The Ivy House by Laura Elise Bishop

Author:Laura Elise Bishop [Bishop, Laura Elise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

December 2012, Canterbury, Kent, England

Kate arrived home from work the following day, parking her car next to Amelie’s, and noticed there was another car on the drive too. Rob’s.

‘Just in time. Can you come and hold the ladder?’ Rob was at the top of a ladder, in a t-shirt and shorts, despite the freezing weather, and threading fairy lights through the ivy on the front of the house.

‘Shit!’ She ran over and grabbed the bottom of the ladder. ‘Are you serious? You’ll fall and break your neck.’ She shook her head.

‘Nah, I’m a pro.’ He wobbled slightly as he reached Kate’s windowsill.

The front door swung open and Amelie flew out, running towards the ladder. ‘What are you doing up there? I told you not to do this without me, and I turn my back for a second and you’re gone!’ She let out an exasperated sigh, put her hands on her hips and smiled at Kate. ‘Hello, darling. Did you have a good evening?’

‘I did,’ She replied. ‘We set up an Instagram page for the hotel, and Alex is going to speak to Sophia today.’

‘Good work,’ Amelie said, nodding approvingly, as she gripped the other side of the ladder. ‘Can I take James up there for a drink or is that too weird? I’d love to see it. It sounds beautiful.’

‘Sure,’ Kate said with a shrug. ‘No one would know who you are, and they definitely need more customers.’

Rob made his descent from the ladder, and, once he was safely on the ground, Amelie glared at him, hand clutched to her chest. ‘Every bloody year, you get up that ladder and scare the life out of me.’

‘And every year you tell me how beautiful the house is with the lights on it,’ he replied, his eyes twinkling. ‘It is bloody freezing out here, though. Let’s go indoors.’ He collapsed the ladder and took it through the gate into the garden.

As Kate went into the house, her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she took a deep breath as she read the message.

Can we meet for a drink before Christmas? Let me know when Rob’s back and we’ll get together. Dad x

She felt a pang of guilt as she read the message. Usually she would ignore his messages for a few days, but thinking about Alex and his dad, she replied straight away. Christmas was the perfect opportunity to put the past behind her.

Rob’s just got back. I’ll talk to him and sort out a date. See you soon x

Kate stuffed her phone back into her pocket and followed Amelie into the kitchen. Rob appeared at the back door.

‘Kate, will you let him in?’ Amelie said as she stood by the fridge. ‘I locked the door earlier because the wind keeps blowing it open. I need to fix the handle.’

‘Do I have to?’ she replied, grinning. ‘It’ll be more peaceful if he stays out there.’

Amelie folded her arms. ‘Let him in,’ she said, her tone firm.

‘She wanted to keep me out there, right?’ he said to Amelie, pushing past Kate as she opened the door.

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