Baby It's Cold Outside by Kerry Barrett Page A

nose.
    â€˜You’re looking much better,’ he said as I de-layered – winter clothes were so time consuming. Then he frowned at me, mock-stern.
    â€˜What’s this about cancelling the wedding?’
    I giggled at his cross face.
    â€˜It’s fine,’ I said. ‘I thought it was the only thing we could do, but Claddach has sprung into action.’
    I explained about Leona and the dress as I followed him into the kitchen. Eva and Allan were there, sitting at the table with Parker. Allan was drawing pictures for Parker and Eva was watching them, a funny wee smile on her face.
    She should have had grandkids, I thought. Her son Simon had been a year or so older than Harry. If he’d lived maybe he’d have had kids by now. Bad things really did happen to good people sometimes.
    Tansy was leaning against the worktop drinking from a mug. She looked up as Jamie and I entered.
    â€˜Esme’s figured out a way for us to go ahead with the wedding,’ Jamie told her. She smiled at me. It seemed genuine but it was hard to tell.
    â€˜I heard what you were telling Jamie – it’s great news,’ she said. ‘So Leona’s sorting out your dress?’
    â€˜Third time lucky, eh?’ Jamie joked. I glared at him. I wanted Tansy to think Jamie and I had a perfect relationship. Not that we had in fact broken up twice and I was indeed about to buy wedding dress number three.
    â€˜The dress and the food are all under control,’ I said. ‘Harry’s come up with an idea of finding a celebrant too, then it’s just my dad we need to worry about.’
    â€˜What’s Harry’s idea?’ Tansy asked. I grimaced.
    â€˜She thinks we should ask Douglas,’ I said.
    â€˜He’s a funeral director, right?’ Tansy said. ‘Makes sense he’d know people.’
    â€˜I guess,’ I said. ‘I just feel funny about asking him because I don’t know him very well.’
    Jamie gave me a sharp look.
    â€˜More likely because you don’t want to know him well,’ he said.
    Eva looked up.
    â€˜He’s a nice man, Esme,’ she said. ‘And your mum adores him.’
    â€˜Seems he thinks she’s pretty wonderful too,’ Allan added, giving Parker a crayon so he could colour in the cat he’d just drawn.
    I fidgeted guiltily.
    â€˜She is wonderful,’ I muttered. ‘That’s the problem.’
    â€˜Don’t like sharing, huh?’ Tansy said. ‘Parker was the same when I started seeing Michael.’
    Embarrassed to be compared to a five-year-old, I changed the subject.
    â€˜Anyway there’s some party tonight – a survivors’ celebration or something,’ I explained. ‘Doug’s niece is singing so I said we’d go along to support her and to talk to him.’
    â€˜What sort of singing?’ Jamie asked.
    I shrugged.
    â€˜Dunno,’ I said. ‘But she dresses like a bank manager and she works in an undertaker’s, so I can’t imagine it’ll be very exciting.’
    Jamie chuckled.
    â€˜Well I’ll come along and suffer with you,’ he said. ‘For the sake of the wedding.’
    â€˜You go too, love,’ Eva said to Tansy. ‘Let your hair down. We’ll look after young Parker – he can stay over if you like?’
    Parker cheered but Tansy looked uncertain.
    â€˜Really?’ she said. ‘You don’t mind?’
    â€˜Course not,’ Eva said. ‘We can make popcorn and watch a DVD.’
    Tansy looked at me. I forced myself to smile.
    â€˜Come along,’ I said. ‘You’ve been flat out helping everyone. It’ll be good for you to have some fun.’ I didn’t think for one minute that the party would be fun, but I wasn’t going to tell Tansy that.
    â€˜Right, I’m going to phone Chloe finally and then sort out what I’m going to wear,’ I said to Jamie. ‘I’ll be