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“It happened on April 17, in 6 BC, in the early morning hours, and the Bible describes the Star of Bethlehem as a rising morning star.”
“It’s a nice theory.”
“I think so. I love Christmas Eve.”
“Me too.”
“It does make me a bit sad. My dad used to love this time of year. He was the one who used to help Charlie and me put the mince pie and milk out for Santa and the carrot for Rudolph.”
We’re quiet for a moment. I look at Jupiter, thinking how lucky I’ve been to have both my parents right into adulthood.
“Do you think your father’s death had anything to do with your mum developing M.S.?” If it were anyone else, I’d hesitate to mention something personal like that, but Alice makes me feel as if I could ask her anything.
“I’m convinced of it,” she says. “She was absolutely devastated, and she couldn’t get out of bed for days. Her symptoms began shortly afterward.”
“That’s very sad.”
“It is, although she always says she feels honored to have had him for sixteen happy years. Can you imagine being with someone for that length of time? Being that comfortable and content?”
Her husky voice sends goosebumps rising all over my body. “Kinda,” I say.
We don’t speak for a moment. Then, out of the blue, a shooting star falls, just to the east of Jupiter.
“Whoa,” she says. “Did you see that?”
“Yeah.”
“Make a wish,” she says, “quickly!”
I look up at Jupiter and smile.
“What did you wish for?” she asks.
“I can’t tell or it won’t come true.”
“Aw,” she says. “Spoilsport.” She sighs again. “It’s funny to think we’re both looking up at the same sky. It makes me feel closer to you.”
“I miss you,” I tell her. “Is that dumb considering we’ve only spent one night together?”
“Maybe. I miss you too, though.”
“Can I call you tomorrow?”
“Sure,” she says, and I can tell she’s smiling.
Chapter Fifteen
Alice
On Christmas morning, we open our presents, and then we prepare dinner together, Mum sitting at the table peeling potatoes and carrots, while Charlie and I get the turkey with the trimmings ready. When it’s done, we eat outside on the deck, reminiscing about old times, and then afterward while Mum has a snooze, I finally call Kip. We talk for over an hour, and then later, while I’m watching a movie, we text each other almost continuously.
The next few weeks pass in much the same way. I spend my days either working in the studio or spending time with Mum and Charlie, either just sitting chatting, watching TV, or occasionally going out for a drive. Mum doesn’t like to be away from home for too long, but she enjoys brief trips to the beach, and she loves going to the park, where she can see the children on the swings and watch the dogs running around.
Kip messages and calls me every day. It’s a strange relationship; we’re not exactly boyfriend and girlfriend, because we’ve only slept together once, but I feel that we’re closer than friends because we’ve shared that intimacy, and we flirt a lot of the time. After saying that, even though he talks all the time about my upcoming trip on my birthday, I’m beginning to feel nervous that I haven’t seen him for a while. Maybe I imagined the chemistry that was between us? I can’t help but think he might be starting to regret suggesting I come to the city. After all, I’m hardly a catch. But he insists he’s looking forward to it, so I gather my courage with both hands and tell myself I’m going through with it, if only because there’s the chance of some really hot sex.
I also think it’ll be good for him to take some proper time off work. I know he’s been in the office most days apart from Christmas Day. He tried to organize a meeting to see Craig, but Craig emailed to say he was going away for Christmas and that he’d call when he got back, so unfortunately Kip has to wait. I know it’s weighing heavily on his mind, so maybe I’ll be able to distract him a bit.
For a while it feels as if my birthday is never going to come. But eventually it arrives, and I wake in the morning with bubbling excitement deep in my belly.
