One Perfect Christmas and Other Stories

by Paige Toon

  ‘I’m not a piece of meat,’ he jokes, batting me away. ‘Now, let me see your tits. I’ve been after them for months.’

  I crack up laughing.

  ‘You think I’m joking,’ he says with a grin, sliding his hands along my collarbone and down to the swell of my breasts. His fingers and thumbs close over my nipples and I gasp, all humour suddenly gone from my expression. He leans down to kiss me and after that, there’s no going back.

  ‘Oh my God,’ I whisper afterwards, pressing my face against his neck as I pant. I’m a little overwhelmed, truth be told. Turns out artisan bread is not the only thing Toby’s hands are capable of working their magic on.

  He presses a soft kiss to my lips and makes to move off me, but I hold him in place. I’m not ready to let him go yet.

  ‘That was incredible,’ he whispers, propping himself up on his elbows.

  ‘You’re incredible,’ I say, gazing up at him in awe. His dark features are framed by starlight, like a paper cut-out in the sky. He kisses me gently again, but I deepen it, trying to pour all of the love and affection I feel into this one small gesture. He breaks away and rests his forehead against mine for a moment before moving to settle beside me. This time I let him go because I’m struggling to inhale.

  He grabs the second towel and lays it across us like a blanket, pulling me into his arms as we gaze up at the night sky together. I don’t want to go back up to the house yet. Maybe we’ll stay and see in the sunrise. We’ll be knackered today, but it will be worth it. I know I’ll never forget this first time with him.

  ‘You realise I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off you after this,’ he murmurs. ‘It was bad enough before.’

  ‘The feeling is mutual,’ I say with a laugh, holding him tighter. ‘I think we’re going to have to put your sofa to good use once the others are in bed.’

  ‘Right outside Simon and Katherine’s bedroom?’ he asks with alarm, referring to my uncle and his partner.

  ‘It’s worth the risk, don’t you think?’

  He chuckles. ‘Yeah, I guess it is. But I can’t wait to have you to myself once we go backpacking.’

  ‘I can’t wait for that, either,’ I say, pressing my lips to his jaw, which is rough now with stubble.

  We stay there on the beach, staring up at the night sky and wishing on the occasional falling star until the sun starts to come up. Then we drag our weary bodies off the sand and traipse all the way back up to the house. Toby collapses on the sofa – he’ll have all of half an hour, I expect, before the children wake up – and I sneak into my bedroom and quietly undress, trying not to rouse the snoozing bodies of my mother and sister. Eventually I slide under the covers and breathe a sigh of relief. We got away with it.

  ‘Did you have fun?’

  I freeze at the sound of Eliza’s enquiry, spoken mischievously – but quietly, at least.

  ‘Yes,’ I whisper back. ‘Night, night.’

  ‘Was he good in the sack?’ she asks.

  ‘Shhh!’ I urge, trying not to giggle.

  ‘Was he?’

  ‘Yes! Now shut it!’

  She stifles laughter and then we both fall silent. I’m just dozing off when she says, ‘I’m happy for you, Rose. I love you, Sis.’

  ‘I love you, too,’ I murmur, my heart so full of love and happiness as I drift off into a blissfully deep sleep.

  Bridget’s Beach Proposal

  I think I enjoyed writing from Bridget’s perspective more than any other heroine’s – I loved writing her story so much that, weeks after I’d penned the final page of The Last Piece of My Heart, I still couldn’t let her go. I kept thinking about something she references in the epilogue, so I decided to go back and write up the scene. In terms of a timeline for those who have read the book, what follows should slot in after the last chapter, but before the epilogue.

  I bolt awake. Charlie is lying next to me, regarding me with amusement.

  ‘Was I snoring?’ I blurt with surprise. I’m pretty sure I’ve just woken myself up with the force of it. Either that or there’s a pig in the room.

  I don’t think there’s a pig in the room.

  Charlie smirks and slides his hand under my neck. ‘Just a bit,’ he says as I go with him into the crook of his arm.

  ‘Sorry.’ I’m a little embarrassed. ‘I never snore.’

  ‘I’ll be the judge of that,’ he replies mildly.

  I lift my head and stare at his face. ‘I do not snore!’

  He chuckles. ‘I’m teasing. Anyway, I’d still love you even if you did.’

  ‘Well, I don’t.’

  ‘No, you don’t,’ he concedes.

  I relax back into his embrace.

  ‘Hardly ever,’ he adds, and receives a thump on his chest for winding me up. He laughs and kisses the top of my head.

  ‘What’s the time?’ I ask sleepily, my cheek pressed against the warmth of his bare skin. I can’t believe we’ve woken up before April. Frankly, it’s a miracle, even if she was awake for two hours in the night. Charlie was zonked after trying to make a work deadline so he slept through it all.

  ‘Ten thirty,’ he replies.

  ‘Ten thirty?’ I exclaim, wrenching myself out of his grasp and sitting up. ‘We’re going to miss music!’

  ‘Relax, Adam’s taken her.’

  ‘What?’ I screech. ‘Adam’s taken April to music group?’

  ‘That’s what I said.’

  ‘Why? How?’ I ask in quick succession. I know I’ve gone on to Charlie’s wayward brother about how entertaining the music man is, but we’re talking about a children’s group. I never in a million years thought he would take— ‘Ohh,’ I say slowly as it dawns on me. ‘Caitlyn.’

  ‘Yep.’ Charlie nods once.

  Caitlyn is my friend Jocelyn’s younger sister. She’s just got back from a stint in Australia and is staying with Jocelyn and her family in their house across the road until she gets herself sorted. She joined Jocelyn, her son Thomas, April and me last Wednesday when we went to music. Adam got wind of it on Sunday when they came to ours for a roast lunch. He started salivating the moment he laid eyes on the blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty.

  ‘I cannot believe your brother is using our daughter to pull,’ I say impertinently.

  ‘Relax,’ Charlie replies with a grin. ‘He’s still doing us a favour, remember.’

  I humph and lie back down.

  ‘I love that you call her ‘our’ daughter,’ he whispers after a moment, and his tone carries such tenderness.

  ‘I love that you let me,’ I whisper in return as Charlie draws me closer and kisses me.

  ‘When did they set off?’ I ask as he presses his lips to my jaw.

  ‘A few minutes ago,’ he murmurs. ‘I’d just come back to bed.’

  ‘So we have an hour?’

  ‘Ish.’ He shrugs and gives me an impish grin.

  I mimic his expression.

  ‘We should get up,’ Charlie urges around half an hour later when I’m lying in his arms, lazily drawing circles on his chest with my fingernails.

  ‘What’s the rush? They won’t be back for a while,’ I reply sleepily.

  ‘No, but we’ve got plans.’

  ‘What plans?’

  ‘Lansallos for a picnic.’

  My eyes light up. ‘Really?’

  ‘Yep. I’ve finished my job and it’s a beautiful day. Adam’s coming, too.’ He slides out of bed. ‘Come on, up you get. You can join me in the shower if you’re quick,’ he adds cheekily, stretching his arms over his head.

  ‘Nice motivational methods,’ I tell him with a smile, throwing off the duvet.

  By the time Adam returns with April, we’re almost ready to go.

  ‘Hello gorgeous girl!’ I exclaim, unclicking April from her pram and scooping her up for a cuddle. ‘How was music group? Was it fun?’

  She nods eagerly and stares back at me with her very blue eyes.

  ‘Did Uncle Adam like it?’ I ask, stroking my h
and over her wild blonde curls.

  Again she replies by nodding and grinning. She can talk; she’s just being lazy. And cute.

  ‘Would you like him to take you again?’ I ask.

  ‘Steady on,’ Adam chips in, tickling his niece’s ribs and making her squawk with hysterics. She wriggles to get down, but I kiss her temple before complying, watching fondly as she runs into the living room. I can’t believe she’s just turned two…

  I turn back to Adam and give him a meaningful look. ‘How was it?’

  He shrugs. ‘Good.’

  ‘Are you seeing her again?’ He knows full well I’m talking about Caitlyn.

  ‘We’re going for a drink tonight,’ he replies with a grin.

  ‘Don’t you dare mess my friend’s little sister around,’ I warn, prodding his chest.

  ‘She’s hardly little. She’s twenty-seven, for Christ’s sake.’

  ‘Ready?’ Charlie interrupts, coming out of the kitchen with the hamper. ‘You ready, April?’ he calls into the living room. ‘We’re going to the beach.’

  ‘Beach! Yay!’ I hear her little voice reply, followed by the pitter-patter of her feet.

  ‘Toilet first,’ I prompt, catching her hand and leading her into the downstairs cloakroom. I move her stool into place and help her with her clothes, then kneel down on the wooden floor and offer enthusiastic encouragement as she goes about her business.

  If someone had told me two years ago that I’d get real joy from seeing a two-year-old do a wee, I would’ve laughed in their face.

  How my life has changed.

  And it’s entirely for the better.

  Adam carries April on his shoulders for the first part of the walk down to Lansallos Cove, stopping every so often to play with her on the wooden stepping stones, seesaws and other playground equipment we find along the way. It’s a gorgeous September day, only a mild breeze blowing, and the sun is streaming down through the leafy canopy over our heads.

  Often when we come here it’s overcast and windy, but today reminds me of the very first time Charlie brought me. I can’t believe that was over a year ago.

  Charlie wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me close as we watch Adam help April walk along a balancing beam.

  ‘Do you think he’s feeling guilty for using her to get laid?’ he whispers into my ear.

  I laugh under my breath. ‘He’s certainly being a very doting uncle today.’

  ‘What are you two sniggering about?’ Adam calls over at us.

  ‘Nothing,’ Charlie replies innocently.

  Adam is always lovely to April – it’s just that today he’s being particularly hands-on.

  ‘You guys can go on ahead if you like,’ Adam offers. ‘Take some time just the two of you. We’ll catch you up.’

  I stare at him with astonishment.

  ‘What?’ he asks, slightly miffed at my expression. ‘I’m just being nice!’

  ‘Okay,’ I reply. ‘I mean, thanks!’

  ‘Yeah, thanks, mate,’ Charlie adds.

  Charlie and I glance at each other as we walk on, pursing our lips. The sound of running water in the nearby stream merges with the crunch of our footsteps as we make our way along the wooded path.

  Being a travel writer, I’ve seen a lot of beautiful places, but Cornwall’s beaches still take my breath away, and Lansallos is one of my favourites. You approach it via rolling green hills that slope downwards into an unusual stone path carved out of the rock. The cove wraps round into a semi-circular shape and the water by the sand and shingle shore is pale blue and perfect for swimming in on sunny days. The colours of the rocks that form the cove walls are also interesting: they shimmer with greens and blues and shades of grey.

  Charlie and I unpack the picnic things and lay out a couple of rugs, but there’s still no sign of Adam and April by the time we’re done.

  ‘Let’s take a walk up onto the rocks,’ Charlie suggests. ‘Adam will work out where we’ve gone.’

  ‘Okay,’ I agree, following him.

  There are big boulders by the shore, crusted with barnacles. Charlie climbs up first and then turns around to assist me. I don’t need his help – if anything, I find it harder holding his hand than clutching onto the rocks myself – but I’m touched by these simple gestures that show me how much he cares.

  I’ve never even come close to feeling about someone else the way that I feel about Charlie. It’s been months since I moved in with him and April, but I swear I love them both more with every single day that passes. I have never felt happier or more content. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to convey how much he and April mean to me, but I hope he knows.

  I squeeze Charlie’s hand as he leads me over a rock pool.

  He smiles at me over his shoulder, the sunlight catching on his dark-blond hair and making his eyes look even more golden than usual.

  ‘Hang on a minute,’ I say.

  ‘We’re almost there.’ He nods across the crevasse to the small, dark, secluded cave I’ve become familiar with. He knows I like to sit at its entrance, staring across the water and getting inspiration for book ideas.

  ‘Just stop,’ I say again.

  His brow furrows, but he does as I ask. ‘What is it?’

  ‘I need to kiss you.’

  He chuckles but obliges, once, twice, three times, then he cocks his head towards the cave. ‘Come on, let’s sit down for a bit.’

  We never get to come up here together because one of us always has to stay on the beach with April. Speaking of which, there’s still no sign of her and Adam.

  ‘Do you reckon they’re alright?’ I ask with a frown, scanning the beach before we jump over the big crack in the rocks and disappear from sight.

  ‘They’re fine,’ he assures me.

  We settle down in front of the cave and look out over the rocks to the vast blue ocean beyond. We’re completely hidden from view here.

  I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  Charlie glances at me. ‘You okay?’

  ‘Pretty much perfect,’ I reply with a smile.

  ‘Phew.’

  ‘Surely you know that,’ I chide, gently elbowing him.

  ‘You sighed.’

  ‘With happiness,’ I reply, meeting his eyes for a long moment.

  He reaches across and smooths a strand of dark hair away from my face.

  ‘Are you happy?’ he asks, and I’m taken aback by the gravity in his tone.

  ‘Happier than I’ve ever been in my life,’ I reply with a frown. ‘Can’t you tell?’

  He gently cups my face and his ensuing kiss is so tender and filled with so much love that it makes tears spring up in my eyes.

  When we break away from each other, his eyes are shining, too.

  My feelings for him are so intense – so strange, deep and profound – it amazes me that he might feel the same way.

  ‘You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,’ I say, a lump forming in my throat. ‘You and April.’

  He takes me in his arms and holds me close, resting his chin on the top of my head.

  ‘Bridget?’ he asks after a long moment.

  ‘Yes?’

  He strokes my hair, prompting me to look at him, but seconds tick by before he speaks. ‘Will you marry me?’

  My heart metaphorically leaps from my chest and slams back into place, winding me. ‘Oh, Charlie!’ I shake my head and throw my arms around him, squeezing him hard.

  ‘I’m not sure if that was a no or a yes,’ he manages to say with what little breath he has.

  ‘Of course it was a yes!’ I practically yell at his face, and then proceed to cry big, fat ugly tears all over him. He laughs and cuddles me close.

  ‘I got you a ring,’ he says after a bit, releasing me to dry his own eyes.

  ‘Did you?’ So this wasn’t a spur of the moment thing?

  ‘Do you want to see it?’

  ‘Have you got it?’

  He smirks. ‘It’s in my pocket.�
�

  ‘Get it out then!’

  He grins and digs into the pocket of his navy shorts, bringing out a small black box. He flips it open and I gasp.

  ‘It’s stunning!’

  ‘We can change it if you don’t like it.’

  I shake my head rapidly. ‘I love it. Shall I try it on?’

  ‘I haven’t had it sized for you, yet, just in case you wanted to return it, but give it a go.’

  He slides the ring – white gold with three large glittering round-cut diamonds – onto my ring finger. It’s slightly too big, but it looks so beautiful. I lean across and kiss his lips hard, and then stare down at the ring – my eyes for once, not drawn to the picturesque view.

  ‘How soon can we tie the knot?’ I ask.

  ‘Next summer? Is that too soon?’

  ‘No way, I’d marry you tomorrow.’

  He grins, and then his expression becomes more sombre. ‘I thought next summer would give everyone a chance to try to come to terms with it.’

  A little chunk of my happiness is instantly snuffed out. He’s talking about his late wife Nicki’s family, of course.

  Nicki’s mother and sister came to April’s second birthday party last week and things were still very tense and awkward between them and me. I just have to believe that, with time, they’ll come to accept me. I really don’t plan on going anywhere.

  It helped that I had already driven to Essex a couple of months before to talk to them both. It was flat-out one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, facing them alone, but it wasn’t so bad. They’re not horrible people, they’re just still grieving the girl they lost. I know it must be hard to see Charlie move on with someone else, but one day I hope they’ll realise we’re right for each other – that I’m good for April. The love I feel for her is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I would die for her – simple as that. I will always put her first.

  I bite my lip, wanting to ask the question that’s been on my mind for a while now.

  ‘Charlie,’ I say hesitantly, hoping this is the right time. ‘Will you let me adopt April?’

  His eyebrows pull together and then he nods, his golden-brown eyes brimming with emotion. ‘I’d love you to.’