Page 110 of The Best Little Christmas Shop
‘She hugged me. ‘Is it Dan’s news that’s upset you? I mean, I knowyou’re not upset for them but …’
‘No! I’m thrilled for them! I’m a bit tearful about it, yes, but it’s for all the good reasons. Just like I was with you. I promise.’
Giselle rested her head against mine for a moment. When she’d first told me she was pregnant, she’d admitted that she almost thought about hiding it for a while because she was worried about my reaction. But then she realised bydoing that, it would have made it so much worse. And that was true. Life was what it was. I didn’t want people treading on eggshells around me about stuff. Admittedly, some tact was always appreciated, which even my lummoxes of brothers realised. But apart from that, life was there and generally you just had to deal with it. I could be sad for me, but I would never let that affect the joy I feltfor the people I loved.
‘We’ll leave you to it, then.’ Xander verbally nudged Giselle.
She gave me a private grin and rolled her eyes. ‘He’s so subtle.’ Giving us both a quick kiss on the cheek, she stepped back towards the other room. ‘Call me if you want anything. It doesn’t matter what the time is.’
‘Thanks, Gis. I will.’
‘Although, between the hours of nine and five would be – Oww!’ Xanderteased before getting a whack from his wife. He winked at me over the top of her head. Like Giselle, I knew he was there for me wherever and whenever I needed him no matter what he said. They disappeared from sight, and headed back into the throng of the family party.
‘I’m thinking it might be better to go somewhere else. Somewhere we can talk without any interruptions,’ Cal suggested.
Rightnow I was OK with the interruptions because it stopped me having to face up to him and what that might mean. As if reading my mind, he gave a head tilt.
‘Why do I get the feeling you wouldn’t mind if your whole family suddenly trooped in here right now?’
Even in the low light of the lamp I knew Cal hadn’t missed how I was now blushing as red as the poinsettia Mum had on the windowsill. Busted.
‘That’s what I thought.’
‘We can go next door to mine, if you like.’
Cal rolled his lips together for a second. ‘If I were a lesser man, the entire lack of enthusiasm in that suggestion might bother me.’
It was my turn to look sheepish. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it to sound like that.’
He reached his hand out and warm, long fingers gently laced themselves through mine. It was such a simplegesture but I felt the sparks shoot through me at his touch. He turned, his eyes on mine, and the sparks exploded like fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
This wasn’t me. I was good at compartmentalising. Or running away, if that’s what’s Marco wanted to call it. Whatever it was labelled, I did it. And I was good at it. I put things in a box. Put them away. Moved on. Done. But Cal refused to conformto my method. His face, voice, body all invaded my thoughts when they weren’t supposed to. This wasn’t how it was supposed to work. But I couldn’t stop it.
‘I can practically see the steam from here.’ His mouth curved up a little. ‘Don’t get yourself worked up overthinking. I’m not asking for anything from you, Lexi, apart from for you to let me in. Let me be a part of this decision you’re makingto push me away.’
‘It’s not what I wanted, Cal, I promise. I never meant to fall for you. It all just sort of happened.’
‘Some things are meant to happen. George wasn’t “meant to happen” but I guess sometimes the Universe, or God, or whatever you believe in has other ideas for us.’
Another whoop of cheering and laughter went up from the other room.
‘Come on, let’s find somewhere a bit quieter.We can always come back later. They’ll understand.’
‘I don’t want them thinking –’
‘Lex. It was your mum who told me to come and find you as I was stood in there pretending to join in.’
I looked up at him. ‘She’s pretty good at that whole mind-reading thing, isn’t she?’
‘So good. It’s kind of disturbing. How did you lot ever get away with anything?’
I shrugged. ‘We didn’t. We’ve all had yearsof practice with her and still can’t fool her for more than a minute.’
‘I’m glad she insisted.’
‘Are you?’
‘Yes. Because at least now I know how you feel, which is something you had omitted to tell me.’
