6

Kristen pulled the curtains open. More snow had fallen over night. “Sorry, Lucy. Will the back garden do?”

The cocker spaniel shook her head and wagged her tail.

“Didn’t think so. You are a stubborn girl at times. Fine, we’ll go for a walk. Just around the block and no farther. It’s cold.” She pulled on a thick jumper and reached for her cords and thick socks. “I bet Max isn’t demanding a walk.”

Lucy cocked her head and barked.

“No, because he has more sense. Or Carlyle does. Either way, they won’t be out this morning. And we’ll have to be quick as I have stuff to do. Like work.”

Five minutes later, she was fully togged in boots, full length coat, hat, scarf, and gloves. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and grinned. She took a photo and texted it to Emma. Off to walk Lucy in the snow. How are you? Call, text, something. I’m worried.

That was a good photo ,and it wasn’t often that happened without a filter of some kind. It was about time she updated her profile picture. She glanced at Lucy. “One more minute.” Photo uploaded, she shoved her phone in her bag. “OK, let’s go. Once around the block, then time for work.”

At least the snow was keeping most people inside this morning. Halfway around the block, the phone rang. Kristen fished it from her pocket. At last, Emma, and a video call. She swiped right. “About time. Thought maybe you were really sick. Did you get to the doctor’s?”

Her sister nodded. “Yesterday. I rang them as you suggested and had to wait for him to call back. Then he said I should go to the hospital rather than see him.”

Kristen’s stomach dropped and a pile of rocks took its place. “Oh.”

“Anyway, Bill took me. He couldn’t stay, obviously, but he dropped me off. I was seen in A&E and then sent up to maternity for a scan. I’ll text it to you anyway, but…you ready for this?”

“Just tell me already.” Kristen stopped walking, wanting to focus on the conversation. She held her breath, not daring to hope.

A scan photo filled the screen. “Ta-da. Auntie Kris, meet Podling. Due in May.”

Kristen screamed. “Oh…oh… You have no idea how happy I am for you.” She peered closer at the photo. “You can see so much.”

“I know, right?”

Lucy tugged at the lead, and Kristen began walking again, turning a corner towards home. “Oh, I so want to come over there right now and give you a hug. That’s amazing. Congratulations. Will I have to learn how to knit now?”

Emma laughed. “Mum’s got that covered. And Bill’s mum is planning on helping as well. And as much as I want to hug you, it’s not allowed right now. Send a long distance one back with Bill when he drops off those meat hampers.”

Kristen walked up the driveway and pulled out her key. “I will.”

“Where are you anyway?”

“Walking the dog. And it’s freezing out here.” She opened the door, letting out a blast of warmth. She unclipped Lucy’s lead, shut the front door, and balanced the phone on the banister. “I have to put you down for a second.”

“Hah, good job it’s me you’re talking to and not the dog. Or are you?” Emma raised an eyebrow and winked.

“Ha-ha.” Kristin slid out of her coat and toed off her boots. She shoved her coat on the coatrack and tucked her hat and gloves into the pockets. The scarf went down the sleeve as normal. She was about to pick up the phone again when the doorbell rang. “One sec.” She opened the door.

A box sat on the doorstep, with a delivery guy backing away.

She raised a hand. “Thank you so much. Have a great day.” Turning with the box in her arms, she kicked the door closed.

“Ohhh, what you got?”

“No idea.” Kristen somehow managed to take the phone and the box into the kitchen. “I shall open it and find out.”

“Well, open it quick. I want to know.”

Kristin laid the box on the table and slit it open. “Oh, wow. Flowers and they are so pretty.” She held the phone over the box of red and white carnations. With the green leaves and single green carnation. It was decidedly Christmassy.

Emma squealed. “Nice. Who sent them?”

Kristen raised an eyebrow. “And how am I supposed to know that?”

“Read the card, silly.” Her sister stared hard at the screen. “There’s always a card with a name on. Unless it’s a creepy stalker bloke, in which case it’s done in dripping red font and says dying to see you.”

“Hah. You read too many serial killer books. And I don’t think a serial killer would want me anyway—I’m way too boring—so that’ll be the day.” She reached into the box and rummaged beneath the wrapping. “OK. There is a card. It reads, Enjoy the flowers. Have a great day and speak to you tonight. Carlyle.”

“And who’s this Carlyle when he’s at home? Is he the same bloke you’ve been Internet dating. Vidcon dating, as it happens?”

“Yes.” Kristen’s cheeks heated rapidly. She turned her face away from the phone.

“Hey! Turn back around. Are you blushing? I saw you blushing.”

Kristen sighed and twisted back around. Her sister didn’t miss a trick. “It’s hot in here after outside.”

“A lame excuse. What’s he like? Do you have a screenshot?”

“No, I don’t.” As much as she loved Emma, her sister asked way too many questions. She unwrapped the flowers from the plastic cellophane.

“Why not? Take one. Make it your lock screen. What does he do for a living?”

Kristin pulled down a vase, and then filled it with water. “He’s an accountant.”

“Speaking of which, have you found one yet?”

“No. I asked Carlyle if he could recommend one. I don’t want a conflict of interest coming up at any point in the future of the business by using his firm. Nor do I want to compromise his reputation in any way.”

“Good point. Hey, Kris, I need to go. I have a load of other people to tell about our news. Speak later.” The call ended.

Kristen arranged the flowers in the vase, fanning them out until the blooms looked perfect. The question uppermost in her mind now was, one, did she email and say thank you now, or two, did she wait until she spoke to him later when he called?

Wait a minute.

How did he get her address? It wasn’t anywhere online; she’d made certain of that. Had Viceroys’ given it to him? If they had it was a breach of contract. And in that case she’d throw the book at them, retirement or not.

She snatched her phone up and called the accountancy firm. Once she’d been assured they hadn’t passed her address to anyone, but they had sent her file to Henderson and Sons, she hung up. Stomping into the garage, she tore into the new box of wax. She’d dive into this and take her mind off things.

But no matter how much she worked, the flowers continued to trouble her, as did Emma’s offhand comment about Carlyle. Was she falling for someone she shouldn’t? She shook her head. She’d work through lunch, then email and thank him. It was the right thing to do. The man she was starting to care for wouldn’t have done anything unethical.

Would he?

~*~

Carlyle waited impatiently until 3:00 PM before he sent the email invite. Had Kristen even received the flowers he’d ordered? The florist had sent him a delivered text, but he hadn’t heard anything. He’d hoped she’d at least send an email saying thank you. Or something. This silence was unnerving. Maybe he’d overstepped the mark.

Finally, her picture appeared on the screen next to his. “Hi. You OK?”

“Really busy. The laptop is in the lounge so I had to wait until I’d finished what I was doing before I could answer.” She glanced behind her at a vase. “Thank you for the flowers.”

He smiled. “You’re welcome. I hope you like Christmas colours.”

She seemed distracted. “Yeah, I do. They’re pretty.” She bit her lip, hesitant, which wasn’t like her at all.

“Out with it. What’s up?”

“How did you get my address? It’s not online anywhere obvious. I rang Viceroys’ and they said they didn’t pass it on, although you have my files.”

Carlyle’s stomach sank. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I got it from the church directory. You said you sit upstairs, so I took a punt on you being a member and looked you up.”

Relief crossed her face. “Ah. Sneaky.”

“I’m sorry if I scared you.”

“I was on the phone to my sister when they arrived. We did wonder if you were a creepy stalker for a moment. She also thinks it’s hilarious that we are quite literally Internet dating.”

He allowed himself a small grin. “Good one. But I promise I’m no stalker. I’m truly sorry I ever gave you cause to think I was. I should have asked first.”

“And ruin the surprise?”

He still felt awful. “Before you go back to work, do you have plans for dinner?”

Kristin held up a finger. “Let me think. Umm…” She paused. “No. The only choice is location…kitchen, bedroom, or lounge. I try to vary it.” She winked. “I even tried the garden a couple of days ago, but the frostbite didn’t feel so good. Seriously, no. I have no plans.”

“Good. Because I ordered dinner for us both. It will be delivered to each house for about half past seven. They’ll put it on the doorstep in a heat proof bag and knock. You take the cartons out of the bag and they leave. It’s all paid for. I figured this was the next best thing to going out to dinner properly.”

She smiled. “Thank you. Sounds great. I need to get on now, though.”

“Sure. I still have things to do. I’ll set up the call for seven-twenty.”

“See you then.” She vanished from the screen.

Carlyle leaned back in his chair and rubbed the back of his neck. Creepy stalker? He hadn’t intended that at all. Did she really think that? Good thing they’d talked before the food arrived.

He pushed his phone across the desk for a minute before picking it up and texting Matthew. It’s me. Need your advice again. Think I messed up things really badly with Kristin.

OK. Give me five. Then I’ll call you.

It was more like fifteen, not that he was counting. Carlyle picked up the phone. At least he noticed it was a video call this time and didn’t give Matthew a great shot of his ear. “Hi.”

“So, what have you done that’s so bad?”

He drummed his fingers on his thigh. “I sent her flowers and arranged for dinner to be delivered to her door.”

His brother frowned. “And what’s wrong with flowers and dinner?”

“I didn’t ask her where she lived. At first she was worried I was some crazy Internet stalker. Her words, not mine by the way.”

“You twit! Have you apologised?”

“Of course I have. I explained that I looked her up in the church directory. But…” Carlyle shrugged.

“Did she seem OK with your explanation?”

“Yeah, she said to have asked her would have ruined the surprise.” He admitted appreciating the fact his brother had made him rethink the whole conversation.

“Then don’t worry about it, mate. Either she’ll show up for dinner, in which case you’re forgiven. Or she won’t, in which case you can find someone else.”

“What if I don’t want to find someone else?” He heaved a sigh. “What if I’ve fallen hook, line, and sinker, and whatever other cliché you can think of?”

“You really like her that much?”

Carlyle didn’t even have to think. “Yes. Yes I do. I know meeting her shouldn’t have happened at all—it was a typo after all—but talking to her is the highlight of my day.”

“Then if she feels the same way—which let’s face it, she wouldn’t keep talking to you if she didn’t—then she’ll be there for dinner. And if she thinks you’re a creepy stalker, let’s face it you’re better off without her, mate. There. All better. OK, I have to go. There’s a nurse waving at me.” His brother winked. “Just don’t tell my wife. No wait, it’s fine, she’s waving a file at me. She just wants me for my medical expertise.”

Carlyle shook his head. “You’re incorrigible. Go do some work. Later.”

~*~

Kristin tapped her fingers on the table, her gaze fixed on the flowers. He’d meant well. Most women would be thrilled to receive flowers. But she obviously wasn’t most women. Carlyle had looked quite crestfallen at her assumption. Whether it was the creepy or stalker or the combination of the two words that hurt him the most she had no idea.

And now she felt horrible. Sick to her stomach. She ought to send him something nice by way of apology, but the question was what. Other than candles, she had very little to give, and she couldn’t exactly send him a bunch of flowers. Wait…candles.

Of course. Kristin hurried back into the garage. Which ones did she send? She had no idea what scents he liked. Maybe she could send a selection pack of the Christmas candles. She still had several boxes of the ones she’d made up for the local gift shop before lockdown began again and everything closed once more.

It seemed as if normality was within everyone’s grasp and then someone moved the boundaries and they were all back to square one.

She placed the red box of twelve candles into a larger packing box. A wax burner and several tea lights went in, along with enough bubble wrap and packing to prevent breakage. Once she’d sealed the box, she headed into the lounge and set it on the table.

Three minutes later, she took his cue and tracked down Carlyle’s address from the church directory. He didn’t live too far from her. Maybe she would walk Lucy that way later, check out his lights, and leave the box on his doorstep.

Grabbing her phone, she texted Emma. Hey, sis. Got that address for you. She added it along with his name.

The reply was immediate. Carlyle? Is that him? How did you?

The same way he got my address. From the church directory. How are you?

The same. Thanks for the address. Bill will be delivering tomorrow morning. He’ll drop yours around nine probably. What’s the best time to deliver Carlyle’s hamper?

Hmm. Kristen thought for a moment before texting a reply. Well, it’s Saturday, so he’s probably not working at all. But he’s always around after six in the evening most nights anyway. OK, time to go to the Post Office and try not to freeze while I’m out. And I’m sneaking off without Lucy. Later. K. Xx

Gathering all her parcels, Kristen headed outside into the snow.