‘Oh that’s wonderful news, congratulations,’ Violet said, coming over to give them both a big hug. And suddenly Alex was surrounded by lots of other people offering their congratulations too, mostly Quinn’s cousins. Although she could see that a few people, aunts and uncles mainly who Alex had barely even spoken to, weren’t impressed by it, some of them whispering or muttering between themselves about how inappropriate it was, Alex didn’t care. Quinn made her ridiculously happy. He loved her and Zara and that was all that mattered.
But Violet had seen them whispering as she lookedaround the room.
‘I have an announcement of my own,’ she said, reaching out for Michael’s hand who now looked terrified as he gingerly approached her. ‘This is Michael and we’ve been secretly dating each other for the last six months. He makes me smile again and it’s been a long time since I had something to smile about.’
The whispering and muttering took off at a frenzy but many people came over to meet Michael properly and tell Violet they were happy for her.
Alex looked at Quinn who was smiling.
‘Did you know about this?’ Quinn said as people gathered round his mum and a very bemused-looking Michael.
‘Yes, she came to ask my advice a few days ago about how to tell you. I didn’t suggest this big announcement though. Are you OK about it?’
He nodded. ‘Yeah, I’ve always worried about her being alone, I’m glad she’s got someone who makes her happy. Dad would have wanted that too.’
Finally as people moved away, and conversation resumed, Quinn went over to his mum. ‘I’m happy for you, really I am. And Michael, Dad loved you, I think he would have been happy you two have found each other.’
‘Sorry to land it on you this way, but I thought my news might take the heat off you two a little bit,’ Violet said.
‘It’s fine and thank you.’
They moved away to let Violet carry on dishing up the food. Zara ran off to play with Etta, Xander’s daughter,and Immy was talking to Xander, so when Quinn suggested they stepped outside into the back garden Alex readily agreed.
Snow was dancing in the air as Quinn opened the back door and they went outside. The garden was quiet and cool, in contrast to the noise and heat of the kitchen. Quinn led her down to the end where there was a fountain, the water frozen in beautiful icicles as it cascaded over the edge.
He turned to face her and kissed her on the forehead. ‘My family is loud, chaotic, dysfunctional, rude, judgemental and sometimes just complete pains in the ass. Fortunately, I only have to see most of them once a year, but are you sure you want to marry into this?’
Alex smiled. ‘I love you, I love all of you and that means loving your family too.’
‘Are you sure? We can always elope?’
‘As tempting as that is, Violet would never speak to us again and I’m rather partial to your mum. She makes the best Christmas jumpers and I never want to miss out on that.’
‘Oh no, if we elope we’ll have to take her with us, and Immy of course, and probably all of my cousins.’
‘Not so much an elopement then.’ Alex ran her hands up his shoulders.
‘Well no, but we can keep it small.’
Inside there was a scream and the sound of a glass breaking.
‘And avoid all this drama? I wouldn’t miss it for the world.’
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
‘How about George?’ Quinn said, stroking Alex’s tiny belly.
It was Christmas Day night and after a long tiring day at Violet’s Big Christmas Day Lunch they’d come back to their new little cottage overlooking the sea. Alex was a little bit in love with it. They’d only moved in a few months before and had spent a lot of time decorating and making it their own. Quinn had painted a beautiful mural on Zara’s bedroom wall. She’d wanted dragons, her new obsession so Quinn had painted them flying above the sea. But now it seemed they would need to convert one of the rooms to a nursery too.
After selling their house, Immy had moved into the flat above her shop, but Alex still saw her sister every day. They’d chatted a lot over lunch and Immy was ridiculously happy. Alex couldn’t help smiling about that.
She focussed her attention back on Quinn.
‘Too traditional,’ Alex said. ‘How about Blaze?’ They’d been coming up with ideas for baby boy names for the last half hour and they couldn’t agree on anything. So she’d started coming up with more ridiculous ones just to wind him up.
‘Oh, I like that.’
