Page 70 of The Christmas Catch
This wasn’t over.
“Will I see you for a drink at least one day? It seems weird if this is it.”
Ali’s smile that greeted those words was at least genuine. “I hope so. Come into the pub. We’re not open tomorrow as you know. Tonight and tomorrow, I need to spend some time with my mum. But Boxing Day, let’s have a drink.” She let out a heavy sigh, and finally let her gaze settle on Morgan.
All the blood inside Morgan rushed south, and her vision swayed. Ali had that effect on her.
“I’m going to miss being in a mess with you.” Ali’s smile was soft and sincere.
“I’m going to missyou,” Morgan replied. Then she winced and shook her head. It was the truth, but it wasn’t what Ali wanted to hear today. She held up a hand. “Sorry, it just slipped out.” She paused. “I take it you’re not going to say anything to Nicole? What happened on the road stays on the road?”
Ali smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I think so. It makes everything easier, doesn’t it?”
Morgan swallowed down the flash of anxiety that flared inside. “Whatever you want.” She flicked her thumb to the boot. “I’ll get my case and you can get home.”
She tore her eyes away from Ali’s beautiful face, then got out of the car and stretched, her back clicking after so long in one place. She grabbed her backpack from the backseat and slid into her coat, the chill acute in the country air. Up above, the stars twinkled in the village darkness. She’d always loved that about living here, not in the city. The stars always brought her home.
When she reached the boot, Ali was waiting. She pulled it open, checked the luggage tags, and got out Morgan’s case. “Can you believe we bought the same case from the same place?”
Morgan shook her head. “Excellent taste, clearly.”
“I’d say so, wouldn’t you?”
Ali held her gaze, and it took everything Morgan had not to sweep Ali into her arms and kiss her into next week. But that wasn’t on the cards. She’d forgotten this part of meeting someone and getting to know them. The not knowing. The stomach-churning uncertainty. Especially when the significant other was moving thousands of miles away imminently.
“Morgan, I—” Ali began.
“There you are!”
Morgan blinked, then turned to see her mum walking towards them.
Something flashed across Ali’s face, and she stepped back.
Really, Mother? Now?
Morgan slipped on her exaggerated smile, when really she wanted to bundle her mum back into the house, lock the door and then rush back to let Ali finish her sentence. What had she been about to say? Morgan would never know.
“You’re later than you said you’d be. I’ve been looking out the window waiting for you.” She reached Morgan and pulled her into a hug.
Morgan went with it, her mind a blur of emotions.
She’d forgive her mum. Eventually.
Her mum kissed her cheek, then let her go.
“And Ali, how are you?” Now it was Ali’s turn for a hug.
Her mum was terrible at reading a room.
“What a palaver you’ve had getting home, eh? Such good luck you found each other and could do it together.” Her mum pulled her cardigan close. Her dyed golden hair was shaped into its usual bob. She often got mistaken for a younger version of ex-tennis pro and TV presenter Sue Barker when they went shopping. Usually in Sainsbury’s.
“It definitely was, considering the time it took.” Ali turned on her high-beam smile.
Its glare dazzled Morgan.
“But Morgan and I made the most of it, didn’t we?”
“It was an adventure,” Morgan agreed. “An illuminating adventure.” There was so much more to say. Maybe she’d finally find what she wanted to say on Boxing Day.
