Page 95 of A Christmas Celebration
‘Nothing,’ he said, wiping his face with his jacket sleeve.
‘Are you all right?’ I asked, taken aback to see his eyes were full of tears. ‘Sorry,’ I added. ‘Obviously, you’re not.’
‘I am really,’ he said, sniffing hard. ‘I don’t know what happened. I just stepped into the clearing and some… feeling came over me.’
‘What sort of feeling?’
‘I can’t explain it,’ he shrugged.
I looked at the tree again.
‘What is all this?’ he asked, peering up into the branches.
‘It’s a Wishing Tree,’ I said softly. ‘People come here to make a wish, or say a prayer, and leave a token as thanks to the tree for granting it.’
‘Oh, wow,’ he gasped. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’
‘It’s pretty special,’ I sighed. ‘And people have been coming here for years.’
‘I can see that,’ he said, stepping back to take more of it in. ‘Why this tree, do you think?’
‘Well,’ I said, recalling Molly’s words. ‘All trees are special, of course, but in Celtic mythology the hawthorn was considered sacred and it symbolized love and protection, or so Molly once told me.’
‘And she’d know,’ Brodie laughed, moving to stand a little closer again. ‘I guess that makes it the ideal choice for a Wishing Tree, doesn’t it?’
‘I guess so,’ I said, biting my lip. ‘She also told me that it’s known as the Fairy Tree and that fairies live under it to guard it.’
‘Hm,’ said Brodie, sounding thoughtful.
‘What?’
‘Fairies are supposed to be mischievous, aren’t they?’ he asked.
‘I’m no expert, but rumour has it that they are very impish indeed.’
‘I wonder if they account for the strange feelings I’ve had today,’ he mused. ‘I’ve been here before and enjoyed walking among the trees, but there’s been something strange in the atmosphere today.’
I hadn’t known he’d visited the woods before.
‘I’ve felt it too,’ I said, looking over my shoulder.
‘I wouldn’t say it’s sinister,’ Brodie elaborated, ‘but there’s just… something.’
‘I agree.’ I swallowed, my gaze shifting back to him.
There was a sudden gust of wind which threw us off balance and pushed us closer together. We reached out to steady one another and in the next moment, our eyes had locked, our pupils dilated and in the second after that, we were wrapped in each other’s arms and Brodie was lowering his lips to meet mine. I didn’t for a single moment think about pushing him away.
My knees buckled as his mouth met mine and the kiss which started as tender, soft and sweet deepened and Brodie groaned with pleasure. The sound reverberated through his chest and I kissed him even harder.
If there was fairy mischief afoot it kept us connected for a very long time. When we eventually drew apart, we were both breathless and flushed and every bit as surprised as each other. I took a few seconds to process what had happened and Brodie did the same.
‘Is this what you were wishing for?’ he eventually laughed, smiling down at me.
I shook my head.
‘No,’ I said, ‘in fact…’
‘In fact, what?’ he asked.
