“Maybe—I still think over breakfast tomorrow would be better.” She was banking on the knowledge that breakfast was Ash’s favourite meal to buy her some time.
“I guess that could work too, but you know I want to tell everyone right now, and I’d like the chance to tell them in person, before they find out via the news. People are bound to have recorded us and uploaded the clips to social media by now.”
Oh, Christ! She hadn’t even considered the fan factor yet. “Do your folks spend much time online?”
Ash shook his head. “Not that I’m aware of, and they mostly try to avoid mentions of me, as anything negative gets them riled up for days. Hey, it’s a bit odd that the lights aren’t on.” And indeed, that there’d been no response to his pressing the doorbell. “My Mam really likes her Christmas lights. Sure enough, now that he’d drawn her attention to it, the Christmas icicle lights strung across the front of the property weren’t flickering like those on the neighbouring houses, and there didn’t seem to be any lights on inside the house either, not even from the flicker of a television.
“You did let them know we were coming?”
Ash gave her the look, asserting he wasn’t a total idiot. “Of course, they know we’re coming. Missing Christmas dinner without a bloody good excuse would result in them disowning me.”
“But you did tell them we were arriving tonight.”
“Mam totally insisted on it. She wouldn’t hear of us spending Christmas Eve in a hotel. She’s determined to have us here as long as possible.”
That may well have been the impression she’d given Ash on the phone, but something was definitely up with the plans. “Is it likely that they’re out somewhere, or they’ve gone to bed?”
He gave her another look that said, not fucking likely. “Maybe they just didn’t hear the bell. It could be on the blink.” He tried knocking instead.
To Ginny’s astonishment, the door opened almost immediately, revealing a tiny slip of a woman in a sparkly woollen dress and wellington boots. Her snow white hair was pulled into a messy bun at the back of her head. “Ashley!” She reached out to him immediately, dragging him across the threshold as she entwined her arms around his neck. “Heaven’s above what have they done to your hair. I almost didn’t recognise you.” She ruffled her hand over the longer parts and tutted over the soft spikes where his collision with the stone hearth had resulted in a run in with a razor and multiple stitches.
“Mam, this is—”
“Ginny. This is Ginny?” she hesitated until he gave a nod. Then Ginny too was wrapped in a whole body encompassing hug. “I can’t believe he’s left it this long to introduce you. You’ve been in the country for weeks, I’m sure you could have found time to nip over.”
“We’ve been in Wales, mam.”
“Aye, as you say. Now watch your step, the both of you. I’m afraid the electric’s off, so there’s no home comforts. Yer Dad’s in the kitchen looking into it.” She led the way along the narrow entrance hall, which was decked with tinsel, and hundreds of cards that were strung from every available point.
“What’s up with the electric?” Ash asked
“Nothing. It’s just for safety. We’ve a leak. Not sure where from. I thought it was the washing machine to start with seeing as how it’s been on the blink for ages. It keeps making noises like a jumbo jet, but of course your dad’s not had the time to fix it yet, and he won’t hear of getting one of those young lads in. Anyhow, that’s not it. It’s dry as a bone. I think it could be one of the connector things has come loose. There’s one behind the cupboards that splits the pipe before it flows into the washing machine and dishwasher, but Dad says it’s most likely a burst, as the pipes are old.
“Should I go and help?”
“Aye, if you don’t mind. Though I shouldn’t send you right in there when you’ve just got here.”
“It’s fine, mam. Have you turned the water off yet?”
“He was having a bit of trouble with the main valve.”
Ash handed his mother his jacket. “Right, I’m going to help.”
While Ash headed into the kitchen, Ginny found herself diverted into the lounge. It was a long through room with windows at each end overlooking the street and garden. A real Christmas tree dominated one of the middle alcoves, and two smaller LED style trees were positioned in both windows. “I’d offer you a hot drink, love, but with the electric off…”
“It’s okay, Mrs. Gore.”
“We’ll have a sherry and mince pies instead.”
“Only if it’s no trouble.” She didn’t particularly want either. She needed to get Ash alone so that she could talk to him. The only reason she’d delayed this long was down to Rock Giant sharing their car. Ginny’s gaze alighted on the woman’s choice of footwear again. “Is the burst bad?” she asked as she was guided into an armchair. Mrs. Gore didn’t sit. She fussed. That probably explained why she was so twig-like.
“We’re not at the swimming pool stage yet, thank heavens, but it’s an inconvenience to be sure. It’s knocked all my timings off. I like to put the turkey in to slow cook over night. And I was hoping to get the veggies done and ready in their pans to turn on after breakfast.
“Maybe we should go and help.”
“Oh no, dear. You don’t need to be doing that. You’re our guest. Stop and tell me a bit about yourself. I expect you know plenty about us, but Ashley’s been a bit lax on the details about you. I don’t even know how you met and ended up together.”
The exact details of those events weren’t for polite conversation. “At one of his gigs.”
