‘Thora!’ Finn’s tone sharpened. ‘It’s Christmas Eve. You’re supposed to be happy today, or at least trying to be happy. Please tell me what happened last night. When you came back to the village hall, you were barely there ten minutes before you left. Then Lucas returned and I’ve never seen a man so broken.’
‘What?’ She spun around.
‘Yes. Broken. It looked like someone punched him in the gut and then wrung him out. And that was a complete contrast to how he’d looked when you two sneaked out of the hall together. And yes, I saw you! I saw you sneaking away together, smiles on your faces like you were sneaking off the same way you did when we were all kids. But then you came back separately, you cried off with a headache and he sat in a corner all night while his dad chatted to all and sundry. It was clear he only stayed for his dad’s sake, but the man could barely look at anyone. What happened? We have to put this right.’
Finn raked a hand through his hair and drummed his fingers on the table. Thora didn’t think she’d ever seen him so worked up.
‘I just can’t do it, Finn.’
He stood up and came to her, took hold of her arms. ‘Why not?’
‘Because…’ Her bottom lip trembled. ‘I’m absolutely terrified.’
‘Oh love.’ He pulled her into his arms and hugged her. At first she was stiff, but then she relaxed into his familiarity and she sobbed onto his shoulder. ‘Thora, nothing comes without risk. Do you think I haven’t felt scared that Titus will reject me at some point? I mean, look at him. He’s gorgeous and I’ve seen how other men and women look at him, but I have to keep my insecurity in check. When we commit to someone, we have to decide every day to trust them. I know some days are harder than others, but imagine what we’d be missing out on if we didn’t try.’
Thora accepted the tissue he produced from somewhere and dried her eyes. ‘I get what you’re saying, but I can’t just extinguish the fear. Last time I was with Lucas, it was just the two of us, but now I risk the twins and Barry. To a certain extent, it even puts you and Titus at risk because we have such a big extended family.’
‘That’s all perfectly understandable, darling, but at the end of the day, this is about you and Lucas. Thora,’ he gazed deep into her eyes, ‘Do you love the man?’
She bit her bottom lip hard, trying to control her emotions. The big question.The one thing in all of this that she couldn’t deny. ‘I love him.’
‘Then what are you doing?’ Finn’s eyes glistened as he stroked her hair back from her face. ‘One life, Thora. One bloody chance on this ball of clay.’
The back door opened, and Rosie and Reggie walked in, bringing with them a gust of chilly air and some snow on their boots. Barry jumped up from his bed and started barking, so Rosie scooped him up and cuddled him. He licked her cheeks, and she giggled. ‘Hello my big Barry. Did you miss me?’
Reggie held up some bags. ‘Just going to take these upstairs.’
‘Nothing like last minute Christmas shopping,’ Finn said to his son. ‘Just like my fiancé, who has also gone shopping today.’
‘Don’t worry, Dad, I gave him good gift advice.’ Rosie winked at Finn and he smiled. ‘And by that I mean both Reggie and Titus.’
‘That’s my girl!’ Finn said. ‘Now, back to your mum.’
‘Oh yes … So what’s the latest?’ Rosie asked as she removed her coat. ‘Put the kettle on, Mum, I’m frozen.’
Reggie reappeared and took a seat at the table. ‘Anything to eat? I’m starving?’
‘Children, please … Can we just focus on your mum and her love life for five minutes?’ Finn asked rubbing a hand over his brow.
‘Yes, of course. Sorry.’ Reggie dipped his head. ‘So what’s happening?’
Thora was about to make tea, but she froze, feeling the weight of her family staring at her. ‘I—I don’t know.’ She gave a small shrug.
‘Well, thank goodness we do.’ Finn clapped his hands. ‘We are going to put this right today. It’s Christmas and I am not havingthe holidays ruined with sad faces and broken hearts. So, this evening you and Lucas are going to meet at The Garden Café and thrash this out.’
‘Wh — How?’ Thora asked, her heart pounding at the thought.
‘I’ve spoken to Pearl and Ellie and they’re closing early today anyway, so they said we can have the keys. It’s neutral territory, so you’ll be fine there, and you can talk about what the hell you’re both doing. I swear that in all my years I have never seen a couple as foolish as you two. Your breakup years ago was a blessing for me and the twins, as Rosie and Reggie wouldn’t exist without it. But now it’s time to put all the shizzle behind you and sort it out. Thora loves Lucas and Lucas loves Thora. The end!’ Finn dusted his hands off as if loving someone was simply the answer to everything working out well.
Suddenly overwhelmed with dizziness, Thora allowed Rosie and Finn to escort her to a seat at the table.
‘Rosie, make your mum a cuppa and Reggie get her a mince pie. I have a feeling she’s going to need it.’ Finn sat next to Thora while their twins got what Finn had asked for and he took her hand. ‘Thora, darling, I promise you that everything is going to work out just fine.’
She nodded at him, but her stomach was in knots and all she wanted to do was climb the stairs and crawl into bed, then pull the duvet over her head. To return to her simple existence where angst and romance no longer dwelt. It seemed that since Lucas had returned to Porthpenny, her life was no longer under her control and the people who loved her were taking charge. There was a certain sense of relief in that because this emotional rollercoaster was exhausting.
‘OK, I believe you,’ she said when she felt like she could speak again. ‘I have no idea how it will be fine after I told Lucas that it was over for good between us, but if he’s agreed to meet me there, then I have to trust the process.’
She saw Finn and the twins exchange glances, and something occurred to her.
