Chapter Sixteen
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Ellie groaned and leaned back in her chair, her hands moving to her engorged belly. ‘I’m full as a goog. I don’t think I can move.’
Across the table, Noah snorted. ‘Rookie. As good as Mum’s roast lamb is—’ he raised his glass to Celia, ‘—you should’ve left room for trifle. Never mind, though, all the more for me.’
‘Like hell!’ Ellie scoffed without moving a muscle. ‘There’s always room for trifle. Don’t you know me at all?’
Noah glanced at Beth and winked, causing her to fumble the stem of her wine glass. She managed to save the contents from spilling at the last second and thank goodness, too, because she needed every drop to calm her nerves.
Mick, who was under strict instructions from Celia not to consume any alcohol because of his angina, declared it time to open presents, and Charlotte and Ollie, Noah’s niece and nephew, leapt up from the table and raced each other to the Christmas tree.
‘Beth, I need your help,’ Ellie whined, clawing at her arm. ‘Would you be so kind as to roll me into the living room?’
‘Don’t do it, Beth,’ Noah warned as he stood and directed a pitiful look at Ellie. ‘She’s only got herself to blame.’
Celia clucked her tongue and patted Noah’s cheek. ‘Don’t be cruel to your cousin. Where’s your Christmas spirit?’
‘At the of your trifle bowl, I think.’ He turned for the kitchen. ‘Should I go check?’
‘Heathen!’ Ellie hissed.
Celia got Beth’s attention as they followed Mick into the living room.
‘Is everything okay?’
Beth smiled brightly and nodded. ‘Mm-hmm.’
She winced, thinking she’d probably injected too much enthusiasm into that response, but she was trying to compensate for the fact that her excitement was being overshadowed by her uncertainty and confusion and she didn’t want to dampen anyone’s special day.
Since the moment she’d arrived, she’d been far too preoccupied to enjoy herself.
Her thoughts were elsewhere—specifically, up on the hill, standing by the house her father had lived in, on land her forebears had owned, getting thoroughly kissed by the son of the woman who now stood before her.
Needless to say, Noah’s kiss had absolutely derailed her. Ever since it’d happened, she’d been stressing big time. She had zero experience in managing relationships, romantic or otherwise, so how on earth was she meant to navigate this minefield?
What had it meant? How would it affect things between them? Had they ruined everything? Would it impact her friendship with Ellie?
She’d asked Noah not to mention what had happened between them to Ellie. They both knew how she’d take the news—and enthusiastically would be a massive understatement—but in truth, Beth needed time to think, and for the past two days, that was all she’d done.
And she’d come to the conclusion that they’d made a mistake.
Her goal hadn’t changed. She had a secure job in Queensland and her dream home was as good as hers, all she had to do was sign on the dotted line. She would not let a kiss distract her from the things she’d always wanted.
So, now all she had to do was get through the day—and avoid being alone with Noah at all costs. Besides, who knew, maybe he’d been caught up in the heat of the moment and had come to the same conclusion she had.
In the living room, Charlotte and Ollie poked and prodded the presents under the tree.
Their parents, Sarah and Ethan, watched them from the armchair they both occupied, while Noah stood in the corner of the room, overseeing all the action.
Celia joined Mick on one of the couches, while Ellie was sprawled on the other.
Beth crossed the room and took the free seat next to Ellie, all too aware of Noah standing beside her.
Mick rose from the couch holding two Santa hats. ‘It’s tradition in our family for the youngest two members to hand out the presents. So—’ his gaze travelled around the room, ‘—who here is the youngest?’
Ollie jumped to his feet, clamouring for Mick’s attention. ‘It’s meeee, Gwandad, I’m da youngest! And Sarlotte.’
Mick looked down at his grandson as if he only just noticed he was in the room. ‘Oh, so you are! Here you go, cobber. Let’s see how well you and your sister hand out the gifts.’
The kids donned their Santa hats and got to work, Charlotte helping Ollie decipher the names on the gift tags.
They took turns handing them out, one at a time, and with each gift that was opened, Beth sank further into the couch cushions, revelling in the joy and togetherness.
This was what she’d been missing. This was everything she’d yearned for growing up.
She focused on being present in the moment, and for a while, she managed to do just that. Until Ollie handed Noah a gift.
‘Ooh, that’s from me!’ Ellie said.
‘Cheers, Elle.’ Noah leaned over Beth and gave Ollie a high five, then tore the wrapping from an ugly Christmas vest.
Ellie snorted with laughter. ‘Put it on, then!’
Apparently not one to back away from a challenge, Noah stuck his beer bottle between his knees, yanked his T-shirt off and pulled the gaudy knitted vest over his head.
Beth’s momentary glimpse of his bare chest sent her right back up the hill and had her melting into a puddle at his feet all over again.
‘This one says “Beth”,’ Charlotte announced.
Jerking in response to her name, Beth stared stupidly at the little girl and the present she held. Someone had given her a gift?
She tried to recall the last present she’d received, only she couldn’t. All she knew for certain was that it would’ve been from Rosie before she got too sick to do anything more than lie in bed.
A lump formed in Beth’s throat as she accepted a tiny navy box wrapped in a gold silk ribbon. She flipped over the gift tag, her hands shaking. To Beth, from Ellie.
‘Go on!’ Ellie nudged Beth in the ribs. ‘Open it.’
Her nerves heightened with everyone watching, Beth tugged the bow loose and lifted the lid off the box. Inside was a key.
‘It’s to the B&B!’ Ellie announced, then clasped her hands together as if she were waiting for Beth to grasp the significance of the gift.
Clearly, Beth looked as confused as she felt—she already had a key to the B&B.
‘You’ll notice it’s not attached to a guest tag,’ Ellie explained. ‘I refuse to let you keep paying for your room. You can stay with me, free of charge, for as long as you want.’
‘Ellie, that’s not—’
‘It’s what friends do for each other.’ Ellie bumped her shoulder against Beth’s. ‘Okay?’
Beth shook her head. ‘I can’t accept this, Elle. It’s too much.’
‘You know it’s pointless arguing, right?’ Noah said, the built-in lighting in his sweater vest flashing.
Ellie lifted a shoulder, as if to say, It’s true.
Beth hesitated—she couldn’t help it—but Noah was right. Resistance was futile.
She threw an arm around Ellie’s shoulders and gave her a peck on the cheek. ‘Thank you, Ellie.’
Next, Charlotte and Ollie handed out the gifts Beth had placed under the tree—a boxed gingerbread biscuit, large and intricately designed, for each person.
Making gingerbread was one of her personal Christmas traditions, and she’d been perfecting her recipe and refining her decorating skills since the age of fourteen.
Her heart expanded each time someone opened their box and glimpsed their personalised treat.
‘You made these?’ Mick looked impressed as he studied the biscuit she’d created for him—a gingerbread farmer wearing a Santa hat. ‘It almost looks too good to eat,’ he said and winked at her. ‘But I will.’ He bit off one of the farmer’s boots.
Beth laughed, then, against her better judgement, peeked up at Noah to see what he thought of his decorated biscuit.
Chuckling to himself, he reached into the box and pulled out the gingerbread man whose bright red construction helmet paired nicely with his candy cane–inspired hammer. Holding it up beside his face, he caught her eye and waggled his brows. ‘Great likeness.’
She couldn’t help grinning. Why did he have to be so cute?
The gift-giving continued and Beth was handed another present, this time by Ollie.
‘From Mick and Celia,’ Beth said, fingering the tag, then offered Noah’s parents a grateful smile, feeling slightly more comfortable with the attention this time around. Reaching into the gift bag, she pulled out a stunning silver picture frame. ‘Oh, it’s gorgeous!’
She ran her fingers over the smooth bevelled edge, her gaze landing on the stock image of—
Her breath hitched. A much younger version of her mother smiled up at her.
The freckles on her nose appeared less pronounced, her sun-kissed skin darker than Beth remembered.
Behind her, a man stood with his arms wrapped around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder.
The white shirt he wore made his green eyes pop.
This was no stock image. These were her parents.
Bryce was at least five years older than he’d been in the photo hanging on Noah’s wall, the one with Mick and his parents, taken when they sat around the dining table.
His jawline was stronger in this image and he had a small scar above his right eyebrow.
Tears sprang to her eyes when she noticed the way his lips curved.
He looked so content to be holding Rosie in his arms.
‘I found it when I went searching for photos of Bryce,’ Celia told her, a slight frown marring her features. ‘I wanted to do something special with it, but I … I didn’t even consider that it might be upsetting for you. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—’
‘No, Celia, it’s perfect!’ And she meant it. Because here was visible evidence that her parents had loved each other. The gift was so incredibly thoughtful and meaningful, perhaps more so than any gift she’d ever received. Her heart was so full right now—which was absolutely terrifying.