Page 40 of The Christmas Star

CHAPTER 27

As I awaited Theo’s return, I glanced at the passengers around me, taking in the smart elderly couple who sat to my right. The husband wore a shirt and tie under a black blazer and his wife, with her long grey poker-straight hair, had on a midi woollen polo neck dress.

The husband held up his phone to show his other half a weather app. ‘Looks like we might get some snow,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t expecting that.’

‘How tall do you think they’ll be now?’ the wife asked. She picked up her drink, her scarlet-red nail varnish standing out against the white ceramic cup. ‘It’s been six months since we visited and you know how fast children grow.’

I smiled. Neither seemed to care they were having two different conversations, and they reminded me of Mum and Dad.

A couple of twenty-somethings sat just ahead of me and listening to them, they sounded like me when I was their age.

‘I hope we’ve remembered everyone’s presents,’ the blonder of the two said. ‘It’ll be awful if someone’s left out.’

‘We’d have been all right if we’d packed before the pub,’ the brunette said. ‘Why we had to leave it until we were drunk, I don’t know.’

I chuckled to myself.

‘You’re the one who insisted on staying. We were only meant to have a couple of glasses and then leave.’

Recalling my youth, I couldn’t count the number of times my good intentions had gone by the alcohol wayside.

‘Which would’ve been the case if Jeremy from IT hadn’t been there.’ The brunette giggled. ‘You know I can’t resist a nerd.’

‘After work drinks are never a good idea. We’re lucky we didn’t miss the boat,’ the blonde said. She sighed. ‘Are you sure you don’t know what’s in your suitcase?’

‘I’m sure,’ the brunette replied. ‘Do you know what’s in yours?’

The blonde shook her head. ‘Haven’t a clue.’

Theo passed their table on his way back with our coffees, causing both young women to perk up. Their eyes followed his every step right up until the point he sat down and clocking the fact I was watching them, they hastily diverted their attention.

‘I’m surprised at how busy this ferry is,’ I said. ‘Who travels on Christmas Eve? It’s so last minute, why not just stay home?’

‘Maybe people had work commitments? Maybe some are going home?’

‘One thing’s for sure,’ I said. ‘I bet none of them are on the hunt for missing relatives.’

Theo laughed. ‘Probably not.’ He rested his forearms on the table. ‘How do you usually spend Christmas Eve?’

‘More often than I’d like, delivering presents.’

Theo’s smile grew.

I tilted my head. ‘Don’t tell me. You have everything bought and wrapped by June.’

‘Not quite. Sasha was the real organiser. Christmas would be only just over with, and she’d be hitting the sales for the following December.’ Theo’s expression turned melancholic. ‘We were so different. She taught me a lot.’ Gathering himself, he nodded to my left ring finger. ‘Have you ever been married?’

‘Lord, no.’

Theo jerked his head. ‘That surprises me.’

I understood why. Most women my age had had at least one betrothal under their belt, in practice if not legally. ‘I’ve never met the right man.’

‘You’ve been in love though, surely?’

In my view, it was too early for deep and meaningful, and I wondered where Theo’s line of questioning had come from. Worse still, where it was going. I followed his gaze as he took in the people around us.

‘Don’t mind me.’ Theo drew his lips back. ‘Christmas always makes me reflect.’