Chapter 39
W hile Alex concentrated on his phone, Martha leaned against Brian’s shoulder, the two of them having dozed off.
Their tiredness obviously the result of the evening’s ups and downs, my adrenaline rush had yet to properly wane.
I glanced around the carriage, trying to avoid looking at Gideon and Julia.
But as their eyes bored into me, their attention was hard to ignore.
Gideon gave me a slow disbelieving headshake. Sat, arms folded, his expression was mocking, as if turning down his marriage proposal was the biggest mistake of my life.
Mouth pinched, Julia’s expression couldn’t have been any more scathing if she’d tried.
Anyone would have thought I was the interloper in our sorry situation, not the other way round.
She, too, sat with her arms crossed over her chest and no doubt, like Gideon, relished the prospect of me spending the night on a train station platform.
I silently scoffed. Looking like a couple of bitter and twisted book ends, they didn’t spoil a pair. Revelling in their victimhood, they deserved each other.
I considered the events of the last month, for the first time grateful their affair had taken place. Without it, I’d have never fully understood Erin’s words of wisdom when she’d said some relationships weren’t supposed to last. People came and went at just the right time.
Gideon had never been able to see beyond himself and while I’d thought he’d been there for me after Gran had passed, we hadn’t really connected on any deep or meaningful level.
I supposed that was Erin’s point. We weren’t meant to.
Gideon was the bridge that led me from my old life with Gran to my new life without.
Be it because I was grieving, I felt beholden, or simple naivety, looking back, I’d been a fool to think we were in it for the long haul.
A part of me wondered if I should thank Julia. Without her, I could have ended up in a relationship that left me lonelier than I’d ever have been on my own.
Unable to stand the weight of their stares any longer, I reached for my belongings and rose to my feet.
Alex looked up from his phone. ‘Everything all right?’ As he manoeuvred himself out of my way, his expression was one of concern.
I smiled. ‘I just need to stretch my legs.’
I headed down the aisle and once through to the next carriage, continued to walk as far away from Gideon and Julia as possible.
Finally, my pathway came to an end, and I plonked myself down on the train’s very last seat.
Resigned to a night of pavement pounding, I looked skyward.
‘I hope you’re in a chatty mood, Gran,’ I said.
‘Because I’m going to need someone to talk to. ’
The train slowed, and the conductor appeared from his cabin. He jumped back in surprise. ‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph.’ Clutching his chest with one hand, he chuckled as he grabbed a headrest with his other. ‘There’s been enough shenanigans this evening without adding a heart attack into the mix.’
‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.’
‘This journey has been one surprise after another,’ the conductor said. ‘What with snowdrifts, newborns, and now you.’ He shook his head. ‘Never mind the last thirty years, after tonight alone I think I’ve earned this retirement.’
I smiled as he went off to carry out his final duties, at the same time steeling myself for what lay ahead. Aware I’d have to phone Erin at some point, I knew the least I could do was wait until daylight.
The train came to a stop and getting up from my seat, I picked up my tote bag and made my way to the exit.
The door open button went from red to green and as I pressed it and the door swished open, cold air blew in and whipped around me.
Disembarking, everywhere was covered in white but I was no longer in any mood for snow angels and footprint patterns.
Resigned, I doubted there’d be anywhere I could get a room and spotting a snow-free bench under the station canopy, I headed straight for it. Shoving my hands into my pockets, I sat down ready to consider my next move.
I heard voices coming from the car park and looking over, I saw Gideon’s parents appear.
‘Gideon!’ Serena called out as her son got off the train. ‘Thank goodness.’ She raced towards him. ‘We’ve been so worried.’
I rolled my eyes. Like he’d been in any danger.
Gideon kept his face forward as he marched straight past me.
Aware I had nowhere to go, he acted like I was invisible.
An onlooker would never have guessed we’d been in a relationship; they’d see nothing but two strangers.
I pitied Gideon for his stance. Leaving me on the street was obviously my punishment for rebuffing him.
Watching Julia struggle to keep up, I felt sorry for her too. Julia might not have been my favourite person in the world, but Gideon acted like she wasn’t there either.
‘You must be Julia?’ Serena said, throwing her arms around the woman.
I let out a laugh, realising I was one-hundred-per-cent right to think I’d invited myself to the Mayhews’.
Clocking me, Serena’s smile froze. She turned to her son. ‘Isn’t that…’
‘When you’re ready, Mother.’ Taking her arm, Gideon steered her back towards the car park.
‘Here you are,’ Alex said, joining me on the bench. ‘I was beginning to think you’d run off into the night.’
I would have done if I’d had somewhere to go. I shivered as cold penetrated my coat.
Alex took off his scarf and as he wrapped it around me, he paused, his face inches away from mine.
Butterflies fluttered in my tummy as I lost myself in his gaze until reality suddenly took hold, and I quickly diverted my attention. ‘Were you ever going to tell me about those two?’ I nodded in the direction of the car park.
‘I wanted to a number of times. Then when I did finally pluck up the courage…’
I cocked my head. ‘Did you? When?’
‘In the pub the other night.’
Cringing, I closed my eyes for a second. Having assumed he was about to declare his undying love, I recalled how I’d asked him not to.
Alex stuffed his hands under his armpits. ‘Would you have believed me if I had said something?’
I thought back to when Erin first suggested Gideon was up to no good. Calling the very idea preposterous, I’d insisted a man like him could never be unfaithful. I chuckled at my own stupidity. ‘Probably not. Although your sketch would have given you a compelling argument.’
‘I warned him to come clean the evening you introduced us. Although to be honest, I wasn’t surprised when he didn’t.’
Recalling Gideon’s self-serving arrogance, I wasn’t surprised either. ‘You must think I’m a real idiot.’
Alex looked at me direct. ‘Not at all.’ He rose to his feet. ‘Right, enough of this. Come on. Mum’ll be waiting for us.’
I looked at Alex, confused.
‘Well we can’t stay here. You’re one step away from your teeth chattering and my feet are already numb.
’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘You didn’t think I’d just leave you, did you?
Then again, with the madness of my lot, you might wish I had.
’ He smiled. ‘When it comes to Christmas, the more relaxed the better. Steel yourself, we don’t do formal. ’
Images of Christmases past with Gran flooded my mind. Having never thought I’d experience anything like them again, tears pricked my eyes.
‘Hey,’ Alex said, pulling me onto my feet. ‘We’re not that bad. Besides, you can’t talk. I’ve seen your Christmas tree, remember.’
I didn’t know if the evening’s events had caught up with me or whether it was down to the relief of having a bed for the night, but I suddenly felt overwhelmed. My eyes teared up even more and I found myself unable to speak.
Alex’s expression turned earnest. ‘Haven’t you realised yet?’
I still couldn’t find my voice.
‘I’m in love with you, Hattie. I have been since the first day I saw you with your navy duffel coat, green tights and blue wellies.’
I let out a laugh.
Alex raised my chin with his finger and forcing me to properly meet his gaze, his eyes searched mine.
As his words echoed around my head, I wanted to tell him I felt the same; that he was funny and handsome and smart and most importantly kind.
And that my Gran would love him as much as I did.
Usually when I was in Alex’s company, my mouth seemed to run away with itself, but in that moment, when it mattered more than ever, it failed me.
I felt his other hand press against my back.
Drawing me close, his expression intensified, and the now familiar fluttering took hold in my chest. Having been desperate for this moment, my heart quickened in nervous anticipation as, tentative, Alex’s soft warm lips brushed against mine.
Wanting more, I instinctively wrapped my arms around him and our kiss fell into a passionate rhythm that I didn’t want to end.
‘Alex!’ a female voice called out.
We both froze.
‘Put that poor girl down!’
Caught in the act, Alex and I giggled. ‘Merry Christmas,’ I said.
Continuing to smile, Alex planted a kiss on my forehead. ‘I hope you’re ready for this.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘And don’t say I didn’t warn you.’
Alex took my hand ready to introduce me to his mum, but I tugged on his arm stopping him from moving. ‘Alex, I need to say something first.’
He turned to look at me, his eyes questioning.
I smiled. ‘I love you too.’
THE END