Chapter 15
GIFT FOR A STRANGER
DUNCAN
Ispent the morning gift shopping for a stranger before going to my shift at Valley.
John was keen to mention that Miss Mills had nowhere to go for Christmas and that it might be nice to get her a little something.
Of course, I did not know Miss Mills in the least bit.
Choosing a gift for a girl who was barely more than an acquaintance but badly wanted to impress was a certain kind of pain I hadn't known since uni.
When I dated women like Vanessa, I knew their mates.
I could open Tatler on my computer and learn about them.
Miss Mills was a bloody enigma—one I was keen to decode.
I was so cross with her the night before even if I knew she did it for my benefit.
I had done well. The press moved onto puff pieces.
Showing up with a plate of biscuits absolved one of all sins. Who knew?
“You look pensive,” Flaherty, another officer, noted.
We were on break. I ate my second pack of crisps that day.
“I am trying to decide which gift I give this girl. I mean to be kind. I want to make her realize I'm not a wanker. Unfortunately, I don't know her that well apart from professionally.”
“So what are your options?”
“I bought three things. I only intend to give her one.”
“Why not all three?”
“All three makes me look dodgy.”
“Dodgy? For being generous? Women eat that up!”
“Not her. I think I am treading on thin ice gifting her anything, mate. I want to. She's alone on Christmas and trying to be all brave and chill about it. But how bloody sad is that?”
“Dreadful. You should stay and keep her company. Might have no choice either way. If the weather gets any worse, you might be grounded, Wales.”
I groaned. “They say that, but it will never deliver.”
I could only pray to get stuck. It would never happen. There was a big storm on the horizon. I expected to get off shift and board a plane north. The forecast said ice and half a meter of snow. Well, maybe we would, maybe we wouldn't.
“So what is it you can choose from?”
“A bathrobe, a knit scarf, and perfume. The type my cousin Leah recommended.”
“Don't go with the perfume if you aren't sure. It’s too personal as is the robe. Go with the scarf. It's a classic gift. Give her a bottle of something nice to go with it and she'll think you're brill, mate.”
It wasn't half bad.
I nodded. “Cheers, mate. That is what I will do.”
“Anytime. Now, back to it?”
I agreed. “My mandated break is about up. Back to the grind.”
The problem with tower work was the painfully obvious weather.
I saw the windsock pick up. Two hours before my shift ended, we diverted any incoming aircraft due to crosswinds.
When they calmed, the snow increased, but we were able to get everything out of the pattern and shutter the place with twenty minutes remaining on my shift.
I was about to mis Christmas dinner. At first, I rejoiced!
No reminders about how I was a fuck up from all my successful, well-adjusted cousins and their beautiful, perfect children.
I realized I had no dinner prepared, no plans, and not much food.
And I thought about Leah's dear kids—her twins in particular—and I got sad.
They were my favorites. I'd miss the baby.
I didn't let anyone know I was sad, even if I were.
“Sir,” my detail on shift said. “We will take you straight back. The weather is bad. And they are bound to close the bridge.”
“Of course,” I said.
I escaped in the car. It was slow going across the bridge. What usually took twenty minutes took about ninety. At one point, we became bogged down in the slush and slid into a rut, but thankfully made it out by the hair of our chin. I was sure I was about to be pushing the 4X4.
When we arrived, the house lights were off.
“We've lost power, sir,” the detail on site said. “We will get the generator going.”
“Brilliant,” I sighed. “Just a wonderful, happy Christmas to all of us.”
“We will be fine, sir. The inn where we are staying has power still. At the very least—”
“No, I can tough it out. I did survival training in the wilderness just out there and froze for two weeks. I can manage a couple cold nights. I pray your heat stays.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The lights flickered on.
“Well, cheers, gentlemen, we're back in business!” I chuckled. “Why don't you head back to safety while you can? I'm not going anywhere now. Just going to ring Mum and apologize. The usual.”