Page 17 of Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan

‘And do you … ever get used to it?’ She held his gaze.

His slate-blue eyes seemed to hold that hurt. ‘Nope. But I don’t want to forget about him – about Daniel – either. Sometimes it’s good to talk about him. Remember him. I don’t want my brother to be forgotten.’

Lucy’s heart seemed to squeeze. Just thinking of her own brother …

‘Hah, yes, there was that one Christmas …’ Jack launched into a memory. ‘Yeah, we must have been young teenagers. Mum and Dad had gone off out … to the supermarket, I think it was, and we were home alone. It must have been about a week before Christmas.

‘Well, our curiosity got the better of us. We knew their gift hidey-hole – top shelf of their big bedroom wardrobe. So, there we were, perched in turns on a stool, rummaging through. Well, we found some stocking fillers and the pair of new trainers we’d asked for – ace, and the Xbox that was to share – brilliant, and a couple of games for it, a footie one and the newest Call of Duty, which we were bursting to try. Well, we had plenty of time, but we thought we’d better not push our luck.’

Lucy snuggled closer to Jack, enjoying the tale, picturing the two young lads up to mischief.

‘Anyway, evidence all tidied up, chair back away in its place. And Mum and Dad came home none the wiser. And then came Christmas Day … and the big unwrapping. The Xbox, the trainers, selection boxes – you always need a selection box – footie game, bits and bobs … everything unwrapped, nothing left under the tree, but no Call of Duty.

‘Dan and I were giving each other quizzical looks. Big thanks, hugs, quiet chat between me and Dan about how it might be being kept back for later, like an extra “surprise”. Well, we were about fit to bursting by the end of Boxing Day. We daren’t say anything, of course, or they’d know we’d been snooping. And yes, though we no longer believed in good old Father Christmas, the last thing we wanted to do was jeopardise our future Christmas presents.’

Lucy couldn’t help but smile, as the story rolled on. She and Olly had had some capers in their time, too.

‘Well, in the end, we had to wait until my birthday at the end of February. That was when it finally came to light. Hilarious. Mum must have forgotten about it, and then found it again. Hah, she couldn’t work out why we kept giggling when I opened it. Do you know, I don’t think I’ve ever told her to this day … Hah, the stuff of legends. It might be high time I shared that memory … this Christmas time. Mum would love it.’

‘Aw, that’s so funny. You two must have been a right handful.’

‘We were pretty good, actually … most of the time.’ Jack gave a cheeky grin, which then dipped a little.

Lucy felt for him. When someone you loved died so young, it must shake up your whole life. Unsettle everything. There was a whole deeper side to Jack that she had yet to get to know. That was, if he’d let her …

Talking of loss made her yearn for physical contact. To be close to him. She propped her feet up against the coffee table, with its now-depleted nibbles, and snuggled up. ‘Ah, can’t wait for a rest, and a lie-in tomorrow. That’ll be bliss. It’s been a long day.’

‘Yeah, I’m pretty bushed too. Ready to turn in, myself.’ Jack smooched a little closer, his thigh leaning against hers; a sensual hint of things to come.

Hmm, bed-time was calling, and perhaps she wasn’t that tired after all …

Later, Jack’s breathing had slowed to the rhythmic hum of sleep, whilst Lucy lay awake wrapped in his arms, her body still tingling from his caresses. This with Jack, it felt so beautiful, so powerful, and yet something scared her about the depth of her feelings. Was it almost too good to be true? With this evening’s poignant conversation and the echo of Daniel’s death in her thoughts, she pondered about how life could change in an instant.

Yes, they were so very in sync in bed, but was it more about the physical for Jack than the long term? A flurry of questions were left milling in her head, like the glittery flakes in a snow globe. Where would life fall for her and Jack?

Chapter Eight

Two weeks later, and Lucy was winding her way back from Alnwick, where she’d called for supplies from the local butcher and farm shop. She needed to stock up ready for a market day stall event the next day. Plus – and she was excited and a little nervous about this – the Winter Wedding event she was booked to do this coming weekend. She had to pass Jack’s village on the way home and so, on a bit of a whim, she decided to loop off the main road and do a drive-by, just to see if Ruby was parked up outside. After all, it would be an ideal chance to call in and say ‘hi’.

Jack lodged with an old friend, Matt, whom Lucy had met once or twice. He was a really nice guy who worked as a vet locally. She’d even taken Daisy in for a visit to the surgery when her pooch had had a bit of an upset stomach that didn’t settle – much to Daisy’s disapproval, being poked and prodded like that, and then having to take that foul medication and fasting, all very undignified. Anyway, Matt was lovely with her and the Dachshund, and his medicine did the trick.

Lucy turned the corner to see the row of semi-detached houses of Jack’s street, and yes, there was Ruby, parked up and gleaming in the morning sunshine. Jack had obviously been giving her a good clean and a buff; he liked to keep her sparkling and ready for action. Lucy pulled up at the roadside, and with a spring to her step, headed for the front door, giving the bell a hopeful ring. Even with Ruby here, there was still a chance Jack might be off out cycling or doing something sporty. However, the door opened and there he was, dressed casually in knee-length khaki shorts and a white T-shirt.

‘Hey, did anyone not tell you it’s now November … in Northumberland?’

‘Hi there … and no, I’m living in some tropical clime radiator zone. Jess likes the heating up high, as in sauna level.’ Jack’s smile was warm. ‘Good to see you, I know it’s been a few days.’ His eyebrows were also raised a little in surprise.

‘Yeah, I was just passing by after popping to Alnwick. Thought I’d come and say hi.’

‘Well, that’s nice.’

And he gave her a smacker of a kiss, right there on the doorstep, which left her with a tingly frisson of surprise. ‘I did wonder if you might be off out jogging or cycling or something?’

‘Nah, not today. Trying to catch up on some good old admin on the computer. Accounts stuff, and I need to apply for the next round of licences for events. All fun …’ He pulled a grimace, as if that was actually the last thing he wanted to be doing. ‘Needs must, and all that. Coffee?’

‘Well, only if I’m not interrupting?’

‘It’s fine. I could do with a little interrupting, to be honest … break the monotony of the Excel spreadsheet and the council website.’ He gave a cheeky smile.