I smiled as he went off to carry out his final duties, at the same time steeling myself for what lay ahead. Aware I’d have to phone Erin at some point, I knew the least I could do was wait until daylight.
The train came to a stop and getting up from my seat, I picked up my tote bag and made my way to the exit. Thedoor openbutton went from red to green and as I pressed it and the door swished open, cold air blew in and whipped around me. Disembarking, everywhere was covered in white but I was no longer in any mood for snow angels and footprint patterns.
Resigned, I doubted there’d be anywhere I could get a room and spotting a snow-free bench under the station canopy, I headed straight for it. Shoving my hands into my pockets, I sat down ready to consider my next move.
I heard voices coming from the car park and looking over, I saw Gideon’s parents appear.
‘Gideon!’ Serena called out as her son got off the train. ‘Thank goodness.’ She raced towards him. ‘We’ve been so worried.’
I rolled my eyes. Like he’d been in any danger.
Gideon kept his face forward as he marched straight past me. Aware I had nowhere to go, he acted like I was invisible. An onlooker would never have guessed we’d been in a relationship; they’d see nothing but two strangers. I pitied Gideon for his stance. Leaving me on the street was obviously my punishment for rebuffing him.
Watching Julia struggle to keep up, I felt sorry for her too. Julia might not have been my favourite person in the world, but Gideon acted like she wasn’t there either.
‘You must be Julia?’ Serena said, throwing her arms around the woman.
I let out a laugh, realising I was one-hundred-per-cent right to think I’d invited myself to the Mayhews’.
Clocking me, Serena’s smile froze. She turned to her son. ‘Isn’t that…’
‘When you’re ready, Mother.’ Taking her arm, Gideon steered her back towards the car park.
‘Here you are,’ Alex said, joining me on the bench. ‘I was beginning to think you’d run off into the night.’
I would have done if I’d had somewhere to go. I shivered as cold penetrated my coat.
Alex took off his scarf and as he wrapped it around me, he paused, his face inches away from mine.
Butterflies fluttered in my tummy as I lost myself in his gaze until reality suddenly took hold, and I quickly diverted my attention. ‘Were you ever going to tell me about those two?’ I nodded in the direction of the car park.
‘I wanted to a number of times. Then when I did finally pluck up the courage…’
I cocked my head. ‘Did you? When?’
‘In the pub the other night.’
Cringing, I closed my eyes for a second. Having assumed he was about to declare his undying love, I recalled how I’d asked him not to.
Alex stuffed his hands under his armpits. ‘Would you have believed me if I had said something?’
I thought back to when Erin first suggested Gideon was up to no good. Calling the very idea preposterous, I’d insisted a man like him could never be unfaithful. I chuckled at my own stupidity. ‘Probably not. Although your sketch would have given you a compelling argument.’
‘I warned him to come clean the evening you introduced us. Although to be honest, I wasn’t surprised when he didn’t.’
Recalling Gideon’s self-serving arrogance, I wasn’t surprised either. ‘You must think I’m a real idiot.’
Alex looked at me direct. ‘Not at all.’ He rose to his feet. ‘Right, enough of this. Come on. Mum’ll be waiting for us.’
I looked at Alex, confused.
‘Well we can’t stay here. You’re one step away from your teeth chattering and my feet are already numb.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘You didn’t think I’d just leave you, did you? Then again, with the madness of my lot, you might wish I had.’ He smiled. ‘When it comes to Christmas, the more relaxed the better. Steel yourself, we don’t do formal.’
Images of Christmases past with Gran flooded my mind. Having never thought I’d experience anything like them again, tears pricked my eyes.
‘Hey,’ Alex said, pulling me onto my feet. ‘We’re not that bad. Besides, you can’t talk. I’ve seen your Christmas tree, remember.’
I didn’t know if the evening’s events had caught up with me or whether it was down to the relief of having a bed for the night, but I suddenly felt overwhelmed. My eyes teared up even more and I found myself unable to speak.
