at a small makeshift table with a heater perched next to it.
Maddie bit into the buttery, flaky pastry of the mince pie and savoured the sweet mincemeat with brandy, walnuts and cherries. She waved to Ed. He came wandering over grinning, clutching a small, bushy tree. It was perfect. Greg stood up and held out his hand.
Maddie cleared her throat. ‘Ed, this is Greg; Greg, my son Ed.’
The two of them shook hands as she held her breath. Then she exhaled as Ed sat down. She pushed his coffee over to him.
Greg nodded at Ed’s tattoo. ‘Where have you been travelling?’
‘Bali, other parts of Indonesia, Thailand, and we’re—’ he looked over at Maddie ‘—going to carry on when I get back. Adity’s going to meet me in Vietnam.’
Maddie looked sideways at him and nodded. ‘Sure.’
‘We want to see more of Asia, but I wanted to see you over Christmas.’ He squeezed Maddie’s hand.
We.
‘Because of, well, after all the Dad stuff… then I want to travel a bit more before I take my place up at Exeter uni in October.’
She noticed Greg flinch – was it the mention of Tim or Exeter? ‘I’m glad you came to visit.’ She reached over and squeezed Ed’s hand. ‘Greg and I met at Exeter, actually.’ She fiddled with her earring.
‘I didn’t realise.’ Ed took a bite of his mince pie. ‘Pretty cool you two stayed in touch. How come you’re on the island?’ He looked up at Greg.
Stayed in touch. Didn’t really cover it, did it? Didn’t really begin to explain the emotional roller-coaster, but Ed didn’t have to know all that. For now, she was in a festive bubble, surrounded by the fragrance of mulled wine and the heady smell of cinnamon and roasting chestnuts. She didn’t want it to burst. Ever.
‘You live on the Isle of Wight?’ Ed addressed Greg.
‘No, not normally, I work at the water sports centre – they needed a short-term placement. The manager got ill, so I’m standing in for him, till he’s better. My own place, that’s in Cornwall.’ Greg shifted his beanie on the top of his head.
‘Cool. I’ve always wanted to sail – that kind of thing. Dad was – well, let’s just say he was more into cars than boats.’ Ed shrugged. ‘But I got the surfing bug in Bali.’ He grinned. ‘Never thought I’d see you on one, Mum!’ And with that Ed playfully punched Maddie’s arm.
Greg arched his eyebrows at Maddie.
‘Actually, your mum used to be quite good, you know – at uni – body surfing. It was bloody freezing, but great fun. Widemouth Bay?’ His eyes twinkled.
Don’t say too much.
‘We’d spend the day there,’ continued Greg. ‘It was perfect.’
And it had been.
She turned and stared at Greg sipping his coffee, his curly hair escaping from his beanie as he looked up at her, and Ed, sunglasses optimistically perched on his head in mid-December, an earring in one ear. She couldn’t help beaming. Sometimes life’s dark and light shades came together, melded into something wonderful.
‘Right,’ she said pulling back her chair, ‘we’ve got a tree to decorate!’
She looked at Greg. ‘Coming?’ She held her breath.
‘You bet.’
42
When they got back to Maris Cottage with the tree, a bag full of hastily bought decorations and a turkey that had been half price at the market, Greg and Ed set about making the fire. Greg went out to the little shed at the side of the house and cut down some firewood. He then started to assemble the fire as Ed looked on. ‘Hey, can you give me a hand?’ Greg turned to Ed. ‘The tree’s stump is too fat for the holder. Let’s go outside and cut a bit off.’
The two of them disappeared outside as Maddie went into the kitchen, humming, and opened a bottle of red wine then fetched glasses for everyone. It was, after all, Christmas Eve. The cork popped open loudly and she smiled.
When they came back, laughing at each other, they placed the tree into its little holder. The smell of fresh pine filled the room. Greg methodically laid out all the lights on the floor and started to check each bulb. Maddie put their wine glasses on the mantelpiece, stood back, and watched the yellow flames in the hearth gather pace and lick and roar around the wood.
‘You must like it here, Greg?’ Ed asked as he helped Greg unravel the lights.
Greg visibly stiffened and then leant back on his haunches.