Broken Hearts by Margaret McDonagh

Author:Margaret McDonagh
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781783756230
Publisher: Headline
Published: 2014-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

‘It was you who cleared the shops of stock!’ Josh teased as he helped to load the presents she had packed into his car after lunch on Christmas Eve. ‘What on earth have you got in here?’

‘You’ll have to wait and see,’ she replied, happy to see him a bit more relaxed.

She slipped her overnight case on to the back seat. Michelle drew her dark, heavy coat more firmly around her and huddled from the cold. Josh chivvied her into the passenger seat, then jogged round the car, hastily slipping behind the wheel and closing his door.

‘It’s freezing,’ he said, rubbing the palms of his hands together before the started the engine and switched on the interior heating full blast. He shot a quick look at her. ‘You OK?’

Michelle nodded, experimentally easing fingers previously numbed with the cold out from the ends of her coat sleeves. The car was already warming, shutting out the bleak conditions and the bone-chilling wind.

It was a slow journey to the Turner’s cottage. The roads were bad with patches of black ice, and Josh had seen the results of the foolhardiness of too many careless drivers to take risks himself.

Michelle stared out of the window at the leaden sky that carried more than a hint of snow. Frost covered the land in a crystal coat, highlighting every twig, each blade of glass.

The New Forest looked bleak and wintry as they drove along the narrow roads. Inside the car it was wonderfully warm, and Michelle felt sorry for the occasional cluster of ponies with only their long, shaggy coats to provide protection from the harsh environment and cutting wind.

Despite her growing nervousness at the prospect of meeting Josh’s family, she was still determined to make the most of the Christmas with him and not worry about the consequences until afterwards. She would follow Josh’s own maxim and live for the moment, at least until they were home and reality intruded.

His parents’ cottage was situated on the western edge of the forest, north of Ringwood, tucked within a shelter belt of mature trees that had been shaped by the wind. Secluded from its neighbours, the cottage was attractive, larger than she had expected, and lights shone in welcome from the windows, cutting through the grey gloom as dusk began to shroud the land.

Josh brought the car to a halt in the gravelled drive, and came round to join her. As they walked towards the front door that was adorned with a seasonal wreath, some of her nervous tension must have transmitted itself to him. He took her hand and raised it to his lips.

‘Don’t worry,’ he told her, drawing her close before he gave her fingers a final squeeze and released her. ‘How can they help but love you?’

Before she could respond to his disturbing remark, the door opened, and Josh’s father stepped out, a broad smile on his face as he and Josh shook hands and embraced.

Then he turned and took both her hands in his before he kissed her cheek.

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