Page 73 of The Village Christmas Party

‘Really?’

‘Really. I wanted to talk to you at the gingerbread evening, but I was with Bella, and you were with a table full of women, so…’

‘And then I soaked you in Prosecco.’

‘Yes, there was that.’ He laughs. ‘But you are here now.’

He takes the gift bag from my knee, and places it on the floor, before gently taking my hand in his.

‘So I’m hoping you aren’t going to dash off this evening?’

‘Well, I don’t have work in the morning,’ I tell him. My heart beating so loudly I’m sure he must be able to hear it.

‘Good to hear. Maybe I can open the wine I bought,’ he says.

‘Why not?’

I tap out a text to Mum, telling her I will be staying out tonight, which makes me feel like a teenager once more. She sends me a thumbs up sign, followed by a kiss and says she will see me in the morning.

Kian has taken the teapot away, and replaced it with two large glasses of Merlot.

‘Everything okay?’ he asks as I drop my phone into my bag.

‘Fine.’ I smile. ‘Just telling Mum not to wait up, which is a bit weird at my age.’

‘So you’re staying over?’ A slow smile spreads across his face.

‘I mean I can’t drive if I have a drink, and I might need to wait a long time for a taxi, so…’

Before I can finish the sentence, Kian takes me in his arms and kisses me deeply. And I think that maybe it’s time to just go with the flow and see where this whole thing goes.

THIRTY-EIGHT

Mum and Dad have packed their things and are ready to leave when I arrive home. Kian and I had taken Bella for a hot chocolate in town, and we are taking Bella to the theatre tomorrow night to watch a pantomime.

‘I’ll miss you both,’ I tell them as Dad loads their cases into his car.

‘We will only be up the road, love.’ Mum squeezes me tight.

‘I know.’

‘Besides, it will be nice for you to have your own space again. Especially now that you are seeing someone.’ Mum winks.

‘Well he certainly seems to make you happy, that’s the main thing,’ says Dad. ‘I haven’t seen you smile so much as in these last couple of days.’

‘Thanks, Dad. Oh and would you like to take some food?’ I offer. ‘I have plenty in the freezer.’

‘No, love, we will be fine.’ Mum smiles. ‘We will go shopping tomorrow, but tonight it’s a takeaway, I think. A healthy one,’ Mum tells Dad as his eyes widen in surprise.

I had a call earlier to say my minor surgery is scheduled for the middle of January. I run my finger over the slight bump on my left cheek and think of how I was tempted not to bothergetting it checked, with it being quite small. It was Gemma who persuaded me, and I’m thankful she did, after the doctor telling me it could silently spread and cause nerve damage beneath the skin if it isn’t removed.

I’m so grateful to have people around me who watch out for me. And hopefully there will be someone else who might stick around for a while too.

I sleep well, and I am woken by the sound of a knocking at the front door. I rub my eyes and glance at the clock. It’s a little after eight, so I must have turned my alarm off and gone back to sleep.

I’m wrapping my dressing down around me, running downstairs to answer the front door, and when I open it, I can barely believe my eyes.

Silently overnight, a heavy snow has fallen and blanketed the ground. My car is covered in snow too. Kian is standing in front of me with Bella, and carrying a large spade.

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