‘Are these for massage or for when I decide to become a world champion stone skimmer?’ I asked, testing their pleasing weight in my hands. ‘Because I could go either way right now if neurosurgery doesn’t work out.’
‘Multipurpose tools for the multitasking woman.’
He bit back a smile as I tore the wrapping paper from the final gift. Inside was a blue velvet pouch and I tipped the contents out into my palm to reveal a small silver pin. Callum took it from my hand and fastened it to my jumper, pulling the fabric away from my body to make sure he didn’t scratch me.
‘It’s a Luckenbooth brooch,’ he said, closing the fastening and sliding it into place. ‘Two hearts intertwined with a crown on top and a thistle in the middle. It’s a traditional Scottish symbol. To remind you of this week.’
‘As if I’d ever be able to forget it,’ I told him, pressing his gift to my heart. ‘When did you do all this?’
‘Yesterday. When Desi was trying to look up that bagpiper’s kilt and I went back to the car to put money in the parking meter.’
‘I assumed you were too embarrassed to be seen with us.’ I was still staring at the brooch. It was beautiful. ‘Thank you so much, but I feel terrible, I don’t have anything for you.’
His eyes glittered. ‘I’m sure you can come up with something.’
‘We should go downstairs before they come looking for us,’ I whispered as he pulled me close, without even the slightest desire to share him with anyone else ever.
‘We should show our faces for ten minutes or so, but I think we’ve both got migraines coming on today.’
My entire being buzzed with happiness as we moved as one towards the door, our steps in sync. It wasn’t until we walked out of my room and onto the landing I was convinced the rest of the world did in fact still exist.
‘Callum,’ I said, slowing down before we reached the stairs, the grim spectre of reality lurking at the bottom. ‘What are we going to say?’
‘What do you mean?’
He was still beaming, glowing even, not a trace of concern on his happy face.
‘About this?’
I raised our joined hands between us. Callum shrugged.
‘Why would we say anything? As far as anyone else is concerned, nothing’s changed.’
He pulled me on and I followed, still floating, only now there was something less than appealing hovering outside my blissful bubble. Why say anything? Wouldn’t we have to eventually? Unless I was about to legally change my name and retrain as a massage therapist.
‘At last.’ Derek slapped the sides of his armchair when we walked into the family room. ‘Good of you to grace us with your presence.’
Desi shot me the filthiest look, Lizzie let out a breathit appeared she’d been holding in since I’d last seen her, and Joel and Rory, side by side on the sofa, looked up from their phones for a second. Then looked back down.
‘Coffee?’ Callum asked and I nodded. He squeezed my hand before letting go, a silent promise to return while I made uncomfortable eye contact with my best friend, then quickly flicked my attention to a bowl filled with Cadbury’s Roses in the middle of the coffee table. Wait, no, RosesandQuality Street. True decadence.
‘Then we’re doing presents!’ Rory called when he disappeared. ‘So don’t take all day.’
Presents.
I tore my eyes away from the bowl of untouched sweets and peered under the tree. Mounds and mounds of beautifully wrapped presents.
‘We really should wait for Elsie,’ Lizzie said, worrying the hem of her knee-length tartan skirt. ‘She’ll be done with her rounds soon.’
But Rory was already under the tree, sorting the gifts into piles.
‘She said not to,’ he barked. One pile, two piles, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. ‘Get real, Mother, we all know she’s no intention of coming back.’
Eight piles of presents. Eight people currently in the house.
Fuck.
‘Svetty,’ I said sweetly, my palms suddenly damp. ‘Can I have a quick word with you?’
