Epilogue
“Okay, this one’s from me.” Kate handed Sammy a huge box wrapped in paper covered with snowmen.
Sammy shook it and listened to the dull rattle. “What is it?”
“Open it and find out.”
Sammy was already surrounded by a small mound of wrapping paper and packing boxes and a growing collection of clothes, toys, and sweets. But she tore into Kate’s gift as though it were the first of the day.
“Oh my God! This is awesome!” Sammy opened the box and pulled out a pair of roller blades. “So cool.”
Gina groaned and scowled at Kate. Roller blades and Sammy were a number of trips to the A&E waiting to happen. Kate shrugged and offered her an unrepentant grin. She sighed and shook her head. “You can take her to the hospital when she breaks something,” she said quietly enough for only Kate to hear as she sat curled against Kate’s side. “What do you say?” Gina prompted.
“Thanks, Kate.” Sammy jumped up and ran to Kate, throwing her skinny arms around her neck.
“You’re very welcome.”
“Sammy, go and grab a black bag for all the rubbish. We should at least tidy up a bit as we go along.”
“Okay.” Sammy hurried away and was back in seconds to continue opening more gifts.
Merlin sat under the tree guarding on her own Christmas present—a large, multicoloured ball that she would roll to Sammy on occasion in the hope a game would begin.
Gina’s phone rang, and Kate passed it over to her, frowning as it came up unknown number. Gina touched the screen to answer. “Hello?”
“Gina, it’s Alison.”
“Mum, new number?”
“Yes, I was just calling to tell you I’m running a little late. But I should be there in plenty of time to help with the cooking.”
Kate ran her thumb across the back of Gina’s neck, and Gina almost forgot she was in the middle of a phone call.
Kate smirked at her knowingly.
Gina shook her head. “No worries, Mum. We’ll see you soon.” She dropped the phone onto the sofa beside her and kissed Kate’s cheek. “Behave.”
“I don’t want to.” She cupped Gina’s cheek with one hand and leant in for a proper kiss. The gentle press of Kate’s tongue against her lips spurred Gina into action as she wrapped her hand around Kate’s bicep and opened her mouth, groaning at the delicate contact and tender caress. And Gina let herself get lost in that kiss, in Kate.
Loud kissing noises from the floor and a sharp bark from Merlin tore them apart.
Sammy had her arms wrapped around her body, back to them, rubbing her hands up and down her back as she made smoochy sounds through her giggles. Bloody kid.
Kate gasped, then sprang from the sofa and lifted Sammy into the air, twirling her tucked-up form into a spin until she was hanging upside down, arms and hair trailing on the floor as she giggled louder while Kate tickled her ribs.
“Let me down, let me down!” Sammy shrieked through her laughter even as she tried to reach up and cover her tummy. Her pyjama top rode up, exposing her belly. “Let me down, Kate!”
“Nope.” Kate swung her up over her shoulder and started for the back door. “I’m hanging you on the washing line so I can kiss your mum in peace.”
“Abuse! Abuse!” Sammy playfully pounded her fists against Kate’s back. “Gonna tell Stella, and she’ll lock you up.”
“Nah. She’ll take pictures and save them to show your boyfriend years from now. Like, thirty years from now.”
Gina chuckled as she watched them cavorting around the room, then frowned as her phone rang again.
Kate stopped, Sammy still dangling over her shoulder, as she looked at Gina.
“Unknown number,” Gina said and touched the screen to answer. “Hello?”
Kate put Sammy down and sat beside her close enough to hear the voice on the other end.
“Miss Temple?”
“Who’s this?”
“Sorry, it’s George. George Boyne.”
Gina paused a moment, and Kate moved away.
“I know you probably don’t want to speak to me, after what I told you. I understand that, but I was wondering if I might have a few moments of your time?”
“Actually, Mr Boyne, I’m really glad you called. I wanted to apologise for the way I behaved last week. I had no right to do that.”
“It’s okay. I understand what a shock it must have been. I probably shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, it’s not okay. I was rude, and I had no right to be. You were right when you said I had no idea what it was like to be there. To face what you were facing. I was judgmental, and like I said, I really had no right to be. I’ll work on that in future. I’m really very sorry.”
George cleared his throat. “Thank you.”
“No problem. So, what can I do for you today? Oh, Merry Christmas, by the way.”
He chuckled. “And to you. And I was hoping I might come and see you. I’ve found out some things, and I’d like to talk to you about it.”
“Me? What things?”
“I’ll explain when I see you. It’ll be easier to show you the documents and so on.”
“Well, okay. I must admit, you have me curious now.”
He laughed again. “Well, then you’ll have to see me soon. I could meet with you today.”
“It’s Christmas Day.”
He waited.
“I’ve got a dinner to cook.”
“I could come to you?”
“I’m sorry?”
“I didn’t mean for Christmas dinner. I just meant I could come there while you’re cooking, or after, and show you what I’ve found.”
“Just a second.” She covered the microphone and looked at Kate. “George wants to come and see me.”
“Okay.” Kate shrugged.
“Today.”
Kate’s eyebrow hitched upwards in surprise. “Well, we’ve got six chairs and only four of us for dinner.” She shrugged again. “Whatever you want, sweetheart.”
“Mr Boyne. Do you have a pen handy?”
“Yes, fire away.”
She quickly gave him Kate’s address.
“I’ll leave now. Should only be a couple of hours.”
“You’re keen.”
He chuckled again. “Miss Temple, when you see what I’ve found out, you’ll understand why. See you soon.” Then he ended the call.
“Well, that was odd.”
“When’s he coming?” Kate asked.
“He said he was leaving now, so a couple of hours.”
Kate’s eyebrow rose. “Well, I’ll start peeling some extra spuds, then.”
“I didn’t invite him to eat with us.”
“No. But I’m not sure I could send him away to spend Christmas on his own once he’s here,” Kate said quietly. “He’s got no family, remember.”
Gina nodded. “I remember.” She kissed her lips gently. “You’re very sweet, Kate Brannon.”
Kate clapped a hand over Gina’s mouth. “You’ll ruin my reputation,” she said with a wide grin.
“Too late.”
The next hour and a half flew by as Sammy opened the last of her presents and Gina prepared the dinner. There was a mountain of food, as per Christmas tradition. Kate wanted a traditional family Christmas, so Gina was bound and determined to do all she could to give her one.
Gina opened the oven and spooned juices over the top of the bird. The turkey was cooking well but still needed a good hour or so before it would be ready.
The doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Sammy shouted. Then Gina heard the follow-up of “Grandma!”
“Happy Christmas, Sammy.”
“Happy Christmas. Did you bring me presents?”
“Sammy!” Gina shouted through the house. “Come on in, Mum. I’m basting the turkey.”
Alison staggered in with Sammy wrapped around her like an octopus, Merlin trotting along at their heels.
“Sammy, give over. Your Gran can’t walk like that.” The girl tutted and pulled a face but did as she was told.
Gina pushed the roasting tin with the covered bird back into the oven as her mother approached, offered her a tentative hug and kiss on the cheek, and wished Gina a happy Christmas. She was clearly uncomfortable, but Gina was still unsure if she was uncomfortable with physical affection or if it was just with Gina and would dissipate as their relationship got closer. She hoped that was the case, as she didn’t seem to have too big an issue being affectionate with Sammy. But then again, that could just be Sammy.
“So, did you bring me a present?” Sammy asked again.
“God, anyone would think it was Christmas or something.” Alison winked at her and plopped a bag onto the table. “I might have. Does she deserve a present, Gina?”
“Hm, not sure.”
Sammy’s face fell, and her shoulders slumped. “But I’ve been good.”
Gina lifted an eyebrow.
“Mostly.”
Gina folded her arms over her chest.
“Well, I tried to be.” Sammy sighed heavily. “Guess it’s going to the charity shop, then.”
Alison sniggered. “Charity shop?”
Sammy nodded. “That’s where all the naughty kids’ presents get sent.” She shot Gina a withering look. “Apparently.”
Gina couldn’t hold back her laughter anymore as Sammy dropped heavily into a chair, swinging her feet moodily. She bent and kissed the top of her head. “Go on, I’ll give you a break.”
“Yay!”
“But only because it’s Christmas.”
“Less yay.”
Alison pulled a brightly wrapped box from the bag and handed it over.
“Thanks, Grandma.” She tore the wrapping away to unveil a large box. “Oo. A 3-D marker. That’s so cool!” She kissed Alison’s cheek and ran into the front room.
“Where’s Kate?”
“Shower. She won’t be long.” Gina pointed to a chair. “Brew?”
“Hm, coffee would be lovely, thanks.” She slouched in her chair and rested her head on one hand, exhaustion evident in every line on her face and in the dark smudges under her eyes.
“You okay?”
Her mother nodded, then shrugged. “Ignore me. I just didn’t sleep very well last night.”
“Is that normal?”
“Only when your father tries to get in touch.”
“Oh.” Gina wasn’t sure how she felt about that. How she felt about her father even being mentioned, let alone still being in contact with her mother. “Do you…is he…I thought you didn’t keep in touch?”
“I don’t. I’ve changed the number at the house, my mobile, everything. The only thing I haven’t changed is the house, and that’s because it’s so bloody difficult to find somewhere else to live that I could afford to. It’s so bloody expensive around here.”
“If you sold the house, wouldn’t you have enough?”
“When the house gets sold, he’s entitled to half the value. He’s not bothered now, because he’s in prison and can’t use it, but when he gets out, I’ll have to sell or figure out how to pay him half of the value of the house. If I could figure out where to get the money to do that, I’d have sold it and moved long ago.”
“I hadn’t even thought about that.”
“Yeah, well, half the value of my little cottage won’t get me much of anything at all around here.”
“Is that why he was contacting you?”
“Nope.” She shook her head. “I got a letter from his solicitor yesterday. He’s up for parole in February and wants me not to give a statement at the hearing or, failing that, at least do nothing to block his release.”
“Bastard.”
“Yup.”
“So, what will you do?”
“Speak at the hearing and do whatever I can to ensure he stays behind bars.”
“You’re not tempted to let it go?”
“Not even a little bit. I wish he was in there for life, Gina. And I’m sorry if that sounds cold, but that’s the way I feel about it.”
Gina wrapped her arms around her mother’s shoulders and squeezed. “I’m very proud of you. Would you like me to come with you?”
Alison frowned.
“To the hearing. I’ll come with you if you want.”
Alison smiled as tears slipped over her eyelids and snaked a path down her cheeks. “I think I’d like that very much. If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. We’ll face him together.”
Footsteps at the top of the stairs alerted her to Kate’s presence. Gina looked up and smiled to reassure Kate that everything was all right. Because it was. She had everything she could ever want, right here in the house. She had a wonderful partner, a precocious child, and a mother she was getting to know, and a future she was looking forward to. This was truly the happiest Christmas she could remember. Probably ever.
Gina gave Alison’s shoulders one last squeeze and then stood up to finish making their drinks when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Sammy shouted. Then Gina heard her ask, “Who’re you?”
“I’m George. Who’re you?”
“Sammy.”
“Well, Sammy, I’m looking for Gina. Is she in?”
“Mum. There’s an old man at the door for you.”
“Show him in, Sammy.”
“I’m here.” Kate thundered down the stairs and welcomed George. “Sorry about that,” she said. “Come in, come in. Let me take your coat.” Kate held out her hand.
“Here, I brought this for Gina—I mean Miss Temple.” He held out a bottle of wine. “My mother always said you should bring a little something if someone invites you to their home.”
Gina put the kettle on to boil again and wiped her hands on a towel. “Well, technically this is Kate’s home,” she said with a smile. “But I’m sure we’ll all enjoy a glass.” She wrapped her arms around Kate’s waist and kissed her cheek. Sammy stood in front of her, and Gina put one hand on her shoulder. “You’ve already met my daughter, Sammy.”
“Yes.” George held out his hand. “A pleasure.”
“And this is my mum.” Gina held her hand out towards the joining door where her mother stood. “Alison Temple, this is George Boyne.”
Alison stepped forward and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr Boyne.”
George stared at her, his eyes wide, his mouth agape.
Alison’s welcoming smile slipped to a small frown. “I’m sorry, is there something wrong?”
He shook his head and seemed to snap out of his reverie. “No, no. Sorry. I wasn’t expecting to meet Gina’s beautiful mother this afternoon as well.” He clasped her hand. “Forgive my bad manners.”
“Nothing to forgive,” Alison said, though her voice was a little subdued.
“And please call me George. Mr Boyne is so formal, and this is Christmas.”
She smiled. “Of course.”
“Can I get you a drink, George?” Kate asked, drawing his attention away from Alison.
“Lovely, thank you.”
“Tea, coffee, something stronger?”
“Coffee would be good, if you don’t mind. I’m a little chilled all of a sudden.”
“Are you okay?”
He waved his hand. “Fine, fine. Just a little…well, never mind. I’m fine.”
“Milk? Sugar?”
“Just a drop of milk, please.”
Kate nodded and gathered cups as the kettle bubbled away.
Gina watched her go and squatted down to Sammy. “Why don’t you go and play with some of your new toys upstairs?”
Sammy nodded and scampered into the front room to choose what she was taking up with her.
When she was gone, Gina pointed to the table and chairs. “Please, sit down.” She waited until George and Alison were both sitting before taking her own seat. “You said you wanted to show me something.”
“Yes, yes.” He placed a manila folder he’d been carrying on to the table. “Before I show you all this, I should probably explain a little of where I got this information from. Or at least what I can explain.”
Gina frowned. It was beginning to sound a bit like a bad spy novel. “Okay.”
“I told you when we met in Cambridge that I worked for the British Army Intelligence Corps.”
Gina nodded but didn’t interrupt.
“Well, as I’m sure you can imagine, finding out information was very much what I did. What I do. I’m very good at it, and I know a lot of other people who are equally good at it, if not better than I am. Especially now with computers and so on.”
“I’m sure you must have been to have remained in the army for so long.”
“Quite. Well, after I left you last week, I had a bee in my bonnet.” He smirked a little. “As I’m sure you can understand, I wanted to find out all I could about the little girl Pat gave birth to and what might have happened to her.”
“Of course. That makes perfect sense, George. I hope you find her and build a relationship with her.” She smiled. “You deserve it, I’m sure. But I’m a little confused, I don’t understand what that has to do with me? Not that I’m not glad to have the chance to apologise for my behaviour the other day, but I truly didn’t expect to ever see you again.”
He nodded. “Neither did I. I thought you hated me. With reason, I might add. But I never expected to cross paths with you again either. Until last night.”
“What happened last night?” Kate asked as she placed drinks for them all on the table.
“A friend of mine in Ireland found the records I was looking for and sent them to me. I got the e-mail about eleven last night. It was the last piece of corroborating evidence I needed to be sure I’d found the right woman.”
Gina smiled. “You found your daughter.”
His grin widened. “Yes, I did.”
“Wow, that was fast.”
He grinned. “I told you I was good at finding information. When I need to know something, I find out the answer.”
“I’m very happy for you, George.” She bit her lip. “But I still don’t understand where I come into this. Why did you want to talk to me about what you found?”
He stared at the file, as though now that the moment was upon him he was questioning his own decision. He licked his lips, pulling the bottom one between his teeth, then seemed to reconcile himself to moving forward with his plan. He took a deep breath and opened the file, spreading sheets of paper across the table. “You see, I found out that my little girl was adopted by Ronald and Mary Jacobs.”
“What?” Alison coughed around her drink.
“Ronald and Mary Jacobs,” he said quietly, looking directly at her.
Alison paled. “It’s…it’s a common enough surname, and Ronald and Mary aren’t unusual names either.”
“Mum?” Gina said quietly.
“I was thorough in my background checks. Every detail has been checked and double-checked. I had no intention of barging into someone’s life if I wasn’t one hundred per cent certain it was the right person.”
“You can’t have been. You said you only got the information last night. You said so yourself just a moment ago,” Alison argued.
“I’m sorry, I should have been clearer. I got the final confirmation at eleven last night. That was the confirmation of the checks I need to make.”
“But—”
“Ronald and Mary Jacobs. Lived in Fakenham from 1970 until they passed away—Mary in 1989, Ronald in 1993. Their adopted daughter married Howard Temple in 1983, at the age of eighteen.”
“Mum?” Gina quickly knelt beside her mother and took hold of her hand.
Alison couldn’t seem to tear her gaze from George. “You’re my father?”
George nodded.
“Bloody hell,” Kate whispered. She picked up her drink and stared into the cup. “I think I need something a bit stronger now.” She got up from the table and headed for the kitchen.
Gina touched her mother’s cheek and drew her face to look at her. “Mum, is it true?”
Alison snorted. “I’ve no idea.” She picked up one of the pieces of paper and stared at it blankly. “I was adopted. I knew that much. I told you that.”
Gina nodded. “I remember.”
“Is he my biological father?” She looked at George. “How the holy hell should I know?”
“I know this is a shock,” George said. “But all the paperwork shows that you are the baby Pat gave birth to in 1965. My daughter.”
Gina picked up the paper he held out. It was a birth certificate. Her mum’s birth certificate. “You’re not named as the father.”
He shook his head. “Do you remember in her letter? She said she wouldn’t name the father because she knew her dad would kill me for it.”
Gina nodded. Oh yes, she remembered. Wow. IRA commander great-granddaddy. Army spy granddad. Murdered grandma. I feel like I’m reading off the beginning of Gladiator. My name is Geroginas Maximus Tempilius, granddaughter to a murdered grandmother, descendant of a terrorist, mother to a problem child. And I will have my vengeance. In this life or the next. She knew laughing at the absurdity her shocked mind was creating wasn’t the correct response, but she couldn’t help it. It was bizarre. The whole thing was just too bizarre.
“What’s so funny?” George asked.
She shook her head and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Warped sense of humour.”
George just watched her, waiting for her to continue.
“Did that interrogation technique work for you a lot?” Gina asked, the sarcasm in her voice a little sharper than she’d expected it to be, even to her own ears.
“What happened to working on that judgemental thing?” George said, then lowered his gaze. “Sorry, that was uncalled for. Look, I know you won’t believe me. In all honesty, I don’t expect you to, but I truly am sorry for the way everything happened back then. I’m not sorry I met Patricia. I’m not sorry that we fell in love, and I’m especially not sorry that our love resulted in a child.” He waved his hand to indicate the whole room. “If we hadn’t, today would be very different, don’t you think?”
Kate put a hand on her shoulder and leant over to her ear. “Give him a chance. At least to explain. After all, it’s not really your life this has affected. Nor your mum’s really. She had a good childhood. Isn’t it up to her how she wants to deal with George?”
She was right, and Gina knew it. But it didn’t stop her thinking how different it all could have been. How different it should have been. Gina took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m still a little shocked. I just can’t stop seeing it. I can’t get it out of my head.”
“What, Gina?” Alison asked, her voice croaky and hoarse. “What can’t you stop seeing?”
“Pat.” She picked up her napkin and wiped her cheeks with it.
“What about her?” Kate asked, wrapping her fingers around Gina’s.
“I watched her die. I watched her die, begging me to find him, and all along she must have been thinking about the baby she gave up.” The sob escaped. “You,” she said, looking at Alison. “And I was right there. Her granddaughter, and neither of us knew it.” Her chest heaved as Alison’s tears also began to fall. “She seemed so kind. So lovely. And she died in my arms.”
“And you blame me for it,” George said quietly. “I understand why you’re so angry at me—”
Gina shook her head and tried to swallow enough to be able to speak. “I don’t blame you because she died. She was killed by a terrorist—” Gina took a deep breath and controlled herself. “I don’t blame you because she died, or how she died, or anything like that. I’m not even angry at you because she made the decision to let your baby be adopted. I know my mum had a good childhood, and we all wouldn’t be here today if not for that choice. I’m angry at you for using her. She seemed so sweet and kind, even after everything she must have gone through, the pain she must have felt. And she was still holding on to the happiness she had with you. I’m angry because that was a lie. Because you used her for your career. For your mission. I’m angry that you started this whole family because you were trying to arrest her father. Didn’t you even think? Didn’t you even consider what the consequences of your actions could be? How devastating the effects on everyone else might be?”
“You’re right. I didn’t think of any of those things. We were trained not to. But in all honesty, I wouldn’t have let them bother me anyway. If I had, I wouldn’t have been able to do what I needed to do to survive.” He rested his elbows on the table and leant forward. “I wasn’t thinking about the future, Gina, because I didn’t know if I’d even have tomorrow, never mind next year. That’s the reality for a soldier. That’s the question we face every morning when we wake up. Is it today? Will this one be the last day I walk this earth? And we don’t mind that. We don’t question that uncertainty. Instead we answer that question with the pledge that if this is the day I am to die, let my death mean something. Let it ensure a mission, a life, a cause. Let it be for a purpose. “For their tomorrow, we gave our today.” Have you heard that quote?”
Gina shook her head, but Kate nodded. “John Maxwell Edmonds.”
“Exactly. For your safety, for your health, for your happiness, we would give our lives, our futures, so that you can live the life you do today. Every serviceman—every single one of us—lives that motto. Every single day.” He sniffed. “So perhaps you’ll forgive an old man the follies of his youth, knowing that his intentions were good, even if his actions didn’t always live up to the standard you would wish of him.”
He pushed his chair back from the table and stood up. Gina watched as he closed the distance to Alison and held out a card to her. “I know this is a lot to take in, and I know you will probably have questions. If you wish, we can do a DNA test to confirm what I’ve learnt. I’m more than happy to do that, Alison.” He wrapped his fingers around hers as she took the card and gazed into his eyes.
Gina stared at them and realised what it was that had appeared so familiar about his eyes when she’d first seen him. They were a mirror image of her mother’s. Of her own. Of Sammy’s. How did I not see it?
“I would like the chance to get to know you. If you’d like.” He cleared his throat. “But I understand if you don’t.”
“Where are you going?” Alison asked. “We made extra for you.” Her voice was soft, distant. Almost like she was speaking from a long way away. She looked shell-shocked, completely at a loss as to what she should do or say.
He smiled sadly. “I think it might be best if I leave.” He reached out slowly and touched her cheek. Tears ran down his face as his sad smile turned joyous. “My little girl.”
Alison chuckled through her own tears. “Not so little.”
He put his free hand over his heart. “I may have only just met you, and I may have missed everything a father should see in his daughter’s life,” he sniffed and wiped away her tears with his thumb, “but I don’t want to miss any more. Not if I can help it.” He leant forward and kissed her cheek.
Alison wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed against his chest.
He held her.
Kate tapped Gina’s back and drew her attention. She spoke quietly so that Alison and George wouldn’t hear her. “Do you really hate him that much?”
“I don’t hate him.”
“Then do what you said when you spoke to him on the phone.”
Gina frowned.
“Let it go.” She touched the back of Gina’s neck. “Ask him to stay.”
“Is this another instance of you using my family to make up for the fact that you don’t have to put up with all this crap?” She pulled a face as she said it to let Kate know she really didn’t mean it.
Kate sniggered. “Something like that.” She dropped her head and looked up at her, giving Gina the most pathetic puppy-dog expression she’d ever seen. “Please.”
Gina sighed heavily. “George?” she said as he pulled away from Alison.
“I get it, Gina. I’m going.”
“Please don’t.”
He looked at her with a frown.
“Please stay. I’m sorry I was such a bitch. I have no excuse.”
“I don’t want to ruin the day for you all any more than I already have.”
“You’ll only ruin it if you leave,” Kate said. “After all, what’s a family Christmas without the odd disagreement or two, anyway?”
“I don’t want to argue,” he said, not looking away from Gina.
She shook her head. “No more arguing. I promise. I really don’t like confrontation.”
George laughed loudly. “Well, you’re very good at it.”
She chuckled. “Thanks.” She stood up and went to stand before him. “Please, stay and have Christmas with us. For years, it’s just been me and Sammy on Christmas Day, and I always wanted a big family Christmas. I wanted it to be filled with the people I love, old and new.” She held out her hand to Kate and felt secure and happy as Kate’s fingers clasped her own and she felt the now-familiar heat of her at her shoulder.
He opened his mouth to speak but seemed unable to get the words out as the tears welled in his eyes again. Instead, he nodded and pulled her into a hug.
The first time she was held by her grandfather. She closed her eyes and tried to memorise every moment of it—the heavy weight of him against her, the strength of his arms, the scent of Old Spice and mint permeating from him as mulled wine and cinnamon lingered in the air. She breathed it in deep, the new scent of Christmas, of family. And Gina intended to remember it all.
Something attracted Merlin’s attention, and she ran for the front door, her claws scrabbling across the tiles, barking as she went. Kate frowned and crossed the room, opening the door to the hallway.
“It’s a card, addressed to you, Gina.”
Gina frowned and pulled away from George’s embrace. “It’s Christmas Day. The post doesn’t—”
Kate held up a handwritten envelope bearing Gina’s name and nothing else. No address, no stamp, no postmark.
Kate dropped it on the kitchen counter and ran out of the house in her bare feet.
Gina stared at the envelope like it was going to bite her. She was almost convinced it would. Her heart beat wildly, echoing its frantic beat in her ears. It was so deep and so hard that her vision pulsed with each beat, like her view of the world was contracting with every pump.
When was this going to end? Why today? Couldn’t she just have one day of happiness without a threat or a torment hanging over her? Over them?
“Gina, what is it?” Her mother touched her arm and picked up the envelope, frowning at it. “What’s wrong?”
Kate hobbled back into the room, breathless, and limping on the side of one foot. A piece of glass stuck out of the sole. “Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow.” She dropped down in a chair, twisting her leg across her knee to pluck the shard from her flesh. “What does it say?”
The drops of blood falling to the floor spurred Gina back into action. “Never mind that.” She grabbed a tea towel and dropped to her knees beside Kate, pushing away Kate’s hands and wiping at the blood.
“Ow.”
“Big baby.” But she gentled her touch and studied the small cut, trying to ascertain if there was any more glass in it. It looked clean.
“Where’s your first aid kit?” Alison asked.
Gina pointed to a cupboard next to the fridge. “Top shelf.” Dabbing the cut, she said, “thanks” when the first aid kit was put down on the table beside her, The lid was opened, and the packet for an alcohol wipe was torn open and handed to her. She smiled up at her mum, took the wipe, and scrunched up her face. “This is going to sting.”
Kate nodded and sucked a sharp breath in through her teeth at the first touch. “It might be nothing.”
Gina nodded. “Yeah, it’s just a little cut. I don’t think you need stitches or anything.”
“I meant the envelope.”
“Oh. Did you see anyone out there?”
“No.”
“Do you want me to open it?” Alison asked.
Kate looked at Gina as she spoke. “It might be evidence, Alison. Probably best to let me. Can you pass me a pair of those gloves from the first aid kit?”
Alison stared at the envelope she’d dropped onto the table when she went for the kit and handed over the requested gloves.
“Evidence? Why?” George frowned as he bent forward to look at the white square envelope. “Just looks like a Christmas card to me.”
“Sometimes appearances can be deceptive.” Kate slowly peeled open the flap at the back of the envelope and slid out a Christmas card. Santa Claus sat in a sleigh, reindeer at the front, Rudolf’s bright red nose shining brightly. Just a standard, everyday Christmas card.
Then Gina saw the words at the top. “To The One I Love At Christmas.” She swallowed as Kate opened it and flicked her eyes up to Gina.
To My Gina,
My was underlined several times.
Christmas is a time where loved ones are supposed to be together, but again you’ve ignored me. Chosen her over me. Well, I’m not going to stand for this, Gina. You are mine, and it’s time you learnt that. It’s time you realised that I’m the best thing for you. Not her. I see you holding her hand, letting her kiss you, letting her touch you.
I don’t know how you can even do it. I don’t know how you can let her touch you instead of me.
You’re everything to me, Gina. Everything.
And I will be everything to you.
“It seems I have a stalker.” Gina sighed. “And he’s getting bolder.”
###