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Isaac grins a wicked smile at me, and it looks very familiar. “I know, that’s why I’m eating loads of chocolate.”
By the timethe Bales arrive laden with presents and pulling the bitter cold air in with them, I’ve got dinner pretty much perfected. It looks great, though I can’t guarantee it will taste as good at it looks.
After kissing, hugging, and drink giving, we settle down for present exchanging. Mai has brought us all cheesy Christmas jumpers, and Isaac and Bailey look in horror at theirs when they open them. “Wear them and I’ll let you play your new game,” I bribe. They both have them on in less than five seconds. “After dinner,” I add, which makes them both groan and flop about in that practice teenager thing they have going on.
“Excellent parenting,” says a gruff voice from behind me and I turn to find Charles Bale watching me with an amused expression on his face.
“I practice hard.” I smirk.
Charles takes a step closer. “How are you doing, Amber?” The way he emphasises the wordyoumakes it clear he doesn’t mean how am I doing in the kitchen with a twenty five pound bird.
“I’m okay.” I shrug, turning and grabbing some wine glasses filled with crisp Chablis off the table. I offer one to Charles, who takes it and looks at it dubiously. He’s more of a cold beer man. “It won’t poison you,” I tease.
Taking a tentative sip, he keeps his keen gaze on me. “Fred tells me you found some of your mum’s things? How are you really coping, Amber?” I always find it amusing when people say this because everyone knows that Mum and I didn’t get on. The even funnier thing is that now, after reading her words, I feel like we are getting on better than we ever did.
“I did. It’s helping a lot. So many things are starting to make sense.”
He nods understandingly.
“She really took your dad’s death hard. I knew your mum a long time, since school, but after he went, that was it, something snapped.”
“You’ve known her since school?”Why don’t people tell me these things?
“Yep. Listen, Amber, there is something that I need to tell you, and I don’t want to ruin Christmas Day, but I can’t stop thinking about it.”
My heart rate spikes with alarm and a prickle of concern makes the hair on my arms stand on end.
“Okay.” My tone holds a steady note of warning.Please don’t ruin my perfect Christmas.
Charles takes a deep intake of air, holding it in his puffed-out cheeks. “It was me who suggested that the G.P. track you down and tell you how bad your mum was.”
My mouth pops open. “What?”
He shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot. “You’d already lost one parent without spending any time with him. But I must admit, I did have selfish reasons for doing it as well.”
I can just about get my mouth to work to ask. "Yeah, what was that?"
“That. I wanted to see that again.” He nods his head, indicating the other side of the room. I glance in the same direction and find Freddy leaning against the kitchen counter, his blue jumper sleeves pushed up to the elbow and his legs crossed at the ankle as he laughs with Grant, a glass of wine swishing in his hand.
“Are you cross?” Charles speaks low so no one else can hear.
I’m still watching Freddy with a smile on my face. Isaac has wheedled his way over with a bottle of coke. Freddy laughs and turns his back so I can’t see him pour Isaac a pint glass of the stuff.
“No, I’m not cross.” I grab Charles in a tight hug. “I’m not cross at all.”
We are sittingdown for dinner, all of us crammed around the table, when Freddy taps his knife against his glass and makes a distinctive throat clearing noise.
“Just a quick word before you all start to scoff yourselves with Amber’s hopefully cooked food.” Isaac snorts and I flush, screwing my face up at Freddy. "I just wanted to say thank you all for coming and for your support over the last few weeks. I can speak for Amber when I say how thankful we are for the help of the family.”
My eyes sting at the wordfamily. It’s a good sting though.
Freddy starts to look a bit uncomfortable, and I’m thinking he’s run out of words to say. He continues before I get the chance to fill the gap. “So, I’d like you to raise your glass to new beginnings, for our new beginning: Amber, Isaac and I. It’s delayed, but completely worth waiting for.” His eyes turn to mine and they shine as bright as the sun dancing on the very tip of the ocean. Leaning down, he plants a tender kiss on my mouth and my whole being hums with happiness. There is silence around the table, dead silence, all eyes are intent and on him and me.
Embarrassed, I look down at my plate, and there waiting for me to find it is a small red box, a brass clasp holding it shut. A loud thudding starts to reverberate out of my chest and my mouth goes so dry I can barely swallow.
“What’s this?” Even my voice is shaking.
“It’s for when you are ready.”
With shaking hands, I pick the tiny box up in my hand, the texture of the leather casing rubs against my fingers. With a snap of the clasp, I take a peek at the contents, and a gasp escapes out of my lips.
Inside, nestled on dark cream velvet, is a slim, white gold band sparkling with diamonds. They shine like the flecks in Freddy’s eyes. I breathe in through my nose, out through my mouth. In through my nose, out through my mouth.Keep breathing, Amber.
“Is this an engagement ring, Freddy?” I turn my shocked gaze onto him.
He grins wide. “Nope. We are way past that. This is for an eternity.”
His fingers pluck the ring from its box and he leans down to kiss me as he slips it along my ring finger. Closing my eyes, I kiss him back and contemplate an eternity with Freddy Bale.
