Flora stood next to Eve, a tambourine in hand and a Santa hat on her head, excitedly shaking it.
Eve put her hand on Flora’s shoulder to quieten her.
Edward and her parents sat on lawn chairs outside the garage, her mum wrapped in a large red blanket.
‘Ready?’ She turned to the band and then Nick started playing the drums, finding the beat, and Eve started playing a riff and then they were off. Flora danced around in front of them as Eve started singing ‘Last Nite’ by The Strokes into the microphone and caught Edward’s eye and winked as she burst into the chorus.
She saw his mouth drop open as she sang, and then laughed into the guitar solo, closing her eyes and giving it her all. She loved playing but this was enough, and playing with her favourite people in the world made it even better.
They banged out the song and Flora gave a little tambourine solo at the end to an enthusiastic round of applause from the audience.
‘You’re amazing,’ said Edward to Myles. ‘All of you,’ he said, looking at Eve.
‘And I’ve never seen such an enthusiastic tambourine player. I loved the high kicks with the beat at the end.’
‘They were karate kicks,’ corrected Flora.
‘Yes, I should have called them that. I didn’t notice they had a self-defensive theme to them.’
Eve laughed as she undid the strap and lifted it over her head and handed the guitar to Gabe.
‘You happy now? I’m freezing, I have to go inside.’
Gabe hugged her. ‘You’re the best.’
Edward walked back to the house with her.
‘You made all my teenage rock fantasies about hooking up with the coolest lead singer come true watching that,’ he whispered in her ear as he opened the door for her to step inside.
‘You’re funny,’ she said and she felt him pull her into the laundry and close the door.
His mouth was on hers and her arms slid up around his neck.
‘I’m utterly smitten with you, Eve,’ he said. ‘You’re the most talented, cleverest, sexiest person I know.’
‘You need to get out more,’ she said as she kissed him back.
A knock at the door interrupted them and Eve slid it back and saw her mum.
‘Sorry to interrupt, but I know you wanted to head off before it gets really dark as there’s snow coming.’
Eve turned to Edward.
‘I have a present for Flora,’ she said. ‘I wanted to give it to her as we left.’
Edward narrowed his eyes. ‘Okay?’
‘You’ll love it, I promise,’ she said. ‘Go and wait with Flora in the living room.’
Edward left and Eve and Donna arranged everything and then went into the living room where Flora and Edward were sitting on the sofa.
‘I have a present for you,’ said Eve. ‘Well it’s from Mum and I.’
Donna came in behind her and handed Flora a small wicker carrier basket and put it on the coffee table.
Eve watched Flora lean forward and look into the basket and then gasp.
‘The kitten,’ she cried. ‘You said she had been promised to a new home.’
