‘It really is. I don’t know what I want yet, not exactly, but all I do know is that it’ll involve photography, whether freelance or permanent.’
It was on the tip of Fern’s tongue to suggest she get some formaltraining too, to take her to the next level, but she was learning to take a step back before she leaped in and tried to organise other people. If that was what Daisy wanted, she’d reach that conclusion by herself. And any time she wanted an opinion, Fern would share hers, but she wouldn’t push. Her sisters were her equals, they were all grown ups and had their own lives. She knew she’d forgottenthat somewhere along the way, perhaps moulded into the role of the protector when they lost their dad or simply because she was born first. But it didn’t have to be that way. And it would work far better if it wasn’t.
When there was a knock at the door, Fern’s heart leaped and Daisy was onto her. ‘I don’t think your husband could wait any longer.’
‘I’m still in my pyjamas!’ And brushed cottonones at that, she hadn’t worn anything like this in years, favouring silk and sexy nightwear.
‘You look gorgeous just the way you are.’ Daisy motioned for her to go before Everett froze outside on the doorstep.
When she opened the front door she found it was Jacob who had been knocking, with Everett and Cooper at the car boot bringing everything out, their bags, gifts, and a few bottles, judgingby the clinking sounds. And even though his brother was moaning at him to come and help, Jacob didn’t miss getting the first hug with his mum.
She fell into the embrace and breathed in the smell of his freshly washed hair. ‘I missed you so much.’ She didn’t get many of these sorts of hugs these days and she treasured it, especially given their time apart and the distance that had allowed herto see what was wrong in her life and how they could work to put it right.
‘Bit of help would’ve been nice,’ Cooper moaned as he came through the gate laden with a bag and an armful of presents. ‘Hey, Mum.’ He might not be able to rush in for a hug but the smile told Fern she’d been missed more than a teenage boy might care to admit because he was grinning from ear to ear at the sight of her.
Fern put an arm around her eldest son and jostled him inside out of the cold. Everett had closed the boot, pointed the remote, which bleeped and set the alarm, before he made his way up the short front path towards his wife. He took in the sight of her in her pyjamas. ‘You do realise it’s almost eight o’clock in the morning, and that, a) you’re not dressed, and b) you’re in public in your pyjamas.Or maybe not your pyjamas.’ He quirked an eyebrow.
Marianne from the post office walked by on the other side of the street and waved over. ‘Merry Christmas, Fern,’ she called out.
‘Merry Christmas!’ When she returned the greeting she realised Everett was looking at her like she’d gone mad.
‘Could someone please tell me what happened to my wife?’
The box of wine beneath his arm didn’t lookall that secure and Fern took it but set it down on the doorstep. She took the small overnight holdall he had too and put that on top of the box before she pulled her husband tightly into a hug, this man she’d fallen in love with so quickly and so deeply it had almost hurt. And she kissed him right there and then, ignoring remarks ofeww, disgustingfrom Jacob behind them and a giggle from Daisywho only had to mention gingerbread to shift Jacob’s focus.
When Fern pulled away she looked up at her husband. ‘I missed you.’
‘The feeling was mutual. But this is a welcome I can get on board with.’
‘You didn’t all love me being away, not being bossed about?’ She pushed against his chest when he pulled a face like he was thinking about it. ‘We need to talk about that, I have some things Iwant to say.’
‘That’s fine, but can we at least go inside before I lose all feeling in my feet and hands?’
She laughed and lead him inside. With any luck they might well get snow later today and rather than moan about it like they did every year at home because it hampered their commute to work, because the boys’ activities were cancelled, because driving anywhere became a nightmare, cocoonedin Butterbury snow was a whole other story.
Fern and Everett headed away from the house on a walk, her arm linked through his as he said, ‘Christmas in Butterbury is always magical.’ He’d been brought up in a town, he’d always envied Fern this little corner of the world as the place she grew up, and for years he’d said that once the boys were older he wanted to retire here. Judging by the lookon his face as they made their way from the house, through the village and towards Lantern Square with its impressive decorations and village Christmas tree, he hadn’t changed his mind at all.
As they walked Everett began to notice the yarn bombings and Fern confided that it had been Daisy and Grandad’s doing, a long time in the making, but the three sisters as well as Loretta had executed theplan along with a group of folks from Butterbury Lodge.
‘You and your sisters?’ he pondered. ‘Together?’
‘Surprising, I know, but coming home this time turned out to be better than I imagined.’ She huddled closer to him and explained the real reason why Loretta had summoned them back to Butterbury, what had been going on since her arrival, the quilt, her sisters’ revelations, their dad’s past,and all about Carrie.
Everett whistled between his teeth. ‘How do you feel about it all?’ By mutual agreement they headed towards the mulled wine cart.
‘Strangely OK.’ She went on to admit, ‘I’m not sure I would’ve been had I not had Daisy and Ginny to talk to.’
Everett stopped as they joined the queue for mulled wine. ‘I never thought I’d hear you say that.’
‘Me neither.’
As they waitedin line he put an arm around her shoulders, his fingers toying with the free ends of her hair, loose and wavy rather than in its strict, straight ponytail. He’d always told her she should try a bit harder with her sisters, that family was too important to not want to make an effort. And as they watched their mulled wine being ladled into the awaiting cups he kissed her forehead and she leaned intothe gesture, happy to have him by her side.
They found a spare bench to sit on right near the village tree. ‘Tastes so much better out in the cold,’ Everett declared after his first gulp of mulled wine.
‘I happen to agree with you.’ There was something about drinking a warm, spicy drink when the temperature had fallen that reminded them to sit back and enjoy, it was almost Christmas.
‘Fern,I need to apologise to you.’
