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.Thiswas what she’d been missing.Thiswas 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.
