Read Christmas for One: No Greater Love for Free Online Page A

Salvatore’s quiet reticence was a reaction to his wife’s over-sharing.
    ‘It was before I met Sali.’ She waved dismissively in his general direction. ‘Joe was ten years older than me, swept me off my feet. It was a whirlwind thing, the kind that’s good for your soul but has no future. He was the most beautiful dancer I have ever seen – we waltzed in Trafalgar Square, one of the best nights of my entire life!’ she shouted.
    ‘Ah, how lovely!’ Meg said tentatively. She wasn’t sure of the correct response and felt a little awkward discussing Elene’s illicit love in front of her husband.
    ‘And I hear you are involved in the new store that’s opening? Plum’s, isn’t it?’ Meg smiled at Elene’s pronunciation – stawwerr . ‘I peep in when I walk past, looks real fancy. If a little dark.’ She nodded.
    ‘Yes, that’s the one. This’ll be the first time I’ve seen it. It’s very exciting.’ Meg didn’t want any negativity around the project leaking out into the community and was under no illusion that if anyone were good at leaking information, it would be Elene.
    ‘Well, make sure I’m invited to the grand opening. I’ll bring my friends, especially Stella. If anyone knows patisserie, it’s her.’ She raised her index finger as if giving a lesson. ‘She’s ninety but I swear doesn’t look a day over seventy-five. She lived in Montmartre after the war.’ She winked at Meg, as though this information were code for something far more risqué. ‘I might even bring Sali if he promises to behave!’ This she bellowed at Salvatore. Who ignored her, muttering under his breath.
    ‘Will do. It’d be lovely to see you there.’ Meg collected her case, not sure if Plum’s was even considering a grand opening.
    ‘Do you have supper plans, honey?’ Elene was equal parts motherly and nosy.
    ‘No. Think I might just nip out, grab something and eat in my room. It’s been a very long day.’ Meg sighed and felt the familiar ache at the memory of kissing Lucas goodbye twelve hours earlier. She glanced at her watch. He’d be tucked up now, sound asleep, if Milly hadn’t let him stay up and play superhero pirates, which was entirely possible.
    ‘Try the Greenwich Avenue Deli. It’s the best in the Village! Say Elene sent you.’ She winked again. ‘Go out the door, turn right, walk forward a block and a half and you can’t miss it.’
    Meg nodded her thanks.
    She let herself into her room with its view of the garden. The outside space was no more than a ten-foot square crammed full of ornate statues and with a rather elaborate fountain in the middle that she suspected was switched on very rarely. It sat on a small patch of faux grass that reminded her of Astro Turf. Various plant pots in once bright colours sat in faded piles, their contents long since shrivelled to dust. She had expected an Italianate courtyard as per the description; this was more back yard of the local pub, out of season.
    Meg liked the spacious room, which was old-fashioned, fussy and a little dusty. The faded gold velvet curtains and pelmet were both fringed with maroon tassels. The bathroom was large, tiled in white, with greying grout and an orangey imprint on the white floor where countless feet had alighted from the tub. Vintage brass taps graced the tub and wide china sink. Burgundy towels with appliqué flowers were folded over the heated towel rail.
    Meg heaved her suitcase up on to the luggage stand and flipped it open. She unpacked her clothes into the tall walnut wardrobe but hung her shirts and trousers on the back of the bathroom door. The steam from her shower would help the creases drop – a neat trick she had learnt from Pru. The wide, soft bed with its quilted jade-coloured counterpane and matching headboard was calling to her, but Meg knew that if she crawled between the starched white sheets and succumbed to sleep at 5 p.m. she would then be up in the early hours, pacing the floor, only to be