Page 45 of A Christmas Celebration
‘I’ve never once said I wasn’t.’
What was it about our relationship, I wondered, that had us reverting to our teenage selves within seconds of striking up a conversation? Perhaps I should learn the lesson and stop supplying him with such irresistible ammunition.
‘Oh.’ He beamed, turning the music up even louder. ‘I love this one.’
By the time we arrived at Brambles, courtesy of Archie’s directions, I’d regained my good humour and we’d sung a tuneless but rousing duet of Mr Bublé’s ‘It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas’. With the Brambles’ converted barn entrance decked out with warm white twinkling lights and two potted trees standing sentinel outside the main door, my festive spirit received another welcome boost. In fact, in spite of my concerns about Jack’s observations, I was still humming as we climbed out of the car.
‘Welcome to Brambles,’ the man himself expansively said as he strode across the yard. ‘Did you hear we’re forecast snow?’
‘Are we?’ I gasped, clapping my hands together and further forgetting the real reason for my visit. ‘Oh, how wonderful!’
It had been years since I’d seen snow so I hoped the prediction was right. I might have felt about fifteen after my banterwith Archie and singing along in the car, but the thought of actual snow reduced me to no more than five. Coupled with the fun of opening the advent calendar, the sight of Brambles beautifully bedecked, and now the prospect of the white stuff, almost sent me into festive overload.
‘You’re more excited about that than I am,’ Jack laughed at my response.
‘I am excited,’ I confirmed, feeling very happy indeed.
Archie rolled his eyes.
‘What?’ I demanded. ‘Don’t tell me you’re against it too. Your father will be thrilled…’ My words, and some of my enthusiasm, trailed off. ‘Ah.’
‘Exactly,’ Archie agreed. ‘He’s already in a spin now the advent calendar is up, so throw some snow into the mix and he’ll be peaking way too soon and as I recall, Paige, you’re every bit as much on Dad duty in Jamie and Anna’s absence, as I am.’
‘Well,’ I said, lifting my chin in defiance, ‘I don’t care. I’ll enjoy it with him.’
‘You won’t be saying that when you’re up in the cherry picker throwing strands of lights over the hall roof.’ He grinned.
‘When I’m what?’ I gasped.
‘Thanks for last night,’ he then said to Jack. ‘I had a blast and I still think the coconut vodka was my favourite.’
Coconut vodka and cherry pickers…Myhead was beginning to spin, never mind Angus’s.
‘About the hall lights,’ I began but Archie was walking away.
‘Don’t worry,’ he said, as he pressed the fob to unlock his car, ‘we’ll talk about it later. I have to get back. Molly’s expecting me.’
Jack and I watched him go and I stamped my feet to stave off the cold. I had almost got used to the change in temperature, but that day it certainly did feel cold enough to snow.
‘Come inside,’ said Jack. ‘I want to talk to you before I show you around.’
That had the immediate effect of refreshing my memory and I forgot all about the white stuff again.
‘Thanks,’ I said, ‘it’s freezing out here.’
The inside of Brambles was every bit as smart as the outside and Jack quickly showed me into an office just beyond the warm and welcoming reception area where a young woman was talking on the phone.
‘Would you like something to drink?’ Jack offered, pulling out a chair for me to sit on. ‘Great hat by the way.’ He grinned as I pulled it off and unwound my scarf.
‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘It was an advent gift from Santa himself.’
‘Very cool.’ He nodded. ‘Tea, coffee, coconut vodka?’
‘As curious as I am about that coconut vodka,’ I said as I smiled, ‘I’d love a tea.’
‘I’ll sort it if you like,’ said the woman, who was now off the phone and eyeing me curiously from the doorway.
‘Thanks, Tilly,’ said Jack, taking the seat behind his desk and blushing in response to the beautiful smile she gave him.
