Even though I feel like I am doing the worst job at caring for Felix I have to somehow carry on. Tomorrow is his special day, and he deserves a bit of spoiling and magic.
Putting down his Santa list I scoop Felix into my arms and head upstairs for bed.
CHAPTER7
EMILY
‘Rory?’
A familiar voice calls out through the wintry darkness. ‘Aunty Emily?’ The warm, fuzzy feeling inside my chest is replaced with a sweeping wave of disappointment.
Flicking on the bedside light I can see Felix standing in the doorway of Vivi’s bedroom. At his feet is Baxter wearing his red lead.
I now sleep in Vivi’s bed. This is a three bedroomed house with two decent sized rooms and one small room, which contains all my belongings in storage containers, so really there was no option for me but to sleep in Vivi’s bed. I hated sleeping in her room at first and spent the first few weeks on the sofa. It smelt of her Elizabeth Arden perfume, her vanilla-scented shampoo, and her Jo Malone grapefruit body cream. No matter how much air freshener I doused the room in I could still smell Vivi. I even bought myself a new olive-green duvet set from the supermarket. Something completely different to her deep purple duvet. Every time I got into bed it still felt like Vivi was going to appear at the door, with a towel wrapped around her head, telling me to move over as I was on her side.
Eventually, a combination of physical exhaustion and Felix sleepwalking in the night made me reluctantly move from the sofa to Vivi’s room. I couldn’t bear the thought of Felix injuring himself by falling down the stairs half asleep.
Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I see that he’s already dressed in jeans and trainers, and even has his red coat on. ‘What time is it?’ I croak. ‘Why are you up and ready?’
‘It’s our special day remember?’ he says, stepping into the bedroom. As he gets closer, I can see his grey rucksack is on his shoulders. ‘I’m ready for an adventure,’ he says, with a grin. ‘Baxter is also excited about our trip. Why were you saying Rory’s name?’
Stifling a yawn, while trying to bury the dream about Rory telling me he still loved me at the back of my mind, I sit up and frown at Baxter. ‘We’re not taking Baxter to London.’
Felix shakes his head defiantly. ‘Baxter loves adventures. He came everywhere with us when Mummy was…’
I interrupt him. ‘Baxter is only eight inches tall; he will get trodden on. He’ll be flat as a pancake by the time we get back.’
Baxter tilts his head and barks at me to raise his complaint too. This little dog sees himself as the third human in the house so will always add his viewpoint to any argument.
Felix lets out a heavy sigh. ‘He hates walking so he will sit in my lap or allow me to carry him or he will sit in my rucksack.’
I have enough worries about today. Baxter will cause trouble, that’s guaranteed. ‘He stays here,’ I say, turning to check my clock. ‘It’s just gone six, Felix.’
He nods. ‘Mum always said the early bird catches the worm.’
When do children start sleeping in? I remember Vivi waking me up as I headed towards the teenage years. It would be mid-morning and she’d be clutching a bowl of cornflakes.
‘I’m taking Baxter whether you like it or not,’ Felix announces.
I can feel my blood simmering. Why does Felix disobey everything I say?
‘It’s snowing, Aunty Emily,’ Felix explains, before marching over to the window and yanking back the curtains. It’s a good distraction as we both gasp at the gigantic snowflakes colliding with the windowpane and the white pile of snow on the ledge.
‘We might need to rethink our plans. Trains to London might be cancelled,’ I mutter without thinking. Felix’s face drops. He lets go of the curtains, scowls, and runs into his bedroom, slamming the door. A few seconds later the usual bangs and thuds on the floor begin.
‘Shit,’ I say, rubbing my forehead. ‘Why did I say that?’
Baxter comes to my side of the bed and starts barking at me.
Guilt wraps its fingers around my chest and squeezes. This was supposed to be Felix’s special day and I might have already ruined it.
‘Stop barking, Baxter,’ I snap, grabbing my phone, I log on to my train app. A wave of relief spreads through me. They all seem to be running. The Met Office tells me that more snow is expected later this afternoon. Felix and I should be back early afternoon.
‘FELIX,’ I shout. ‘The trains are still running.’
His bedroom door opens with such force it bangs against his wall. Within a few seconds he’s by my bed, watery eyed and with an ear to ear smile. I can’t help thinking his face reminds me of a rainbow which appears after the rain.
As Felix and I smile at each other Baxter runs off with my slipper.
