Some Kind of Wonderful (Puffin Island 2)

She watched as snowflakes swirled and danced past the window and tried not to mind that Richard had apparently succeeded where she had failed.

‘He’s smart,’ her mother was saying. ‘Persuasive. Charming.’

Except when he’s under pressure. Then he was short-tempered and far from charming. But that wasn’t a side he showed to the voting public or to her family.

She stirred in her seat, feeling guilty for not being more understanding.

This was his dream, and she knew how it felt to have a dream.

Richard Everson had nurtured ambitions of running for office since childhood. The occasional burst of irritability at this point was understandable.

Her mother was still talking. ‘You’re lucky to have found a man like him, but you won’t hang on to him if you’re dreamy and romantic. Relationships require application and hard work.’

And that, Skylar thought, was exactly how her parents’ marriage had always seemed to her. Work. More corporate merger than loving union.

Was that really what love was?

She hoped not.

‘When is he arriving?’

‘Christmas Eve in time for lunch. He’ll be excellent at this sort of event.’

Event?

‘It’s Christmas, Mom.’

‘I thought you would finally have grown out of romanticising the holidays.’ Her mother sounded impatient. ‘Your father has given a great deal of thought to the guest list. There are influential people attending. People who will be useful to Richard’s career.’

Not friends or family. People of influence.

‘Anyone I know?’

‘The list was attached to the email Stephanie sent. I hope you take the time to prepare.’

‘Preparing’ involved absorbing and memorising pages of notes on each individual. Likes, dislikes, t

opics to be avoided at all costs.

Even at Christmas it was all about networking.

A wild idea flitted into her mind. Christmas in a cottage on Puffin Island. Log fire. Good wine and the company of her friends. She and Richard together, without the pressures of the outside world.

It was a dreamy idea.

It was also heresy and it was never going to happen.

‘I’m sorry you couldn’t be here, Mom.’

‘You couldn’t have picked a worse time. You’re putting a great deal of pressure on Richard. As your father said when he spoke to him earlier, expecting him to fly to London is unreasonable.’

‘Richard spoke to Dad?’

‘He called this morning.’ Her mother paused. ‘Choosing that man is the one thing in your life you’ve done right. Don’t make a mistake tonight, Skylar.’

Make a mistake about what?

‘Wait a minute—he called you?’