Page 102 of A Christmas Celebration
I was thrilled he had such a sunny outlook, but I couldn’t bring myself to think that far ahead, especially now myChristmas was potentially shaping up to be different to the one I had been planning. Willing myself not to worry about whether there really was trouble ahead, I blinked away my own tears and embraced the moment, enjoying seeing Albert and his home so completely transformed.
‘And talking of the future,’ he said, ‘is there any news about my bath chair?’
‘Oh, yes,’ I said. ‘It should be here sometime next week. There was some hold up in the delivery chain which is why it’s taking so long, but it’s back on track now. I meant to say yesterday, but forgot.’
‘Perhaps there’s been a run on them for secret Santa presents,’ he joked.
‘That’s bound to be it,’ I giggled, imagining Santa ferrying about a sleigh full of the chairs and other aids geared towards independent living.
‘I’m rather looking forward to my next swim in the tub,’ Albert smiled.
I would have to make sure a bottle of bubble bath formed part of the pile of Christmas presents I was getting ready for him. I wondered if he had a fondness for Radox.
‘Good,’ I said, ‘it’s important to have something to look forward to in life.’
‘What are you looking forward to?’ he then forthrightly asked me.
‘Today it has to be my bed,’ I told him, avoiding any potential seriousness or deep dive into my as yet still hazy future. ‘It’s been a long and very busy day.’
And it wasn’t done with me yet.
‘So,’ I said as I pulled my coat on to leave, ‘we’ve got your lights set on a timer, so you don’t have to worry about turning them on and off. You’ve got your dinner warming in the oven and the fire’s lit. So, you’re all set, yes?’
‘I am,’ Albert agreed. ‘Thank you. And I’ve got plans in the studio for the next couple of days, so you needn’t worry about calling in. With the Winter Wonderland to set up on top of everything else, you probably won’t have the time anyway!’
‘You’re right,’ I said, letting out a long breath.
Along with finding a way to get Brodie and Angus to confess to whatever they were up to in that time too, it really was going to be jam packed.
‘It’s going to be very busy.’ I swallowed. ‘I’ll give you a ring to check in though,’ I further said, giving Albert a kiss on the cheek, ‘and you know you can always call me.’
I waited until he had locked the door and pulled the curtain across and then walked up the path with Bran to the Land Rover. It was a chilly night and I was pleased the vehicle started first time. I was looking forward to an early, and hopefully restorative, night ahead of cleaning the dust the decorating would have kicked up throughout the hall.
I turned on the headlights once the cab had warmed up a little but didn’t make it as far as first gear.
‘What on earth?’ I frowned.
Turning on the lights had illuminated a bike which looked as though it had been half buried in the hedge just beyondthe gate. I daresay I wouldn’t have spotted it had I set off in the daylight, but there was no unseeing it then and I knew exactly who it belonged to.
My heart was racing as I pulled away from the cottage, just far enough for Albert to think, should he happen to be watching, that I had left. Coming to a halt again, from my elevated position I could see a square of light towards the back of the garden. I turned off the engine, let Bran out again, then doubled back and crept through the gate. With my heart thumping loud enough for even Albert with his less than sharp hearing to pick up, I snuck through the garden to the studio.
Just as I had suspected, there was someone inside. I could hear music playing quietly and a voice humming along to it. I stood for a moment like a rabbit caught in the headlights wondering whether to burst in or make a stealthier approach.
With a shaking hand, I reached for the door handle and quietly turned it, settling on stealth rather than surprise. Already knowing who I was going to see, my emotions were a tumultuous and heady mix. On the one hand I was furious that Brodie had ignored my warning and come back to the cottage, but on the other, as long as he was doing what I thought he was doing, I was relieved because it might mean he wasn’t the person I had recently assumed him to be.
I dithered on the threshold and then a timely nudge from Bran set the next chain of events in motion.
‘Brodie,’ I whispered, my breath catching as I peepedinside and saw him, with his back to the door, painting with passion.
His solid frame kept the canvas he was working on largely hidden from sight, but he was utterly absorbed. I went to close the door again with a view to going back to the cottage to ask Albert for an explanation when Brodie whipped round, most likely having caught the change in temperature the open door had created, and our eyes locked.
‘Paige!’ he gasped.
I let go of the door and it swung open wider.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘What am I doing here?’ I repeated. ‘What areyoudoing here?’
