to go back to Cornwall soon – I, er, we are closing down the business.’
‘Why?’
‘Long story,’ Greg sighed. ‘My wife and I are separating.’
Maddie held her breath. She wondered if he’d say any more, but he suddenly picked up the lights and started to lace them around the tree with Ed’s help as Taffie ran around in circles. He’d managed to get glitter all over his nose from hauling tinsel out of the decorations bag.
‘You monster, Taffie! I’ve missed you.’ Ed affectionately tickled Taffie’s tummy then stared to roll on the floor with him.
‘Taffie, come here!’ she said and went into the kitchen and filled up the terrier’s food bowl. Just the sound of the packaging was music to Taffie’s ears and he came scuttling in, making a beeline for the bowl. She bent down and scratched him behind the ears as he devoured the lot.
She put together a tray of ham and cheese croissants from the market, pieces of stollen cake, cheese straws, olives, some freshly cut salami and some figs, brought the tray through and placed it on the little table next to the fire. ‘A Christmas picnic!’ When she looked up she blinked a few times. ‘Wow! The tree’s just beautiful.’ Don’t cry. Tiny angels with wings made of indigo bird feathers perched on a few branches, gold and silver tinsel cascaded down the tree and her few baubles from the market glistened in the firelight. She’d bought a tiny ceramic Santa, a box of silver stars and some purple icicles. The fairy lights, like multi-coloured jewels finished it off. Greg casually squeezed her shoulder as she glanced at Ed, but he was looking at the tree.
‘It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a tree!’ Ed grinned and clapped his hands for Taffie. ‘And you, crazy dog—’ he leant down and patted him on the head, then produced a tartan collar from a bag on the sofa ‘—are getting this present early!’
‘Nice collar!’ Greg laughed.
‘Well, the breeder we bought Taffie from was Scottish,’ explained Maddie, ‘but we got him when Ed was eleven years old and wearing a brace, so he couldn’t pronounce his real name, which was Tattie. He’s been Taffie ever since,’ Maddie continued, sitting down on the sofa and taking a sip of wine.
Could life get any more perfect? Maddie wondered. The two people I love the most are with me for Christmas. Maddie stared from the tree, to the bay outside the window – the purplish grey clouds swirling above looked like they heralded snow.
‘Olive would be proud, Mum.’ Ed nodded to the tree. ‘And of the cottage, of what you’ve done.’
‘Well, I had a little help from Greg here.’ Maddie smiled at Greg who had his back to the fire. Ed sat down next to her and within two bites had demolished a whole croissant. Taffie came up to him and he patted the fluff ball. ‘And what else will be under the tree for you, Taffie?’ Ed said. Then Ed sat bolt upright. ‘Shit! I need to go out! Last-minute shopping!’ And with that, he looked at his watch, and stood up.
‘Ed, there’s no need. We’ve got everything, I think?”
‘Er, there is, Mum! Santa’s forgotten something!’ He laughed. ‘Won’t be long!’ He grabbed his coat from the chair and headed to the door.
Maddie tidied up some dishes from the table as Greg took the tray from her and started to pile them next to the sink. He stared out the window to the bay, lost in thought.
‘Shall we go out?’ he asked, turning to her. ‘The dishes can wait.’
*
She took his hand and it felt so natural. His warm fingers interlaced with hers and he squeezed her hand tightly. They’d been walking on the beach for about half an hour. It was high tide, which meant they had to stick to the small ribbon of sand next to the sea wall. There were ring-billed gulls out to sea, swooping and diving into the dark water, then gently soaring upwards. The slate-grey clouds had become darker. Maddie shivered.
‘I think there will be snow, it was forecast this morning.’
Greg squeezed her hand again and smiled. ‘Snow for Christmas, that would be perfect. Two things that would be perfect.’ He lifted her hand up to his mouth and gave it a brief kiss. Her eyes prickled with tears as they carried on in silence a little more. No you don’t, Maddie.
‘It would.’ She looked up at him. ‘And do you know what else would be