Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
W armth gradually seeped back into Anna’s toes while she sat at the kitchen counter with Josh, sipping Warren’s luxury hot chocolate. He stood beside the counter, smiling at his nephew’s chocolate moustache, which grew bigger with every sip he took.
“I hope you’re not messing the place up,” Rachel muttered, giving Warren’s arm an affectionate pat as she walked into the kitchen.
“Uncle Warren made hot chocolate with real chocolate,” Josh said, then dragged his arm across his mouth, smearing chocolate milk all over his sleeve.
“Hopefully not with the chocolate I was about to use to bake biscuits,” Rachel said, eyeing Warren with a mock-frown.
“I didn’t use it all,” he said. “There’s plenty left.”
“You’re making biscuits,” Josh said excitedly.
“And mince pies.” Rachel opened a cupboard and began collecting ingredients.
“Can I help you?” Josh asked.
Her hesitation signalled she wasn’t at all keen on the idea. “I suppose so,” she said eventually. “If it’s okay with Tamara. And as long as your uncle doesn’t hang around telling me where I’m going wrong.”
“Warren makes the most amazing mince pies,” Anna said idly.
She tried to catch his eye, but he moved to help Josh bring a chair from the dining table into the kitchen. Parking it at the counter, Warren looked uncertainly at Rachel.
“Would you mind if I did the baking with Josh?”
Rachel turned to face him and set her hands on her hips.
“Are you asking if I mind you taking over here while I go and read my book for an hour?” She shook her head.
“I don’t mind at all. Make enough mince pies and biscuits to last a couple of days.
And make sure you tidy up afterwards!” She smiled warmly and wandered out of the kitchen.
Josh clambered up onto the chair and gazed up at Warren. “What do we need to do first?”
“First, we need to wash our hands.” He lifted him from the chair and flew him over to the sink. “Then I’m going to teach you how to make pastry.”
At the island, Anna watched the two of them chatter away. Warren was helping Josh sieve flour when he looked over at her.
“Once the mince pies are in the oven, I’ll make sandwiches. Are you hungry?”
“I’m fine,” she said contentedly.
“Uncle Warren.” Josh tugged on his arm. “When we’ve finished making everything, can we watch TV?”
“Maybe. If it’s okay with Tamara.”
“She won’t mind. Can we get all the cushions and make a bed on the floor like we did last time?”
Warren’s eyebrows pinched together. “I’d forgotten about that. You have a very good memory.”
“I remember everything. Can we do that again?”
“I think it sounds like a great idea. We can eat the mince pies and biscuits and watch Christmas films.”
“Yes!” Josh cheered. “This is the best day ever.”
Warren ruffled his hair, but his smile slipped away when he glanced at Anna. “Oh, wait. We were going to go into Bath.”
“It’s fine,” she said, shaking her head.
“But you wanted to do your Christmas shopping. And ice skating…”
“I’d rather stay warm and cosy here.” And there was no way in the world she’d take Warren away from spending time with Josh. “Mince pies and Christmas films sound like a great way to spend the afternoon.”
Warren mouthed ‘thank you’ and held her gaze long enough for her stomach to turn a somersault.
Staying in wasn’t exactly a hardship – she really was happy to go along with their plan for the afternoon. As she joined in with the baking, while Christmas music filled the kitchen, there was nowhere else she’d rather have been.
Snuggling up in a nest of cushions and blankets while snow continued to flutter outside the window of the library felt perfect, too.
Anna felt a warm sense of joy as they watched the sweet, animated Christmas film about a young reindeer who wanted to join Santa’s team.
When Josh begged to watch the sequel straight after the first film ended, neither Warren nor Anna took a lot of persuading.
Josh barely moved as he stared at the screen, utterly transfixed. His concentration disappeared the moment the film ended. He jumped up, fleeing the room while announcing he had to tell Tamara about it.
“I think you’re probably very popular today,” Anna said, feeling so relaxed she was drowsy, and not keen to move from her snug spot on the cushions.
“He seemed to have a good time,” Warren said, eyes on the door where Josh had run out.
“I didn’t just mean with Josh,” Anna said, turning her head on the cushions to look at Warren stretched out beside her. “I’m sure Tamara and Rachel are both happy about you taking over some of their work for the day.”
“It was a good day,” he said, looking just as relaxed as she felt. “Sorry you didn’t get your trip to Bath.”
She scrunched her nose. “This was much better. Except I feel so relaxed I’m not sure I can move.”
With a flash of mischief in his eyes, he tugged a cushion out from under her so she rolled sideways.
“Hey!” She laughed and swatted at him as she lolled helplessly in the dip beside him. Then she pulled the cushion from under his elbow, so he dropped beside her. “Now we’re both stuck,” she declared, then wriggled madly as he tickled her.
“I want to play too!” Josh called, his footsteps thumping rapidly as he charged into the room.
Beaming, Warren pulled Josh down and tickled him until he was breathless.
It wasn’t long before Tamara arrived in the doorway, babbling in Spanish and gesticulating wildly.
“Dinner’s ready,” Josh told them, jumping up and dashing from the room.
Warren hauled himself up and reached a hand to help Anna up. “I guess that means the fun is over,” he quipped. “Let’s see what drama the family dinner brings today.”
There was a reassuring reply on the tip of Anna’s tongue, but her attention was on her hand, which Warren hadn’t released. Glancing up at him in the hallway, she caught the vulnerability in his eyes and tightened her grip on his fingers.
“It’s only dinner,” she murmured. “I’m sure you’ll survive.”
The skin around his eyes crinkled as he smiled. “That’s about all I ever hope for with my family dinners.”