Back at Oli’s cottage, after everyone else had gone, Amy and Tom were tucked up safely in bed. Grace was in the lounge sitting on the floor next to Hope, who sighed at intervals to express her pleasure because Grace was stroking her belly.
Oli appeared in the doorway.
‘It was really kind of your parents to invite us all for lunch tomorrow, including my father and Maxine.’
‘It will be lovely to have everyone together.’
‘It’s a good thing too. Seeing as how I don’t have anything to cook now.’
‘What?’
He held up an empty foil tray.
‘After you left, I got the turkey crown out of the fridge to prepare it for tomorrow, but when I checked on the children and found Tom gone, I forgot about it.’
‘Where did it go?’ Grace frowned.
Oli pointed at Hope, who rubbed a paw over her face.
‘No! She couldn’t have eaten a whole crown of turkey?’
Oli nodded. ‘You’d be surprised what greyhounds can put away.’
‘But it was raw, wasn’t it?’
He nodded, again. ‘Doesn’t bother them. Raw meat is more natural for them anyway.’
‘Oh, Hope. And there we were thinking you needed help going out to the toilet.’
Oli laughed. ‘She’s obviously making better progress than we thought. It’s my fault for leaving the meat out.’
Grace ran her hand over Hope’s belly. ‘I thought it felt full, you greedy girl.’
Hope licked her lips.
‘Well, you can have a proper Christmas dinner tomorrow, Hope. One of my Dad’s specials.’
Hope let out a long groan.
‘I suppose I should go.’ Grace peered at the window where the curtains were open and where snowflakes still drifted down from the sky, illuminated by the silvery moonlight.
‘Don’t leave. You’d just as well stay now,’ Oli said.
‘Okay then. Your sofa is quite comfy. Can I go and check on Tom before I go to sleep?’
‘Of course. I’ll come with you.’
Upstairs, they sneaked into Tom’s room and found him fast asleep. In the gentle glow from his nightlight, Grace could see his eyelids flickering as he dreamt.
‘He’s so peaceful now,’ she whispered.
‘He just wanted to know you’d stay in Conwenna.’
Grace nodded then she sat on the floor next to the bed, and watched as Tom’s chest moved up and down.
‘I used to do that all the time when they were babies,’ Oli said. ‘Just to know they were okay.’
‘I would have been the same if I’d had children of my own.’
‘Grace…’
She reached out and ran a hand down Oli’s cheek. ‘Don’t worry about anything now. It’s late and we’re tired. Let’s enjoy Christmas and leave the more serious talks for later.’
‘Okay. But you are staying?’
‘I’ll need to go back to Cardiff and arrange to have my belongings moved to Conwenna, but yes… I’ll be here.’
He leant forwards and kissed her forehead, then pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. And in that moment, she knew that she was exactly where she wanted to be and she had no intention of going anywhere. Ever.
‘Wake up! Wake up!’
Grace was jolted from sleep by shouting and the sound of footsteps thundering around her. She opened her eyes and met Oli’s. He looked as exhausted and confused as she felt.
She pushed herself upwards and realized that she was on Tom’s bedroom floor. She’d fallen asleep there next to Oli, but judging from the fact that there was only pale grey light filtering through the curtains into the bedroom, they hadn’t been asleep for long. Her whole body ached from lying on the floorboards and she was cold and stiff.
‘Morning,’ Oli said as he yawned and stretched.
‘Is it?’ Grace smiled. ‘I’m not sure.’
‘Grace… Come on, let’s go and see if Santa’s been!’ Tom tugged at her hand.
‘Tom, hold on!’ Oli shook his head. ‘Let Grace come round a bit.’
‘Morning.’ Amy danced into the room. ‘It’s Christmas!’
‘Come on,’ Grace said to Oli. ‘I don’t think they can wait.’
‘I think you’re right.’
They got up and went down stairs behind the children. At the lounge doorway, Tom paused. He turned to Grace and gave her a big smile.
‘I’m so excited.’
‘I know.’
Amy and Tom rushed into the lounge, and Grace and Oli followed them. Grace’s own stomach was tight with excitement; Tom’s enthusiasm was infectious.
Oli pulled Grace onto the sofa, and they sat and watched as Amy and Tom tore through the wrapping paper on their piles of gifts. Tom was so excited that he was trembling.
Everything that he opened, he held it up for Grace and his father to see, and they oohed and aahhed appropriately. When the lounge was a mess of Christmas paper and envelopes, and Hope was gazing at Grace in a way that suggested she was hungry, Oli went and grabbed some bin bags and started to tidy up.
Grace fed Hope then let her out into the garden. As the greyhound wandered around, Grace stood at the French doors watching her. Everything outside was white, from the grass to the path, to the shed and the trees behind, and tiny paw prints showed where Hope had been. Although the snow had stopped falling, the morning had the muffled effect that came with heavy snowfall. She breathed deeply and enjoyed the sensation of the cold air as it filled her lungs; the smell of freshly fallen snow that always seemed so clean and crisp, as if everything had been cleansed.
‘Time for a special festive breakfast, Grace?’ Oli was right behind her, his breath warm as it tickled the back of her neck.
‘What have you got in mind?’ She turned and met his eyes.
‘Well, what I have in mind is impossible right now…’ he winked at her, ‘but smoked salmon and scrambled eggs will have to do.’
‘I guess it’ll come a close second.’ She leant forwards and gently kissed him.
They sat at the table twenty minutes later, and Oli popped the cork on a bottle of champagne while Grace poured fresh orange juice into the children’s glasses. Then they tucked into the tender salmon and fluffy yellow eggs that Oli had prepared.
As the children chattered about their gifts and their plans for the holidays and Oli filled her glass as soon as it was empty, Grace’s chest filled with happiness. There had been ups and downs over the past few weeks, but meeting Oli and his children had been the best thing that had happened to her in ages. Yes, it was scary, and yes, it was hard to let go of her fears and to let them all into her heart, but it also felt so damned good.
For the first time in years, Grace was actually living, not just existing as she had come to believe was okay. Looking back, it hadn’t been enough, but after losing Sam, she hadn’t wanted to feel such intense agonizing loss again. But by denying herself the right to feel, she had denied herself the right to a full and colourful life with all the joy that came from caring about other people.
After breakfast, they all showered and dressed – Oli and the children in smart Christmas outfits and Grace in the clothes she’d worn the previous evening. But she knew she could change when she got back to Rosehip Cottage.
They wrapped up warm in coats, hats and gloves. Grace put Hope’s new warm winter fleece on her that Oli had bought for the greyhound at Amy’s instruction. She’d seen it on Amazon and insisted that he ordered it the previous week and he’d agreed that it was a good idea.
Then they trudged through the snow to Louise and Simon’s house, their breath like smoke in the air and their noses tingling with the cold. Grace led Hope along the least snowy places so her legs wouldn’t get too chilly. She’d already sent a text ahead to tell her mother to get a big fluffy towel ready to dry Hope’s feet when they arrived.
Louise opened the door as they walked along the driveway and ushered them inside. The house smelt of roasting turkey, potatoes and all sorts of delicious side dishes, and when they entered the kitchen, Simon pressed glasses of champagne into their hands.
‘‘We’ve already had a bottle with breakfast,’ Grace told her father, but he shook his head.
‘It’s Christmas Day, Grace. And we’ve plenty to celebrate this year.’
Amy and Tom knelt by the box in the corner and played with the kittens while their mother wound herself around Simon’s legs, almost tripping him up on several occasions. Simon refused all offers of help, so Grace was able to enjoy sitting with Oli and her mother and watching as Hope lay down next to the children.
‘She seems okay with the cats.’
Oli nodded. ‘Might well have lived with some before. I was a bit apprehensive but she did have time to get used to being in the same room as them at the surgery, so they’re not completely strange to her. But, yes, I do think that she’s lived with other animals. We should keep an eye on her when she’s around the kittens but from what I’ve seen so far, there’s no need to worry.’
‘She only likes turkey crowns.’ Grace giggled.
‘Yes…’ Oli shook his head. ‘That’ll teach me not to leave food where she can reach it.’
‘Well, she can have some of your father’s cooking,’ Louise said, ‘and I’m sure that’ll stop her feeling the need to scrounge.’
‘I wouldn’t be so sure about that.’ Oli raised an eyebrow. ‘It’s learnt behaviour and goes back to how they grow up. If she wasn’t fed enough or had to search for her own food, then she’s in the habit and it could take a while for that to change. If it ever will.’
‘Oh, poor Hope.’ Grace shook her head. ‘I hate to think of her suffering.’
‘That part of her life is over, Grace. Everything is going to be much better for her from now on.’
When Paul and Maxine arrived, Simon gave them flutes of champagne too. Christmas music filled the house, blaring from the TV in the lounge and the radio in the kitchen, and even better was the laughter from the adults and the children. Grace thought she might burst from smiling so much. It was wonderful to have so many people around on Christmas Day, and she had to admit that the children made it extra special.
Dinner was a delightful affair, with Simon insisting that they all pulled crackers and wore the party hats, then Amy and Tom told the cheesy jokes that came from the crackers. They tucked into the piles of succulent turkey, fluffy roast potatoes, cauliflower and broccoli cheese, buttered carrots and creamy mashed swede and parsnip. Dessert was homemade Christmas pudding drenched in fine French brandy or hazelnut chocolate torte with thick clotted cream.
‘Simon and Louise, thank you so much for yet another fantastic dinner.’ Oli rubbed his full stomach.
‘It’s our pleasure again,’ Simon said, waving off the compliment.
‘It really was delicious.’ Paul raised his glass. ‘We owe the chef a toast.’
‘To Simon, but also to Louise and Grace,’ Maxine said as she raised her glass. ‘Welcome to Conwenna.’
‘Cheers!’ was repeated around the table then glasses were topped up again.
‘Shall we go through to the lounge and open the rest of the presents now?’ Louise asked.
‘More presents?’ Tom’s eyes widened.
‘Yes, Tom. You didn’t think we wouldn’t have anything for you did you?’
‘Amy did you hear that?’
‘Yes, Tom, of course I did. Thank you, Louise and Simon, it’s very kind of you.’
‘Do you want some help tidying up?’ Oli asked.
‘Not yet. Leave it until later. I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit full for dish duty yet.’ Simon patted his shirt front.
They got up and made their way through to the lounge. Louise turned up the TV and Christmas hits filled the room. The fire was already lit and it filled the room with a comfortable warmth, fragranced with pine and rosemary. Around the fireplace, Louise had hung holly and mistletoe, and Tom went over and pointed at it.
‘What’s this?’
‘Holly,’ Grace said.
‘No, not that one… this.’ He pointed again.
‘That’s mistletoe,’ Louise replied. ‘It’s traditional to kiss under it.’
Tom frowned then his expression changed and he pulled a sprig of mistletoe from the rest.
‘Tom! Don’t ruin Louise’s decorations.’ Oli shook his head.
‘It’s all right, Oli. He can take some.’ Louise sank onto one of the sofas and smiled at Tom.
Grace gulped as she saw Tom approaching her and Oli where they were sitting on the sofa. He had mischief in his eyes and his tongue was poking from the corner of his mouth as he concentrated.
‘Daddy…’
‘Yes, Tom.’
‘Now you have to kiss Grace.’
‘Sorry?’
‘Kiss Grace.’
‘Oh… Tom, don’t be silly. It’s an old myth that’s all.’
Tom shook his head. ‘Louise said.’
Oli turned to Grace as Tom raised the mistletoe over their heads, his small arm stretched as far as it would go.
‘Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!’ Tom shouted, then Amy joined in, ‘Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!’
Oli leant closer to Grace. ‘I guess we don’t have a choice.’
‘I’d hate to go against tradition.’
She moved closer to Oli and he slid his hand around the back of her neck then lowered his mouth to meet hers. His lips were soft and tasted of champagne and his breath was warm against her skin.
When they parted, Grace had to blink rapidly to focus again. The effect of Oli’s kiss was overwhelming.
‘There, that’s better,’ Tom said as he put the mistletoe on the table. ‘Now Daddy and Grace will get married and she can live with us.’
He skipped over to the Christmas tree where Louise was waiting and sat down on the floor there with Amy.
Oli took hold of Grace’s hand and squeezed it. ‘I’ve heard worse plans, you know.’
‘Really?’
He shrugged. ‘It’s something to think about anyway.’
Grace took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. Oli was actually suggesting that they consider getting married and become a family. It was almost too good to believe. But he’d said it and his children seemed comfortable with the idea, and she was staying in Conwenna now.
Could it really happen?
Amy and Tom opened the gifts from Louise and Simon, and thanked them effusively for every one. Then it was time for the gifts from Grace.
Amy opened the scarf with the stars on it and immediately wrapped it around her neck. Grace had also picked up a small bottle of perfume for Amy and some lip gloss, and Amy sprayed herself with the perfume then slicked on some of the peach gloss.
‘It suits you, Amy,’ Grace said.
‘Thank you, Grace, I love them.’
Tom held his gift up and turned it over in his hands.
‘Aren’t you going to open it?’ Oli asked him.
‘I want to, Daddy, but I’m nervous.’
‘Why are you nervous? You love opening presents.’
‘I do but… I made a wish on the cake at Amy’s birthday and I asked Santa for the same wish. If I open this then perhaps my wish won’t come true and Grace won’t be my new mummy.’ His eyes widened. ‘Ooops.’
Grace glanced at Oli but he was smiling.
‘Is that what you wished for, Tom?’
The little boy nodded. ‘But I’m not supposed to say anything.’
‘It’s okay. I’m sure no one knows. Now open your gift from Grace.’
Tom nodded then unwrapped the box containing the castle.
‘Wow! Just what I always wanted.’
‘I’m so glad you like it.’ Grace smiled.
‘Will you build it with me?’
‘Of course. It’ll give us something to do over the holidays.’
‘Look, Amy, we can play with this… and there’s animals to go inside it.’
‘You’ve made one little boy and girl very happy indeed.’ Oli held her gaze. ‘And you make me very happy too.’
‘I’m glad. This has been a lovely Christmas… well, except for Tom going missing and that worked out all right in the end, so I need to thank you too.’
‘This is for you, Grace.’ Louise handed her a present from under the tree.
‘There’s one there for Oli too, Mum.’
‘Yes, here it is.’ Louise handed Oli the gift.
‘Bet you can’t guess what it is.’ Grace pointed at the bottle-shaped gift.
‘No idea…’ Oli frowned. He tore away the wrapping paper. ‘Mead, eh? Thank you, Grace. Never had this, but heard it’s good with cheese.’
‘That’s what it says on the bottle.’
‘Well, you’ll have to promise to enjoy it with me.’
‘Okay.’
‘Now open yours.’
Grace carefully unwrapped the small box then lifted the lid. Inside was a small silver charm in the shape of a figure eight.
‘It’s the eternity symbol,’ Oli explained. ‘Just so that you remember that a part of you will always be in Conwenna Cove and it will also always be with you.’
She ran her finger over the charm. ‘It’s beautiful.’
‘You can read more into its significance if you wish,’ Oli whispered. ‘I’d like you to. And there’s something here to go with it.’
He gave her another small box.
‘Oli, you shouldn’t have.’
‘I wanted to. Besides, when you open it you’ll understand.’
Inside was a silver charm bracelet.
‘You need a charm bracelet to put the charms on.’
‘I have one for you too!’ Tom jumped up and ran over to her.
‘Tom, it’s supposed to be secret.’ Amy shook her head.
‘Not now it’s not.’
Tom handed Grace a box and when she lifted the lid, inside was a small silver greyhound.
‘So you can always remember Hope and how she chose you.’ Tom grinned.
‘Here you are, Grace.’ Amy passed her a box. ‘This one is because you’re my friend.’
‘Thank you.’ Grace opened the box and found a silver heart with friends forever engraved on it. ‘Oh…’ Her vision blurred and she covered her face with her hands.
‘Don’t be sad, Grace, it’s a happy time.’ Tom pulled her hands away from her face.
‘Right, now that’s all the gifts exchanged, shall we play some games?’ Simon asked.
‘Yes please!’ Tom jumped up and down on the spot causing everyone to laugh.
Oli took the charm bracelet from Grace then fixed the charms on it and fastened it around her wrist.
‘I’ll never take this off.’
‘Well… you might want to when you shower, but apart from that, don’t. It links us all together.’
He glanced at the children, but they were helping Louise and Simon to get the boxes of games out of a cupboard in the corner, so he quickly kissed Grace’s cheek.
‘Merry Christmas, Grace.’