Christmas Evie Page 5

  The piece of card had the most beautiful watercolour painting of a cherub on one side and on the other in perfect handwriting was, Meet me at the lake in St. James Park at midday on New Year’s Eve.

  Chapter Eleven

  LOVE

  ‘My head hurts,’ Bea boomed out on loudspeaker mode as Evie made herself some fresh coffee.

  ‘Me too. I think a little disco kip may be required before we hit the Heart and Flowers. Oh shit!’

  ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘I’m meeting Yves in St. James Park at midday.’

  ‘Can’t you rearrange?’

  ‘No. He doesn’t have a phone – he’s homeless, remember.’

  ‘Oh yes, I keep forgetting. Evie, my young friend, you spend more time with him than anyone – are you sure you haven’t got a thing for his dirty bits?’

  ‘Bea, stop. It’s fine. I’ll have a little siesta on my return. I’m going to drive over there so I don’t have to wait for the train. It’s bloody freezing and the forecast said it may snow later.’

  ‘Good job we can walk to the pub, then. Did you message Birthmark Boy then?’

  ‘Don’t be rude, Bea. But yes, I said I’d meet him on New Year’s Day at the pub opposite the Centre.’

  ‘That’s good. He’s obviously not seeing lover girl tonight then?’

  ‘No. I knew that already when I overheard his phone conversation.’

  ‘It can’t be that serious in that case?’

  ‘I’ll know tomorrow, won’t I? She is training to be a doctor, though. It’s her last year, so she’s probably working.’

  ‘I didn’t think of that. Right, what time shall we say later?’

  ‘How about we meet at yours for a little aperitif at around seven?’

  ‘Perfect. And now I think Evie should go get jiggy with Christmas Yvie behind the Pagoda in the Battersea Park.’

  ‘Ha, very funny. Now clear off and I’ll see you later. What are you wearing, by the way?’

  ‘The black dress with the fifties skirt I wore to the office party. No one will be there to know I’ve worn it twice.’

  ‘Great to have that luxury, you tart. See you.’

  ‘I didn’t realise the lake at St James’s Park was this bloody big,’ Evie said under her breath, worried that she’d miss Yves. Just as she did so, she saw a familiar figure walking towards her. He was wearing his overcoat and a big red scarf. (St. James's Park is the oldest of the Royal Parks of London. It lies at the southernmost tip of the St James's area, which was named after a leper hospital dedicated to St James the Less.)

  ‘That was a coincidence, seeing you here,’ Evie laughed. ‘I thought I wouldn’t be able to find you.’

  Yves smiled knowingly.

  ‘Here, I’ve even wrapped it for you.’ Evie handed him an oblong package.

  ‘Oh Evie, I don’t want gifts from you.’

  ‘It’s fine, it cost nothing. Let’s sit on this bench, but not for long, it’s bloody freezing.’

  Yves unwrapped the package, picked up Evie’s hand, and kissed it.

  ‘It’s beautiful,’ he said. ‘See, I said you could do it. People would pay good money for a photograph like that.’ A black and white image of the Thames and pleasure boats looked back at him. ‘I love it. Thank you.’

  ‘I’ve even brought my camera today. No moment will ever be missed,’ she told him, beaming.

  ‘That’s the spirit. You’re like a new woman already.’ He changed the subject. ‘Have you spoken to Greg?’

  ‘I’m speaking to him tomorrow.’

  ‘Oh, OK. Why wait?’

  ‘I’m out tonight with Bea for New Year’s Eve and I know it’s going to be a difficult conversation. And …’

  ‘And what?’

  ‘I’m worried that if I see him on New Year’s Eve, I might get carried away by the occasion and do or say something I wouldn’t be proud of.’

  ‘Evie, you are a good woman. Love will win. It always does. So, if it’s written, he will come to you.’

  ‘I want to have his babies.’

  ‘And now you’ve said that to me, I very much expect you will.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Have you heard of the Law of Attraction, Evie?’

  ‘No, what is it?’

  ‘The Law of Attraction is the name given to the belief that “like attracts like” and that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring about positive or negative results. The belief is based upon the idea that people and their thoughts are both made from pure energy, therefore like energy attracts like energy.’

  ‘Ooh, hence you always telling me to think positive thoughts!’

  ‘Well, it can’t harm the soul in any way whatsoever, can it?’

  ‘Yves – are you OK?’

  ‘Of course I am. But I won’t be seeing you again, Evie.’

  ‘Don’t be silly. Once I’ve made it up with Greg I’ll be at the Centre loads. You can come and have a chat and we can do things that don’t cost money together.’

  ‘No. I’ve got to go away now. But never worry about me. I am truly happy and content and at complete peace, I promise you.’ Evie was sure she could see real tears in his beautiful green eyes.

  ‘Would it be foolish to say “I love you” after just a few days?’ she said, nearly in tears herself. ‘Not romantically – oh, you know what I mean.’

  ‘It would not be at all foolish. There are many aspects of love. And ultimately, love will engulf you with calm and peace. When I am not by your side, always remember something else Khalil Gibran said – “Yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dream.”’

  ‘He sure came out with some corkers, didn’t he, that Gibran fellow?’

  Evie was trying her hardest not to cry, but couldn’t stop one lone tear falling slowly down her cheek.

  ‘Please don’t cry, sweet Evie with an E. You really don’t need to, because I know that one day I will see you again.’ Yves gently wiped the tear away with his thumb. ‘I have one more card for you too.’

  As he was rooting around in his coat, she sneakily took a photo of him on the small camera she carried in her pocket. She couldn’t have him leave without having some sort of memory of his beautiful, intelligent, and knowing face.

  ‘Here.’ He bent her fingers around the card and before she even had time to thank him, he was gone.

  Chapter Twelve

  It was 11.30 p.m. and the Heart and Flowers was heaving. The band were having a quick break and one of the barmaids was checking that the big screen was working, ready for the countdown and firework display.

  Bea pushed her way to the bar, instructing Evie to grab a place against one of the high tables in the middle of the makeshift dance floor.

  She returned with an ice bucket and two flutes.

  ‘You really didn’t have to get champagne, Bea.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I did. If I can’t treat my old mucker to a bottle of bubbles tonight of all nights, then when can I? Cheers!’

  ‘Cheers! Right, well, it’s my duty to check out if there are any random strangers for us to kiss.’

  ‘Will I do?’ The interloper was around six foot, in his early forties, with blue eyes that had crinkly lines around them, a wide-mouthed smile, cropped dark hair, and a small heart-shaped birthmark on his cheek.

  ‘What the …’

  Greg handed her a beautiful bunch of red roses. ‘Well, I have the heart already,’ he pointed to his birthmark, ‘so these just made sense.’

  ‘But I said we would talk tomorrow and I really don’t understand …’

  The band started up again.

  ‘I can’t hear you!’ Greg shouted. ‘Come on, let’s go outside.’

  Evie looked to Bea, who nodded frantically. She was already pouring a floppy-fringed young guy a glass of fizz, so Evie knew she wouldn’t miss her too much.

  They managed to find a seat amongst the smokers. An outdoor heater was on, but Greg removed his coat anyway an
d put it around Evie gently.

  ‘What are you doing here, Greg?’ Evie was curt.

  ‘You invited me.’ He looked perplexed.

  ‘No. I said we’d talk tomorrow.’

  ‘Look, I’m not sure who is going mad here – you or me?’

  He put a white card in her hand. On one side was a beautiful watercolour of a hummingbird; on the other the words, Greg, meet me in the Heart and Flowers before midnight. Evie x

  ‘It had been pushed through the letterbox at the Centre late last night.’

  ‘We’ve been set up.’ Evie smiled.

  ‘Is that such a terrible thing?’

  ‘Well, considering that you and Shell are an item, it is, yes.’

  Greg threw his head back and laughed, took a slurp of his beer, then laughed again.

  ‘Me and Shell, honestly? Evie, Shell is my sister!’

  ‘What? But? She came flying up to you on Christmas Day and you seemed so close … and –’

  ‘And what? Oh, Evie. She’d been at our parents’ for the day but promised she’d come and see me and help that night. I’m pretty open-minded but even I draw the line at incest.’ He laughed again.

  ‘So you’re single?’

  ‘Yes, with a big, fat capital S. I can’t believe you didn’t pick up the signs of how much I fancy you. You – yes, you. Beautiful, kind, compassionate, and talented Evie. With the most amazing mop of blonde curls and a figure to die for.’

  ‘Really?’ Evie felt herself tingling all over. ‘I feel the same.’

  ‘You do?’

  Evie began to gabble excitedly. ‘A million times over. I’ve never really believed in love at first sight and I was devastated when Shell arrived and that’s why I didn’t say goodbye and that’s when I went outside and met Yves. And as for Yves, he’s taught me so much about life and loving in the space of days – and do you know what? I don’t care what I’m going to say next.’

  Dong! The first bell of Big Ben rang out from the huge TV in the pub and big flakes of snow began to fall slowly.

  ‘I think I love you!’ she cried out.

  ‘Come here, you.’

  Greg pulled Evie towards him, wrapped his coat more tightly around her, and kissed her with such tenderness that she thought she might actually properly melt.

  ‘And I think I love you back,’ he murmured happily.

  Bea came running outside with champagne in one hand and her toy boy in the other, bawling, ‘Happy New Year!’ She planted kisses on both Evie and Greg.

  ‘Do you know what, Bea? I really do think it is going to be a very happy one indeed.’

  Once the excitement of the New Year’s Eve revelry had subsided, Greg and Evie walked hand in hand towards her house.

  ‘There was one thing I never asked you, Greg,’ she said shyly.

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘What is your surname?’

  ‘Promise not to laugh.’

  ‘I promise.’

  ‘It’s Love.’

  Epilogue

  January 31st

  What a difference a month makes! Just a few weeks ago, Evie was wondering how on earth she would be able to afford rent. And now, not only did she have an amazing new man, she was moving in with him to his beautiful four-bedroomed home, and even more exciting was that he had allocated a room for her to use as a photography studio. She was obviously going to pay her way once she had got herself up and running, but at the moment he said that wasn’t necessary – he just wanted her to be happy.

  You see, Greg was actually very rich, not only in spirit, but financially. His IT company had floated on the stock market and made him a tidy sum, hence him working at the Centre. He didn’t want to waste his time on frivolity – he wanted to put something back into society. He had been looking for a partner for years, but most seemed to be after one thing. In Evie, from the minute he clapped eyes on those blonde, bouncy curls and sad but true eyes, he had seen nothing but good.

  Evie walked around the house to check she hadn’t missed any of her possessions while packing. To be honest, most of the big stuff had belonged to Darren and he had taken all of his belongings last weekend. She had even managed to be civil and wish him a happy life. She had let him go with love and it had actually felt good. Since meeting Greg, she had realised just how wrong she and Darren were as a couple, so it hadn’t been that hard to do.

  She had also realised since meeting Yves that material possessions were nice to have, but that was it. They were throwaways, that was all. In the big scheme of things, they didn’t matter at all.

  She looked out to the garden and noticed a robin fly down to the bird table. It made her think of the hummingbird card that Yves had obviously put through the Centre door. She missed him. He’d had such a strong impact on her life in such a short time. In fact, he had forever changed her life for the better.

  She gasped as she suddenly realised she hadn’t opened the envelope he had given her the day she last saw him.

  She found the coat she had been wearing that day in a pile of clothes that were ready to throw in the car, and pulled out the envelope. The compact camera she had been carrying that day was there also.

  The card: on one side was a beautiful watercolour of a butterfly and on the other, the word LOVE.

  Love was definitely all around now. In fact, she thought it was only a matter of time before she would actually be Mrs Evie Love. Especially as Greg had already agreed they could try for a baby.

  Evie then sat down on the bed and felt the tingle engulf her. She could feel Yves all around her as words flew into her mind. Peace, Freedom, Hope, Creativity, and Love and then the images – the dove, the eagle, the cherub, the ladybird, the hummingbird, and finally, the butterfly.

  Yves was right; nothing in life was a coincidence. She would look up what all the perfectly painted images symbolised, but not today.

  Reaching for the camera, she took a deep breath and tentatively scrolled to the last photo she had taken of Yves in St James’s Park.

  And, there, staring back at her, was not the face of her wonderful, spiritual, bearded companion, but the face of her beautiful, loving, and creative mother.

  Nicola May

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  Published by Accent Press Ltd 2015

  ISBN 9781783758869

  Copyright © Nicola May 2015

  The right of Nicola May to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  The story contained within this book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publishers: Accent Press Ltd, Ty Cynon House, Navigation Park, Abercynon, CF45 4SN