A perfect second first kiss.
‘That was unexpected,’ he murmured, dazed and delighted as we broke apart. ‘Did Father Christmas only just get the letter I sent him when I was thirteen? I know the post is slow, but that would be ridiculous.’
‘Sometimes it takes people a really long time to get the message,’ I replied, my hands still resting on his shoulders. ‘But better late than never.’
Snow fell from the sky and flew up from the ground, swirling around the two of us as though we were standing in our very own snow globe, freshly shaken.
‘I should get back inside.’ Dev’s eyes lingered on mine as Pari ran joyous circles around Manny and Cerys who were still wrestling outside the front door. ‘I only came out to see what all the screaming was about. We’re about to eat, but I would love to see you before you leave. Maybe we could meet up tomorrow or something?’
‘If there is a tomorrow,’ I replied, only a little sadly. ‘I’m all yours.’
He smiled so wide the dimple in his left cheek popped. ‘Is that a promise?’
‘One way or another, I will see you tomorrow,’ I nodded, biting my lip to stop myself from tearing up. ‘I hope you don’t forget.’
‘As if I could forget a kiss like that,’ Dev replied, picking up Pari and walking back towards his parents’ house.
Dad was upstairs when Cerys and Manny called a truce, exhausted and soaking wet through. He didn’t meet us at Dorothy’s party, he didn’t put on his firework display and he didn’t come downstairs for a cup of tea when we all arrived home either. By the time everyone decided it was time for bed (everyone except for Manny who was last seen snogging Drew the butcher’s face off in Dorothy’s conservatory), the only person who had spoken to him was Mum and it didn’t look as though their conversation had been the highlight of her day.
Opening the dining-room door, I crept along the hallway to the kitchen, the dulcet tones of Buddy the Elf whispering through the walls even though Artemis and Arthur were definitely supposed to be asleep by now. Upstairs, floorboards creaked and taps ran, but all thelights were out, signalling that another Christmas Day was almost over.
‘Might as well stuff myself stupid,’ I whispered, making a beeline for the fridge. My appetite was back with a vengeance today.
‘I’ve warned you about the gout,’ said a voice in the dark. ‘And I’ll not sit up all night rubbing your legs like I did your grandad’s.’
I flicked on the light above the oven to see Nan sat at the table, calmly drinking a mug of something hot and steaming while my heart pounded against my ribs.
‘Christ on a bike, you scared me half to death,’ I said between deep calming breaths. Death by grandmother would have been an interesting one to add to the list.
‘Blasphemy on Christmas Day,’ she tutted. ‘Your great-grandma would’ve had your guts for garters. There’s some Horlicks in the pan if you want some. There’s half a bottle of Baileys in it, don’t tell your mother.’
‘Good job I didn’t drink the whole bottle myself this time,’ I said, grabbing a mug from the cupboard and helping myself. Nan sipped her boozy Horlicks and watched me, smiling like the cat who’d not only got the cream but had also bought the cow for good measure.
‘What are you grinning at?’ I asked as I pulled out the chair opposite her.
‘I heard you’ve been up to no good with the boy next door,’ she replied.
‘Depends on your definition of good.’
I took a tiny sip and then a giant gulp. Horlicks with Baileys was obscenely good, why had no one tried this before?
Nan gave me a knowing wink, bathed in the golden glow of the light on the extractor fan. Mum always said she had been remarkably beautiful in her day, my nan, but I’d say she still was, if you bothered to look.
‘Last I heard he was engaged,’ she said, patting her hair into place for me. ‘I hope he’s filled out a bit, he always was a lanky little thing. Couldn’t stop a pig in a ginnel, that one.’
‘Definitely not skinny now,’ I assured her. ‘Filled out very nicely as it happens. And hasn’t been engaged for months, just so you know.’
Her left eyebrow rose like a Welsh Bette Davis.
‘Well, I’m glad. I know you’re not supposed to say things like this these days, but I don’t like to think of you down in London on your own. I’d be much happier knowing you’ve got someone taking care of you, making sure you’re happy.’
‘It was one kiss, might be a bit early to be giving him that kind of responsibility,’ I replied. ‘Actually, I don’t think you should rely on any one person to make you happy.’
‘Definitely not a man,’ Nan agreed.
‘I reckon it’s more of a DIY project,’ I smiled. ‘But I’m all right, Nan, I’m OK.’
‘Really?’