Page 43 of Home This Christmas

THIRTY-EIGHT

As the conversation flows, and the boys tell us stories of their time at university, any nerves I may have felt have completely disappeared.

Both boys seem to be enjoying their respective courses and have made some good friends.

‘So, what are your future plans?’ I ask, thinking that some young people remain in the city where they studied.

Dylan is the first to answer. ‘Not sure,’ he says, as he sips a beer. ‘I might get some management experience with one of the big supermarket chains if I can, as they pay well. Then when you are old and doddery,’ he teases, turning to Nathan, ‘I can manage this place.’

‘You don’t have to wait until then, you know,’ Nathan replies. ‘Maybe I could take early retirement.’ He grins.

‘At the age of forty?’ His dad laughs. ‘You would be bored stiff after five minutes.’

‘Well. Okay. Maybe ease off a bit. Perhaps I could take up golf.’

‘I can’t quite see that,’ says Joe. ‘Didn’t we all try it once, and you put a ball through the clubhouse window?’

‘True enough.’ Nathan chuckles. ‘Maybe not golf, then.’

Joe tells me he would like to work with farm animals in his role as a vet, as he enjoyed being around the cows when he was growing up at Hope Farm.

As the night draws to a close, I suppress a yawn. When Nathan’s dad stands and announces he is off to bed, I decide to take my leave.

‘I’ll walk you back,’ says Nathan.

‘Well, it has been an absolute pleasure meeting you both,’ I tell the boys as I stand. ‘See you soon hopefully.’

‘Yeah, it’s been good to meet you too,’ replies Dylan and Joe agrees.

‘I won’t come in, at least not this evening. Even though I would love to be climbing into that bed with you right now,’ Nathan says, as he nuzzles my neck while we stand on the doorstep of the cottage.

‘I understand.’

‘Although I might sneak out in the middle of the night, like a naughty teenager.’

‘Maybe best not to do that. Not unless you want to frighten me half to death.’ I poke him playfully.

‘Okay.’ He circles his arms around my waist and pulls me to him. ‘I guess I will just have to settle for a kiss.’

He kisses me beneath the light of the silvery moon, and I know more than ever that I belong here with him.

For now, at least.

The next morning, I barely see Nathan as he is busy in the farm shop ensuring everything is ticking over nicely in the run-up to Christmas.

I had taken him up on his offer of calling in this morning if I got bored, and when I arrive, the lady who had been inviting him to sample some wine is refilling a fridge and Nathan is standing next to her chatting.

I notice her throw her head back and laugh at something he has just said, as I approach them.

‘Ruby, hi,’ he greets me with a kiss on the lips, and the lady shoots me daggers, as she places some cheese into the large fridge.

‘I thought you would be resting up?’ he asks.

‘I am tired of sitting around, and you mentioned I could call in.’

‘Of course. I am just a little busy, but come on, let me show you some new stock that has just arrived,’ he says, leading me away.

He didn’t look so busy standing around chatting, I think to myself.

We head to a section of the shop that has a good selection of gifts, from teddies and soft toys wearing Christmas hats, to luxury food hampers and jars of sweets lined up on shelves. There are boxes of shortbreads and candied jellies that remind me of Christmases from days gone by.

‘You would be surprised how many people come in here for a last-minute Christmas gift. Which is why I always order a delivery of gifts about now. Although not too much just in case it doesn’t sell.’

‘Ever thought about a Boxing Day sale?’ I ask. ‘There are those people don’t see relatives on Christmas Day itself, but over the festive season, who might like to bag themselves a bargain,’ I suggest.

‘That’s a brilliant idea,’ Nathan replies.

‘I normally only discount items in the new year, but you’re right, word would soon get around if we opened on Boxing Day, for the morning at least. There is probably a lot of fresh produce that could be discounted too,’ he adds, the more he thinks about it.

‘Exactly. A morning sale, then you can spend the rest of the day doing whatever you like. We are a nation of shoppers after all.’ I think of the Boxing Day sales in London – although maybe things are a little different around here.

‘We all normally take a long walk on Boxing Day,’ he tells me. ‘Which I would love you to join us on. We kind of pick at cold cuts and cheeses in the afternoon, with a glass or two of wine.’

‘It sounds perfect, but I am sure I would hold you up…’ I say, once more cursing the day I fell onto the ice.

‘I would walk at your pace,’ he offers kindly. ‘If the others want to go on ahead, that’s fine.’

‘Well, let’s see, shall we?’ Although I wonder what else I’d be doing.

‘Or we can stay at home. We could have that privacy then,’ he suggests, with a raise of an eyebrow.

He puts his arms around my waist and kisses me gently on the lips, and I can feel some of his employees glancing over.

It is the day before Christmas Eve, and people are out in force buying their fresh vegetables and table decorations for the big day, and I notice a woman placing a food hamper wrapped in cellophane into her trolley. Nathan is right about those last-minute shoppers.

‘Do you fancy a bit of a games night later?’ he suggests as we escape to the café for a quick coffee.

‘At the pub?’ I ask.

‘No, at my place. A bit of Trivial Pursuit, then we generally take a vote on a second game. I’m hoping Exploding Kittens will get the vote.’ He grins.

‘That sounds horrible.’ I gasp.

‘Don’t worry, it’s simply a card game. No kittens are actually blown up.’ He smiles.

‘I would like that, but are you sure you don’t want to spend time with your boys alone? They aren’t here for that long after all,’ I tell him sincerely.

‘I would love to have you there,’ he insists.

‘I know you would.’ I reach across the table and take his hand in mine. ‘But honestly, I really don’t mind. Spend time with your boys. I might give Mum a call and have a catch-up with her.’

‘If you’re sure,’ he says. ‘Now that you are staying here for Christmas, I guess we will have lots of time together. And as I have introduced you to the boys, I can spend the night at the cottage if you like.’

‘Sleeping with the tenant?’ I laugh. ‘Talking of which, you haven’t actually told me how much I owe you for the rental,’ I say, thinking he will be missing out on money from another possible tenant whilst I am there.

‘Don’t be silly. I guess I panicked when I first introduced you, as the boys coming home early took me by surprise. But now they have met you, I am pretty sure they will soon love you as much as I do. I wouldn’t dream of charging you a penny for being here.’

I try not to read too much into his words. He hasn’t actually told me that he loves me, and I am not sure what I would say if he did.

Realising how busy things are at the farm shop, I head back to the cottage, to sort through my clothes and do some washing. I am barely there five minutes, when I have an incoming call from Marilyn.