Dylan shook his head, smiling. ‘It’s not a good combination. It assaults the senses and gives you a massive flavour hit but all those ingredients taste so much better on their own. Individually you can fully appreciate each of them for what they are.’
She pulled a face. ‘I think you should stick to web design rather than analogies.’
‘You could be right there.’ He turned serious. ‘Do you see what I mean?’
‘I think so.’
He waited for her to look at him. ‘Some day, I know you’ll meet a man who defies your expectations. But that man isn’t me. And I don’t want you to mould yourself into what you think I want you to be. That’s not love and it isn’t a marriage.’
When the kids ran in, Prue dried her eyes before she was dragged into the living room so she could see the end of the movie. And after Dylan had rummaged in the pantry and the freezer and pulled out enough ingredients to make a dinner for them, he stood to the side of the living room door and discreetly watched Prue with her children. They were snuggled in close, one under an arm each, and the picture was beautiful. It wasn’t a family of four all together any more, but they were still a family, just with a different definition.
And now Dylan knew what he had to do. Seeing Prue today and finally telling her it was over made it clear to him how he felt about Cleo. And even though she’d been offered a store back in England to run, maybe he could do something to change that. Maybe he could convince Cleo she had a future in New York.
He had no idea whether his plan was going to work, but he did know he’d hate himself if he didn’t try.
24
THE LITTLE KNITTING BOX, WEST VILLAGE, NEW YORK CITY
‘Merry Christmas, Mrs Schwartz.’ Cleo handed over the brown paper bag containing the duck-egg blue yarn her customer was using to knit a cardigan for her baby grandson who had come into the world in time for Christmas.
It was Christmas Eve and New York was in the full Christmas swing. The air was cool, a few flakes of snow fluttered down with the promise of more to come, and everywhere outside people bustled about on their way to and from parties, in search of last minute gifts, hauling home bursting bags of groceries to feed the masses on the big day tomorrow. Three children were with their mother looking in the window of the Little Knitting Box, marvelling at the fireplace, the stockings, the brightly wrapped present boxes and surrounding fairy lights.
Kaisha stood next to Cleo at the cash register and rang up another sale while Cleo moved to the next customer. The process was exhausting but expected, and it wasn’t long before Cleo’s tummy groaned at the anticipation of warming up a bowl of soup in the microwave out back. This time tomorrow she’d be in Connecticut with Grandpa Joe for Christmas and they could light a fire, hang out their stockings, and wait for Santa together.
‘Are you looking forward to seeing your family?’ Cleo asked Kaisha.
‘I am. My sister has been travelling the world with her boyfriend so I haven’t seen her for twelve months. I can’t wait. And my dad wasn’t too well last year so it’ll be good to see him sitting at the head of the table again.’
Cleo patted her employee and friend on the shoulder. ‘It will be a wonderful day.’
‘I’ll bet your dad can’t wait to see you in the New Year.’
Cleo had told her employee of her travel plans. ‘He’s pretty excited.’
‘Are you?’
‘Of course. It’ll be good to see him and Teresa. And it’s time I went back to England.’ Now she’d worked through her difficulties with her stepmother, being at the family home took on an entirely new meaning and she couldn’t wait to see them both.
‘Do you want to take a break for lunch?’ she asked Kaisha.
Kaisha waved a hand. ‘I had a doughnut with my coffee this morning. You go first.’
‘Thanks. I’ll be out back.’ Cleo looked around at customers perusing but nobody looked as though they needed her help just yet.
‘I’ll call you if I need you.’ Kaisha said as she went over to the haberdashery with a box of buttons to replenish. Novelty buttons seemed to be selling well in time for Christmas and they were just about out, although Cleo supposed she should be thinking about running the stock down soon anyway.
Cleo warmed a bowl of minestrone soup she’d brought in from home. She ate it with a couple of slices of granary bread and was grateful of the full feeling in her tummy. The telephone stopped her going straight back to Kaisha, and when she answered her heart plummeted.
‘I can’t believe you’re sick.’ She couldn’t hide her disappointment when Grandpa Joe told her he had a bug and she shouldn’t come for Christmas. ‘You were fine when I spoke to you earlier.’
‘It came on all of a sudden.’
‘I’ll come over anyway, you’ll need looking after.’ She also wanted to tell him she was going to England in the New Year, chat with him about her plans.
‘Nonsense. I’ve got Maggie here.’ Maggie’s voice echoed out a hello in the background. ‘She was a nurse once so she’s taking precautions not to get it herself, she’s giving me plenty of fluids, and I just need to rest. I’m disappointed we won’t have the day together but I’m sure I’ll be better before long.’
Cleo sent her love and assured Grandpa Joe she’d be fine, she’d visit friends and have a very special day anyway. But when she hung up the phone she knew that wasn’t true. Violet and Robert were heading to Boston to stay with her sister for the holidays and Kaisha had commitments too. It looked like it was going to be Christmas for one this year.
