Page 50 of Break the Ice

Again, I pause. I will assume she’s going to pee in a bush as opposed to running into it really fast. I look at the large blue signs at the side of the road. ‘So these are like rest stops?’

‘I guess, except Exeter is quite elite. Possibly my favourite of all the services. It has a Greggs.’

I am familiar with Greggs and I will admit that they have game. One of the first pictures I ever sent to Maddie was of one of their steak bakes. ‘You have a favourite rest stop?’

‘Yes, don’t you? That’s weird not to.’

I take the exit off the highway and head through the warren of roads that leads us to the services building. It’s quiet, with lots of snow in piles where they’ve tried to clear the way, but the building glows, and I see the sliding doors open to give shelter to someone who shuffles in out of the cold. I stop the car and she jumps out and jogs on the spot. ‘You should come in. We can grab more hot drinks, or doughnuts?’

I shake my head. I don’t know if she needs more sugar after wolfing down a full bar of Galaxy, but, as she turns to leave, I see a green Mini parked next to us and the sound of babies harmonising as they cry. The hood has been popped up and an exasperated man stands there examining the damage. The sound of the kids crying gets Phoebe’s attention too and she looks at me. This worried look in her eyes like she wants to and will get involved.

‘Hey guys! Merry Christmas!’ she says, walking towards the car, and I feel obliged to follow. The cold hits me as soon as I exit the car. The man looks Phoebe up and down. I hope he doesn’t think, in her pyjama get-up, she’s some crazy looking to steal his babies. I move quicker to catch up with her.

‘Hi!’ the man says. ‘Is it though? Of all the days…’ He’s a sturdy, good-looking man. Phoebe peers into the engine.

The lady inside the car cranks down the window a bit as the babies’ cries subside and I can see she’s feeding them in their seats, a bottle in each hand. ‘Have you diagnosed the issue?’ she asks, looking at both of us. ‘Seriously, Joe. Please don’t tell me we’re going to be spending Christmas Day at the services.’

The man shrugs, panic in his face. ‘I think it’s the cold weather, it’s done my battery in.’

A voice sounds from under the hood. ‘Well, we can help with that.’ Phoebe comes over and huddles into me, but not before peering into the car. ‘Twins? CUTE!’

‘Yeah, five months. Ruby and Casper,’ their mum says, looking curiously at her.

‘Super super cute,’ she says, beaming at them. ‘Yeah, we’ve got jump leads in the car. This is Josh, by the way. I’m Phoebe.’

‘Eve… Joe,’ the lady says.

‘We do?’ I say, not sure if I do.

‘I bought some for my dad for Christmas, like a joke gift. He will do the same. Last year, he bought me a toilet brush,’ she says, and all of our faces crease at the randomness of the story. She disappears into the trunk of our car and burrows around until she pulls out some jump leads, then starts tearing at the plastic.

‘But if it’s a gift?’ Eve says.

‘I don’t think my dad will mind if it means it saved Christmas. Joshy, scooch the car up over here and let’s get these folks moving,’ she says, clapping her hands. I do as I’m told. Back at our car, I see Steve’s snout pressed against the window. I jump in and start it up, manoeuvring over to park it as close as I can, killing the engine. I watch as Phoebe attaches the cables to both cars. I then start ours again, watching as Joe turns his keys and then listen as their engine magically splutters to a start. I leave the engine running and exit my vehicle to hear everyone in a celebratory mood.

‘Halle-frigging-lujah. You guys, seriously… thank you,’ Eve says to me through the open window, putting a hand out for me to high-five.

I see the relief in her face but also the fatigue from juggling two babies. ‘Where are you guys headed?’

‘We’ve hired a cottage in Cornwall for Christmas Day. We were supposed to leave yesterday but then it snowed so we set off early this morning. The babies are still night owls so it’s easy,’ she tells me as they both start crying again. She re-ties her hair in its messy bun. ‘Or was meant to be easy.’

‘Need any help?’ I ask her.

‘Yes, always… do you want to wind Casper?’ she asks.

‘Sure thing.’ I look down at this beautiful blond-haired baby in his car seat, his face poking out from a fleece all-in-one. ‘Hey, little man. I’m Joshua. Fist-bump?’ I say, punching his little curled-up hand. ‘You cool for me to take him out of the car, Mama Bear?’

Eve laughs at me referring to her as such and nods. ‘Anything to calm him down, thank you. Take the blanket too,’ she says.

I unstrap Casper from his seat and double up the blanket to keep him warm, then start patting him lightly on the back, scooping upwards. ‘You got a burp for me, Casper?’ He looks at me, his cheeks all rosy, fascinated by the sky, this new person carrying him. He smells incredible, like talc and milk and cereal. I pat his back again and I see his face freeze and then a sound comes out of him. That sound is like a roll of thunder, it’s incredible, and I laugh. ‘Good job, buddy!’ I say animatedly and he smiles. It really is the best thing to see his little face light up.

‘Crikey, Casper…’ his mum says, laughing. ‘No wonder you’ve been cranky.’

I put him back in his seat and his mum wipes his mouth and makes googly eyes at him. ‘Do you have kids?’ she asks me.

‘No. I’m just…’

‘A natural. Where are you guys headed?’ she asks, cradling Ruby in her arms.