Page 57 of Only Ever You

Michèle spun around and –ohhhh dear.

Bash frantically slashed his hand in front of his throat.

“Maman– no. She means Maya.” Matt peered at Saira and the quiet panic on his face made Faye have to smother her laugh by sucking on her cold lips. “Right?”

“Yes.” Saira pointed at the girl on her hip for emphasis. “If Iwaspregnant again, this is nothow I would announce it.”

Though she and Matt did make cute babies, Faye thought to herself.

“Are you trying?” Michèle asked too eagerly.

Faye caught the subtle roll of Bash’s eyes at his mother’s persistence, and now she wondered if the things he’d said to her about his feelings on wanting his own family were partly due to pressure from his parents? She wouldn’t totally rule it out.

“Two and done, I’m afraid.”

“That explains the condoms,” Bash muttered into the collar of his coat, receiving a shove from a visibly relieved looking Matt who uttered something in French in return. Bash gave him a stern look and Faye frowned at them.

Brothers were strange creatures.

The rest of the walk was easy and thankfully flat. Faye kept herself going with thoughts that brunch would be only half an hour away.

Despite living in the madness of London and being on her feet all day, she wasn’t a natural hiker – she’d been in the city for too long. But this was nice. If she had the luck of living in a place such as this, then she could see the appeal of wandering the public footpaths every morning across the landscape.

Maybe it was the air, the views, or the company that made her enjoy this time so much. Or a combination of it all.

In a village they came to, there were signs upon lampposts and convenience shop walls advertising various Christmas activities around the area. Faye had her head tilted and her eyes narrowed to try and read one across the road when Bash nudged her elbow.

“We could test out your fireman theory tonight.” He cocked his head towards a small banner on the side of the old vicarage hall. Faye was too far away to read it clearly, but from what he’d said, her mind jumped straight to traitorous places. Ones involving poles and a certainsomeoneup against them.

“Huh?”

Arthur doubled back along the narrow path and explained for her. “The local fire station drives one of their engines dressed in lights and tinsel with music and sirens playing through the lanes and villages, and Santa gives out presents for the children.”

“Santa!” Came two excited little squeals.

“It’s to raise money,” Bash hushed over his nieces.

Really? The surprises kept on coming.

“It sounds fun.” Faye was determined to be here and take advantage of a full Phillips-Dumont Christmas experience, so she was all in.

18

FAYE

They tumbledinto the kitchen for a late breakfast, discarding hats and scarves and extra layers like ducks shedding feathers behind them. Eager beavers for food, finally, when?—

“Mortimer!” Michèle shrieked.

Eight pairs of de-booted feet scuffed to a stop and Faye choked on her own breath at the sight they were greeted with. This was not good at all …

“That was for the party tomorrow night!”

“Oh … sorry Shelly.” Sat on a stool at the island, Uncle Mortimer pushed away a plateful of chocolatey crumbs. “I didn’t know this was supposed to be for a get-together.”

Beneath a glass dome on the counter sat two thirds of the perfectly decorated Yule log cake Michèle had made, a crumb and buttercream coated knife discarded lazily beside.

Disappointment sank the enjoyment Faye’d been feeling, not for herself, but for Michèle. Mortimer would’ve known not to help himself to the cake if he’d bothered to ask, or at least waited until they’d come home.

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