various people he knew. Everyone was in high spirits and he only wished he felt as cheerful as they did. However, he was suddenly very conscious of the fact that this would be the last Christmas he spent in Dalverston and the thought weighed heavily on him. It was hard to appear his usual happy-go-lucky self when he joined the staff from the maternity unit.
‘We didn’t know you were coming, Max!’ Anita Walsh exclaimed. ‘You should have said and then wecould have picked you up in the minibus to save you driving.’
‘I wasn’t sure if I could make it,’ he hedged, not wanting to explain why it had been a last-minute decision. He held up his glass, wanting to deflect any more awkward questions. ‘OK, guys, I’d like to propose a toast. To everyone who works on the maternity unit. May we all enjoy the fruits of other people’s labours!’
Everyone laughed as they clinked glasses. Max was relieved that he had managed to divert attention away from himself. There were several former members of staff there that night and he decided to have word with them. If he kept circulating, hopefully no one would notice that he wasn’t his usual ebullient self.
He was just heading over to speak to Maria, who had retired recently, when he saw Lucy crossing the canteen and his heart seemed to leap right up into his throat. He’d had no idea that she would be there that night. Tickets had sold out months ago, long before she had moved to Dalverston. Now the shock of seeing her so unexpectedly turned his limbs to stone. He could only stand and stare as she drew closer.
Lucy felt shock scud through her when she spotted Max. She’d never dreamt that he would be there that night and wasn’t sure what she should do. She paused, wondering if she should beat a hasty retreat, but just at that moment Cathy spotted her.
‘There you are!’ Cathy exclaimed as she came hurrying over to her. ‘I thought you must have changed your mind and decided not to come after all.’
‘I…um…I’m sorry I’m late but the bus didn’t turn up so I had to find a taxi.’
‘I should have asked you if you wanted to come inthe minibus,’ Cathy said apologetically. ‘I never gave it a thought. Sorry.’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Lucy said quickly. She shot a glance at Max and felt herself colour when she realised that he was watching her. Her heart seemed to be beating at double its normal speed when she turned to Cathy again. ‘I’m here now and that’s the main thing.’
‘Of course it is.’ Cathy grinned as she led her over to the rest of their group and raised her glass aloft. ‘OK, folks, now it’s my turn to propose a toast. Here’s to a fun-filled night!’
Everyone cheered as they raised their glasses. Lucy joined in but she was so conscious of Max that it was hard to act naturally. She shot another glance in his direction and was relieved to see that he was talking to a glamorous older woman and no longer looking at her. She made her way to the far side of the group, wondering how soon she could leave without it causing comment. Being around Max was the last thing she needed at the present time.
Someone put some music on and people started to dance. When Cathy urged everyone to join in, Lucy went willingly. With a bit of luck she’d be able to slip away while they were occupied. Max was dancing with the other woman now, laughing as he guided her around the floor in a stately waltz. They passed Lucy and she blushed when he caught her staring and winked at her.
The first track ended and another one began. It was a popular tune and more people came onto the floor. Lucy doubted if anyone would notice her leaving in all the crush so started to edge towards the door, only to stop when Adam Sanders came over and asked her to dance.There was no way she could refuse without it appearing rude, so she followed him back to the floor. Max was dancing with Cathy now. Lucy could hear her laughing at something he was saying but looked
‘We didn’t know you were coming, Max!’ Anita Walsh exclaimed. ‘You should have said and then wecould have picked you up in the minibus to save you driving.’
‘I wasn’t sure if I could make it,’ he hedged, not wanting to explain why it had been a last-minute decision. He held up his glass, wanting to deflect any more awkward questions. ‘OK, guys, I’d like to propose a toast. To everyone who works on the maternity unit. May we all enjoy the fruits of other people’s labours!’
Everyone laughed as they clinked glasses. Max was relieved that he had managed to divert attention away from himself. There were several former members of staff there that night and he decided to have word with them. If he kept circulating, hopefully no one would notice that he wasn’t his usual ebullient self.
He was just heading over to speak to Maria, who had retired recently, when he saw Lucy crossing the canteen and his heart seemed to leap right up into his throat. He’d had no idea that she would be there that night. Tickets had sold out months ago, long before she had moved to Dalverston. Now the shock of seeing her so unexpectedly turned his limbs to stone. He could only stand and stare as she drew closer.
Lucy felt shock scud through her when she spotted Max. She’d never dreamt that he would be there that night and wasn’t sure what she should do. She paused, wondering if she should beat a hasty retreat, but just at that moment Cathy spotted her.
‘There you are!’ Cathy exclaimed as she came hurrying over to her. ‘I thought you must have changed your mind and decided not to come after all.’
‘I…um…I’m sorry I’m late but the bus didn’t turn up so I had to find a taxi.’
‘I should have asked you if you wanted to come inthe minibus,’ Cathy said apologetically. ‘I never gave it a thought. Sorry.’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ Lucy said quickly. She shot a glance at Max and felt herself colour when she realised that he was watching her. Her heart seemed to be beating at double its normal speed when she turned to Cathy again. ‘I’m here now and that’s the main thing.’
‘Of course it is.’ Cathy grinned as she led her over to the rest of their group and raised her glass aloft. ‘OK, folks, now it’s my turn to propose a toast. Here’s to a fun-filled night!’
Everyone cheered as they raised their glasses. Lucy joined in but she was so conscious of Max that it was hard to act naturally. She shot another glance in his direction and was relieved to see that he was talking to a glamorous older woman and no longer looking at her. She made her way to the far side of the group, wondering how soon she could leave without it causing comment. Being around Max was the last thing she needed at the present time.
Someone put some music on and people started to dance. When Cathy urged everyone to join in, Lucy went willingly. With a bit of luck she’d be able to slip away while they were occupied. Max was dancing with the other woman now, laughing as he guided her around the floor in a stately waltz. They passed Lucy and she blushed when he caught her staring and winked at her.
The first track ended and another one began. It was a popular tune and more people came onto the floor. Lucy doubted if anyone would notice her leaving in all the crush so started to edge towards the door, only to stop when Adam Sanders came over and asked her to dance.There was no way she could refuse without it appearing rude, so she followed him back to the floor. Max was dancing with Cathy now. Lucy could hear her laughing at something he was saying but looked
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