Page 119 of A Christmas Celebration
He was right, of course. It was a huge commitment for anyone to make, especially to someone you’d met just days before.
‘You’re right,’ I had to agree, but couldn’t help thinking of what Molly had said and how convinced she had seemed that the changes coming would be good ones. Perhaps this was one of them. ‘It is quick,’ I further said, ‘but Albert knows his own mind and he’s extremely keen to embrace life again and live it to the full.’
‘Thanks to you,’ Brodie said, making me blush.
‘Well,’ I said, ‘I’ve played a part, but it’s been his choice to run with it all and perhaps inviting you to stay is part of that. I think, if I were you…’
‘Yes?’
‘I’d go for it,’ I told him. ‘It will be a huge change, but an exciting one for both of you, I reckon.’
‘I know you’re right,’ he said, sounding more sure. ‘And I do feel in my heart that it’s meant to be. It’s my head that’s a bit cautious, but my heart and my gut are right behind the idea.’
‘In that case,’ I said, thinking of my own heart as I reachedfor his hand, ‘I’d still take your head into account, but I’d follow your gut and your heart.’
It was very late by the time I got back from dropping Brodie at the studio. Albert’s cottage had been in darkness, so I’d left him at the gate. I didn’t expect anyone to still be up when I got back to the hall, but Angus was waiting for me in the kitchen.
‘I had my key,’ I told him. ‘You could have gone up.’
‘I know,’ he said, warming milk on the Aga and snatching the pan up just before it spilled over, ‘but I wanted to talk to you.’
With a mug of cocoa each, we sat at the table and I held my breath. I hoped I hadn’t let his recent impeccable behaviour lull me into a false sense of security. Was I about to have the rug pulled out from under me?
‘Is it about tomorrow?’ I tentatively asked.
Angus chuckled.
‘Absolutely not,’ he promised. ‘That’s all going ahead exactly as planned. I really did mean it when I said I was satisfied with the set up.’
I felt my shoulders drop.
‘Good,’ I said, daring to breathe again and blowing into my mug. ‘Great. That’s all right then, because I really have got enough on my plate right now.’
Angus looked at me for a moment and I felt my shoulders stiffen again.
‘I can appreciate that.’ He then freaked me out by saying, ‘But I hope there’s room for a little something else?’
‘Oh, Angus…’ I groaned.
‘It’s nothing bad,’ he insisted. ‘I promise.’
‘What is it then?’ I asked, wanting him to put me out of my misery as quickly as possible.
‘Well,’ he said, ‘I thought it would be nice if we had a party. A sort of Christmas celebration if you like.’
‘Oh,’ I said, feeling a little less freaked.
That didn’t sound too bad, but I was still reserving judgement until I’d heard the whole of it.
‘Everyone will be arriving on the twentieth,’ he reminded me, ‘and I thought it might be nice to have a get together with friends and family to celebrate on, say… the twenty-third.’
‘That’s very close to Christmas day,’ I pointed out.
‘It is,’ he acknowledged, ‘but that will give you more time to organize it.’
‘Me?’ I said, spluttering through my first sip of cocoa.
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I’d like you to set it up, Paige. You can plan it all out in the notebook Santa gifted you.’
