‘Taxi,’ I said, tucking the log under my arm as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. ‘I’m going to ring for one now to take me back, if I can get a strong enough signal,’ I added.

I was keen to get back to Dolly and make sure she was all right.

‘Don’t be silly,’ Beamish laughed, pulling the log out from under my arm. ‘I’ll run you back to town.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course,’ he smiled. ‘That’s what friends are for, remember?’

‘Thanks,’ I said, ducking my head as I put my phone away again.

I wondered how I was going to feel watching this particular friend going out on dates and forming ‘friendships’ with other girls. These next few months were going to be tough for so many reasons.

Beamish and I made our excuses from the lavish tea which had been laid on by Dorothy, thanked the Connellys for their hospitality and wished them all a Merry Christmas.

‘Can you believe it’s almost here?’ said Beamish as he carefully reversed through the vehicles and turned on to the drive. ‘By this time next week, it’ll all be over.’

‘Don’t say that,’ I groaned, thinking of all the effort that went into the preparations which would last for just a couple of days at best.

‘Christmas Eve is always my favourite,’ he grinned. ‘The expectation of what’s to come. I love it.’

I was just about to ask him where he would be spending Christmas Day but stopped as both my phone and his began to buzz and chatter.

‘We must have found a signal hotspot,’ he said, pulling up and cutting the engine again. ‘Oh,’ he added as he scrolled, ‘I’ve been summoned. Dolly wants to see me.’

‘Me too,’ I said, showing him my screen.

I could only conclude that she had begun to doubt my ability to talk him into coming back with me and decided to add her influence to my endeavours.

‘Is she all right?’ Beamish frowned, stowing away his phone before starting the engine again. ‘It isn’t like her to be quite so bossy, is it?’

I wasn’t sure if he was joking or not. Dolly had certainly had her moments in the last twenty-four hours, but given that she was running out of time, I could hardly blame her. No doubt she wanted to tell Beamish her sad news before it started to spread throughout the town. Which, in a place like Wynbridge, it would in no time at all.

‘There’s only one way to find out,’ I told him.

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

In spite of what I knew Beamish was about to be told, I couldn’t help but smile as we drew up outside Dolly’s cottage. It was picture perfect with the bright Christmas lights and Santa tethered to his sleigh looking as if he was poised to launch into the star-studded sky.