Chapter Nine
Cullen
We arrive back at Isla’s place, and she unlocks the door. Max runs inside, but I stop on the steps to the small deck.
“You’re welcome to come in,” she says. “My parents have mentioned calling me at seven tonight, but I can always text and put them off for a while.”
I’m tempted, but she looks tired, and I’m weary too. It’s been a busy day, and I need some time to think about the meeting today, and the fact that I’ve told her I’ll be staying for Christmas. I’m already doubting myself. I shouldn’t have done that.
But despite the dark circles under her eyes, when she looks at me I still get a zap of electricity down my spine.
I like her, and I know she feels the same way about me.
Neither of us thought this would happen when we came to the Ark.
But she’s like a comet shooting through my solar system, a blaze of light in the darkness.
Am I just going to observe her passing through?
Or am I going to encourage the collision?
“No,” I say, “that’s okay, I know you have to get Max ready for bed. But you’ll be at the party tomorrow?” It’s the staff Christmas party, and even though I’m not normally one for parties, it sounds as if it’s going to be fun.
“I’ll be there,” she says, and smiles.
She’s standing a few steps up, so as I move closer to her, we’re almost level. Her eyes flare. She knows I want to kiss her.
I lift a hand and cup her cheek. Her turquoise eyes stare into mine, and then she turns her head and kisses the inside of my wrist. Just that simple touch of her lips against my skin sends little electrical pulses through my system.
I really, really, like this girl. I can’t put my finger on why, but she takes my breath away.
Sliding my hand to the back of her neck, I move closer and lower my head.
“Mum! I can’t get the TV to come on.”
I drop my hand and move back hastily as Max comes out onto the deck. Isla looks at him, then, without looking at me, takes the remote control from his hand. “That’s because you were watching a DVD this morning. You need to change the HDMI channel, remember?”
“I tried that. It still doesn’t work.”
She clicks her tongue and goes into the house.
I slide my hands into the pockets of my shorts. Max stands in front of me, twisting another dinosaur in his hands.
“Were you going to kiss her?” he asks suspiciously.
I purse my lips. “I was thinking about it.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you want to kiss her?”
“Ah… because I like her, and it’s what you do when you like a girl.”
“Kissing’s yuck,” he says.
I stifle a laugh. “It is when you’re a kid. It’s not so bad when you’re a grown up.” I shouldn’t mock him, though. After everything he’s been through, it might be alarming for him to see his mother kissing another man. I’m well aware she’s not the only one I have to win over.
“Is that okay?” I ask softly. “Me kissing your mum?”
He studies his dinosaur. Then he looks inside, to where we can see her bending over the TV to check the plug. “She cries a lot.”
I frown. “Really?”
“When I’ve gone to bed. She thinks I can’t hear her, but I can.”
My heart goes out to both of them. “That’s very sad.”
“When she says your name, she smiles.”
My lips curve up a little. “That’s nice to know.”
He shrugs. “I guess it’s okay if you want to kiss her.”
I’m surprisingly pleased to have the seal of approval from a six-year-old. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” he says, which makes me laugh.
“All done.” Isla comes out. “We’d knocked the extension lead, that’s all.” She takes Max’s hand and smiles at me. “We’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yep. All ready for the party. Should be fun. Okay, have a nice evening.”
“Thank you so much for dinner. We had a great time, didn’t we?” She looks at her son, then back at me, her eyes hopeful.
“I told him he can kiss you,” Max says. “If he wants to.”
“Oh.” Her eyes flare again. “Goodness.”
“Are you going to kiss her now?” he asks me.
“Max!” She blushes then, her cheeks turning a beautiful fuchsia.
I chuckle and walk up the steps. “How about this?” I murmur, and I bend and touch my lips to her warm cheek, inhaling her perfume, which smells exotic, maybe with a touch of jasmine, perfect for a hot summer evening.
I lift my head and smile at her. “See you both tomorrow.”
“Goodnight.” Wow, those eyes are stunning. And within them is a spark of desire, and a promise of excitement, like the glitter of a parcel beneath the tree on Christmas Eve.
I don’t yet know how everything is going to work out. But as I walk away with Ghost, my heart is lighter than it has been for some time.
*
The next day is the twenty-third of December.
On Christmas Eve the Ark officially shuts until January the third, but even though it’s Christmas, the world doesn’t close.
Animals will still get sick, and unfortunately will still need to be rescued, so there will be a skeleton staff here working shifts.
I haven’t committed to any dates because I’d assumed I’d be leaving soon.
I thought about it a lot last night after leaving Isla.
I’m anxious about it, but I decided I can’t go back on it now.
I’ll do as Brock suggested and think about Archer’s offer over the next week.
Everything feels up in the air, like glitter suspended in the sunlight.
But in the morning, I spot Noah out in the Quad, helping to pin up some fairy lights, and take him to one side and tell him I’ll be staying until the New Year.
“Good,” he says with satisfaction. “That’s the best Christmas present anyone could have given me.”
“I’m flattered,” I say wryly. “I’ll tell Abby that after you’ve opened your parcels.”
He just chuckles. “I knew the Ark would work its magic on you both.” He looks over at where Ghost is running around the paddock with his German Shepherds, including the one in the wheelchair.
He’s right. Since coming here, and especially since meeting Max, Ghost has been like a new dog.
He even gave Elaine a lick this morning, much to her delight.
“You can come to my New Year party now.” Noah looks delighted.
“I’m not really one for parties…”
“Isla will be there.”
I blow out a breath. “All right.”
He grins and slaps me on the back. “Good man.”
I watch him walk away, lips twisting. The guy’s incorrigible. But he has a heart of gold, and I know he only wants everyone to be as happy as he is now, with Abby.
I discover that the Christmas party is pretty much an all-day thing.
Noah has hired a catering firm, and by ten a.m. they’ve set up a marquee over the Quad, strung more fairy lights, and placed round tables with white cloths all around.
At morning tea, the staff from the break room serve their usual tea and coffee, but also French hot chocolate, made with rich, dark, European chocolate, whole milk, and cream, with more whipped cream on top, as well as gingerbread frappes and a host of other festive drinks.
People come out in shifts, and there’s a steady flow of staff and visitors to sample the mince pies, Christmas cake, sausage rolls, tiny pies, and the cinnamon biscuits in the shape of Christmas trees and baubles that the kids have made in the Fox’s Den.
I don’t get to see much of Isla, although we exchange a few words and a smile in passing.
She’s busy in the Hotel, dealing with a couple of dogs who’ve had serious operations, and although she comes out for a mince pie, she’s talking to the other nurses and I get caught up with Archer and Jude, and before long she’s gone back into the building and it’s time to get back to work.
Lunchtime is similarly hectic. Everyone attempts to keep the Ark running and prepare for the holidays while still taking time to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
However, Hal and Izzy are called out at one point to retrieve a couple of dogs from a farm who it’s been reported have been left out in the sun, and they come back with a shocking four dogs, all of whom need immediate treatment.
There’s a little flurry of activity when the ambulance turns up, and the vets and nurses all disappear to deal with their injuries, while Jules and Remy in the grooming station rush off to deal with one of the dogs who’s severely matted.
I spend the day wandering in and out of the Forever Home, checking on the animals in there, helping out where I can, and also taking time to chat to the staff hanging out in the Quad.
At one point I take Max, Ollie, and a couple of the other kids over to the Petting Zoo and discover Archer over there, talking to Poppy about her views on whether teaching kids to be kind to animals helps ward off domestic violence.
“Are you still working?” I joke.
He chuckles. “Yeah, it’s time I went to the party.”
We wave goodbye to Poppy and, leaving the kids with her, we head back to the Ark. It’s mid-afternoon now, and someone’s playing Christmas songs over there, not too loud so it doesn’t frighten the animals, but loud enough so we can hear it across the paddock.
“It’s a nice idea to have the party here rather than head off to a bar or something,” I say. “It means everyone can carry on with their jobs and just join in when they want.”
“Yeah. Plus Noah says the Ark gets to join in the festivities.” Archer chuckles.
I look at the Ark, its white buildings glowing in the warm summer sunshine. “I know what he means. It’s an extension of Noah’s own personality, isn’t it? Compassionate and kind. It’s almost like a person in its own right.”
“Yeah, it does feel that way.”
“Do you think PAWS will become like the Ark one day?”