‘I don’t care what the house looks like, Emily. What I care about is being with you, Felix and Baxter. We’re a family now.’ Her soft lips find mine and I know I have finally come home.
‘I have not got any Christmas decorations, presents or anything,’ says Emily, pulling away and running her hands through her hair.
Felix sits up and a huge smile spreads across his face. ‘Having Rory back is the best Christmas present.’
I give them both a cuddle. ‘This is what Christmas is about. Being together.’
Emily presses her forehead against mine. ‘Do you really mean it about being a family?’
Nodding I press my lips against hers. ‘I love you all. Always have. Always will. There’s no one else like you, Emily. You are a rare edition.’
‘Happy Christmas, Emily and Rory,’ says Felix, jumping off my lap and onto the station floor. He picks up the yellow scarf which has fallen off with him. ‘Is this your scarf, Rory?’
‘No. Did you hear about the missing boy, Jack Gardener?’
Felix grins. ‘Yes, we did, and Emily thought that woman you were with was your girlfriend.’
I let out a heavy sigh and curse that annoying journalist for the hundredth time. Both Emily and Felix are waiting for me to continue. ‘Well, I was coming to London from Brighton this morning because Miss Hemingway gave me a fright. She thought it was Felix who was missing.’
‘Oh no,’ gasps Emily. ‘We better call her and put her mind at ease. Rory – can I use your phone?’
I shake my head. ‘No battery. Don’t worry, we’ll find a way to get her a message.’
Felix screws up his face and turns away. I ruffle his red hair. ‘Apparently Felix told her he was planning to run away.’
‘He did run away at this very station,’ says Emily. ‘Felix boarded a nonstop train to Leeds from King’s Cross. That’s how we ended up in Leeds.’
Felix turns back around. ‘I wanted to find you, Rory.’
I stroke his cheek. ‘Well, you should not have run off like that. You probably scared Emily witless.’
‘He did,’ adds Emily, rolling her eyes.
‘Well, I raced back to London and on the train, I found the missing boy Jack. He’d run away because he was upset about his grandpa dying. His grandpa bought him this scarf which he lost when he ran away. I’ve now found it for him.’
Emily and Felix both glance at the scarf and back at me. Emily leans in for a cuddle and I kiss her forehead.
Before we both can say another word, Felix comes to stand in front of us and takes out his phone.
‘Rory, Emily knows all about this. Ever since Mummy died, I have been recording videos on her old phone. I talk to her when I am feeling sad. When I was planning to run away from Emily at the station, I spoke to Mummy a lot.’ He takes a breath. ‘I know she’s not coming back from heaven, but I hope God lets her see my videos.’
I reach out and give his shoulder a gentle rub. ‘That’s amazing, Felix. I’m sure your mum has been watching them.’
He smiles. ‘Would you and Emily record a video with me?’
‘For your mum – definitely.’ I shift up and make a space between Emily and me. Felix comes to sit between us. He nestles in and fits perfectly. Holding out the phone he puts on the video camera, but he can’t hold it far away enough to get us all in the picture. ‘Shall I hold it?’
Grinning he hands me the phone and cuddles up to Emily.
‘Ready, family,’ I say, making Emily gasp and reach out to squeeze my hand.
‘Hello, Mummy,’ says Felix with the biggest smile I have ever seen on his little face. ‘Look who we found at the station.’ I wave into the camera which makes Emily giggle.
Felix continues. ‘Mummy, I have the best news. We are going to be a family.’
We all press our heads together and cheer into the camera.
‘These two are going to look after me,’ says Felix, wiping a stray tear from his cheek.
