Page 100 of Under the Mistletoe with You

‘Not if I’ve offered.’

‘It is.’

‘Because it’sme?’she asks with an arched brow.

‘Of course because it’s you!’Dai says this with so much hurt that Christopher feels as if he should grab Nash and leave the two of them to their private moment.It’s been an emotional day, and everything spills out of Dai in a torrent of tears.‘I didn’t mean to stand you up all those years ago.

I wasn’t supposed to be gone for so long.’

‘Then why did you?’Thelma says, her short tone softened.‘I was waiting there for you.You never came back.I felt like such a fool.’

‘Maybe ...’he begins, glancing from Thelma to the nest of dogs next to him.‘Maybe we can talk about it, finally.If you’d be willing to hear me out?’

‘I might.’

‘But how are we going to get the dogs to yours?’

‘We can help,’ offers Christopher.‘There’s space in the back of the van, and a little fold-down seat.We can pack all your bits up and the dogs and take you over to Thelma’s.’

Dai ponders this for a moment, a nervous look on his face.

‘I’ll drive really slow,’ Christopher insists.

‘Oh, he will.You can be sure of that,’ Nash says.

‘All right then,’ agrees Dai.He looks to Thelma and repeats a little softer this time, ‘All right then.’

A shared flush spreads on Dai and Thelma’s cheeks as they gather up the things ready to move the nine dogs over to her farm.For them all, it’s perhaps the start of something new.A new beginning, among a whole litter of new beginnings.

Chapter Twenty-One

Christopher

It doesn’t take them long to drive over to Thelma’s farm.As before, she goes ahead on her tractor, heading straight over the fields like a woman on a mission.

Dai instructs Christopher to bring some blankets from the basket in the living room for the dogs, so he nips into the cold house to get them.It’s icy in the house, and he’s so glad they’re not leaving them here.Despite Dai’s insistence that there’s no need, Christopher locks up behind him, while Nash helps Dai clamber up into the front passenger seat.Even from over by the front door, Christopher can hear his joints creaking with the cold.

Nash then deposits the puppies into the back of the van, safely ensconced in a cardboard box.Determined not to let them out of her sight, Nessa plods slowly behind him to the van, though the poor dog looks ready for a long sleep.

‘Hang on, girl, I’ll get you too.’

In one great scoop of his arms, he lifts her gently in, settling her next to the puppies, and settles himself on one of the fold-out seats, the box of puppies and Nessa at his feet.

‘Is everyone all strapped in safe?’asks Christopher from the driver’s seat, which is met with a chorus ofyep,ayeand various squeals from the puppies.

He can’t help it; he peers back to check on the puppies.

‘They’re fine,’ Nash says.‘Get driving before we all freeze in here.’

‘The lad’s right.I don’t want to lose any important bits,’ murmurs Dai, wiggling further into his coat.

‘Okay, off we go,’ says Christopher.

And it is a very, very slow drive.The glow of Thelma’s farm stretches across the valley even further than before now that they’re well into the afternoon.It’s like a beacon, calling them all home.

When they arrive at Thelma’s, she flings open the back of the van and carries Nessa inside before anyone can even unclip their seatbelts.

‘She’s one hell of a woman,’ sighs Dai, following her inside with a new spring in his step.