‘I see I didn’t get offered any juice,’ Immy said.
‘Because you live here, I’m pretty sure you’re capable of getting your own juice,’ Alex laughed, but she got out three glasses anyway and poured one for her sister and one for Zara.
‘I bought you these,’ Quinn said, offering out a smallbox which she recognised immediately as being from Sweet Escapes, the bakery near Christmas Gardens.
Alex let out a soft gasp, knowing what they were before she’d even opened the box. She took it and reverentially opened the lid. The smell of the apple custard Danishes hit her and it was pure heaven.
‘Oh god, thank you,’ Alex said, picking one up and taking a bite. She closed her eyes in bliss. It was so sweet and delicious. She loved these so much. For some reason Sweet Escapes didn’t make these every day, so when they did, Alex always grabbed herself a box, if they hadn’t already sold out. Sometimes she missed out.
‘Oh, you know the way to a woman’s heart,’ Immy said. ‘You propose to her while she’s eating one of those and I guarantee you she’d say yes.’
Quinn laughed. ‘Surely it wouldn’t be that simple.’
Alex nodded as she continued to eat.
‘They really taste that good?’ Quinn asked.
Alex’s eyes widened in shock. ‘You’ve never had one?’
‘I’m more of a savoury person. Give me one of their sausage rolls or steak slices and I’d be asking you to marry me too.’
‘Their steak slices are lovely but this is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.’
‘That’s high praise indeed.’
‘Here, just take a bite.’ Alex held one up for him.
He bent his head and took a bite, his eyes on hers as he did so, and she suddenly realised how intimate this was. She felt like she needed to take a step back out ofhis space but she couldn’t. All she could think about was reaching up and kissing the crumbs off his lips.
‘Mmm, this really is good,’ Quinn said, reaching out to take another bite and his lips grazed her fingers.
Her breath caught in her throat. His tongue slid out to catch the crumbs and she watched it, completely entranced. He’d missed a crumb on the corner of his mouth and without thinking she leaned up to wipe it away. Her eyes widened in horror as she realised what she’d done.
‘God, I’m so sorry, I don’t know why I did that.’
‘It’s OK.’ Quinn’s eyes were still on hers in that way he had of looking deep inside her.
‘She does that to me all the time,’ Immy said. ‘I think once you’re a mum, you’re a mum to everyone.’
Alex stepped away but Quinn was still watching her.
Zara walked into the kitchen, her nose still buried in her book, though she was now wrapped in her coat, body warmer, and scarf, her purple pompom hat sticking out from her pocket.
‘Hey Rocket,’ Quinn said, calling her the nickname he’d given her because she was always speeding around on her skates.
Zara’s face lit up at seeing her uncle. She gave him a big hug, which he returned, then diverted her attention back to the book again.
‘Zara, I have something for you,’ Immy said.
Zara lowered her book momentarily and eyed the box with interest. ‘What is it?’
‘Come and see.’
The book was finally relinquished, Zara’s curiosity getting the better of her, and she moved over to take a look.
‘Whoa, you found one,’ Zara said, her eyes lighting up. ‘Where?’
‘In Christmas Gardens.’
