Christmas at the Little Waffle Shack - Helen J. Rolfe Page 0,100

together.’

‘Well, I can see that,’ she said, drying her eyes. ‘And it’s about time – any fool could see you two were keen on one another.’ She hugged Daniel and whispered something in his ear before giving Lucy a hug. ‘I’m pleased for you both.’ And she gripped both of Lucy’s hands in a gesture that said she was happy Lucy was in her son’s life.

‘There’s something else,’ said Harvey.

‘I don’t think I can take many more surprises today,’ Carol laughed. ‘Do I need more champagne for this?’

Melissa and Harvey were sandwiched together, Melissa with her left hand splayed against Harvey’s chest until finally Carol noticed the gleaming diamond ring and realised what it meant.

‘She said yes.’ Harvey’s pride was mainly for Melissa but a tiny bit had been reserved for the reunion with his brother when he looked across at him and they exchanged a nod of approval. Quite what it was about Lucy wasn’t sure, but they needed these little moments between them. They had a rocky foundation but in time there was no reason it couldn’t be smoothed over.

Lucy headed out to the kitchen to give the family some time to come to grips with their emotions. She was busy thinking which shape of waffles she’d go for when Daniel came to join her.

‘Why are you hiding?’ He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

She was going to enjoy this just-in-a-relationship phase where they couldn’t keep their hands off one another. She hoped it lasted a long while. ‘I’m not hiding, I’m giving your mum some time with her boys, some time to adjust.’

‘After we put her through the mill, you mean.’

‘Something like that.’

‘She’s fine, she’s on her second glass of champagne so it’s calming her nerves,’ he smiled. ‘I have something for you.’

‘You do?’

With a grin he reached into the drawer beside the fridge and took out an envelope. ‘Open it.’

And when she did, she laughed. It was a photograph of him with a toolbelt and no top on, the muscle definition something she was pretty sure she’d get to see for herself soon enough. ‘I know you’ve got a nice body but this is a bit I-love-myself, don’t you think?’

‘My gift to you – because I got no warning we were exchanging presents this year, given you weren’t speaking to me – is me and my toolbelt. I’ve got plenty of contacts, I’ll get you a good deal and my present is to fit a new kitchen for you whenever you’re ready. I’ve got a few hidden talents to show you yet.’

She put her arms around his neck and kissed him. ‘As long as I get to see you in this toolbelt for real, looking exactly like you do in this picture, then you’ve got yourself a deal.’

Melissa called through asking when they could have the waffles, Carol declared they had to be heart-shaped and Harvey shouted to his brother to ask if he wanted a beer instead of champagne.

Daniel put the waffle maker on to warm up, Lucy got the batter from the fridge and Melissa came through to get the chocolate curls and whipped cream to set on the side of them.

As a family put back together with some extras added on, all five of them sat inside the Little Waffle Shack, the snow falling once again beyond the windows and cocooning them in their own winter wonderland for now. Lucy sent Fred Gilbertson, previous owner of the blacksmith’s, a Merry Christmas message. She’d sent him a card of course but this was another thank you because he’d given her more than a new business to take over, he’d given her a completely different life.

When Melissa, Harvey and Carol made their way to Tumbleweed House to get things organised for the big Christmas lunch today, Daniel and Lucy hung back for some alone time they were both craving, under the guise of double-checking everything was as it should be at the waffle shack before they left.

They sat outside on the bench in each other’s arms, Lucy’s head resting on Daniel’s shoulder. ‘I’m glad you told me everything,’ she said.

‘I’m glad you’re giving me a chance to prove myself to you.’

She looked up at him. ‘There’s no need to prove yourself – at least, no need to try. Just be yourself, that’s all I ask.’

‘Ditto.’

Her hand on his chest, she remembered something that had happened after Carol arrived at the shack and they’d told her they were together. ‘I meant to