Morgan leaned forward and keyed in the details to their sat nav. “It’s 12:15, and sat nav reckons it’ll take five and a half hours to get to the airport. What are the chances?”
“We’re going to make it. I need my case.” Ali adjusted her seat, then her mirrors. “Only essential loo breaks, otherwise we’ll just drive. Then another hour to get home after that.”
“So long as we don’t break down again.”
“Don’t jinx it!”
“You think this trip isn’t already jinxed?”
“Fair point.” Ali smiled, then settled her hands on the steering wheel. She nodded to the imposing main building on their right. “This is where it all began. The Ferris wheel. The snow. That kiss.” Ali paused. “I know it’s been a clusterfuck of bad luck, but there’s been some good, too, wouldn’t you say? Plus, I might not be Christmas-crazy like your family, but I’ve always loved Christmas Eve. A time when anything is possible. I think this Christmas Eve is living up to that billing, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.” Morgan licked her lips.
Ali reached out and put a hand on Morgan’s thigh.
Morgan trembled under her touch.
As amazing as that felt, she knew they had to talk. That she had to tell her. Morgan had bought her a gingerbread pub and nearly made her cry, after all.
“But while I love your nostalgia, I’m hoping one of those possibilities is that we can get home today. You think we can give it a go?” She brought Ali’s hand to her lips and kissed it. “I’ve no idea if that’s allowed, but I just did it. Shall we see if we can find some festive songs on the radio and style out the awkwardness?” She gave Ali a shy smile.
In response, and even though her mind screamed at her to stop, Ali leaned over and planted a smacker on Morgan’s lips. So quick and so sure, it was almost like it didn’t happen.
But Ali’s body knew. She sucked in an unsteady breath before she dared to look Morgan’s way.
“There are many things I find awkward, but kissing you isn’t one of them.”
Way to go muddying the playing field, Ali.
She tapped the furry festive dice, rescued from the old car, and started the engine. “Let’s go home, shall we?”
* * *
Ali cutthe engine and unclicked her seat belt. Her tongue felt furry and her eyes tired. They’d made it to the airport in five and a half hours, just like the sat nav promised. Incredibly, traffic had been light, and they’d amused themselves with the radio and a little light chat. But nothing heavy. No mention of last night, of her dad, of their future. The weight of the unspoken hovered in the air, but they both skilfully avoided it. Morgan had even slept through some of their journey, while Ali had run through every ending they might have. None of them came out with the word ‘happy’ stamped on the front. ‘Wrong place, wrong time’ was the verdict in all of her disappointing day dreams.
But for now, with transport on their trip finally working, she was going to put a brave face on it. They just had to collect their luggage and get home. Then she’d deal with whatever came her way. One hour at a time.
“Everything okay?” Morgan’s gentle, concerned voice broke into her thoughts.
Ali blinked, then nodded. “All fine.” She stared at Morgan, gulped, then got out of the car.
A gust of icy wind whipped through her. She shivered and got her duffel coat and scarf from the backseat. She waited for Morgan to get her coat before they both scuttled to the terminal. Once inside, they stamped their feet as if shaking off the cold. It wasn’t snowing like it had been up north, but it was still the kind of cold that burrowed into your bones. Ali glanced around and located the luggage desk in seconds.
The bloke behind the counter was dressed in what looked like his school uniform. He scowled when they approached. It was 6pm on Christmas Eve. He probably wasn’t best pleased to be at work. “Can I help?” His accent was pure Devon, and immediately made Ali relax. She knew this place. Despite not living here anymore, it was still home.
“We’re picking up our cases from the delayed Glasgow flight. Loganair LM4015?” She tried to put as much pep in her speech as possible to show the man she appreciated him still being here at six o’clock on Christmas Eve.
“You’re lucky. I was just about to close up and go home.” He eyed them over his glasses. “Do you want to come and identify your luggage?”
They followed him through and immediately saw their cases. Relief swept through Ali. Maybe things on this trip had turned a corner.
“You’ve both got the same case?”
Ali nodded. “We do.”
“Two-for-one deal?” He gave Ali a knowing smile.
Did he think they were a couple too, just like Helen and Jamie? It seemed like everyone did bar them.
