Author's note: all usual disclaimers apply. A New Year's story for you. It is little early, but we have visitors over NY. It is M-rated only for one paragraph in Chapter 3, which yes, is a sex scene, but is not graphic.

I hope 2018 is a terrific year for all of you.

"The petrol is £22.30, the chocolate bar is £1.80, and the coffee £1.25. That'll be £25.35 please, love. Where are you headed?"

"Nanrunnel." Barbara Havers touched her credit card against the machine reader on the counter and was relieved to see it was approved.

"Nice area. It's only about an hour from here. There's been some snow, but you should get through okay."

"Thanks." Barbara turned to go. As an afterthought, she turned back. "Happy New Year."

"Same to you, love."

The wind was biting. Barbara unlocked her car as quickly as she could. She shrugged off her coat, threw it on the seat beside her then hopped in the driver's seat. Clapping her gloved hands together to stimulate circulation, she opened her coffee and took a sip. It was warm, even if it did taste like the coffee beans had walked over it on stilts.

"Why am I doing this?"

There was no one to answer her - she was as alone as she felt. After a restless Christmas, she needed to do something. She missed her old boss, Tommy Lynley, and regretted not keeping in contact. Tommy had tried. For months he had rung, texted, sent emails and had even sent flowers for her birthday. She had treasured every connection and saved the texts and emails. Reading through them late at night often gave her the comfort of his friendship even though she had deliberately minimised her replies, answered cursorily, and had ignored several of them. Eventually his messages had slowed. The last one was early November telling her that he had accepted that she no longer wanted him in her life and would not contact her again. Barbara had cried. It was the end she had thought she wanted, but the hurt in his tone made her want to take it all back. Only that was impossible. "How do you tell your best friend you're in love with him?"

Her plan, if it could be labelled a plan, was simple. Barbara would drive to Nanrunnel for the annual New Year's Eve Fair which concluded with midnight fireworks on the beach. In his role as the Eighth Earl of Asherton, the lord of the estate on which Nanrunnel sat, Tommy paid for champagne for everyone to toast the new year. Having been twice before as Tommy's guest, she knew where to stand unseen to observe him. There was a hill just above the town that looked over the harbour and the small stone pier where the official party always stood.

She had almost convinced herself that she did not want to speak to him. Of course that was untrue, but she could hardly admit to spying on him, nor could she ever explain why she had allowed their friendship to fizzle out.

Her coffee finished, Barbara opened her chocolate, broke it into pieces so she could nibble on the way, and pulled out onto the coast road.

Barbara arrived in Nanrunnel just after half past six. There was a faint trace of white on the grey slate roof tiles, but no sign of snow on the road. Men in orange safety vests were erecting barriers to block the main streets near the beach. Stallholders were setting up tables to display their wares, and the publican was preparing a spit roast on the footpath outside his pub. People dashed around moving boxes, arranging lights and sweeping the horse droppings off the cobbles. Even in her car, Barbara could feel the buzz and excitement.

The reality of her lack of planning hit her. She had driven nearly seven hours to watch the man she loved for probably no more than ten minutes. She had no accommodation booked and had no clothes other than what she was wearing. After midnight she would be too tired to drive. She sighed. She would be sleeping in her car. Her police mind soon canvassed the issues. Nanrunnel was a safe place with virtually no crime, but the best place would be away from any drunken partygoers. Alcohol, the promise of a new year, and the excitement of fireworks could be a dangerous mix. She decided to stay in the open area behind the church. Churchyards were not places people wandered through at New Year.

Barbara parked the car under the church's sprawling oak, then strolled down the hill towards the beach. Noticing a line of portable toilets under the trees across from the pub, Barbara headed for them. There was a small queue, so while she waited, she looked around. The crowd was beginning to build. A banner hanging across the street advertised that the fair officially started at seven o'clock with the Nanrunnel school choir and marching band. Stray notes, raucous squawks and strange screeches that sounded like someone torturing an alien, emanated from a tent in the schoolyard as clarinets, flutes and possibly a saxophone warmed up.

There was only one more person ahead of her. Barbara hopped from foot to foot. The watery coffee had worked its way through. She was facing the toilets, looking away from the pub, when she heard a familiar laugh. Tommy!

Instinctively she turned. Lynley was standing at the door of the pub talking to someone inside. Tanned, trimmer and with a neat beard, he looked different but still as handsome as ever. He was dressed casually in jeans and a thick, rolled-necked jumper that made him look like a farmer.

"You going in or just standing gawking?"

"Sorry." Barbara stepped aside to let the woman behind her into the porta-loo.

Barbara continued to stare across the road. She missed him. Seeing him eased one pain, but created a far bigger one. He stepped into the open and Barbara's stomach fell as if she had swallowed a ten-pound leaden weight. The woman, whose waist Tommy's arm was around, was stunning and everything Barbara was not - brunette, with perky young breasts, a smile that covered half her face, heir-bearing hips, and legs that probably featured in magazine shoots for luxury silk stockings.

Barbara felt her face flush with embarrassment. Even though she had never intended to speak to him, she felt foolish. Of course, he would have moved on from her, not that they were ever lovers. Naturally, he would have a woman, a gorgeous woman, on his arm. He looked happy. She was glad he had found someone, despite her aching loneliness.

"All yours, love." A burly man with a thick beard emerged from one of the toilets. Barbara smiled and walked past him, gagging when an overwhelming stench of salt and fish assaulted her.

She stole one last look at Tommy and sighed. Having seen what she came for, she did not need to stay for the fireworks. It was only a couple of hours to Bristol where they would be able to find a cheap room in a pub.

Tommy felt her presence before he saw her. Desperately he searched the crowd. Unable to see her, he shook his head. It was ludicrous to think Barbara would be here, but for a moment he had hoped.

"Ready to go, Tommy?" Tamara asked.

"Sure." He did one final scan. His heart stopped. "Barbara!"

Stepping out of one of the blue and white plastic toilets, was a familiar sight. Dressed in her usual jacket, jeans, and cheap trainers, Barbara was unmistakable. Hearing her name, she looked up, then turned away and hurried towards the church. Tommy was confused. Why come here if she did not want to talk to him?

"Barbara, wait!"

Tommy ran after her. She glanced back then broke into a run. "Sergeant Havers, stop there." Surprised that she slowed, Tommy dashed across the road and up the lane towards the church. He caught up with her at the lychgate. "Why did you run?"

Barbara turned to face him. "Hiya."

They stood staring at each other. He had so many questions but no idea where to start. "So, you came for the fireworks?"

Barbara watched the ground as she scuffed the toe of her shoe on the cobblestones. "Yeah."

"You must be expecting a more impressive display than London to drive down here. Where are you staying?"

"I'm not. I was just passing and needed the bathroom."

"No one just passes through Nanrunnel. It's miles from the main highway."

"I got lost."

"So it seems. You've lost a lot of things this year, my phone number for one."

His bitterness made her look up. They stared at each other, trying to find a way forward.

The uneven flop of high heels on cobbles intruded on their silent conversation. Tamara steadied herself by grabbing Lynley's arm. "Here you are, Tommy. I wondered why you ran off."

"Tamara, I'd like you to meet Barbara Havers. Barbara, this is Tamara Bennett, my future..."

"Barbara?" Tamara almost shouted before she tried to embrace Barbara who took a big step backwards to avoid her arms. Tamara recovered seamlessly by extending her hand. "Oh, how wonderful to meet you."

"Nice to meet you." Barbara's tone amused Tommy. He could tell she meant the opposite.

"Barbara was just telling me she came down for the fireworks."

"Really? From London? Did you know, Tommy?"

"No, I haven't heard from Barbara for nearly three months."

He observed his ex-partner's reaction. She winced and could not look him in the eye. "You know what London can be like," she mumbled. "How's your mother?"

"Better, thank you, but it was the right thing to do coming back."

"Yeah, of course." Barbara still could not look at him.

Tommy turned to Tamara. "Did you know I asked Barbara to come down here too? She was offered a role as Detective Inspector with the Cornwall Constabulary but preferred to stay a Sergeant in London."

"No, I had no idea," Tamara said. "You don't like it here?"

"It wasn't that," Barbara said as she shifted her weight to her other foot. "I'm a Londoner. I'd be lost down here."

"And how is your new DI?" Tommy asked. He knew from Winston Nkata that Barbara was clashing badly with Robbie Turner, and was miserable.

"Yeah, good."

"I'm glad. I would have hated for you to have the same issues you had before we were partnered."

Tommy despised himself for taking satisfaction from her predicament, but she had hurt him badly by rebuffing his friendship. Surely she understood he had no choice? The estate and the charities did not run themselves. Someone had to step in. As earl, it was his duty. He had hoped Barbara would join him, believing the role as DI would tempt her. He had offered for her to stay with him until she settled in. He had planned to use the time to convince her that Howenstowe was where she belonged.

Barbara glared at him. Her eyes were ringed by pain and anger. They stood staring at each other. The feelings he had for her, the ones he had tried to suppress, surged back. Having her here was confusing. He needed to be alone with her so they could talk.

Tamara seemed to sense the awkwardness of their silence. "Let's go back. The fair is about to start."

Barbara shook her head. "No, thanks anyway, Tamara, but I was just leaving."

Tamara looked at Tommy then Barbara. Their eyes had not left the others. "Nonsense, you are coming with us. Are you staying at Howenstowe tonight?"

Barbara's eyes opened in alarm. She shook her head. "No."

Tamara turned to Tommy. "Where are your manners? Barbara drives over six hours, and you don't insist she stays with us?"

"I... Barbara has other plans it seems."

Tamara's eyes narrowed. She looked straight at Barbara. "Then change them. You're staying with us."

Tommy tried to hide a smile. Barbara looked at him for help, almost pleading. If she did not want to stay, he was not going to imprison her. She had trampled over his emotions enough this year.

"Let her go, Tam. Barbara is always welcome to stay. She knows that. If she has other plans..." He shrugged. "Nice to see you again, Barbara." He turned and began to walk down the hill.

Barbara felt her heart thumping in her chest. Her head said to walk away. Her heart stubbornly argued to stay. She did not her last memory of him to be watching him walk away. "Sir!"

Tommy stopped but did not turn. She walked down towards him. "I'm sorry."

"For what? Coming down today? Not staying? Ignoring me? Making me feel guilty for choosing Mother and Howenstowe over you?"

"I don't want to upset you, Sir."

"Well, you're about six months too late for that. And stop calling me Sir. I'm not your boss now."

Barbara was about to call him Tommy when Tamara arrived. Her short skirt was too tight around the thighs for quick movements. Again she stayed upright on her ridiculously thin heels by leaning on Tommy. When her arm linked with his, Barbara noticed the ring. As bold and boisterous as the owner, the over-sized diamond sparkled in the light. The lead weight in Barbara's stomach moved to her bowels, making her feel physically ill.

"Sorry, this was a bad idea. I hope you'll both be very happy."

Tommy and Tamara looked at each other and frowned. Barbara could not take any more. She turned but ran straight into the chest of a man. Barbara shoved him away.

"Barbara? How wonderful!"

She looked up. "Peter?"

"The one and only. I see you've met Tamara, my fiancée."

"Your fiancée?"

"Yes. I never thought I would ever be this happy." Peter turned and smiled at Tamara who hurried to his side. They kissed passionately.

Barbara looked at Tommy who smiled and shrugged. "Why don't you two go and enjoy the fair?" he said to the lovers. "Barbara and I have some catching up to do."

Peter winked at his brother. "I'll bet you do. See you at the fireworks, Barbara."