“You look good with a baby,” she told her.
Ali grabbed Camille’s hands in hers and gave Morgan a look. “Don’t be getting ideas.” Camille danced on Ali’s lap, rocking her tiny bum back and forth. “Although you are cute, aren’t you? Happy birthday, Camille. What a year it’s been. I hope your first year of life has been as good as my most recent.”
Morgan leaned over and kissed Ali’s cheek. “Couldn’t possibly be,” she told her.
* * *
They walked backto Morgan’s family home, even though it was a 45-minute trek. Morgan had favoured getting in the cab with her parents, but Ali had insisted on the walk to get some air. Plus, it was still snowing lightly, and she wanted to make the most of it.
“You love snow, now, admit it.” Ali snaked an arm through Morgan’s.
“It’s the most romantic thing ever,” Morgan replied, one eyebrow raised. “Did you have a good Christmas Day? The first one with our blended families?”
“It was the best. Fab to bring everyone together, and I think it’s really helped Mum to have your family around this year. We all still miss Dad, but with so much love and laughter in the air, you don’t get as much time to mope, do you?”
That was the plain truth. This year had been hard, but they’d got through all the milestones once now: Dad’s birthday, Christmas, her parents’ anniversary, Father’s Day. She knew grief appeared at odd times, but she also knew that with Morgan by her side, and her family strong and happy back home, she could cope. Life had a funny way of working itself out sometimes. This was one of those times when all her stars had aligned. Especially now Morgan was moving to New York to be with her.
Sometimes, Ali felt like she was living in the pages of a romance novel, but it was actually her life. She woke up grateful they’d reconnected every single day.
“We’re driving back the day after Boxing Day?”
Up above, the stars twinkled at them, just as they had the year before. To Ali’s right, a neon bar sign flashed on and off in the front window of a house, proclaiming to the world they had ‘Cocktails!’ Had anybody ever knocked and asked for one?
“Yep,” Morgan replied, blowing out a breath of smoky air. “I’ve got a bit of work to do, and then it’s a Hogmanay party for the ages at yours, right?”
“At Tobias’s flat, not mine. He’s fully paying the rent now he’s officially moved in and not just house-sitting. Means we’re not responsible for clear-up, which suits me fine.”
“I’ll second that.” Morgan pulled Ali close. “I heard from Imogen and Sam. They’re coming to the party, bringing a couple of their friends, too.” They’d met up with Imogen and Sam when they were back in Glasgow in the summer, and got on great. Imogen never tired of telling the story of how they met, and how she knew Ali and Morgan should be together before they did. Ali knew it would come up again at New Year.
“The party will be heaving, but that’s just the way Tobias would want it. He’d be so ashamed if nobody came.”
“He doesn’t have to worry,” Morgan replied. “Did I tell you he knitted me a scarf after I told him I liked yours?”
Ali nodded. She was thrilled that Morgan and Tobias got on so well. They met up when she wasn’t there, and Morgan’s new scarf was a warm grey colour with blue hues. It really brought out the flecks of teal in her gorgeous eyes. Tobias had also adopted Snowy the cat, but Ali and Morgan were both frequent visitors.
“The morning after, can we go to Francesco’s for a dirty hangover sandwich?”
“Of course, I would expect nothing else.” Morgan stopped Ali under a streetlight, then before she could say a word, she leaned down and kissed her.
All Ali’s thoughts flew from her head, and her feet lifted off the ground. Or at least, that’s how it felt. Morgan’s kisses had that effect on her. She only wished she’d started having them earlier in her life. But now she had them, she would never let them go.
She stared up into her rich gaze. “Today has been ideal. Just like you. I love you, Morgan Scott.” She never tired of saying it.
The skin around Morgan’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. “I love you, too, Alison Bradford. My original glass-half-empty girl, now transformed into a glass half full.”
Ali frowned. “I reserve the right to be glass half empty when I want to be.”
“Of course you do.” Morgan laughed, then kissed her again. “You think we’ll be in New York for Christmas next year? They have a Ferris wheel on Coney Island. I looked it up. Perhaps we could go when I move.”
Ali gave her a doubting look. “No fucking way you’re getting me back on one of those again.”
“Not even if I promise to kiss you again?”
“I can kiss you any time now. I don’t need to be 100ft off the ground to do it.”
“Although my kisses sweep you off your feet, right? Just so we’re clear?”
Ali rolled her eyes. She was incorrigible. “You’re a fucking magician,” she told her. “Happy?”
Morgan grinned. “I really am. More than I ever thought possible.”
The End
