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“Civilization at last,” Sarah exclaimed, and Ellie said with a wry laugh,
“Just in time.”
Gwen glanced around at all her grandchildren, her heart overflowing with love. What did the future hold for them all? Mairi had told her about her plans to study equine management, which Gwen thought was brilliant, and Owen was looking forward to getting more involved in the stables, if Sarah’s idea did come to pass.
Jess was excited to live in a place where there was high fashion and YouTubers, and Ben had looked up New York City soccer clubs online and seemed very excited about them. Josh was also excited, because New York City had a junior chess leagueanda massive Lego store, and Ava, as ever, was optimistically looking forward to making new friends. They were still waiting to hear about whether she indeed had diabetes, but, in the meantime, Ellie was doing her best to monitor her sugar intake. The doctors had assured her that if Ava did have diabetes, it had been caught early, and she wouldn’t be in danger before she could be properly seen, after the snow had cleared. Ellie had confessed to Gwen that if Ava did indeed have diabetes, it would be a relief to be in a city with excellent medical facilities nearby.
It was going to be all right for them, Gwen thought. Maybe it would be wonderful, but even if it wasn’t, they’d get through, learn through the downs and enjoy the ups.
She rose from her chair to go into the kitchen, where Matthew was scrubbing the last of the pans.
“The electricity came on,” she told him. “Did you even notice?”
“I did, although it hasn’t made as much difference as I thought,” he replied with a smile. “Electricity doesn’t scrub out this pan, unfortunately.”
“No, I don’t suppose it does. Nothing beats elbow grease.”
As she came to stand next to him, he put his arm around her, and she leaned into him in a way she hadn’t in a long time. “All right, Mum?” he asked softly, and she smiled, her head against his shoulder.
“Yes, I’m all right.”
“New York—”
“Is very exciting. I’m thrilled for you, Matthew. Really, I am.”
He glanced down at her, an expression of concern on his face. “And what about John?” he asked, and startled, Gwen blinked up at him.
“What about him?”
“I just… I hope things didn’t cool off there because of me. I think I was taken aback because it made me miss Dad, in a strange way. I hadn’t felt that kind of grief in a long time. You always carry it with you, but you don’t always feel it.”
“I know,” Gwen replied quietly. “I think it did the same for me. But John and I are just friends, Matthew.” Although she found she still thought of him quite a lot. Was he thinking of her? He hadn’t messaged her. Not yet, but maybe he would. She realized she hadn’t entirely given up hope, just made peace with the idea, either way. “But if I did become… interested… in someone,” she asked Matthew, “at some point, would you mind?”
“No, of course not.” He looked affronted that she would think so, even though, considering what had transpired before, it was a reasonable question. “I mean… I hope he’d be a good guy.”
“He would,” Gwen assured him with a laugh. “Although I don’t even know who he is yet, or if he exists at all!”
“Oh, he exists,” Matthew replied. “Somewhere.”
Maybe somewhere nearby, even. Gwen smiled at the thought.
Back in the sitting room, the children were beginning to stir, sleepy from the day’s exertions. Ellie heaved herself up from the sofa with a big sigh and started gently chivvying them to bed, while Sarah, with a grin for Gwen, poured herself another Baileys.
“Tonight is for relaxing!” she pronounced, and Ellie laughed as she scooped up a sleepy Ava.
“Save some for me,” she told Sarah before she headed upstairs.
Sarah glanced at Gwen, the bottle aloft. “Mum?”
“Oh, why not?” Gwen replied a little recklessly. “It is Christmas, after all.”
“Yes, although, in an odd way, it feels like New Year’s,” Sarah replied. “All change.”
“Yes, all change.” She paused. “Have you heard from Nathan?”
“He wished the children a merry Christmas,” Sarah acknowledged as she sipped her drink. “And he said he’d ring them tomorrow. I think he’s probably a bit lonely. He said he missed us, which was new.” She paused thoughtfully. “But, to be honest, I’m not holding my breath. If he wants to have a rethink and put in the effort to make our marriage work, that’s one thing. But it’s got to come from him.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Gwen asked gently.
