Page 55 of Christmas at the Home Farm Vets
Erin caught the bright shine of tears in his eyes as he was looking at her mum. ‘Heather, gosh, this is so kind of you, and I really didn’t expect anything. We haven’t done stockings since I was a kid. I’m so sorry, I didn’t get you a gift.’
‘Oh you did, love, you did.’ Heather leaned across to squeeze Erin’s knee. ‘You got us here to spend Christmas with this one, and that’s all the present I needed. You’ll never know how much it means.’
Erin had to gulp back the emotion clutching at her throat, both at her mum’s words and her thoughtfulness towards Oli. She also felt a shiver of shame; she’d been so busy protesting they must maintain their professionalism and pushing him away that she hadn’t thought to do anything quite so caring or reminiscent of home for him. His support towards her was almost invisible but she knew it was there, nonetheless. It was the flask he made for her in the morning if he was down first; the acceptance of her decisions these past few days at work and his efforts to make sure they were implemented. The recipes he was following and the shopping he collected; all of it made a difference to her. She was the one failing here; she was the one trying to convince herself that independence didn’t need to include love.
She and Oli were on the floor, and they unwrapped their stockings as Heather and her grandparents watched on. In hers she found the usual gifts she cherished, like the orange lip balm she used every day in winter, a pair of bamboo socks and an indulgent hand cream she’d save for weekends. There was chocolate and sweets too, plus a gift card for books, a gorgeous pair of Fair Isle knitted gloves, a candle from her favourite well-being range and a tangerine at the bottom.
Oli was unwrapping his gifts too, discovering a hat made from snug green wool, a trio of Old-Fashioned cocktails and a lip balm. He loved the mini travel set of shower gel and shampoo, and promised to use his own book token wisely. Alongside salted caramel chocolate buttons and a chocolate orange, he also discovered a chocolate first aid kit. He opened it immediately, declaring he was in need of some first aid after such a magnificent lunch, and passed it around. It took Joyce a moment to convince Bill, who’d been dozing, that he wasn’t about to cut himself on a pair of real scissors. He said they were very nice but what was wrong with a tin of good old-fashioned Quality Street?
Erin made tea for everyone and coffee for Oli, and it was clear her grandparents were getting tired after all the activity. Oli insisted he would drive them home, and she accepted the offer; she was still on call and couldn’t be too far away. The moment Erin had hugged her family and seen them safely into his car, she flopped onto the sofa with Marnie, who promptly fell asleep, shattered from the excitement of the day. The resemblance to that starving and sick kitten had all but vanished now, and the sight of her playing and darting around the cottage made Erin smile every single time.
Twenty minutes later her phone rang, and she left Marnie in her bed, hoping she’d stay there, and wrapped up against the freeze. A cat had cut itself quite badly on a shattered bauble, and as the nurse on call, Steph met her at the practice to assist. It was a nasty wound, and the cat had to be sedated so Erin could stitch the cut on its jaw back together. She was still home before Oli, and she cleared away the last of the lunch and gathered the discarded wrapping paper into the basket of logs. She had a quick shower and, by the time he returned, she was settled on the sofa in comfy lounging clothes, her work for the day finally done.
‘Fancy a game of Uno?’ She reached for the card game she’d left nearby. ‘We always play it on Christmas night.’
‘Love to.’
‘Thank you for taking them home.’ She found it difficult to meet his eyes, and the decision she’d made while he’d been gone was making her skin tingle with anticipation. ‘And everything else you’ve done. It means the world.’
‘My pleasure. It’s been a wonderful day, despite the hours you’ve had to work.’
‘I hope it’s been okay for you, spending it without your family.’
‘It’s been a lot better than okay, I had the best time,’ he said wistfully. ‘It felt like Christmas for the first time in years. I video-called Imogen this morning and they were having a blast. She gets it, she knows why I’m here. Come on then, let’s play. You’ll have to remind me of the rules because I’ve haven’t played it since that weekend at yours.’
‘Seriously?’ Erin laughed as she divided the cards between them. They played for an hour, other than a quick pause for hot chocolate, getting more competitive with every round.
‘You win,’ he said finally. Marnie had abandoned his lap and was stretched out along the back of the sofa. ‘I’ll be seeing little gingerbread men in my sleep after that.’
Oli reached into his pocket, and he took her hand, opening it to place a small gift wrapped in paper decorated with elves on her outstretched palm. ‘I know we said no presents, but I saw this and thought of you.’
‘Oli, you shouldn’t have!’ Erin unwrapped it slowly, not wanting to rush the anticipation and taking an extra moment to appreciate his thoughtfulness. Inside a box, sat a silver keyring with five charms attached to it. Warmth was flooding her body, and she had to blink before she could take in every detail. One charm was a tiny paw print, another depicted a family tree inside a heart, there was a letter E, a tiny silver kitten and a key. He’d encapsulated her world perfectly and she was staring in wonder at what felt very much like love in her hand.
‘It’s the most perfect gift I’ve ever had,’ she whispered. ‘I absolutely adore it, thank you.’
‘You’re welcome. I’m happy you’re pleased.’ He eased away, putting back the distance she’d insisted upon. She hated how they’d been moving around one another at home and at work as though they were strangers, trying to avoid every look, every accidental touch. She loathed how disconnected she felt from him now, almost from her own heart. It hurt more every day to think of him leaving Hartfell and beginning again somewhere else, when they would be once again out of reach.
‘I got you something too.’ It was also small, and she removed it from its hiding place behind a cushion. He opened the beautifully wrapped box and removed a silver chain and an ingot attached to it, turning the ingot over.
‘It’s a St Christopher,’ she whispered. ‘I wanted you to have something to keep you safe when you’re travelling.’
‘Erin… I love it, thank you.’
All those years without him, and she’d never feel for anyone what she felt for Oli. And he was here. Gently she reached across and cupped his face, the beard rough against her palm.
‘I’m sorry I pushed you away,’ she said quietly. ‘Today’s been amazing in between all the chaos, and it’s made me realise it would be a mistake to miss out on what we feel. And my heart’s telling me I don’t really have a choice in the matter. But I understand if you don’t, after everything I said about working together.’
‘I want that too,’ he said softly. ‘And my heart’s saying exactly the same thing. I think it would be a very good idea to work out how we feel about the future and take it from there. We have some time before we need to decide what’s next. And I promise that nothing we share at home will alter my behaviour at work, or my respect for your leadership.’
Erin closed her eyes to prevent a tear escaping, her mouth dry. She knew where this was leading now, and it felt wonderful.
‘Speaking of positions…’ Oli’s hands went to her waist, and she wriggled across to sit on his lap. She smoothed a hand across his face at the look of longing and love in his eyes, too. For now, the questions and concerns about the future were banished, and she wanted only him and this precious time together. She picked up his St Christopher and went to fasten it around his neck, but he stilled her.
‘I don’t need it yet,’ he whispered. ‘I’m not going anywhere.’ He returned her gift to its box and one hand was on the zip of her hoodie as she lowered her head until her lips found his. His other hand went to her curls to hold her as they kissed, and already she was impatient with the barriers between them. She helped him tug her hoodie off and his hands were on the cream silk camisole she wore underneath.
‘You’re perfect,’ he murmured, and she laughed softly.
‘I’m really not, but I’m glad you think so.’
