‘Fine,’ she conceded, having no energy to argue. ‘Text me the full address so I don’t get lost.’
‘Of course I will.’ He kissed her gently on the lips and this time she let him, although Nathan’s face was right there again. ‘I’ll leave you to it. See you tomorrow. A nice meal, fine wine, overlooking Manhattan, you’ll love it.’
Once Paul left she turned her attention back to Kyle trying to ignore the fact that once again her sister only had a backseat view of her son’s life. That had to stop and Nathan’s visit tonight proved it. Finding Kyle and Scarlett together, discovering the packet of condoms – it all showed that this was beyond what Amelia could do as an auntie. Kyle needed his one remaining parent and Connie would have to step up whether she liked it or not. No wonder Paul had walked away. It must’ve been frustrating to watch the woman he was with give in to her sister’s demands over and over again.
She knocked on Kyle’s bedroom door. ‘Can we talk?’
The door swung open. ‘Is Paul still here?’
‘He’s gone to his hotel.’
‘Thank God for that.’
‘Kyle.’
‘He never liked me.’ She didn’t deny it. ‘What’s he doing here anyway? Come to ruin the fun? I thought you two split up ages ago.’
‘We did, but right now it’s not about me. Care to tell me exactly what’s been going on with Scarlett?’
But his attention turned to the parcel on the countertop he’d neglected to see earlier. Perhaps it would be a good way to calm him before they talked further. ‘That came for you yesterday but you’ve barely been here.’
‘I’ve been avoiding you.’
‘Wonder why.’ At least he was talking.
He sat down next to her with the small box in his hands and tore off the thick brown tape before opening the flaps at the top.
‘What is it?’ She peered inside when he said nothing, just stared. ‘Is that…?’
‘My Christmas ornament.’
‘Connie must’ve sent it straight over.’ She briefly recapped her recent conversation with his mum before she noticed a letter lurking in the bottom of the box. Kyle picked it up and as he read she filled a glass of water from the tap.
‘What does it say?’ she asked when she’d given him enough time and space to get through it.
‘You can read it for yourself.’
She took the letter and sat on the sofa next to him. Judging by his face it was going to be an emotional and unexpected outpouring of Connie’s feelings, but something Amelia couldn’t avoid. Slowly she began to read…
Merry Christmas to my wonderful son. I hope you’re having an amazing time in New York with Auntie Amelia, who is the best sister I could ever have asked for. I don’t think she knows that, I’ve neglected to tell her things I should’ve done over the years, but I know you get on with her so well that I’ve no doubt the two of you will be having a fabulous Christmas.
I hope you’re pleased to see this decoration after so many years. I never put this on the tree after your dad died, and you never asked me to but I suspect it was because you were afraid to upset me. I’m sorry I wasn’t better able to help you through your grief, my own overwhelmed me so much. I watched you and your dad paint this Christmas ornament and with him gone I couldn’t look at it. I had to change the habits we’d formed, which meant new decorations that didn’t have memories attached. I know now that I was wrong to do it. It was selfish of me and there have been many times I’ve thought of giving it back to you.
I will be thinking of you at Christmas. My friend Jill is coming over from Wales and you might remember how good a cook she is. I won’t go hungry! She’s already given me a schedule of what has to be done and when so I suspect she’ll have me putting my apron on the second I get out of bed.
I’m looking forward to you coming home in the new year and if you like, we could spend a couple of days at Jill’s farmhouse on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, as long as it doesn’t snow here and stop us from driving anywhere. She would love to have us both there and it would be good to spend some time with you.
Have a think about it, and wishing both you and Amelia a very merry Christmas.
Much love,
Mum xx
Amelia bet Connie had no clue as to the extent of Kyle’s feelings, how it made him feel when she’d pushed him away, how it made him doubt himself. Perhaps this was a start, a way to mend things between them. ‘It’s a nice letter,’ she said when Kyle said nothing, just stared at his decoration, in his hands again after all this time no doubt bringing the memories with it. ‘Do you think you’ll take her up on her offer?’
‘Wales? With Mum?’
‘I know, it’s not very exciting.’
