He smiled. ‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world.’
CHAPTER 19
It was Christmas Eve night and Zara had gone to bed. Despite throwing up as if it was an Olympic event the night before, Zara had made a good recovery that day. She had spent most of the morning lying on the sofa and watching Christmas movies but by the afternoon she’d been back to her old self. And Quinn had stayed through it all, helping clean up, sitting with Zara and reading to her. He was exactly what Alex wanted in a life partner. Someone who was there for her no matter what. Quinn had gone home for a few hours once he knew Zara was out the woods and Alex knew he was painting the baubles for her.
Immy was just finishing off her hot chocolate and then she was going to head to bed too.
There was a soft knock on the kitchen door and Alex looked up to see Quinn letting himself in, a box in one hand and an overnight bag in the other. He smiled at Alex then turned his attention to Immy.
‘Hey Immy, this was left outside for you,’ Quinn said, offering out the box.
Immy frowned and took it from him and then squealed in delight. ‘It’s Jacob. Oh my god, it’s even got his one floppy ear. I love him. Thank you.’
Alex peered over her sister’s shoulder. It was so lifelike, so detailed, it really was beautiful.
‘Oh, you don’t need to thank me,’ Quinn said.
‘I know, I know, it’s from St Nick,’ Immy replied.
‘Yes, but it’s not him you need to thank,’ Quinn told her. ‘Alex was the one who requested I do this specifically.’
Immy looked at Alex and back at Quinn. ‘So… youarehim?’
‘Yes.’
‘All those baubles, they were all painted by you.’
‘Yes.’
She looked at Alex. ‘And you knew?’
‘As of the night of the stakeout yes, but I promised him I wouldn’t tell anyone.’
‘My lips are sealed. You asked him to do this?’
‘Yes, as a thank you for everything you’ve done for me.’
‘Oh honey, you’re my sister and I love you. You never need to thank me for being here for you. I always will.’
Alex smiled and hugged her.
Immy looked at her bauble again with a smile. ‘I really do love it, thank you, both of you. Right, I’m off to bed, long day tomorrow. Most annoyingly I have to put up with seeing Xander over my Christmas lunch.’
‘Well, we can make sure you’re sat furthest away from him,’ Alex said, giving her a sympathetic smile.
‘That works. Night.’
Immy gave them both a wave and disappeared upstairs.
‘I have the other bauble you asked me to make,’ Quinn said. ‘I’m not sure what you want me to do with it.’
He pulled it out of his bag and Alex could see the word ‘Yes’ surrounded by holly leaves and berries.
‘Just hold onto it for a second,’ she instructed him.
She picked up the box she had prepared earlier and took it over to him.
She handed him the box. ‘This is the bauble I promised to make for you as a thank you for all of ours. I wanted to portray something you really wanted.’
