Terry, who had stepped forward to help catch Miracle, stopped in his tracks and stood open-mouthed.
Miracle raced towards the hall with a shredded sheet of wrapping paper, a length of torn ribbon and what looked like a pair of socks, hanging from his mouth.
‘Whoa, boy,’ Chance said, half laughing as he caught the wayward dog.
‘My tree,’ Sarah croaked, her voice a little above a rasp.
‘I hope you’re happy, Molly,’ Terry snapped, yanking Molly to her feet. ‘You’ve managed to wreck Christmas in just one night!’
‘Oww. Oww. Oww.’ Molly picked pine needles from her hands and neck.
Terry pulled a twisted star ornament from her golden apricot locks, taking a few strands of hair with it.
‘Oww!’ she yelled again. ‘You did that on purpose.’
Sarah gave an almighty sneeze. The dog was now closer to her than he had been all evening.
‘I’ve got to go to bed,’ she said, rising from the sofa as if she were in a trance.
‘You’ve got to find somewhere else for that bloody mutt to stay,’ Terry said. ‘And right this minute, I wouldn’t mind if you went with him.’ He turned abruptly away and hurried back towards his girlfriend. ‘Are you okay, angel? Can I get you anything?’
Sarah shook her head and raised her hand in a, ‘no thanks’ gesture.
Terry grimaced at Chance and glowered at Miracle who dropped the remnants of the paper, ribbon and socks and turned his head away with an expression of innocence on his face, as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.
‘Sorry about this, mate,’ Terry said to Chance. ‘I’ll just be a minute or two. Keep a tight hold of him, will you?’ He nodded down at Miracle.
‘Absolutely.’ Chance looked as though he were trying hard not to laugh.
‘I’m really sorry, Sarah,’ Molly yelled as both Sarah and Terry disappeared towards the stairs.
Chance sniggered once they were out of earshot.
‘You certainly know how to make yourself welcome. You’re clearly not the flavour of the month right now.’
‘No kidding, Sherlock. Well, don’t just stand there. Give me a hand with this tree, will you?’
‘Er. I would. But I need to keep a hold of this terror.’ He patted Miracle’s head.
‘Don’t pet him! He’s a naughty boy. A very naughty boy. Now what am I going to do? I think Terry was half serious about kicking me out as well as the dog.’
‘Can you blame him?’ Chance was still grinning.
‘I didn’t pee on the tree! Or wreck the place. Or eat the honeyed ham.’
Chance raised his brows and roared with laughter. ‘He ate a ham?’
‘Yep. Within five seconds of arriving.’
‘Tell me again why he’s here with you.’ Chance tied the lead to either side of the door handle so that Miracle couldn’t wriggle it free. ‘Sit and stay.’
Molly was astonished to see Miracle sat at Chance’s command and was delighted when Chance crossed the room in three easy strides, hauled the tree upright and fixed it back in place.
She regaled him with the story while he gathered up the broken ornaments and placed them in the hearth. Molly rearranged the ribbons and bows and with Chance’s help they rehung the lights. By the time she had finished her tale, having gone into detail about her drive here, seeing Miracle, catching him and getting him to Asher’s and how many calls Asher had made once they discovered the dog wasn’t microchipped, the tree didn’t look that bad. All things considered.
‘It’s another miracle,’ Molly said, smiling at Chance.
She felt guilty but oddly proud that they had managed to salvage the gorgeous tree, even though it didn’t look quite as gorgeous now. But there was something in the way Chance was looking at her that made her tummy do a somersault.
‘You’re right,’ he said, a hint of wonderment in his voice. ‘It is a miracle. And a miracle is just what I needed. You want to find your dog a place to stay, and I want you. How do you feel about coming to stay with me?’
‘W-what?’
Now this really was a miracle. Had Chance just said he wanted her? Had he just asked if she wanted to go and stay with him? This was a dream come true.
‘Oh my God, Chance! Yes! I’d love to.’
He seemed a bit surprised that she was so effusive. Had he just taken a small step back or did she imagine that?
‘Er. I should warn you, there are strings attached.’
‘That’s fine. I don’t mind strings. Wait. As long as it’s nothing kinky. I’m not into that.’
‘Kinky? No. Why would you think that? Just modern. Top of the range. Price is no object.’
‘Price? What … what do you mean by price?’
Was he offering to pay her? And what the hell was “top of the range”? He wasn’t asking her to have sex with him on top of his cooker, was he?
‘I mean you can spend as much as you like. I want to bring the pages of one of those posh magazines to life. Especially in the bedroom. And I’m sure you’re an expert in your field. Terry and Sarah sing your praises, as does Mum. I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me. But it was actually Mum who suggested you’d be perfect.’
Molly closed her eyes for a second and shook her head. Perhaps her tumble into the tree had addled her brain.
‘I think I might be missing something. I’m a little confused. When you said you wanted me, what exactly did you mean?’
He looked perplexed for a second before his brows shot up. ‘Oh. Er. I didn’t mean…’ He gave a nervous laugh. ‘I’ve just bought a cottage that I’m doing up. I’m fine with all the building work but when it comes to the interior decoration, I’m at a total loss. You’re an interior designer. I could really use your expertise.’
‘My expertise? To design the interior of your cottage? That’s it?’
‘Yes.’
‘I see.’ She forced a small chuckle and a smile. ‘Of course that’s it. I knew that’s what you meant. I was teasing.’ She bit down her disappointment.
‘Don’t worry, Molly. You’ll be perfectly safe with me. I know it’s a lot to ask. And I’m on a time limit too. My girlfriend’s joining me here on New Year’s Eve. I haven’t told anyone this, apart from Mum, but I’m planning a surprise proposal so I need to have the cottage finished before she arrives. I’m hoping she’ll want to stay for good. What do you say, Molly? Will you help me out in return for a place for you and Miracle to stay for Christmas? I’ll even look after him while you come back here to spend time with Terry and Sarah. I think this could be the perfect solution for us all.’
Four
It certainly seemed to be the perfect solution as far as Terry was concerned. And no doubt Sarah, although as she was sneezing, coughing and wheezing upstairs in her bed when Molly broke the news to Terry, Molly couldn’t ask her.
‘You know I love you, sis,’ Terry said, an expression of pure joy and utter relief brightening his face, ‘but this does seem like a perfect plan for everyone. We’ll still get to spend Christmas together – without the dog – and Chance will get his cottage finished in time for New Year’s Eve.’