Ivy Lane: Winter: Part 4 by Cathy Bramley

Author:Cathy Bramley [Bramley, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473509719
Publisher: Transworld
Published: 2014-11-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

My party outfit for this evening consisted of a short-sleeved teal satin mini dress, which floated elegantly from around my legs and gathered softly around the scooped neck. It was very flattering and, worn with a tiny black cardigan, black tights and heels, it was verging on the sexy side for the Ivy Lane pavilion, but for once, I decided to throw caution to the wind. It was Christmas after all and if I couldn’t let my hair down at Christmas, when could I?

I ruined the effect slightly by setting off from home in wellingtons with my heels tucked into my handbag, but it couldn’t be helped. Better to arrive in wellies than with a broken ankle. I’d hoped to be one of the first to arrive in order to witness everyone’s gasps of wonder when they saw all the fairy lights, but shuffling along the icy pavements had taken longer than I’d anticipated and I could already see people inside as I approached the steps.

As I paused on the porch under the mistletoe to change my shoes, Gemma and Mike arrived.

‘Christmassy dot com, Tilly! Everywhere looks amazing!’ she cried as she waddled up the steps towards me like a side-stepping penguin. Mike was following closely behind, carrying an assortment of bags in one hand and supporting his wife’s bottom with the other.

I helped her up the last step and laughed as I pulled her into my arms. ‘Hello, you! I knew you wouldn’t let me down with your appreciation of my efforts.’

I was so relieved to see her. Part of me had been worried that the baby would come before the night of the party and whilst I was sure she would rather be propped up in bed with a new baby in her arms, selfishly, I was delighted that she had made it.

And she looked absolutely radiant. She wore a long black dress with tiny crystals around the low neckline with a long black coat over the top and her hair sparkled with little diamantés. The baby was due in a matter of days and I had a sudden prickle of tears as I realized that this would probably be the last time we’d see her at Ivy Lane for months.

‘Promise me we’ll still be BFFs when the baby comes,’ I whispered as she returned my hug.

‘Promise,’ she said, kissing my cheek. ‘And I don’t think we’ll have long to wait for that to happen,’ she added in a faint whisper close to my ear.

Which didn’t sound at all worrying . . .

I glanced at her sharply but she gave me a don’t-say-a-word look.

‘How are you feeling, father-to-be?’ I said, releasing Gemma to kiss Mike.

‘Excited, nervous and scared witless.’ He shot a smile of pure adoration at Gemma.

‘Aww,’ said Gemma and I at the same time.

‘You go in, love, I just want a quick word with Tilly,’ said Gemma, nudging her husband towards the door.

‘A quick word,’ said Mike with a frown, ‘it’s too cold out here for you.

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