Page 67 of The Christmas Catch
Morgan’s cheeks were red as they wheeled their suitcases back onto the main concourse.
Ali headed back the way they came, towards the main door. An elderly man walked by with his trolley, and she stopped to let him through. When he looked up, his face broke into a broad smile.
“It’s you! My Devon travellers. You weren’t on the plane. How did you get here?” It was the man from the plane. His broad Glaswegian accent coated the air like honey.
That made Ali smile as well. Devon might be home, but so was Glasgow. He still looked like the sort of man who might star in a Werther’s commercial, and then sit on the porch with a glass of sherry. Very unlike her granddad, who was far more at home sipping pint after pint of wine.
Morgan stepped forward, a smile on her face. “Good to see you again. Did you say you were on the plane? Were you in Glasgow all that time?”
“I was,” he continued. “They offered to put me up in a hotel, but I went home instead. Two-day delay, but I got here eventually. Although my daughter’s car isn’t working, and there are no taxis would you believe, so I’ve hired a car with a sat nav. My daughter says it’s easy to work, but she would, wouldn’t she?” He gave them a broad smile, then pulled his grey scarf tighter around his neck. “Just bracing myself for the cold.”
They could have just stayed in Glasgow. Ali had to laugh. Although, if they’d stayed in Glasgow, they’d have missed out on so much. Getting reacquainted with each other. Having an adventure. Riding a bicycle made for two in a snowstorm. Ali glanced at Morgan, and she could see a smile at the edges of her mouth, too. She was glad they’d done it the hard way. Because it had led to them, and the past 24 hours. Whatever happened next, that had been worth it.
“Where are you headed?” Ali asked.
“She lives in a place called Dartmouth.”
Morgan put a hand to her face. “That’s where we’re going. We could have given you a lift. You’ve already hired your car?”
The man nodded. “Bought and paid for. I don’t mind, it’ll give me a bit of independence when I’m there. My daughter seems to think now I’m 70 I need to be treated with kid gloves.” He leaned forward. “Spoiler alert: I don’t.” He grinned at them. “Anyway, I better go. I want to get there before it snows again. It was lovely to see you both.” He put a hand to his chest. “I’m Walt, by the way.”
“If you’re in Dartmouth, pop by The Rising Sun for a drink. It’s my family’s pub.” Ali gave him a grin.
“I might just do that. Especially now I can drive wherever I want.” He gripped his trolley. “You both have a lovely Christmas.” He tilted his head. “You make a great couple, if you don’t mind me saying. My daughter’s partner is a woman, and they’ve got a couple of smashing kids too. I was together with my wife for 45 years and I loved every minute. I carry on living well on her behalf, but I’d give it all up to have more time with her. You’ve both got time, so make the most of it.” He leaned over and patted Ali on the arm. “But now it’s my time to do battle with a sat nav.”
Ali watched him go in silence. It wasn’t until Walt was out of sight that she turned to Morgan.
Her face was pensive.
“How come everyone we meet thinks we’re a couple? Do we scream ‘couple’?”
Morgan ran a hand through her blonde hair. “Apparently, we do.” She paused. “Do we need to have a chat about that?”
Ali nodded.
It was time.
CHAPTER23
Morgan lifted both suitcases into the boot, shrugged off her coat, then threw herself into the front seat. She rubbed her hands together and blew on them. Still cold. She glanced over at Ali.
The frost wasn’t just in the air. It was in this car, too. Morgan had a foreboding feeling about whatever it was Ali was about to tell her.
Ali started the engine, then cut it. She unclicked her seat belt and turned to Morgan.
Morgan took a breath, then mirrored her movement.
“Why do I get the feeling you don’t feel the same as everyone else about how we should move forward with whatever this is?” She moved her hand between them as she finished her sentence.
Ali licked her lips, then sighed. “It’s not for the reasons you think.”
Morgan waited for her to say more. Outside, it started to snow again. It had been the soundtrack to their journey from the start.
“There’s something I haven’t told you about me.”
Morgan’s stomach sank. She gripped the sides of the seat and braced. “You’ve got a girlfriend? A wife? Three children?” She tried to say it as lightly as she could, but it wasn’t how she was feeling. Darts of pain sank into her brain as a carousel of scenarios played out in her head. Not one of them good.
Luckily, her words brought a smile to Ali’s face, and she shook her head. “No, I am one hundred per cent single. Available.”
