The front door opened, and he leaned back, his attention shifting to the doorway.
His mother, Sylvia, appeared, pausing for a moment as she saw Ashleigh there too and then smiling widely. ‘Well this is a lovely surprise. Hello, Ashleigh.’ She came over and bent down to kiss Ash on the cheeks and then do the same with Olivier. ‘I smell dinner – are you staying?’
‘Yes.’ Ash smiled at her, trying to mask her disappointment that it wasn’t just going to be her and Olivier.
‘We’re going to watch them turn all the lights on,’ Olivier told her, rising to check on the pot on the stove again. ‘How was work?’
Ashleigh sat back and listened to them discuss the chocolate shop and the display, watching them with fresh eyes. She’d always known they got along. His mother was so cool. When they were younger she’d let them take over the living room to stay up watching horror films and made them snacks and sometimes let them have a little watered-down wine with dinner. And she was reallythere. Even when Ash was with her mother, it never really felt like she was in interested in her. There was so much ease and affection between Sylvia and Olivier despite them only seeing each other a few times a year.
Maybe long-distance relationships of all kinds really depended on the individuals and their bond.
They drew her into the conversation and drank more wine, the kitchen so warm, and Olivier’s jumper so cosy she began to feel sleepy. She didn’t want to take it off though, even when she realised how that must have looked to his mother.
The ratatouille was delicious, all the flavours of the vegetables mingling to make a rich sauce, and they served it with crusty bread with golden butter. Her satisfaction was so obvious that she could see the pride in Olivier’s smile; so pleased he’d made something she enjoyed eating, and it was honestly adorable. Who cared about impressing her usually?
There was dessert too. Of course there was. A French apple tart that was on air-like pastry and the tartness of the apples softened with Chantilly cream. She could barely move when it was time to go outside and finish hanging the lights. The indoor lights in her house were all off, and for a moment Ash felt a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. It was rare her nan felt unwell, but she’d seemed fine and hated people fussing over her.
They moved quietly around her front garden unravelling the lights and fixing them into the hooks and then trailing all the wires across to join the junction box Olivier had set up at his house, though the switches were still on her side. It was even colder now the sun had gone down and they had just enough time for a coffee before they went outside together to get ready for the switch-on.
Lots of the neighbours were moving around and coming out of their houses now. She waited outside on her side of the wall, while Olivier took their cups back inside and spoke to his mum. Ash tried her best not to eavesdrop as she burrowed inside his fleece and breathed in the scent of his washing powder and aftershave, which was clinging to the fabric.
‘I’ll watch from the window; you have a nice time with Ashleigh,’ Sylvia said and there was a suggestive lilt to her words that made Ash feel both embarrassed and excited at the same time.
She held her breath waiting for Olivier’s reply. ‘Merci, Maman. I always do.’
As he joined her on his side of the wall, the streetlights went out. The road was completely dark. Not a wink from around a curtain or a lamp post. Just a faint glow in the distance from another street. There was a thrill to it. Only being able to see the vague outline of all the neighbours, just outside their doors, poised for the moment when they would have to flick their own switches.
The air was bitingly cold, and Ashleigh dug her hands deep into her pockets – Olivier’s pockets – and shifted her feet. She was anxious for the big moment, when she would be able to take part, but equally, there was something magical about being on the cusp of it. The high pitch of children’s laughter carried along the street with the mumble of talking beneath. But Ashleigh didn’t want to talk; everything inside her was tightened up, waiting.
Olivier was right beside her, just separated by that low wall, and she glanced at him. His face was shadowy, but she knew it by memory now. How it had lengthened as he’d grown older, but the kindness in the hazel of his eyes had never changed, nor the silky, floppiness of his gorgeous hair.
She sensed him smile more than she could actually see it.
‘Are you excited?’ he whispered.
‘Yes,’ she whispered back, grinning wide.
And then it started.
She couldn’t see the first house from where they were but they heard the cheer, and then each following one as the switches were thrown, one after the other, and a sparkle started in the distance. It grew brighter and louder, and Ashleigh could feel it building inside her, some emotion she hadn’t felt for such a very long time – this childlike joy and anticipation.
Finally, the lights on the houses at the corner of the street lit up and there was barely enough time to appreciate the decorations they’d chosen before the next and the next came into bright, flashing life. Four houses to go, three, two, Olivier picked up the small control box for his lights and all the twinkling icicles were a flash across Ash’s retinas. Another cheer and she pressed the buttons for hers; the rope lights coming on, warm and bright.
She looked over at Olivier and the smile she’d imagined just minutes ago was there – only it was bigger and more radiant than she could’ve conjured from her memory.
He let out a whoop and clapped his hands, his gaze moving to the other houses as they lit up too. She didn’t really want to look away from him but she turned and clapped and let the jubilant atmosphere lift her up.
It was incredible; this light in the blackness of winter. This celebration and sharing of happiness. Her heart felt so full of it.
‘Would you like to walk along the whole road?’ Olivier said, his voice closer to her ear than she would have expected. He had hopped over the wall and was standing right next to her.
‘Yes, definitely. Oh, but hang on. I have an idea. Wait here a minute.’
‘Where are you going?’
‘I’m going to put on my elf costume for all the kids.’
‘That’s a lovely thing to do. I’ll grab some of the chocolates for them too.’
