Page 95 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
Chapter Eighteen
George came barrelling towards me, gave me a big hug, and then charged off into the fray that was my nephew and nieces. The last we saw of him was a blond head bobbing about in a ball of giggling arms and legs. Cal watched for a moment, but as George hadn’t given him a backwards glance as he piled into the game, he seemed to accept that his son was happy and safe and wouldcome and find him if he needed him.
‘Man, they’re loud.’ Cal laughed as we both took a seat on the sofa in the next room.
I gave a chuckle. ‘They can be.’ I held up my hands. ‘Welcome to my world.’
Mum wandered past with a beer in one hand and a tray of canapé-style snacks in the other – a precursor to the party dinner for my youngest brother’s birthday.
‘I’ll take those, Mum,’ I said, beginningto rise from my seat and reach for the tray as she handed Cal a drink.
Mum lifted the tray away from me with the expertise of a waitress in a busy Parisian brasserie.
‘Oh no you don’t. You stay here and talk to Cal. I’m just fine.’
‘He doesn’t mind, Mum. Let me help. Please!’ I fixed her with a private look. I had my pride but there were occasions I wasn’t above begging, if only with my eyes.Now was a prime example.
‘I mind,’ Mum said, completely ignoring my pleading look. ‘Now, do as you’re told and stay put.’ She whipped a paper plate from the stack on a nearby end table, plopped an assortment of nibbles from her tray onto it, and placed it on my lap. ‘Here. Eat. Talk … etc.’ She gave us a wink and glided off, serene and gentle in the midst of the chaos around her, as always. Andloving every minute.
‘Right. Good. It’s a good job this isn’t awkward or anything then,’ I mumbled and risked a sideways glance at Cal. He returned it with a small smile before turning away and beginning to make inroads on the food Mum had put in front of him.
Pretending to be distracted from conversation by our food, we watched as Mum stopped by Dad and Dan and they both took some goodies.As she left, Dad tapped her on the bum. Dan looked over at me and we exchanged an eye roll just before George and my nephew Harry launched themselves at Dan and began crawling all over him and battling to be crowned the King of Tickles.
Cal looked over, his face showing some concern. ‘I should get him –’ I put my hand on his arm.
‘He’s fine.’
‘Oh, I know! It’s not George I’m worried about.It’s Dan! It’s all very well my son clambering over me, but he really needs to learn not to do it to others. They might not appreciate it.’
I watched the three for a moment, and my dad looking on, joining in with the laughter emanating from all three of them.
‘Do you think Dan looks like he minds?’
‘Well, no but …’
Claire, who had been nearby, came and leant on the armrest next to me.
‘Hi.You feeling better?’
‘Yeah. Thanks.’
She was still looking a bit peaky at times to me but I let it go. Dan worshipped his wife and if he thought there was anything up, he’d be taking care of it. Claire smiled over at Cal. ‘Please don’t worry. Ever since the children became friends with George, he’s like one of them and Dan treats them all the same, and loves them all the same. As if they werehis own. So long as you don’t mind, then I can assure you, being trampled on by small people always brightens his day.’
She gave us a smile and I took her hand briefly.
‘Ooh!’ I squinched up my face. ‘You might have to revise that last comment.’ All three of us looked over to where the two boys were now sat on my dad, one on each knee, watching Dan whose eyes were watering as he sat quietlywith his knees drawn together and a pained look on his face.
‘Oh dear.’ She pulled a face but the grin shone through. ‘Silly bugger. I’ve told him he needs to wear a cup.’
‘Please send on my apologies if it turns out to have been my child damaging the family jewels.’
Claire laughed, gave my hand the tiniest of squeezes, and headed over to offer moral support to her husband.
Cal frowned. ‘Thatlooks painful.’
I waved a hand. ‘He’ll get over it.’
We managed to keep things light and friendly between us, if not entirely natural. Although I’d wanted to give him an explanation, I still wasn’t sure how I felt about my outpouring the other night and I was more than a little relieved when Mum called us all to the dining room.
