Page 42 of Yule Party on Sunflower Street

‘I’ve never yearned to be a dad. But I think that like you, I assumed it would probably happen, especially when my sister had her two.’

Tara put the book back on the shelf. ‘And how do you feel about it now?’

He frowned. ‘I guess that if I met the right person and it happened, then I’d be happy about it. Does that make sense?’

‘Totally. Sadie would love to be a mum but until she met Sander, she’d never talked about it. Well, not really in detail. She’d said that she liked babies but would only want them if she was in love with someone.’

‘That’s a good way of looking at it,’ he said. ‘I’d need to be in love and in a secure relationship and then, perhaps, it would come naturally.’

‘Kind of like a next step?’

‘Exactly that.’

As they continued browsing, he thought about what they’d discussed. While he’d never given it much thought before, he could see now that if he was in a relationship with someone like Tara, he could feel differently about it. Or he could probably just as happily spend all his free time with her and do things couples did like go on romantic weekend breaks to Paris and Rome, watch movies snuggled up on the sofa and look for a house that would be perfect for them to live in together. House hunting with Tara would probably be a lot of fun. She’d have some good ideas about what type of property she wanted and how she’d decorate and it would be enjoyable to help her to make her dream come true. And then, if marriage and children seemed like the next step then, well, why not? He’d be open to that.

Woah! Slow down, Romeo!

He wasn’t fourteen and in a Shakespearean tragedy, so all this was a bit much for him to be entertaining right now. His parents would wonder who’d taken their son and replaced him with a new and rather strange model if they knew what was going on in his head right now. Practical and reserved Seth was clearly on holiday, and in his place was soppy romantic Seth. He didn’t even recognise himself. His sister would have a field day if she knew what he was thinking. She’d always said he was softer on the inside than he let anyone see.

‘Do you want to look for any more books or are you done here?’ Tara asked, tucking a book underneath her arm.

‘I’m done here, I think.’ He led the way to the counter. ‘Let me get that for you.’

‘No, it’s fine.’

‘Come on and then you can buy me a coffee. I’m a bit thirsty after all that shopping.’

‘OK then.’ She handed him the book and his heart squeezed. It was a glossy hardback about planning the perfect festive party, with an illustration of snow, fairy lights and beautifully laid tables on the cover.

Even here in London she was thinking about how to make the party a success, and he knew he would do everything in his power to help her do exactly that.

21

TARA

Sitting in the café with Seth, Tara tucked the bags of gifts they’d bought under the table and stretched in her chair. It had been a busy day so far, but she was enjoying herself and so, it seemed, was Seth.

‘Who else do you need to get gifts for?’ she asked.

‘My parents and my sister. Oh, and my brother-in-law.’

‘Who’s the hardest to buy for out of them?’ She picked up her mug and sipped her coffee, savouring the caffeine hit of the flat white.

‘Probably my mum.’

‘Why?’ Tara set her mug down on the table.

‘She already has everything. Or so she says.’ He laughed softly. ‘Over the years, we’ve bought her perfume, jewellery, gardening tools, baking paraphernalia, ornaments, books, hair styling appliances, scarves… The list goes on.’ He shook his head. ‘But every year when we ask what she’d really like, she just says she has everything she needs.’

‘That’s a tough one then.’ Tara steepled her hands on the table. ‘Is there not a new perfume she’d like or a warm dressing gown or something like that?’

Seth shifted on his chair. ‘I can’t think of anything. She already has more than enough perfume already and she says it goes off anyway because she doesn’t use it all. So… I don’t know.’

‘You could get her some nice wine glasses or… I know!’ Tara clapped her hands. ‘A photo of you and your sister.’

‘A photo.’ Seth pushed a hand through his hair. ‘Why would she want a photo of me? My sister, yes, but not me.’

‘Mums love things like that. You could get one of those professional shots done and put it in a nice frame or on a cushion or a calendar or something.’