Would it all be too much? What if they disapproved?What if they didn’t like her?
She wished she didn’t care so much what other people thought, but she did care. She cared a lot.
She gathered herself and opened the car door. The cold bit into her and she shivered and grabbed her coat.
Jamie gathered together their bags and he’d barely closed the car door when the front door opened and a pool of golden light spilled across the snowy pathway that led to the house.
A group of people appeared in the doorway, all talking at once and a large dog bounded across the snow to greet Jamie.
“Hey, Percy—” He stooped and made a fuss of the dog and Hayley did the same, relieved to have something to focus on because this whole meeting felt so awkward.
“He’s adorable.” She rubbed his back and cupped his sweet face in her hands and then laughed when Percy leaped on her, planting snowy paws in the middle of her chest.
“Now you’ve done it.” Jamie closed a hand on his collar and pulled the dog down. “No jumping.”
“It was my fault for encouraging him.” And she didn’t mind. It was a relief to find that at least one family member seemed to approve of her. “He’s gorgeous.”
“He’ll take advantage. Hi, Mum—” He stepped forward to hug the woman who had picked her way across the snow to greet them.
“I’m so happy you’re home. I missed you.” She was tall—almost as tall as Jamie—and slim, with dark hair swept up casually and secured by a clip at the back of her head.
“Yeah, me too. It’s good to be here. I’m looking forward to Christmas.”
“So are we.”
“The house looks amazing! Did you and Dad do that?”
“No—we have Roy the roofer to thank for our next-level light show.”
Hayley stood awkwardly, waiting, watching the way they hugged. Tightly. Like two people with a long and unbreakable connection. Family.
Eventually the woman stepped back and gazed at Jamie. “How was the journey? Did you manage a trip to Holy Island?”
“Yes. And we stopped for lunch and had a walk on the beach at Embleton.”
“Good choice. It’s beautiful there.” She turned with a smile. “And you must be Hayley. I’ve been so excited to meet you.”
“I—oh—” Hayley found herself wrapped in a warm hug, and she stood for a moment, caught off balance by the sheerwarmth of the greeting. She wasn’t used to it. She didn’t know how she was supposed to respond so she hugged the woman right back, and when she finally let go she discovered that her nerves had receded and she no longer felt sick.
Jamie was grinning. “This is my mother.”
“I assumed as much.” And she could see instantly where he got his warmth and kind nature. “It’s good to meet you, Mrs Balfour.”
“Call me Jenny.” Jamie’s mother stood back and beamed at both of them, a gleam of emotion in her eyes. Then she shivered and glanced up at the sky. “This is all very pretty and festive, but if it doesn’t stop snowing Will and Becky will be stranded for the whole of Christmas. Come inside. It’s freezing out here. Rosie has been standing with her nose pressed to the window, waiting for you to arrive.”
“Woohoo Jamie!” A young woman sprinted across the snow, her long hair flying. She flung her arms around Jamie. “I’m glad I arrived before you. I’ve hidden all the chocolate. There is no way you’re finding it this year.”
“You think?” He hugged her tightly and then let her go. “We both know I’ll find it.”
“You won’t. It’s good to see you.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, her voice lowered. “Tomorrow we are going for a long walk on the beach. Just us. I need to talk to you. It’s important.”
It was only because she was standing close by that she heard those words. Hayley wondered what Rosie needed to say to Jamie that she didn’t want anyone else to know.
And then Rosie turned, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks dimpled in a friendly smile. “You must be Hayley! I’m Rosie. I’ve been dying to meet you. Welcome to our Christmas grotto. We only arrived about ten minutes ago so we haven’t even unpacked. We’re ruined Mum’s beautiful hallway with our chaos.”
She vibrated with energy, and Hayley wondered whether shewent to bed exhausted every night or whether she was blessed with superhuman stamina.
“Let’s go indoors—” Jenny ushered them all inside and Hayley stepped cautiously over the threshold of Jamie’s family home.
