Free Christmas in Bluebell Cove by Abigail Gordon

you down here in the dark, so let’s go, Francine.’ As if she’d suddenly tuned in to what he was saying, she nodded and without speaking went before him up the cliffside.
    When they stopped outside their respective residences he said, ‘So, can I expect you at the surgery on Monday morning?’
    â€˜Did I say I would be there?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Well, then, that is where I’ll be. Goodnight, Ethan.’ And without further comment she opened the door of Thimble Cottage and went in, wishing that she’d let their awareness of each down on the beach take its course.
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    The weekend that followed began like all those that had passed since that first one in January when she’d returned to France without the children. But this one was even more depressing because the frail truce between her and Ethan had been broken when she’d brought him down to earth on the beach on the Friday night.
    As she unpacked her weekend case the desire to phone him and make amends was strong. But how could she possibly put things right between them when neither of them was willing to give up what they thought was right, and with divorce proceedings under way?
    She was about to make the effort to food shop when the bell rang at the front door and she frowned. Visitors were not part of life here in Paris, she didn’t know anyone that well, but it was ringing again, this time with an insistence to the sound, and she hurried downstairs.
    When she opened the door her mouth was a round O of amazement.
    Ethan and the children were standing in the porch, smiling at her expression.
    â€˜We thought we’d come to keep you company, didn’t we, guys?’ he said. ‘So here we are. Aren’t you going to ask us in?’
    Was she going to ask them in? She was indeed, and throwing wide the door she said, ‘You can rest assured of that! What a lovely surprise, Ethan.’ She put her arms around her son and daughter. ‘But why? You never said you were thinking of joining me here.’
    â€˜The idea only occurred to me last night, and as your flight was fully booked we came on the next one.’ He was looking around him. ‘I have to say I’d forgotten just how lovely Paris is in the spring, and what an attractive house this is.’
    â€˜Yes, it’s lovely,’ she agreed wistfully, ‘but a house like this needs people to fill its rooms, to make it come alive, active people, happy people.’
    â€˜Do you mean to say that it’s got the one but not the other?’
    Glancing upwards to where Kirstie and Ben were dashing upstairs to their bedrooms, she said, ‘It didn’t have either until a few moments ago, but you’ve put that right for a short time, Ethan, so shall we forget our differences for a while and enjoy this lovely surprise that you’ve sprung on me? Does your coming here mean that you’ve forgiven me for the argument last night down on the beach?’
    â€˜There was nothing to forgive. You felt that we were asking for trouble, didn’t you, that no matter how much we were drawn to each by the old magic, things are not right between us, that I needed a reminder, and I’ve taken it on board. So let’s enjoy ourselves over the weekend, if we can remember how ,’ he said with a quirky smile. ‘Which room do you want me in, Francine?’
    â€˜You’ll have to share mine,’ she said awkwardly. ‘The children have the other two bedrooms. I use the big bedroom on the front, and the spare room is full ofmy father’s business equipment. It has been sold and is waiting to be taken away, but the people have not yet been to collect it.’
    He was observing her with raised brows. ‘Are you sure?’
    â€˜What? That they are coming to collect it?’
    â€˜No. That you want me in your room.’
    â€˜It is twin bedded Ethan.’
    â€˜But of course,’ he said with assumed