Three Amazing Things About You(75)

‘OK, I don’t know how to break this to you, but there appears to be a dog in your car.’

Christina grinned up at him. ‘I know.’

‘Well, should we dial 999? Or call the zoo? They could probably send out keepers with nets and stun guns.’

She unlocked the car, opened the passenger door and caught the dog as, wriggling with delight, it scrambled into her outstretched arms.

‘I don’t believe this,’ said Luke.

‘What can I tell you?’ Christina beamed as the little dog licked her cheek. ‘I’m a new woman. His name’s Daley and he’s the best thing that ever happened to me.’

This was definitely a seismic change. ‘And he’s OK with snakes?’

‘No more snakes. They’re gone.’

‘Really?’

‘I know.’ She laughed at the look on his face. ‘It was never going to work. You know I loved my snakes, but I ended up giving them away because I loved Daley more. Basically, he’s the light of my life and I couldn’t imagine being without him.’ Pausing to nuzzle the dog and waggle his hairy paws, Christina said, ‘Could I? No I couldn’t, because you’re my beautiful baby, aren’t you? Oh yes you are!’

‘He’s cute.’ Luke stroked Daley’s soft, wriggly body; it still seemed nothing short of amazing, but he could see how Christina had been won over. ‘Can I ask how Bea came to be involved in you turning up tonight?’

Her eyes sparkled. ‘I bumped into Bea and Hallie the other week at Denleigh. We had a lovely chat about all sorts of things . . . Daley . . . life in general . . . you . . .’

‘Right. And what were you saying about me?’

‘It wasn’t me, it was Bea! She told me you hadn’t been out with anyone since we broke up. And I said I hadn’t either. Then they just started saying what a perfect couple we’d always been and wasn’t it a shame we weren’t still together and did I ever regret what happened?’ Christina paused, gazing directly at him. ‘And I said yes, I did.’

‘Right.’ Lost for words, Luke realised he was repeating himself.

‘Sorry, you know I’m not usually this blunt, but I thought I may as well come straight out and say it. What with it being the truth, basically.’ Tucking a strand of hair behind her left ear, she went on, ‘So anyhow, Bea and Hallie seemed to think there was a good chance you might be feeling the same way. They were keen to drop some hints and see if they were right. And because I was kind of curious to know too, I said they could do it, so long as they were subtle. They were so excited about it!’ She smiled, shaking her head at the memory. ‘And I was too. Until I got a call the next morning telling me my mum was in hospital.’

‘Oh no. What happened? Is she OK?’ Christina’s mother Annabel was a nice woman who had lived alone in Edinburgh since the death of her husband three years ago.

‘She’s fine now. Just fell off a ladder clearing her guttering and broke a leg. Nothing too terrible, but she couldn’t manage on her own at home. Which meant I had to race up to Scotland and look after her.’ Christina pulled a face. ‘Which wasn’t a problem, except I had to call Bea and tell her and Hallie to put the campaign on hold. It would have been a bit pointless having them drop all those hints about me when I was hundreds of miles away. But I’ve done my duty now. Mum’s on the mend and I’m back home. And when I texted Bea to let her know, she reminded me about Marilyn’s birthday bash. She knew you’d be here and it was her idea for me to turn up and surprise you. Then you could see how you felt when you saw me again.’ Pause. ‘And so could everyone else.’

She stopped, her clear gaze flickering away from him. After briefly burying her face in Daley’s neck, she raised her head once more and said, ‘So I guess that’s the big thing now. Are you happy to see me again?’

What a question. What could he say? How was he meant to reply?

‘Of course I’m happy to see you again.’ Time seemed to slow down as Luke spoke the words, whilst inside his head his thoughts were going at a million miles an hour. It was true: there was no reason at all not to be pleased about seeing Christina again. He’d assumed she would have moved on with her life, met someone else by now, but apparently this hadn’t happened. And as far as she was aware, he was in the exact same situation. She had no idea – because nobody had any idea – that he’d developed feelings for another girl. But nothing could ever happen there, so really it was a spectacularly irrelevant situation to be in. And now it seemed that Hallie and Bea had together actively encouraged Christina to make the first move in an attempt to resurrect their relationship.