‘And you,’ she replied, taking in Ruby’s flushed face and delighted eyes. ‘What can I get you to drink?’
She saw his eyes stray to the pumps and, for a moment, she thought he would ask for a pint of Thirsty Bishop. But he simply smiled and said, ‘You know, I’d sell my own granny for a flat white right now.’
‘Ruby?’ Sam asked, noticing her empty glass.
‘Another Virgin Mary, please,’ Ruby replied. ‘Why don’t you grab yourself a drink and join us?’
‘Oh no,’ Sam protested, ‘you two have a lot of catching up to do. You don’t want me cramping your style.’
‘Nonsense, darling,’ Ruby said. She lowered her voice to a stage whisper. ‘Besides, it saves me having to listen to all Micky’s boring stories about the good old days again.’
Micky grinned. ‘You know you love it. But by all means join us, Sam. You know what they say – two’s company and more’s an orgy.’
Ruby’s delighted peal of laughter followed Sam back across the floor to the bar, where she set about making the drinks. When she was done, she popped her head into the kitchen on impulse and found Gabe working on his laptop. ‘There’s someone here I think you’ll know,’ she said enigmatically.
As she’d anticipated, Gabe recognised Micky right away. ‘It’s such an honour to meet you,’ he said, once Sam had introduced them and they were all seated in front of the flickering fire. ‘I grew up listening to your songs – both my mother and my grandmother are big fans.’
‘Glad to hear it,’ Micky said easily. ‘Ruby’s told me a lot about you too, although she didn’t say how good-looking you are.’
Ruby waved a dismissive hand. ‘Didn’t I? It must have slipped my mind.’
‘I bet it did, you minx,’ Micky said with a grin. He nodded at Gabe. ‘Take care, mate. She’s used to getting what she wants.’
‘Are you touring at the moment?’ Sam asked, to spare Gabe’s blushes as much as anything else.
‘Nope. I know it’s not very rock and roll to say this, but that lifestyle all gets a bit much after a while.’ He paused and sipped his coffee. ‘I’m tired of drink and drugs and debauchery. What I’d like to do is grow a marrow that’s bigger than my own head.’
Sam blinked, unsure whether she’d heard correctly. Gabe looked just as confused, but Ruby rolled her eyes. ‘Not this again. I’ve told you before, Micky, the day you retire is the day I’ll stop wearing make-up.’
Micky fixed her with his trademark twinkly-eyed look. ‘Then I hope you’re ready to go au naturel because I’ve got news for you. As of last week, I am no longer the lead singer of the Flames.’
Sam gasped. She’d heard Micky threaten to quit the band more times than she could remember in her days on the PR circuit, but she’d never once believed he’d go through with it.
Ruby looked similarly stunned. ‘But—’ she began and then tried again. ‘But why? What are you going to do with yourself?’
‘I told you,’ Micky said patiently. ‘I want to slow down, take up gardening, that sort of thing. In a quintessential English village, not unlike this one, in fact.’
Ruby’s eyes narrowed. ‘What aren’t you telling me, Micky Holiday? Have you been caught doing something you shouldn’t have been? Are you looking for a place to hide?’
Micky sighed. ‘You’re so suspicious.’
‘With good reason,’ Ruby said, her gaze narrowing still further. ‘What’s going on?’
He took a swig of his coffee and lowered his voice. ‘All right, if you must know, I’ve had a spot of trouble with my liver. The doctors say I need to change my lifestyle – stop drinking Jack Daniels and start exercising, that sort of thing. So I thought, where can I go that’s perfect for slowing down?’
‘And you decided on Little Monkham,’ Sam said, with a sideways look at Ruby.
‘That’s right,’ Micky said. ‘It’s got everything I need, plus a cracking little boozer to while away the hours in. Perfect.’
Ruby did not look convinced. ‘Lola Swann said you’d got another woman.’
‘Ruby,’ Sam intervened sternly. ‘That’s not what Lola said. She said Micky wasn’t being honest with you.’
The rock star spread his hands. ‘And she was right. Thing is, the doctors have been telling me about the liver thing for years and I’ve always ignored them. Only now they’re getting a bit insistent, a bit overdramatic – saying it’s a matter of life and death. So I figure I’ve got to listen to them.’
Understanding dawned on Ruby’s face. ‘So that’s what you lied about. When I asked you what all the pills were for and you said they were uppers and downers – what they’re really for is your liver.’
For the first time ever, Sam thought Micky looked uncomfortable. ‘It’s not very rock and roll, is it? Taking pills for a dicky liver. I’d much rather you thought they were drugs.’
Ruby began to laugh. ‘Only you, Micky Holiday. Only you.’
Sam and Gabe started to laugh too and eventually, Micky’s tanned face crinkled into a smile.
‘And I suppose you’re going to want somewhere to live,’ Ruby said, once her laughter had died down.
‘Got somewhere,’ he said, looking pleased with himself. ‘I don’t know whether you noticed that the cottage next door to yours has been sold?’
Ruby nodded and then her mouth gaped. ‘You?’
He nodded. ‘Me. You’re looking at the owner of Lock Cottage. I can move in any time I like.’ He leaned towards her with a wicked smile that Sam had seen seduce much younger women than Ruby. ‘This way, we can have lots of late-night fun and you don’t have to listen to me snore all night or trip over my dirty boxers the next morning. As long as you don’t mind having a rock star for a neighbour.’
Sam couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing and Ruby seemed to be struggling too.
‘You mean it, then?’ Ruby said, gazing into his eyes. ‘You’re moving here for good?’
He reached across and took her hand. ‘I do,’ he said, kissing her palm. ‘I’m moving here for you, Ruby. So there can be an us.’
Ruby beamed in delight and jumped up to plant a kiss on Micky’s lips.
Gabe leaned towards Sam. ‘Do I sense another wedding in our future?’
Sam felt an unexpected thrill at the words ‘our future’ and squashed the sensation as firmly as she could before turning to look into Gabe’s eyes. ‘You know, I think you’re probably right. But don’t tell Franny – I think she’s always held out hope that Micky might marry her.’
‘Surely it’s too late for that,’ Gabe said, confused.
Sam winked. ‘Have you met Franny? She’s not the kind of woman to let an inconvenient husband stand between her and true love. I’m not sure Micky knows what he’s let himself in for.’
Micky wiped the traces of Ruby’s scarlet lipstick from his mouth, apparently unperturbed at the thought of Franny’s potential wrath.
‘You’re not really going to stop wearing make-up, are you?’ Sam asked, glancing at Ruby. ‘I mean, you’re beautiful either way, but—’
Micky reached across and took Ruby’s hand. ‘I think I can answer that. The only thing that will come between Ruby Cabernet and her mascara is death itself, right?’
Ruby smiled. ‘Spoken like someone who’s known me a very long time. So let’s hope Franny doesn’t decide to bump of the competition.’