My stomach threatened to turn itself inside out. I didn’t want to lie to Andy, I wanted to tell him the truth, even if it did mean losing him.
I had to. I had to tell him.
“Kit!” Mother’s voice called through the door just as I took a breath to do it. “Are you planning to lie in bed all day? We have guests.”
Andy giggled.
Later. I’d tell him later. Iwould.
I just couldn’t face it yet. Couldn’t face ruining Christmas for him, couldn’t face missing out on one last day together. Even if I knew it was all coming to an end.
I’d make the most of it, and then tell him gently, and at least be able to keep the memory of having had the most wonderful few days of my life forever. Was it so selfish to want just a few more hours of something I’d never had before and never would again?
“Coming, Mother,” I called back, snuggling closer to Andy.
“You’re so not,” he whispered. “But youcouldbe.”
“Before she comes back again?” I raised an eyebrow.
Andy disappeared under the covers with a final grin. “I like a challenge.”
* * *
No one had ever been sohappy with a Christmas gift as Father was with the teacup Andy had given him this morning. The case of Penguins had tipped it over the edge, and Andy was now easily Father’s favorite.
The bottle of rare single malt worth about the same as a small hatchback that Will had gifted him hadn’t held a candle to it, much to Will’s obvious and hilarious annoyance.
To my delight, Andy had pulled on one of the pairs of socks I’d given him straight away, wiggling his toes with a broad smile on his face and kissing me quite publicly—and amorously—as we were all called for breakfast.
Now we’d escaped with the excuse thatsomeoneneeded to walk the dogs, Father adding his support of us doing it since they liked Andy, and as the host, he ought to stay with the majority of his guests.
Mother had been torn between being furious with him and amazed that he’d accepted the responsibility without needing to be told, and had almost said as much in front of everyone.
“Your dad liked the teacup, right? He wasn’t just being polite?” Andy asked, crunching through the four inches of snow that’d fallen overnight, blanketing the whole estate in crisp white.
From the outside, this must have looked like the most magical of Christmases.
“He loved it. If you’re not careful he’ll insist on adopting you,” I said, tossing a tennis ball for the dogs.
They liked it better when Andy did it, but Andy was kindly letting me keep my dignity.
“You guys own this place, right?” Andy asked, watching the dogs run and tussle with each other over the ball.
“Yes, this estate has been in the family since... well, since there were pirates in the Caribbean, at least.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously,” I said, enjoying Andy’s surprise. “What makes you ask?”
“I was just thinking,” Andy said, looking out into the woods. “It’d be really nice for the kids.”
“Kids?”
Were we talking about children? Already?
“Yeah,” Andy said, grinning. “Thinkin’ about getting a couple of little goats.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop a wry smile making my lips twitch.
