Last Christmas by Lily Greene Page A

and she didn’t want Fergus to read too much in to her reaction to Robbie, if that was at all possible.
    “Lovely,” she replied. “I would adore to meet your friend. I can see Libby coming over, let’s take her with us.” Ella beckoned Libby to follow them, aware that her best friend was bursting to ask about Robbie’s appearance and check if she was okay. When she managed to squeeze by a group of people to get to Ella, Libby stood by her side and they communicated solely with their eyes using a language that was reserved only for women. They understood each other perfectly: Libby flashed Ella an Are you okay? What the fuck was he doing here? look. Ella widened her eyes and replied with an I don’t fucking know , I’m so mad but I need to get through this night , let’s talk about it later look. Fergus introduced them both to Zac and they talked about cubism until Hugh came over. He need to steal Ella away for a minute.
    Ella was glad to be out of Fergus’ concerned gaze. She spent the rest of the evening talking to artists and repressing her heartache. Everybody seemed to be having a jolly time, everybody except her. As it approached eleven o’clock, the gallery emptied out. Ella waved goodbye to her colleagues from the Triangle gallery and kissed William and Elisabeth Crosley goodbye, thanking them for bringing along so many friends.
    There were only a few people left when Hugh came out with a bottle of Dom Pérignon and proposed a toast to Ella.
    “You, Miss Moore, have broken the record for most paintings ever sold on the opening night of an exhibition at the Beat Gallery! Guess how many were bought?”
    Everybody muttered numbers excitedly and someone suggested, “Seventeen?”
    “Noo … all of them!” Hugh bellowed with joy.
    There was a little round of applause as the gallery staff and all her friends congratulated her. She should have been thrilled at this but knowing Robbie had bought so many of them made her feel sick.
    “So are we going to go out now and celebrate? Any good bars around here?” Harry asked.
    Ella had put on a brave face for hours but she new she couldn’t last much longer.
    “I would absolutely love to. And I am so grateful for you all coming and supporting me. You’ve all been incredible and so encouraging and helpful. But I am completely shattered after such a busy week preparing for the exhibition. I’m going to be terribly boring and go home. I think I would collapse in the middle of the dance floor if I came out!” Ella spoke as cheerily as she could.
    It seemed that everyone had been convinced by her performance and they all smiled sweetly at her speech. Charlie, Libby and Fergus however were flashing her anxious looks, guessing correctly that the dramatic scene that had unfolded earlier was the real reason she wasn’t going out for celebratory drinks. They could tell that she wasn’t her normal self.
    Ella hugged everybody goodbye, collected her belongings from the office and walked to the front door with Fergus. Libby and Charlie followed close behind them, but left enough distance that they could say goodbye in private.
    Ella took Fergus’ hand as they entered the cold and snowy night.
    “Thank you for coming tonight Fergus. It means a lot that you did. Last night was perfect.”
    Fergus kissed Ella on the head and wrapped her scarf around her neck. He told her what a fantastic evening he had had and how sensational her art was. Ella noticed that Fergus’ mesmerising blue eyes looked a little sad.
    “I’ll call you tomorrow?” she asked.
    “I look forward to it. I hope you’re okay Ella.”
    She smiled, kissed him on the cheek and turned to Libby and Charlie who were waiting for her. Fergus sauntered down the road and looked back at Ella, who was now being sandwiched by two caring friends.
    “Right, I’m taking you home. I’m staying with you tonight darling,” Libby said. They hugged Charlie goodbye and stepped into the slushy melting snow that had