‘Time to go home?’ Gage’s deep voice by her shoulder surprised Tamara and she lifted her face for a kiss.
‘As long as you can let go of the trophy long enough to come to bed.’
Gage grinned and passed the trophy over to Paul with a flourish. ‘Take care of that, mate. Some of us have things to do and places to be.’
Tamara said a swift goodnight to her friends and gave Melissa an extra hug to wish her safe travels.
‘It’s time we started celebrating Christmas.’ His right arm snaked around her waist.
‘That’s the best idea you’ve had all week, Mr Bennet.’
‘I thought so too.’
Chapter Twenty-Seven
‘Honestly, it’s fine. You go do your shopping. We’re all good here, aren’t we, Ems?’
His niece stopped tweaking the window display and turned around. She’d been working full time since college had finished for the Christmas holidays last week. The festive rush had slowed to a trickle, and today there were just a few last-minute customers who’d left their present shopping until Christmas Eve.
‘Yep.’ She tossed her head. ‘If I’m here I don’t have to be stuck at home listening to Ollie and Lily getting all childish and excited about Father Christmas. Then there’s Granddad keeping on about Scotland and how it’s the best place on earth.’ Emily scoffed. ‘If it’s so great, why did he scuttle off down here for Christmas instead of spending it with his partner and her kids? They’re little, so wouldn’t they want their dad there?’
Gage noticed Tamara wince and he wished he could reassure her that he wasn’t bothered. The fact his father had been in Penworthal for three days but hadn’t come anywhere near the shop said it all.
‘If you’re both sure, I’ll brave the crowds in Truro. I won’t be long. I’ve no interest in dawdling around the shops and don’t want to get drowned when the bloody rain starts again this afternoon.’
Last week’s crisp, snowy weather had melted away, leaving behind milder temperatures but almost constant rain. Today’s grey, dry morning was a much-needed break, but the forecast was lousy with gale-force winds blowing in tonight on top of even more rain.
‘Anything you need?’
Gage shook his head. ‘No, thanks. My shopping’s all done.’
Apart from Tamara, his gift list only consisted of Becky and her family. Instead of buying everyone books, which would strike them as a cop-out, he’d done some sleuthing and begged his sister for ideas. Four pairs of fashionable trainers were wrapped and ready for the kids, along with new seat covers for Paul’s van. Becky had been the real challenge, but that’s where Tamara had come in. She’d remembered hearing her friend talking wistfully about never having been to London or being able to afford to take their large family on holiday. It had seemed ideal to combine the two and so she would be getting a gift card for an all-expenses-paid long weekend in the capital.
‘I’ll leave you to it, then.’ She popped a kiss on his cheek and headed towards the door. It flew open in her hand and almost knocked her off balance.
‘I’m sorry, miss, I should’ve looked to make sure no one was on the way out.’ The deep, cheerful male voice made Gage freeze on the spot.
‘Have you come to check up on me, Granddad?’ Emily’s cheery voice penetrated the mist swirling around his brain.
A ghost from his childhood stood less than a metre away, wearing a tentative smile as if unsure of his welcome. As well he might.
The years hadn’t been kind to his father. There was little sign of the fit, jovial man with a head of thick dark hair, twinkling eyes and ready laugh that Gage remembered so well.
‘Do you want me to stay?’ Tamara asked.
‘No, it’s okay. I’ll see you later.’
She didn’t look convinced but complied, and the door closed behind her. There was only one customer left lingering in the travel section.
‘Ems, can you keep an eye on things here while I take your grandfather back to the kitchen?’
His niece’s sharp gaze, eerily reminiscent of Becky’s, shot between them. For a change she didn’t toss out a smart remark, but simply nodded.
‘Tea or coffee?’ Gage stationed himself by the kettle.
‘Tea’s fine. Milk and two sugars.’ Wally settled on one of the stools with his elbows on the counter. ‘Quite some place you’ve got here, boy. You’ve done well for yourself.’
‘No thanks to you.’ The blunt reply exploded out of him before Gage could stop it. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. It’s in the past and—’
