And when he didn’t, Harper had many ways to take care of him on his behalf.
“His heart is too big for his own good,” Harper said softly, “but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Fondness creased Eiley’s cheeks. “I’m just so happy for you both.”
“I’m happy for all of us,” said Sorcha, bumping Eiley’s hip. “It’s been a tough year, but we all found our way.” She blew a raspberry on Archie’s face, forcing a gorgeous belly laugh and a gummy grin from him. “And with even more than we had before.”
Eiley looked lovingly down at Saffron and Sky, who were enjoying their sensory play, rolling around with fabrics and toys on the mat at the adults’ feet. “If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that even a loss can be a win.” She met Harper’s eye. “Except in your case. Don’t you ever leave us again.”
“I don’t plan on it. Promise.”
Sorcha let out a loud yawn as she placed Archie down in his pram. “Anyway, I need to get some Christmas shopping done before Cam kills me for leaving it so late. Anyone want to join?”
Both Harper and Eiley were quick to say yes.
Fraser slapped his hands together, then swept the sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his shirt. It felt like this piece had taken eons to come together, but finally, it resembled the fairy tale-inspired double bed he’d been striving for, from the floral motif etched into the wooden legs and frame, to the sheer chiffon canopy cascading across all four posters. The mattress had been delivered not an hour ago, so he’d rushed to remove the packaging and make sure the jade-green bedsheets matched the vision he’d had in his head.
Right on time, a knock rattled his shed door. He turned around, excitement fizzing in his belly. “Come in, sunshine.”
Harper crept in as if she still believed she was forbidden, though they’d done far more than admire his work in here over the last month. Some of his figurines hadn’t survived their antics – not that he was complaining.
She gasped when she saw the new bed. Fraser cleared her path as he wiped his clammy hands on a rag. She dashed straight over to it, fingering the pleats of the shimmering curtains gently. With Jack and Andy’s help, he’d extended his shed for this project alone – and for others he hoped to do in the future. He wanted to make her a thousand different things, each of them with some special meaning, some memory behind it.
This one had come from—
“The bed in my book,” she whispered. “It’s exactly how I described it.” She traced the sun and moon carved into the elm headboard.
He nodded, elated that she’d noticed so quickly. “Aye, it is, isn’t it? Almost like it was intentional.”
She whipped around, dewy-eyed. She’d only gained the confidence to show him her novel-in-progress a few weeks ago. He hadn’t pushed her, but he’d loved diving deeper into her mind when she’d finally trusted him. Even if she couldn’t look at him for several days afterwards, no doubt feeling vulnerable that somebody over the age of four was finally reading her words.
He didn’t know much about literature, but it was gorgeous. Magical. Something that deserved to be on shelves – and would be. Even if it only made it onto his, he’d make sure of it.
“This isn’t fair. Somebody is going to buy it. I mean, it’s beautiful, and I’m proud of you and all that, but...” She pouted like a child, tracing the chiselled patterns around the headboard. “Iwant it.”
“You complete and utter eejit,” he remarked lovingly.
“Oi!” She glared. “Why?”
“It’s already yours.” And then he changed his mind. “Well, actually, it’sours.”
She gasped again. “No!”
“Yes.”
“You made it for me?”
“That part is obvious. For a writer, you take quite a lot of time to connect the dots.”
“Stop it!” She rushed over, slapping him on the chest lightly. “Do you mean it? It’s really ours?”
“It’s supposed to be your Christmas present, but it wouldn’t fit under the tree.” He smirked, lacing his hands around her back so that she was pressed against his torso.She gazed up at him, eyes round with awe as she traced the shape of his mouth.
“I only got you a new shirt,” she admitted dryly.
He softened as he tilted her chin up to kiss her. “You got me much more than that, sweetheart.”
She let out a content sigh, turning around in his arms to admire the bed again. “Where will it even go?”
