When Laura next awoke she knew straight away it had been snowing again. It was just before 8 am, the sun not quite risen, and although the curtains to the bedroom were closed there was a brightness behind them. There was also an unmistakable, almost eerie quiet.
Laura got out of bed and pulled back one of the curtains. Her expectations were confirmed. The snow had fallen heavily since she had last looked out in the night. On the windowpane there was a thick arc of snow, drifted and blown by the wind onto the glass. Through the frozen window she saw that the garden and the fields beyond the cottage were covered in a thick pristine layer of snow, on top of what had already fallen. The fence that surrounded the boundary of the garden was almost hidden and it was then that Laura realised the depth of the snow must be at least 4 feet high in some places. She gasped at the sight and then quickly got dressed and went downstairs.
Robbie was also up and dressed and in the kitchen. The kettle was mid boil, with two mugs waiting on the counter. He heard Laura come into the kitchen.
"I take it you've seen?" He said, a rueful look on his face as he turned towards her
Laura nodded, a similar look on her face.
"I don't think we'll be having the Christmas we both had planned, that's for sure" she said as she watched him pour boiling water into the two mugs.
"I'd better call Ritchie and let him know" she said, looking out to the snowy landscape outside the kitchen window.
"Yeah, I'll have to let Lyn know too" Robbie said stirring the teabags in the mugs then removing them and adding milk before handing her a mug of tea, made exactly to how he knew she liked it.
"Thanks" she said, smiling as she took the tea from him; something about him making a tea for her suddenly made her stomach squeeze with affection for him and she saw he was regarding her with a sweet look on his face, despite the fact that they were both stranded, miles from family and where they'd expected to be.
"Oh" She said suddenly after taking a drink of her tea "I bet that's Ritchie now" and putting the mug back down on the counter she pulled her phone out of her pocket and answered the call.
Robbie looked down at the floor, feeling a little uncomfortable. He felt once more the burden of responsibility for the predicament he had placed them both in. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and took the opportunity to call his daughter. He wandered into the sitting room and as the call connected he opened the curtains and looked out of the window at the front of the house. He was shocked to see the extent of the snowfall and was almost blinded by its brightness. To his astonishment he discovered that the front door of the cottage was blocked by several feet of snow. Dan had been right about needing the snow shovel.
After words of both resigned regret and reassurance, Robbie ended the call to his daughter and headed back into the kitchen. At the doorway, however, he hesitated; Laura was still on the phone to her brother. He hovered outside, not wanting to intrude on her call. Despite this, he still overheard her conversation.
"I know Ritchie, I'm disappointed too. But there'll be other times not just Christmas. . . I'm sure. . . yes. . .I doubt it, I'm back to work on the 3rd so hardly worth it. . . I know. . . yes, well say hello to him. . .mmm. . . Ok. . . Yes, ok, well keep in touch eh? . . . Ok. . .Bye"
Robbie stepped back into the kitchen. After ending her call with her brother, Laura had gone into the back porch of the cottage and was rifling through the bags of shopping that had been delivered for the guests that had cancelled.
Stepping after her into the porch, Robbie saw that there was ample food for two for a festive break of several days, with everything needed for someone who knew how to cook. The shopping had come from a high-end online grocery supplier and as Laura heard Robbie behind her she turned to him.
"Looks like we've got all we could need" she said with a warm smile.
Robbie looked down at her, a frown and a half smile on his face, clearly troubled. She raised her eyebrows in a gentle questioning way which invited him to continue.
"I'm sorry, Laura. You would have been better off going to London after all. You'd be with your family now, and er well, y'know, friends and what not" By friends and what not Laura knew he was referring to her brother's business partner.
She looked up from the bags of shopping, a soft smile on her face. She gazed at him, searching his eyes, as he looked back at her, a sad apologetic expression on his face.
"I'm quite happy here" she said quietly but clearly, looking him straight in the eye
Robbie felt himself colour a little. He thought of the night before, how he had thought about wanting to kiss her. Had she known how he felt? Did she feel the same? He scratched the back of his head in a self-conscious gesture that Laura knew all too well.
"Come and have a look at all this stuff" she said, smiling secretly to herself and rescuing him from his discomfort. Robbie, with a self-conscious look of relief, knelt down beside her and had a poke into one of the bags.
"Bloody hell" he said as it soon became clear that although the food delivery was intended for just two people it contained everything that might be required for a few days away over the festive period.
Robbie and Laura fully investigated the contents of the bags, Laura taking interest in what provisions might be put to use while they were stranded in the cottage. Amongst the basic staples such as bread, milk, butter and eggs there were also other dairy items. Laura discovered an impressive selection of cheeses, fresh meats, poultry, cured meats and smoked salmon, fresh vegetables and fruit, various bottles of spirits and wine, condiments, and all the elements to make an ample and respectable festive feast, albeit for just two people. Robbie was relieved to see Laura was undaunted by the provisions and the amount of preparation and culinary expertise they commanded. If he had been on his own in the same situation he dreaded to think what he would have done.
"Why don't I get us a proper breakfast on the go?" Laura said, a bright excitement on her face, holding up a packet of sausages
"That sounds just the ticket, are you sure? I mean, you don't mind cooking it?" Robbie said
"Not at all" she replied, reaching out and touching the cuff of his shirt in what felt like a comfortable and almost intimate gesture
"Why don't you make us another mug of tea?"
"Done" he said, beaming back at her and finding himself giving her a wink, a gesture that he realised he felt inclined to do more and more since being with her.
An hour later and with a full English breakfast cooked and all but demolished, Robbie and Laura sat at the kitchen table drinking the last of their tea. They were discussing an old case, both puzzling over a contentious bit of forensic evidence that had presented years after the initial investigation.
"But the blood didn't match the victim or the suspect" Laura said, shaking her head before taking a drink of her tea "Not to mention those very odd ligature marks around the victim's biceps, the whole body was a bit of a puzzle to be honest"
"I know, that's the thing it's-" Robbie started to say
Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam
A loud knocking interrupted their conversation.
Similar to the night before it shattered the peace and made them both jump, Laura moreso than Robbie, and she felt an odd, unbridled panic deep inside.
"Let's find out who that is this time" Robbie said, getting to his feet, pointing his index finger into the air with a purpose. The knocking came again and they both realised that it was coming from the back door of the cottage.
Laura followed, the spike of dread she suddenly felt quelled by Robbie's confidence.
He went towards the sound of the knocking, which came again, more loudly and Robbie marched with purpose now towards the back porch and the source of the knocking.
With a feeling of dread, Laura followed behind.