Alex flicked his gaze upwards as he settled himself back down. ‘Sounds like someone lost a few snowball fights in his time.’
I put a hand up to my mouth to hide my amusement, while Gideon, keeping his eyes on his phone, pursed his lips.
I regarded my boyfriend, wondering if Alex might have had a point. There had to be a reason Gideon kept his inner child buried. In all the time I’d known him, he’d never daydreamed or been playful and free-spirited. From what I’d seen from his interactions with Alex, even art was to be met with scorn. I sighed. When it came to letting go, Gideon either didn’t have the know-how, or as he would claim,see the need.
The doors to the next carriage opened and I looked over to see the train conductor step forward. Clearly a fellow fan of the festive season, he wore a Santa hat and a massive smile that reminded me of Gran’s. ‘Merry Christmas,’ he said, as he punched and handed back tickets. ‘Ho! Ho! Ho!’
He finally reached us. ‘Tickets please.’
While I waited for Gideon to produce ours, Alex dug into his pocket and handed his over. With the elderly and pregnant couples holding theirs out at the ready, the conductor turned his attention to them.
‘Someone’s having a good evening,’ the elderly woman said.
‘It’s my final shift,’ the conductor replied. ‘As of tomorrow, I’m officially retired.’ He dipped his chin. ‘Enough to make anyone smile, wouldn’t you say?’
Thinking of Joyce, I wondered if the conductor’s wife would agree.
Alex nudged me. ‘How cool is that? Carrying out your last duties, on the last train before Christmas?’
Gideon rolled his eyes.
Turning his attention to the pregnant couple, the conductor punched their tickets. ‘Fingers crossed the driver will put his foot down and I can start celebrating early.’ He looked to Gideon and me.
As if sensing my stare, Gideon finally let his phone drop. ‘What? I haven’t got them. I put them in the pocket of your rucksack.’
I gave him a stiff smile and indicated the overhead storage rack. ‘Then could you pass it to me please?’ His behaviour was beginning to really grate.
Alex rose to his feet. ‘I’ll get it. What am I looking for?’
‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘It’s black. With a crocheted frog keyring on one of the straps.’
Searching through the luggage, Alex frowned. ‘It doesn’t seem to be here.’
Again, I turned my eyes on Gideon.
‘Don’t look at me,’ Gideon said. ‘I don’t know where it is.’
Everyone was watching us. I hated being the centre of attention and my cheeks reddened. ‘What are you talking about? You brought it in from the car.’
‘No, I didn’t.’
‘Yes, you did. I asked you to grab it, remember. At the station when I was tying my lace.’ I swallowed, my embarrassment fast turning to frustration. ‘Please tell me you didn’t leave it behind?’
Gideon shrugged. ‘I must’ve done.’
I pictured my rucksack lying in the boot of Gideon’s BMW, realising our tickets were the least of my problems. I had no toothbrush, let alone a clean set of clothes. Worse still, the Christmas cards and gifts I’d bought for his family were in that bag and I could already hear Serena’s disparaging remarks at me turning up empty-handed. Seeing Gideon’s nonchalance, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
‘You’ll have to buy more tickets, I’m afraid,’ the conductor said.
Alex automatically dug his hand in his pocket, but the conductor stopped him.
‘My purse is in my bag,’ I said. ‘Is there any way…’
‘I’m not talking to you, love.’ The conductor’s face turned serious as he jerked his head in Gideon’s direction. ‘I’m talking to him.’
‘I don’t think so.’ Gideon huffed as he crossed his arms. ‘I’m not…’
‘A gentleman?’ the conductor asked, eyebrows raised.
