Christmas morning had been special, making Adira breakfast in bed. Together they had exchanged presents before attending the morning service at church with Fletcher. Lilly and Ruby had returned to The Laurels with them, Adira’s gran and parents joining them all later for dinner. The day was full of laughter, again as Jasper predicted, due to Fletcher keeping them all entertained with his bonhomie. It was good to see how the old boy truly came to life when given an audience. Ruby’s dry sense of humour was pretty amusing too, adding to the mix.
It was now late afternoon and, after a full day of eating and drinking, everyone was getting tired. Fletcher led snoozing in his armchair, whilst Lilly and Ruby sat watching the Royal speech. Adira’s family had decided to go and walk off that plentiful dinner they’d eaten, leaving Jasper and Adira in the kitchen clearing everything away.
‘I think that went well, don’t you?’ He said, passing her a coffee after they’d stacked the dishwasher.
‘Yeah, I really enjoyed it,’ smiled Adira. She too had been recalling her last Christmas, which had mainly consisted of sleeping, having being overworked right up until Christmas Eve. It was incredible to think how drastically her life had changed – and all for the better. Jasper looked pensively at her, wondering what she was thinking.
‘Do you mind that we don’t live alone?’ he tentatively asked. Adira looked surprised at the question.
‘Of course not. I love having Fletcher about. It wouldn’t be the same without him.’ She frowned. ‘Why do you ask?’
Jasper shrugged. ‘I’m mindful that we haven’t had much time alone.’
‘We will in Dubai,’ she replied softly.
‘It’s just that The Laurels and Fletcher is part of who I am. I could never leave.’ He looked into her eyes searchingly, hoping she’d understand.
‘Hey,’ Adira put her coffee down and went to hug him. ‘I know that,’ she said, kissing his lips, ‘and I wouldn’t want it any other way.’
Meanwhile, Cassie and Rory’s Christmas was in full swing. After having met his parents in the morning and sharing a relatively quiet, peaceful breakfast, in came the brothers later in the afternoon, creating a buzz. All three looked alike, with their dark curls, tall frames and twinkling eyes full of mischief. They must have been a handful growing up, thought Cassie, laughing at their banter with each another. The eldest brother, Ed, had a lovely, though rather timid, wife and an extremely boisterous son, who obviously took after his dad’s side of the family. They had been more than curious to meet the girl who had seemingly ‘tamed’ their Rory, the rebel of the family.
Cassie had loved every minute of the mickey-taking and harmless fun baited back and forth between the Molloy family, fitting in seamlessly. She enjoyed the easygoing way about them and didn’t feel at all intimidated being the newcomer.
After all the presents had been opened, they gathered round the dining table, which proved to be a tight squeeze, to eat dinner. Then Rory announced it was time to start the party games. This, apparently, was a Molloy family tradition. Cassie giggled at Rory’s attempt at charades, until he pulled her to her feet and said it was her turn.
It was clear to see the love and affection the family had for each other, and Rory’s mum in particular paid Cassie lots of attention, smiling with genuine affection on hearing Rory’s nickname for her.
‘Pixie?’ she questioned quietly.
‘Hmm, it’s because of my cropped hair,’ Cassie explained. ‘It’s called a pixie cut.’
‘Oh, I see,’ she answered with a chuckle.
The games continued and moved on to Guess Who? which involved Post-It notes stuck to foreheads with famous names on them. Everyone howled at Rory trying to guess his own name as ‘The Climate Warrior’.
When it was time to go, Cassie felt a real sadness at saying farewell. They’d had a fantastic time. As they waved each other off and the cars slowly exited down the drive, Rory turned to Cassie.
‘They all adore you,’ he smiled and kissed her.
Cassie’s heart filled with love for him. Today couldn’t have gone any better. It had been one of the best Christmases ever. She looked down at the bracelet he had given her, with a tiny pixie charm linked to it. The Hunter Wellington boots she’d given him looked pretty damn practical in comparison, but were very well received nonetheless – she hadn’t been able to resist buying them after he’d told her he didn’t have any boots, having had no need for them in London. She was only glad Rory had the barn sign yet to open once Fitz had made it.
‘Bye!’ they shouted through the open car windows. Rory’s parents stood at the front door madly waving back.
‘Well, it looks like our boy has finally settled down,’ said his dad, as the last car left.
‘Thank the Lord,’ replied his mother, remembering all the demonstrations, rallies, protests and goodness knows what he’d spearheaded. Now at last she could rest easy, in the knowledge he had met a stabilising influence. The future they were about to carve out for themselves seemed idyllic, a far cry from the tearaway student who was always campaigning on some mission or another.
Chapter 36
From the moment she stepped off the plane into the pleasant evening heat, Adira had been captured by Dubai. The whiteness of the sand, the scale of the skyscrapers, the limitless culinary delights in restaurants with awe-inspiring, iconic views of the city; it was all so much to take in. Jasper smiled to himself, enjoying her reaction to the place which he’d called home for two years. It took him back to his first impressions of Dubai, albeit he had been there to work, not honeymoon. This visit was completely different and he intended to make the most of it with his new wife.
Jasper had particularly enjoyed seeing how excited Adira had been when the plane was landing. It had been dark and all of Dubai was lit up, enticing its visitors. As they swooped down amongst the bright lights beneath them, her face had lit up with anticipation, too.
Jasper had pushed the boat out and had booked them into a five-star luxury hotel on the Jumeirah beach front, with balconies overlooking the turquoise ocean and breathtaking city lines. Everything had gone to plan, just as he expected it would. The hotel staff were attentive, making sure they wanted for nothing – from the champagne chilling on ice awaiting their arrival, to the rose petals decorating their pillows. The room was huge with a hot tub bubbling away on the balcony. Room service was twenty-four seven and Adira had never known extravagance like it. She had gasped when first entering the hotel, such was its opulence. An enormous white marble lobby led to two stairways either side. A gigantic glass sculpture hung suspended from the ceiling, its chiselled fragments capturing the light as it sparkled and dazzled in mid-air. Aromatic incense filled the air, whilst immaculately dressed staff waited hand and foot on its guests.
‘Oh, Jasper!’ she’d exclaimed when stepping into their room.
‘You like?’ he’d smiled. This was exactly the response he’d wanted.
