‘Some of the things I said last night still stand. My twins will always come first.’
‘And that’s because you’re an amazing mum.’
‘And I won’t leave my parents. They’re going to need me more as they age and I want to be here for them.’
‘As do I for my father.’
‘Good. That’s good.’ She breathed deeply. ‘And I… I’ve been ashamed of how things ended. I gave up too easily and if I could change that I would but the guilt about it… It still keeps me awake some nights.’
‘Well I’m telling you to let that go because we were both to blame in our own way, but we were young. Would you tell Rosie or Reggie it was their fault if they did something similar in the next few years?’
‘No. Of course not.’ She shook her head.
‘Then be kind to your younger self. Show the girl some compassion.’
‘You’re right. I know you’re right.’ She nodded. ‘But then there’s also the fear that we could hurt each other again.’
Lucas reached across the table and held out his hand and she took it, felt the warmth of his fingers as they closed around hers.
‘All relationships come with risk, Thora, but I promise you that if you give me another chance, I will spend the rest of my days doing everything I can to reassure you and to make you happy.The last thing I ever want is to hurt you again. Those wounds in your chest, I have them too, but we are older and wiser now and wecanmake this work. We have learnt from what happened before and I am prepared to give this my all. Are you?’
Thora pulled her hand gently from his and then she got up and walked around the table. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sat down on his lap then gazed into his eyes. ‘I am prepared to give this my all. I love you, Lucas. I can’t deny that I’m scared and that I will have times when I falter because of insecurity and old fears rising, but I do want this with my whole heart. If we can make this work, then I will be the happiest woman in not just Porthpenny, but in the world.’
‘We can make this work, my love.’ The intensity of his gaze made her stomach flip, and she moved closer to him so their lips met. His mouth was warm and soft, his breath tickled her skin and she relaxed into the kiss, knowing that everything really would be OK.
When they eventually came up for air, Thora caught sight of the gardens though the window and she gasped. ‘Look how deep the snow is.’
‘As deep as my love for you,’ Lucas said with a chuckle. ‘Sorry, that was cheesy but it’s true. I think we should probably lock up and head down to the village.’
‘I think that’s a good plan,’ she replied.
So they turned the Christmas lights off then put on their coats and hats and locked the door. Outside, Lucas took her hand, and their fingers intertwined as they crunched along the path to the gate. Snow blanketed the hedges, trees and ground, makingbulky white shapes of everything, and it was still drifting down, delicate as whispered dreams shared between lovers.
‘I adore this time of year,’ she said. ‘I haven’t enjoyed it as much for some time, even though I’ve tried to make it as good as possible for the children, but there was always the shadow of our breakup hanging over every December. But now… everything seems fresh, clean and filled with endless possibilities.’
‘And it is,’ Lucas said as he tugged open the gate then followed her though it. ‘This is our new start. Our new chapter. The one we write together.’
‘Everything that came in between was meant to happen.’ She looked up at him.
‘It was. The twins were meant to happen. Barry was meant to happen. And now we are meant to happen.’
‘Will you come home with me?’ she asked.
‘I would love to but what about Dad?’
‘I have a spare bedroom. He could stay over too if you think he’d be all right with that.’
‘And where will I sleep?’ he teased.
‘With me, of course.’ She squeezed his hand.
‘As long as you let him have full access to the TV and promise him a hearty breakfast, I’m sure he’ll be delighted to join us.’ Lucas smiled then pressed a kiss to her lips. ‘Let’s go and ask him.’
So they walked down to the village together, the snow crunching beneath their boots while more fell from the dark December sky.
‘I think this is going to be a very merry Christmas,’ she said.
‘I agree. This will be the best Christmas yet. The Christmas when we get to leave the ghosts of the past firmly in the past and to embrace the present while looking forward to the future.’
