Ivy Lane: Winter: (11 page)

So that was why he was here. To be friends.

I smiled sadly. ‘And now you’ve met someone else. You’ve moved on . . .’

He frowned and shook his head. ‘There’s been no one else. Since meeting you, I . . .’

I folded my arms and looked away. ‘I know you’ve met someone else because I phoned you and she answered.’

‘Wait? You called me? When was this?’ He placed his hands on my shoulders and scanned my face.

I didn’t hesitate with my answer. ‘Friday the thirtieth of November at seven forty-five.’

‘Approximately?’ He tried to keep a straight face but his eyes gave him away. ‘Actually I remember that night very clearly.’

So much for playing it cool. I blushed furiously. ‘Now you’ll probably think I’m a bunny boiler or something.’

‘No.’ He stepped towards me, his eyes boring into mine. ‘I’m thinking how overjoyed I am that you did call, I’m thinking that we’ve wasted a whole month. Two, in fact. More if you count back to the allotment show.’

‘So . . .’ I swallowed, determined to get the answer I needed. ‘Who is she?’

‘My sister,’ he said simply.

‘Your sister? But she was all breathless and I thought . . . well, never mind,’ I groaned. We both seemed to be expert at jumping to the wrong conclusion.

‘I was babysitting for my niece and nephew for the first time. My sister was in a complete flap, running late and convinced that I’d take a work call, forget about her children and something awful would happen. So I left my phone in the spare room where I was sleeping. My sister and her husband were running late, she must have answered it before she went out and then forgotten to mention it. She certainly never passed the message on. I’m so sorry. To be honest, my phone rings all the time, I don’t ever think to check my call history.’

That was true. I’d seen it for myself this summer; he’d had a phone clamped to his ear semi-permanently. And of course I hadn’t left a message; I’d panicked and ended the call immediately.

I smiled shyly at him. ‘In that case, we’re both single.’

He nodded and I gazed into his eyes and took a step closer, weaving my arms round him, desire for him intensifying as all the things that had stood in our path melted away. I could hardly wait to feel his body against mine, to taste his kisses. There was just one last thing to say . . .

‘I told you my life was complicated and it is . . . was . . .’ I hesitated, my mind searching for the right words.

Tell him, Tilly, open your heart.

I wanted to tell him, but the lump in my throat got in the way and I lowered my forehead to his chest.

Aidan gently lifted my chin and the look he gave me was so tender that tears pricked at my eyes.

‘Charlie told me about James, about the car accident and losing the baby,’ he murmured.

Words failed me suddenly so I simply nodded.

‘Tilly, knowing what you’ve been through only makes me . . .’ He took a deep breath and brushed the tip of his thumb across my lips, ‘It makes me love you more. And I promise you that from now on, I will do everything – anything – to make you the happiest girl in the world. I can only imagine . . .’

I placed a finger lightly to his lips.

‘Thank you,’ I whispered, my mind racing as I processed his words.

He loves me
.

‘Aidan, sometimes terrible things happen and you wish with all your heart that you could turn the clock back, do things differently, and you tell yourself that if only this had happened, or that had happened it could have all worked out perfectly.’

I swallowed and stroked his beautiful face with my fingertips.

‘But that’s not how life works. It’s taken me a long time to come to terms with that since losing James. And an even longer time to look on the bright side, to find the silver lining in my life. But the thing is . . .’ I tilted my chin until I could feel his breath on my face. ‘I think that you just might be my silver lining.’

He laced his hands through tendrils of my hair and kissed me. The feel of his lips against mine was so sweet, so exquisite, that it was almost too much to bear. And as I kissed him back, with every atom of my body rising to meet his, I felt a lightness, as if I was floating on air. My heart was lifting too and the last traces of grief that had been with me since losing James finally dissolved and melted in to the past.

As the kiss ended, I pulled away and cradled his face in my hands, committing the feel of his cheekbones, the scent of his skin, every contour, every detail to memory. From now on I realized I would be making new memories and, whilst James would be forever part of me, I had a new life to look forward to.

My new life with Aidan.

As we gazed at each other for a long moment, a feeling of peace washed over me and I knew unequivocally that this man was my future.

I glanced up to the ceiling and noticed a small sprig of mistletoe, nailed roughly to the ceiling in the middle of the shed.

All Charlie’s work.

What a sweet thing to do. My heart swelled with warmth for Charlie for bringing Aidan and I together so selflessly.

‘I’m so sorry,’ I said, pulling him playfully by the lapels of his jacket until we were directly underneath the mistletoe. I lifted my eyes upwards and he followed my gaze. ‘But I’m afraid we are going to have to do that all over again.’

I smiled into the eyes of the man who had brought me back to life, back to love, and saw my own happiness reflected back at me.

He lowered his mouth to mine. ‘With my absolute pleasure.’

I finally located my mobile on approximately the twelfth ring after a frantic search through the trail of abandoned clothes on the living-room floor and blushed at the memory of our ‘quiet night in’.

Whoever it was, calling at this time in the morning, was certainly persistent. I peered at the screen and grinned: Gemma – who else?

‘Take your time dot com!’ she huffed down the line.

‘Sorry,’ I panted, ‘couldn’t find my mobile.’

I grabbed a blanket from the end of the sofa and wrapped it sarong-style around me. Conversations with my best friend were rarely brief and despite the sun glinting through the – thankfully – closed curtains, the morning was still chilly.

‘OK, so what are you wearing?’ she asked briskly.

‘Um, at the moment? Just a blanket,’ I laughed.

‘A bl . . .? Ooh, Tilly Parker, you little minx! Well, lucky you, that’s all I can say. His Lordship woke me up a full three hours ago. Anyway,’ she sighed, ‘I dread to think when I’ll be brave enough to let Mike see me naked again. My body is strictly for my eyes only at the moment.’

‘Nonsense,’ I retorted. ‘Your husband worships the ground you walk on. Even more so now you’ve given him a baby boy. Talking of whom, how is my godson today?’

‘Adorable. And he’s so clever. Do you know what he did this morning . . .?’

I clamped the phone between my ear and shoulder and made appropriate noises while I boiled the kettle for tea. Gemma and Mike, rightly so, were besotted with their three-month-old son and liked to keep me updated with his miraculous progress in minute detail. I didn’t mind one bit; I was completely smitten with him myself.

‘Anyway what I called to say was that he’s wearing a purple velvet suit to his christening, so can you just bear that in mind when you’re picking your outfit out for today, please. I don’t want you two to clash on the photographs.’

‘OK,’ I said, rather bewildered. ‘I thought babies traditionally wore white?’

‘Oh no.’ I heard her shudder down the phone. ‘White completely drains him. Actually, we’re all wearing purple; we thought it would be nice to be fully colour-coordinated.’

‘We?’
I chuckled, imagining the look of resignation on poor Mike’s face.

I promised to dress appropriately and rang off. I carried two mugs along the hall, past Aidan’s suitcase – a sight that gave me butterflies every time I saw it – and trotted up the stairs as quickly as I could without spilling the tea.

I paused in the doorway to give my heart the chance for a proper flutter. Aidan was still asleep, his swirl of thick dark hair the only thing visible above the duvet. I sighed. A big happy, contented sigh. I didn’t think I would ever tire of looking at him.

Four months. Just four months together and he had totally transformed my world. And not gradually either! Aidan had appeared on Christmas Day after lunch with presents for all of us, including Mum’s new boyfriend Clive (who is one of the sweetest men I’ve ever met) and had even accompanied me to James’s parents’ Boxing Day buffet. I sighed again, remembering what an emotional day it had been for all of us, but James’s mum had taken me to one side before we left and given me her blessing. We would always be welcome in their home, she had promised, both me and Aidan.

Setting a mug down next to his side of the bed, I moved to the window to open the curtains. There was still so much to do before the christening, especially now I’d have to rethink my outfit. The red flowery dress I planned on wearing certainly wouldn’t do.

I pulled back the curtains and peered outside. A beautiful morning, perfect for such a special day. Aidan stirred as the sun bathed the room in a pinky orange light.

‘Good morning, sleepy head.’

I dropped a kiss on his lips and he stretched languorously and rubbed his eyes.

‘Hello, gorgeous.’ He pulled me towards him, but I slipped out of his grasp. Much as I’d rather climb back into bed and wile away the morning wrapped in his arms, I had too much to do. I knew I couldn’t get away without washing my hair (I did not want to suffer the wrath of Gemma if I turned up to my godson’s christening looking anything less than immaculate). Then I needed to get dressed in purple – which wasn’t going to be easy – not to mention finish packing and drop off Cally at the cattery. After that we would pack the car, arrive at the church for noon and drive straight from there to the airport . . . Heavens! All of that in less than two hours!

‘What sort of day is it?’ Aidan asked.

‘Weather-wise, glorious. Activity-wise, extremely busy, so time to get up, I’m afraid. We’re already behind schedule. You might have packed your suitcase, but I’ve still got heaps to do.’

I opened my wardrobe doors and looked for something purple.

‘What can I say, you wore me out last night, I need my sleep.’ He sat up, sipped his tea.

I giggled and peered at him over my shoulder. ‘Are you complaining?’

He pulled the corner of the duvet back and patted the mattress. ‘Come on, get back in.’ He stared at me with those beautiful eyes and gave me his cutest grin.

My whole body tingled with love for him. How could I resist? He was simply irresistible. I sighed and looked at the clock.

‘Please? I won’t be here for another six weeks.’

There was a handsome man in my bed and I was wittering on about schedules. What was I even hesitating for? I dived back under the covers and kissed him. Another fifteen minutes wouldn’t hurt . . .

We made it to the church in plenty of time, although I was convinced I’d forgotten to pack something. But I had the tickets and my passport and Aidan and really, nothing else mattered.

‘Here you go.’ Mia handed us a pamphlet each. ‘All the prayers and stuff are in it. You’ve got words to say, Tilly.’

‘Have I?’ I bit my lip and followed Aidan into the church.

‘Parker
Elton
?’ he sniggered with an amused frown as he read the Order of Service.

I giggled. I was honoured that Gemma and Mike had named their son after me, but no matter how often I heard his middle name, it still made me smile.

‘Elton John,’ I whispered. ‘Gemma’s guilty pleasure. Ooh look, it’s the proud grandparents!’

I linked my arm through Aidan’s and led him to the side of the church where Christine was flicking invisible specks from Roy’s jacket while he tugged at his collar.

‘Well, don’t you scrub up well!’ I said, placing a kiss on Roy’s cheek and giving Christine a hug.

‘I could say the same about you, Tilly,’ said Christine, beaming at Aidan and me. ‘Being in love suits you. Put some colour in your cheeks, so it has.’

‘She’s beautiful, isn’t she?’ agreed Aidan, reaching an arm around my waist. ‘A fairy Godmother, I’d say.’

I certainly had colour now. ‘Stop it, you lot. You’re making me blush!’

‘Congratulations on your TV award, Aidan,’ said Roy, shaking his hand.

‘Thank you.’ Aidan bowed his head modestly. ‘Couldn’t have done it without the Ivy Lane community, of course.’

‘Oh yes!’ exclaimed Christine, turning to me. ‘Was it very exciting? Did you see lots of celebs.’

I laughed. She sounded just like her daughter had when I’d phoned her after the red carpet event. ‘It was amazing,’ I confirmed. ‘I’ve never been so nervous in my life. Nor so proud, seeing Aidan and Suzanna accepting the award.’

Aidan and I exchanged glances. I felt his arm tighten around my waist and thought my heart would burst with love.

‘Tilly!’ I turned to see who had called my name and spotted Liz waving at me, hanging onto Nigel’s arm. I left Aidan to save me a space in a pew and went over to say hello. They were tanned and relaxed and clearly more in love than ever.

‘How was Madeira? You look well,’ I said, kissing them both.

Tickets to see the flower festival in Madeira had been Nigel’s Secret Santa present to Liz. Hardly within the ten-pound budget, but the two of them looked so happy that I was sure it had been worth every penny.

‘Wonderful,’ breathed Liz. ‘Wasn’t it, Nigel?’

‘Absolutely,’ said Nigel, ‘and er, quite eventful as it turned out.’

Liz flushed and waggled her left hand. An elegant solitaire diamond ring sparkled from her third finger.

‘Congratulations! I’m so pleased for you.’ I gave them a hug and excused myself to join Gemma, who was on the altar testing the temperature of the water in the baptismal font.

‘Freezing!’ she hissed. ‘Parker’s going to do his nut when the vicar splashes him with this.’

‘He looks like Little Lord Fauntleroy in this outfit,’ I giggled, planting a kiss on Gemma’s cheek and taking Parker from her. I nuzzled his soft velvety skin and inhaled his delicious baby scent.