Chapter 42
Seb clearly didn’t care about the cold or the snow and I shook my head and giggled at the sight of him charging towards us in his blue pyjamas, red fleecy dressing gown, and tiger head slippers. I couldn’t deny how cute the little boy looked and with his hair wet and brushed back off his face, it was evident he wasn’t long out of the bath. “We thought we’d come and say Merry Christmas,” I said.
He slowed in his step, his eyes narrowing as he neared us. “Who are you?” he asked Oliver, his expression a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
Oliver crouched down to Seb’s level. “I’m Ollie.” He held out his hand by way of a formal introduction. “Pleased to meet you at last.”
As Seb accepted the gesture, he seemed to give Oliver the once-over, before turning his attention to me. “Antonia?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“You never saidyouhad a special friend too.”
I bit down on my lips, not sure how to respond.
“You told me all your friends were in London.”
“Sebastian, what are you doing?” Lizzie’s voice resounded from the house. “Get back inside this minute.”
I smiled at Lizzie’s annoyance and the use of her son’s Sunday name.
“You’re going to catch your death out there.”
As Seb looked at Oliver again, he slowly shook his head and sighed. “Women,” he said. He turned and doing as he was told, moseyed back towards his front door.
Oliver rose to his feet, clearly amused by the little boy. But I could see his mind was still on our conversation. “I’m not giving up,” he said, smiling. “Please, just think about it.”
The last time I’d been asked to think about something, I’d ended up being roped into hosting Christmas lunch. “Oliver,” I said. “It’s…”
“Did you know…?” a familiar voice interrupted.
I looked round to see Jason coming towards us.
“…that every Christmas Eve in Caracas, people don’t just go to church any old how? They roller-skate there.”
I smiled, knowing if Jason had told me that when I’d first met him, I wouldn’t have believed a word of it.
“It’s a tradition so popular, that roads across the whole city are closed so that everyone can skate to church in safety.”
Oliver laughed. “Now that I’d love to see.”
Jason lowered his voice to a whisper. “I take it you’re here to see Santa as well?”
“Who else?” I said.
Oliver smiled. He held an arm out, indicating I should lead the way. “After you, special friend,” he said. He gave me a wink, for which I gave him a playful nudge.
As we reached the door, Lizzie herded us all inside. “Here, let me take your coats.”
Unlike at Aunt Lillian’s, there was no stepping into a hallway. The front entrance of Lizzie’s cottage opened straight into its living room. The space was cosy and warm courtesy of the small wood burner in the chimney breast, and serene, I noted, thanks to the neutrals and beiges it was decorated in. Even the Christmas tree adornments were of the same palette and taking in the room’s neatness, I couldn’t help but wonder how she kept it so immaculate with a young child.
“Please, sit down, everyone,” Lizzie said. “I’ll get you all a drink.”
Seb sat on the deep, squidgy cream sofa. He was barefooted, I noticed, and his slippers lay on top of the wood burner, no doubt, drying after he’d worn them outside in the snow. His eyes lit up as soon as he saw Jason. “Have you come to wish us a Merry Christmas too?” he asked, excited by everyone’s presence.
“I have,” Jason replied. He took the seat next to Seb, while Oliver and I settled on an armchair each. “Are you all ready for tomorrow?” Jason asked.
“I am,” Seb replied, confident.
