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“I’ll grab my stuff from the car,” I tell the three women around me. “Then I’ll head to my room and unpack.”
Again, the whole eyeing each other and not telling me shit. “What?”
“I like your guitars,” pipes up Ella. “And the pictures.”
I push my hair from my face, confused. “My guitars?”
“In your room. Cerys is sleeping in there,” says Louise breezily, as if my room is open for guests. I stiffen. I have gear stored in there, untouched from when I left.
“Where do I sleep then?” I ask gruffly.
“Sorry, I didn’t know you were coming home or I would’ve stayed somewhere else.” Cerys looks to Louise, discomfort in her wide-eyed expression. “We can leave.”
“Don’t be silly!” says Mum firmly. “We’ll sort something out.”
“I can move into the room Ella sleeps in until I find somewhere else,” offers Cerys.
Something odd is happening here and although I’m pissed off about a stranger in my room, there’s something more I’m not aware of. I get the impression the kid’s dad isn’t around after all.
“I’ll grab my bag and you work out who’s sleeping where,” I mutter.
4P.M. and the English winter evening greys the world. I head for my car and the coastal wind smarts my cheeks. I’ve swapped California sun and a comfortable house for a cold winter and a lukewarm reception here? Great.
Louise appears next to me as I lug my bag from the car boot. “We didn’t expect you, Liam, and Cerys doesn’t have anywhere to go.”
“Why?” I ask.
“She just split from Ella’s dad and he got nasty. Cerys’s mum and dad disowned her after she fell pregnant with Ella, and they live in Scotland now anyway. She’s my best friend and needs somewhere to stay until she gets sorted. Be nice to her.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” I ask. “Anyway, it’s not my house so Mum and Dad decide who stays.”
“Don’t get shitty about Cerys staying in your room. The spare room where Ella sleeps is tiny; they’d need to share a single bed, or one of them sleep on the floor.” As Louise pushes away the long hair the wind blows into her face, I know what’s coming next. “Let them both stay in your room and you have the spare?”
“I’ll think about it.” I stroll back towards the welcome warmth of my family home.
“Don’t be selfish, Liam,” Louise calls after me.
All I wanted was to recreate my childhood Christmas, with my family and my old normality. I know I should sympathise with Cerys a little more, but she’s spoiled the Christmas fantasy. One I needed to help me cope with my hurting heart that Honey stomped on.
