Chapter 29
CHRISTMAS EVE
I stuck the last piece of Sellotape onto the sewing kit I’d wrapped for Ewan. I wouldn’t normally gift wrap items, but seeing the six-year old’s eyes light up made the extra service worth it. ‘There you go,’ I said, handing the package to him.
Ewan looked to his dad. ‘Do you think Mum will like it?’
Aiden grinned. ‘She’ll love it.’ He turned his attention to me. ‘Thanks for this. We’d have made a complete mess of it.’ He ruffled the little boy’s hair. ‘Wouldn’t we, Ewan?’
I took in the pair of them. There was no denying they were father and son. They wore identical, black-framed glasses, matching bobble hats that sat too far back from their foreheads, and both their coat collars were stuck up at one side.
It was hard not to smile as I pictured the duo attempting the task themselves.
Ewan with his tongue out as he concentrated on a paper fold.
Aiden, all fingers and thumbs, trying and failing to position lengths of tape in just the right place.
Holding it up to assess their efforts, the result was a chaotic mess of a gift.
I couldn’t imagine anything more adorable.
‘I’m sure you’d have managed.’ Noting their matching scuffed shoes, I shook my head with a chuckle as I followed them to the exit.
‘Merry Christmas,’ they said as Aiden took Ewan’s hand and they went on their way.
I checked my watch as I waved them off and seeing it was 5pm, I locked the door. The shop had been mad busy all day thanks to the rush of last-minute Christmas shoppers, and as I flipped the open sign to closed, I looked forward to a few days off.
I was keen to start my Yuletide break with Gideon. His parents’ house might not have been my first choice of festive venue, but for our relationship’s sake, I was determined to make the most of it. ‘Christmas, here we come,’ I said.
Upstairs, I popped my head into the lounge.
Observing the madness of my vibrant and joyful tree, I recalled Christmases past when Gran and I would race into the room and ransack the pile of presents sat below its branches.
Clocking the stack of board games, it saddened me to think they wouldn’t get played.
I’d been looking forward to a romantic evening of Baileys and backgammon.
Turning my attention to the stockings on the mantel, I sighed.
When it came to l’amour , festive or otherwise, I doubted Serena would appreciate us canoodling by her fire.
I supposed on the plus side, everything would still be there to enjoy in the new year.
Something to look forward to after all the oohing and ah-ing I was about to partake in.
I frowned at the growing lump of anxiety in the pit of my stomach, already dreading what might follow The Atkins Diet for Beginners .
Remember it’s your Christmas too, Gran said.
Realising she was right, a mischievous smile spread across my lips.
If I was going to be part of the Mayhew family there was no reason why I couldn’t transplant some of my own traditions.
I raced over and grabbed the box of Connect 4, along with the tatty primary school crown that sat with it. I smiled. ‘Let the games begin.’
I jolted my head at the sound of laughter coming from the kitchen. Curious as to what was so funny, I headed across the landing to find out. Gideon was still chuckling when I entered the room and intrigued, I watched him scroll on his phone.
Sensing my presence, he hastily placed it face down on the table and began tapping on his laptop keyboard. ‘It’s not that time already, is it?’ he asked, as I placed the board game down next to him.
My gaze went from him to my to-do list on the counter. Having landed at mine earlier than planned, Gideon had promised to get started on it. ‘I thought you’d finished work until new year?’
Gideon continued to type. ‘I’ve been asked to finalise a report, but it’s taking forever.’
I shook my head, tempted to point out time wasted playing on his phone won’t have helped. Switching on the radio, Boney M’s ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ rang out, and I sang along as I opened the fridge and pulled out what I needed to make our travel picnic.
‘At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if we miss the train.’
Being the last service out, that was not an option. I fell silent mid-lyric, and scowling, I turned to face Gideon. ‘Then you better hurry up because we can’t stay here. Unless you want a plate of chips for Christmas dinner.’
Gideon grimaced and put a hand on his tummy. ‘I’m not sure my stomach’s ready for all the trimmings anyway. I can’t seem to get over whatever concoction Richard put in front of me.’
I eyed the half empty digestive biscuit packet on the table next to his computer. ‘Nothing to do with those then?’ I indicated the ham sandwiches I was about to prepare. ‘Mayonnaise or mustard?’
‘I’m wondering if I might be better heading back to mine. You know, give the whole Christmas thing a miss.’
Butter knife in hand, I glared at Gideon, not quite believing what I was hearing.
‘Feeling the way I do, it’s not like I’m going to be much company. Plus I don’t know when I’ll finish this.’ He nodded to his laptop.
Fully aware of how much I loved Christmas, pain or no pain, work or no work, my boyfriend had to be joking. ‘Your parents are expecting both of us, Gideon. It’s not like I can turn up on my own.’
‘I’m not suggesting you go without me.’
‘Then what are you suggesting?’ Putting the knife down, I leaned my back against the kitchen counter and folded my arms. ‘That I spend Christmas here? On my own.’
‘No. I just…’ Gideon turned sheepish. ‘Forget about it. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.’ His mobile vibrated, signalling a call coming through. As it rattled against the table surface, Gideon let it ring.
‘Aren’t you going to answer that?’ I asked.
Picking it up, he checked the screen. Rubbing his forehead, he sighed. ‘I don’t think I should.’ He looked at the caller ID for a second time. ‘It’s work.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘You may as well go ahead. I can see you’re dying to.’ I gave him a stern look. ‘But…’ I said, stopping him from hitting the button. ‘…you quit with all this rubbish about cancelling Christmas and forget your stomach until after Boxing Day.’
He sighed. ‘Deal.’ He gestured to the landing. ‘I’ll take it out there.’
I snapped off the radio hoping to listen in, but Gideon’s voice was muffled.
Straining to hear, while I couldn’t catch his words, his tone was clearly short and snappy.
Considering it was after office hours on Christmas Eve, his irritation was hardly surprising and wondering what could be so important, I tiptoed over to the door to properly eavesdrop.
‘You can’t expect me to…’ Gideon said.
With the door slightly ajar, I peeked through the gap to see him pacing up and down.
‘That’s easy for you to say…’ He stopped still. ‘I know I’ve had plenty of time but…’
Listening to him try and get a word in, my heart went out to Gideon.
I knew he’d said his bosses were forever breathing down his neck, but from what I could hear their attitude bordered on bullying.
After all the hours he’d put in of late, I hated the fact they expected more.
I closed my eyes as guilt enveloped me. I hated the fact that I hadn’t believed him when he’d said he’d been working late.
‘I’ll do it in the new year.’ Grimacing, Gideon fast pulled the phone away from his ear, making it clear the caller had raised their voice.
Gideon put the receiver back to his ear.
‘I get that. I just don’t know what else to say.
’ Looking pained, he ran a hand through his hair.
‘Look, I’ve got to go. I’ll speak to you in a few days. ’
Secretly cheering Gideon on for sticking up for himself, I raced back to my position at the counter before he caught me spying. I flicked the radio back on. ‘Everything okay?’ I asked, playing innocent as Gideon re-entered the room.
‘Sorry?’ He pulled himself together. ‘Er, yes. I’m fine.’
He didn’t look fine. He looked ashen.
‘It’s that report I mentioned,’ he said, still half distracted. ‘Like I said, they wanted it sooner rather than later.’