Page 38

“Oh, that band…piano?” Caz wracked her brain. “Sasha?”

“Yes.” Grace stabbed a finger at Caz. “Her, it was her, and I assume…isn’t she gay?”

“One of the family, yes, I think I read that. I don’t know her, though. Not my kind of music,” Caz confirmed without the slightest interest in anyone famous who wasn’t Kate Winslet.

“You need more water.” Grace smiled, looking at the patch that was now drying already. “Lots of water.”

Chapter Eighteen

December 2024

It wasn’t the merriest of Christmas mornings, and the breakfast had gone untouched, as Caz knew it would, but still, they were doing their best.

The tears in the shower had been the last of them, as though Grace had somehow been cleansed of all the sorrow that had consumed her in waves.

She’d gotten dressed and come downstairs to find Caz in the kitchen prepping lunch. Carrots were peeled and cut into halves and the potatoes were peeled and cut into quarters.

The small turkey joint was cooking in the oven.

George Michael sangLast Christmason the speaker as Caz chopped up a white cabbage.

For a moment, Grace just stood there watching, torn between continuing that or doing what she wanted most to do. In the end, standing there felt more awkward, so she moved slowly until she was behind Caz and could reach around with her arms and hug her like a limpet.

“Hey,” Caz greeted, dropping the knife to place her own hands over Grace’s. “Glad you could make it.”

“Do you need any help?”

“Not really, got it all under control,” Caz said, picking up the knife again.

“Good, so I can stay here?” Grace asked, but they both already knew the answer.

“Yep. Just be prepared for dancing if the Pogues come on.”

Grace chuckled, and for the second time that day, she felt something lift.

When Caz finished cutting the cabbage, she turned around and put her arms around Grace. Pulling her close until all Grace could do was breathe her in. The soft scents of washing detergent and a subtle cologne that had become Caz’s trademark scent over the years were all she needed to know she was loved and safe.

“Wanna watchElf?” Caz asked, kissing the top of her head.

“Only if you’re watching it with me.” Grace looked up into the eyes of someone she knew would walk through fire for her.

“Yeah, like I’m going to miss that.” Caz pulled a silly face. “I was thinking... I know everyone always has Christmas dinner in the afternoon, but why don’t we switch it up and have picky bits now, and then dinner later?”

“Make our own traditions?”

“Yep. So, you go sort the TV and get the film lined up, while I get together a smorgasbord of snacks and, ooh, mince pies?”

Grace’s eyes went wide. “Oh, now you’re just too much,” she laughed, “but yes, with brandy cream.”

“On its way,” Caz said, freeing her from the hug and twirling away towards the fridge and all of the goodies she’d bought in hope that, somehow, they would enjoy Christmas.

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Treecame on and Grace watched as Caz began to move her hips in time and sing along with the lyrics.

It wasn’t going to be the Christmas they’d planned, but right now she was hopeful, and having Caz by her side made that all the more easier to focus on a brighter new year.

Chapter Nineteen

That night, Caz finished washing up the mugs that were still warm from the last mouthfuls of the hot chocolate they’d held just moments earlier.