“A book. A thoughtful gift, so like for Ava, as she’s a coffee addict, a coffee mug with some posh beans. Max would be whisky and maybe a glass to go with it. Callum would be something to do with travelling, so a travel toiletries bag with mini shower gels in or something like that.” I could’ve given him a list for each of his siblings and their partners, but I didn’t want to become his crutch for present giving. Seph sometimes struggled to be confident in himself.
He turned off the ignition. “I can’t take your ideas, Vic. What if you need them?”
I got out of the door and felt the cold of the air hit me. A few flakes of snow had already started to fall, and a weather warning had gone out for black ice. Luckily, I was with the world’s most cautious driver.
“My shopping’s already done, and generally it’s Max who picks out your presents. Or one of them. I had to get a couple of extra bits that were nice.” Max had decided to dust off his sense of humour for some of this year’s treats, mainly because we’d done another traditional thing of getting favours and thank yous for the wedding, and he felt he’d been too nice to everyone already.
Seph locked the car and stuffed his hands into his coat, some designer thing he’d been gifted after an interview for a magazine that was meant to be business focused. I was aware he’d received a few indecent proposals after that, much to Jackson’s mirth and Max’s annoyance.
“So, books, alcohol, gift things?”
“Pretty much.” I sighed. “Shall I come with you?”
He nodded. “I found some old photos last night in the cabin. I might buy a frame for one and give it Mum.”
“Who’s it of?”
The smirk returned. “It’s her with the first four. I think it’s just after she moved over here, and she looked completely harassed and holding a glass of wine.”
“That’s what to go for. And maybe something she likes – slippers, or gloves. Keep it simple.”
He nodded, looking serious. “I feel a bit thick shopping this close to Christmas Eve.”
“No need. I know your father is currently shopping, trying to find a gift for your mother. Now that’s pressure.”
I meandered around the shops, Max’s treasure in hand, browsing in windows and making the occasional trip inside in case I saw anything that would be a sweet extra for someone. In just days’ time, I’d be getting married and it still felt a little unreal. Very unreal.
My best friend, Jacob, was giving me away. After the death of my grandfather, family on my side wasn’t something I had any more, and while I hadn’t been looking for a replacement for what I could’ve had, Max’s family werethere. I had friends, I had a job I loved, and I had Max. His family were my bonus.
We were getting married in the little chapel tucked away in the village that the Callaghan house belonged to. It was small, the old retreat of a privileged family a century ago, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I didn’t need to elope abroad anymore.
Our wedding would be simple: we’d chosen Christmas carols for songs and a simple reading of a poem. We opted to not have bridesmaids and Max would just have Killian as his best man, avoiding the argument of choosing only one of his brothers – or having them all, which he didn’t even tolerate the idea of.
I also figured he was far more comfortable with Killian giving the best man’s speech than Jackson or especially Seph. This way meant there was likely to be less need to remove someone’s dead body, something he was already threatening to do.
The large bookshop, that I knew Owen would’ve taken an instant dislike to, was decorated with Christmas displays in the windows. Books of the year were brandished like chocolate tree decorations and the notes ofGod Rest Ye Merry Gentlemenwere pipped just loud enough so it could be heard at the store entrance. It was drenched in Christmas, the colours and the lights and the sounds all oozing advent and December, and for a moment I felt the excitement I’d had as a child, that thrilled anticipation at what Santa would bring.
Somewhere between a chocolatier’s and a lingerie shop I’d lost Seph. He’d taken one look at the lacy negligee in the distant window, coughed and made his excuses, adding that he was okay to think of presents. He’d managed to find a couple of gifts already, each of which he’d shed angst over, but it was a start, just about. Better than nothing.
I headed into the shop, debating finding a book I’d heard about for Max, calledWhat To Do With Your Large Penis.It was more of a gift for me, listening to the reactions of Jackson and Seph when he opened it on Christmas Day. I’d never tired of listening to him with his brothers; the banter was constantly there, but so was the loyalty. As a child who’d had a distant and unpleasant half-brother I loved hearing them.
Seph was sitting in a corner of the shop, browsing through a huge book that was a travel guide to the world. He looked engrossed and was completely oblivious to the two girls who looked to be in their very early twenties, who were staring at him and trying not to giggle.
“Who’s that for?”
He jumped as he registered that someone was speaking to him.
“What?”
“The book. Who’s it for?”
“It’s a really good book. I might have to get it for me too.”
As far as I knew, Seph had never been interested in travelling unless it was for a two-week beach holiday. Earlier this year he’d gone to the Seychelles with Shay, his cousin, but had confessed to being homesick for the last three days. We’d put this down to Shay having a holiday romance and Seph being left on his own a little too long. He soon got over it.
“You think Callum would like it?”
He nodded, closing the book. “Probably. He’s been to most of these places. And I know he’s gotten keen on photography recently. He said to me when we spoke the other night, he’s trying to find something to do that doesn’t involve travelling so much.”
