We fell silent as we contemplated the growth we had both experienced in the past. For a moment, my mind wandered to Timothy as I wondered what he would do next, but I pushed the thought away firmly. He was not my responsibility, not my problem to solve, my damsel in distress who needed rescuing. I had far more pressing things to pay attention to, primarily the intense – I might even say smouldering – look that Lando was now directing at me.
‘Penny, all this is very interesting, and we could probably set ourselves up as self-help gurus on the back of it, but there is something much more important to me right now.’
Oh dear, maybe he had forgotten to feed the dogs?
‘What is it?’
‘Well, we’ve done an awful lot of talking but absolutely no kissing. What do you think?’
A jolt of electricity shot through my stomach, but I kept my voice casual.
‘Oh, yes, I suppose you’re right. Well, maybe it’s about time that was remedied.’
Lando took my hands and we both stood. Then, infinitely slowly, he slipped one hand up to my neck, pushing his fingers into my hair and, eventually, his lips met mine. As far as adventures go, the next couple of hours rivalled any exotic relocation or city bonus.
TWENTY-FIVE
As we had drifted off to sleep in the early hours of the morning, the snow had started falling, and when I woke up that Christmas Eve morning, I saw immediately through the huge window that the entire garden was carpeted with white. The sun was shining bravely and the resulting light that suffused the studio was bright and clear. Lando was sitting at his workbench, a position that was becoming wonderfully familiar to me, with the Nativity figures all standing in front of him as he worked on one. They glowed in the pale sunlight, and I saw now that he was rubbing some sort of wax into them with a cloth.
‘Good morning,’ I said, pulling the duvet up a little shyly around my chin. Howdidone segue elegantly from being naked in bed to some sort of morning normality? Lando turned around and beamed at me, washing away my awkwardness.
‘Good morning, Penny,’ he said, coming over, sitting on the side of the bed and taking my hand. ‘How are you?’
I beamed back at him.
‘Wonderful, actually. You?’
‘Very, very happy.’
For a moment, we grinned giddily at each other, then he leant forward to kiss me. It was some little while before either of us spoke again, and then it was a very welcome question from Lando.
‘Would you like a coffee?’
‘Oh yes, please, I’d love one. What time is it?’
‘Horribly early, I’m afraid. That’s the one problem with sleeping in the studio; these windows don’t let you sleep past the very first hint of sunlight.’
I snuggled back under the duvet as he pottered around with cups and a cafetiere.
‘What are you doing to the Nativity? I thought it was finished?’
‘I’m putting on a final layer of olive wax – it should protect it for a good few years before it needs doing again, as long as no one puts it in the dishwasher or any other such sacrilege.’
I laughed.
‘Surely, no one would do that.’
‘Don’t be so sure. They needed a whole new set because someone took it upon themselves to refresh the paint on the other one, and they all ended up looking like Beano characters.’
My hand flew to my mouth.
‘Oh no, how awful.’
‘It was awful, I saw them. But I’m glad because it gave me this wonderful commission. Come over and see. Here, you can put this on.’
He threw me a shirt, which I grabbed gratefully and pulled on over my underwear, swiftly located, then I climbed out of bed and went to see his work.
‘Oh Lando, it’s so beautiful. The church will be thrilled with what you’ve done. Although that radiant figure of Mary is in direct contrast to its model this morning.’ I struck a vampish pose, and we giggled.
