Okay, when I said he was going to help me work off my Christmas lunch calories, I thought it was going to be by the fire or in our bed. Not walking through the bloody snow. I cooked a brilliant Christmas lunch, not traditional at all, but it was still yum. I made spaghetti carbonara, even though Luke burnt the bacon. Like, seriously, how does one burn bacon? I now understand how one burns bacon, when they have never cooked before. I think Luke might be a Mummy’s boy. He is Italian and their Mums are notorious for looking after their sons. But we survived. I also made bruschetta to start with, Luke complimented me on it and I even attempted tiramisu, with the awful instant coffee; it didn’t turn out too bad. Luke ate it all so, that’s a win. He was pretty pleased that I had gone to the effort to make him feel at home today. I haven’t really celebrated Christmas the past two years, sick people don’t stop for us to celebrate.

“Hurry up,” Luke calls up ahead of me.

“My legs are little and the snow is deep,” I call back. I don’t have stilts for legs like him, some places I sink down all the way to my bum, I’m not made for this. Luke makes his way back to me, picks me up and hauls me over his shoulder like a fireman. “What are you doing?” I squeal.

“It will be quicker if I just carry you,” he tells me, as he makes quick work through the snow. He’s right, he is walking quicker without me straggling behind him. We don’t get far until I start complaining about being ill; hanging upside down is not a great idea after a big meal. “Jump onto my back.” He crouches and I jump on, now that is better.

“Giddy up.” I pretend Luke is a horse and slap his bum, he’s not that amused, but I’m having fun now. We eventually make it down to the lake, called Loch Leven, which is a famous lake in the area. Some of it is frozen over, while some still has moving water. There is not a person out, we are the only people, only crazy people out in the cold like this. But, it’s peaceful, relaxing, soothing, great for the constitution.

“This is beautiful.” Luke looks out at the white landscape. “Peaceful.” Both of us take in the majesty of the mountains, snow and lake. “Do you think Rob will want you back?” Luke’s question surprises me; it’s come out of nowhere.

“He can try, but as far as I’m concerned, we are through. I wasn’t in love with him. I think…” I hesitate, kicking the snow in front of me with my foot. “I think I dated him to get my parents’ approval.” There it is, the truth. Can I really fault Rob for cheating on me when I was never really in the relationship? That I was never in love with him? Luke is silent, as if he is contemplating something.

“I understand that. My business, it is the family business. And I have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders.” He’s finally opening up about himself.

“Are you the oldest?”

“No, thankfully. So, I have a tiny bit of freedom compared to my brother, but I am next in line.”

“How many in your family?”

“I have an older brother and two younger sisters.”

“Are you close with them?” I don’t want to ask too many questions and spook him, but I’m liking him telling me more about himself.

“With my brother and youngest sister, yes, but the other one.” He shakes his head. “She…she is best friends with my ex.” His ex. I knew he could possibly have one, but it still shocks me hearing him say it out loud.

“She chose sides?”

He huffs. “Very much so, from her text messages. She is very much on Team Rachele.” Luke kicks some snow in front of him. “She cheated on me…” My stomach sinks, who the hell would be stupid enough to cheat on this man, especially that dick? “With my best friend.”

“What! Oh, no.”

“Yep.” He shoves his hands into his pocket.

“That is the worst because they both betrayed you.” He nods. “Why?” I don’t understand why people cheat with best friends.

“I don’t know. I didn’t stay around to find out.” Guess we are more alike than I thought.

“Did you love her?” Luke contemplates that question for a couple of moments.

“I thought what we had was love, but I realize now, that it was just what was expected of us to do, be together. I guess like you and Rob, our families were friends and had been for a very long time, everyone just assumed we would one day get married.” I know exactly what he means. “Like you, I had to get away and I’m glad I have, it’s given me a new perspective on my life.” Luke holds out his hand to me, I take it, my cheeks warming at the gesture. We both sit together in silence, at one with nature.

“I’m so freezing.” I’m shivering as we finally make it back into the warmth of the cottage.

“Let me run you a bath.” That sounds like a fantastic idea as I slowly take off my frozen clothing, hanging it on the clothes rack. I hear my phone ringing in my room and make a mad dash to it, as I haven’t heard from Lauren yet.

“Hello,” I answer, grabbing it before it rings out.

“Merry Christmas, Lilly,” Lauren and Alistair shout through the phone. Hearing their voices today makes the holiday feel right.

“Merry Christmas, guys, where are you?”

“We’re in Zanzibar,” Lauren squeals. Oh, wow.

“It’s beautiful there, how romantic.”

“I know; it totally was because Alistair proposed,” she screams down the phone.

“No way,” I squeal back.

“Yep, yep, yep. I’m going to be a bride.” I can feel Lolly’s enthusiasm down the phone.

“Oh, my God, guys, I am so happy for you.” Tears are falling down my cheek because I miss my sister, and wish I could give her a big hug to celebrate this momentous occasion with her. The line crackles.

“We better go; the line isn’t too good,” she says, fading in and out.

“Love you.” But the phone goes dead. I sit on the bed, tears falling down my face, feeling awfully alone at that moment.

“Lilly, are you okay? What happened?” Luke asks, wrapping his arms around me, not realizing it is exactly what I need at that moment as I cry into his chest.

“Lolly’s getting married.” I sniffle.

“That’s good, no?” he asks, confused by my reaction.

“It’s good. So good. I’m so happy…” As I burst into tears again, yeah, poor Luke is most definitely out of his depth at the moment.

“Come, come. A hot bath will do you good.” He picks me up in his arms and hauls me to the bathroom. I like the way he just picks me up as if I weigh as much as a feather. It’s kind of manly being hauled around like that. He slowly undresses me, not in a sexual way, but in a caring way. He, too, undresses and we both ease into the hot water, my extremities burning at the heat, until I sink in and lay back against Luke’s chest. He runs his fingers through my hair, soothing me.

“I’m so happy for her…” I start, holding in my emotions, “I just wish I was there to celebrate it with her.” I close my eyes as Luke massages my head.

“I understand you want to celebrate with them. But, they are in Africa, a very romantic place, it is nice that they have this moment, between the two of them.” He’s right. I can celebrate when Lolly gets back. I don't have to do it seconds after she announces her news. I sink deeper into the water.

“You are a wise one, Mr. Luke.” I hear him chuckle beside my ear.

“That would be a first.” We lay in the warm water and talk. He tells me all about his travels abroad, and I tell him about the exciting things I did while in Kenya, funnily enough, without Rob, who wasn’t interested at all in the culture of the country, unless there were diplomates or ambassadors coming to visit and we were invited to special dinners. Working in Africa was a once in a lifetime achievement, something I would never trade in a million years. Maybe fate does have a hand in things. Oh, no, is Lauren’s influence sinking in, am I seriously contemplating fate? Maybe that’s why Luke was brought into my life, to put me on another direction, to show me that there were other options I could do with it. Hmmm, maybe there is something to be said about fate then.