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‘It’s been a while since I spent a Christmas Eve night at home but the last one, when she was about five I think, she was up at three.’
‘Oh no!’
‘And then again at seven.’
‘I really had better go to bed then. After the last few days I need some shut-eye to prepare.’
‘Well, you know what children are like at Christmas.’
‘Actually, I don’t, not really. Blythe and her family don’t get to Mum and Dad’s until lunchtime usually and I teach children, I don’t have them.’
He gave her a penetrating look. ‘Would you like some?’
‘What, children?’ she asked, startled.
‘Well, not right now, but maybe some time in the future.’
‘Only as long as they have your curly hair and big green eyes.’ Emotion choked her as she realised what he was asking.
He inched nearer and kissed her softly. He still smelled of the sea; briny water underlaid with the scents of adrenaline and exhaustion. ‘That’s settled then.’ After some time, he added with a grin, ‘Although you might change your mind after the horrors and delights that will be yours tomorrow morning.’ He got up again. ‘But don’t go to bed yet.’ He disappeared back into the kitchen and returned bearing a champagne bottle and two flutes. ‘I thought it would be nice to have our own celebration.’ Placing the glasses on the coffee table, he uncorked the champagne and poured two frothing glassfuls. The firelight danced through the amber liquid.
‘I’m not sure I should. We broke out the Baileys when we heard you’d got back.’
Jago laughed. ‘That’s exactly what Mum said when I plied her with whisky.’ Handing her a glass, he said, ‘Merry Christmas.’
‘Merry Christmas, Jago.’ She sipped some. ‘Did you and your mum sort things out?’
He nodded. ‘We had a really good talk. The talk we should have had a long time ago.’
‘That’s good. So she’s not angry with you anymore?’
‘Only because she’s insisted I’m on domestic chore detail for the next hundred years.’
Honor giggled. ‘I like a domesticated man.’
He came closer. ‘Do you now?’
Lifting her face to his for a kiss, she answered. ‘I do.’
After another delicious pause they returned to the champagne.
‘I was terrified you wouldn’t get back,’ Honor confessed. ‘I kept a brave face on, we were all doing that for each other, but the storm was so bad–’ she let the sentence trail off, the fear of losing him returning.
‘I’m sorry I have to put you through it.’ He bit his lip. ‘But you understand it’s something I have to do?’
She nodded. ‘If I’m really honest, I don’t think I’ll ever,everget used to having to wait for you, especially if there’s a storm like tonight. But yes, I know it’s something you’re called to do. Lucie made a very convincing argument for why crew volunteer. I’ve really seen her in a new light tonight. She’s astonishingly brave in her own way.’
Jago nodded. ‘Thank you for being with Mum and Merryn. It must have made all the difference that you were together.’
‘I didn’t have much of a choice. Lucie told me the lifeboat had gone out as we were leaving the church service. I think Avril overheard. Next thing we knew Verity had bundled us all to the vicarage for hot chocolate.’
‘Was Verity in charge of negotiations?’
‘No, she didn’t say much. She just let us get on with it. Lucie was brilliant. She said although she sometimes found it difficult, she’d never stop Jamie being crew because she knew it was what he felt he had to do. Then Merryn got all logical and talked about “doing a chance.”’
‘Doing a what?’
‘Taking calculated risks in life. Then your mum got a bit upset about you and your dad and we all had a bit of a female bonding moment. I think Verity probably prayed or blessed us. Then we came here and waited.’
