A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas

by A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas (retail) (epub)

  When Lucie had suggested that they go inside and continue what they’d started, Dale hadn’t paused for a moment. But he’d then asked her if she was ‘sure’ about thirty times before they’d made it to his bedroom, so Lucie had given up telling him she was, and resorted to kissing him instead.

  “Lucie?”

  She blinked hard, warmth flooding her cheeks as she realized where her thoughts had strayed.

  “Oh… uh, yes?”

  “I just asked if you’d like to open your presents now, or wait until after Christmas.”

  Lucie met Glenda’s curious eyes and nodded. “Whatever Dale wants is fine with me.”

  She tried to force the images of what had happened over the next two weeks from her mind. They’d been hungry for each other, their appetite for what they’d started insatiable. Unfettered by responsibility or concerns about the future and crazy with young lust, they had devoured each other, only parting when Dale had to go to work at the garden centre.

  “I say we wait until we’re back from New York, then we can have a second Christmas. What do you think, Mum?”

  “That would be wonderful, Dale! Shall I get another turkey in?”

  Hank groaned. “Now you’ve given your mother an excuse to cook another Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.”

  Glenda laughed. “Hank, don’t pretend you’re not thrilled.”

  “Well, my love, the thought of eating two of your amazing dinners is certainly something to look forward to. It’s just that I’m getting so fat.”

  “Nonsense, darling. You’re as fit and handsome as the day we met.” Glenda got up and took the plates to the sink. “I’ll have to write another list now. This is so exciting. Two Christmas days. You know, when you told me you were going to be away, I was a bit upset about it, although I’d never have let on. But you made it better by sharing your fabulous news… and now you’ve made it all even better by giving me the chance to celebrate twice.”

  Dale caught Lucie’s eye and winked. She smiled but inside everything had turned jittery. They’d agreed to end their relationship after Christmas, to pretend that it hadn’t worked out, but now they would have to maintain the façade for a bit longer as Lucie sat amongst Dale’s family and opened the gifts they’d chosen for her, then ate the food that Glenda had prepared with love in her heart and a smile on her face.

  “Lucie.” Dale reached over the island and patted her hand. “You okay? You seemed far away for a while there.”

  “I’m fine. Just overwhelmed by memories. Must be the time of year.”

  “Probably is.” He nodded. “Let’s put their presents under the tree.”

  Lucie went out into the hallway and picked up the large gift bag she’d brought with her. She’d ordered the presents online after her last visit to the Treharne house. She’d suspected she probably wouldn’t get much time to go shopping, and she’d been right.

  In the lounge, Dale was on his knees arranging his gifts under the six-foot synthetic spruce that Glenda had bought to replace the old tree she’d had for about ten years.

  “Like the real tree scent, Luce?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  “That’s what the smell is?”

  “It came with a spray that makes the tree smell like a real one.”

  “I’m not convinced. It’s a bit like…” She bit her lip as Hank entered the room.

  “Toilet cleaner?” He laughed. “I’ve been telling her that for a week. I said it smelled like something you’d pour down the lavatory, but she won’t have it and she keeps spritzing more on.”

  Dale stood up. “I’ve placed all your pressies under there.”

  “I’ve got more here,” Lucie said as she held out the bag.

  “You two should’ve pooled together this year,” Hank said. “You’re a couple now. Save money by just buying one gift between you. Absolute madness otherwise.” He stared at them and Lucie had to turn to the tree to hide her rising blush. Did he see through them? Had he guessed that they were acting? But why would he?

  “Let me help,” Dale said as he took the gifts from Lucie then tucked them under the tree with the ones he’d bought. Lucie kept her back to Hank, pretending to be focused on what Dale was doing to avoid having to make eye contact with the man she’d grown up knowing. She hadn’t been as close to Hank as to Glenda, but he’d still been there throughout her teenage years, giving her and Dale lifts, handing them cash when he knew they’d already spent their pocket money and telling Lucie to take care when she went off to university. Granted, she had her own father, but Hank had been there too, and she’d known she could ask him for anything.

  When all the gifts were under the tree and they’d enjoyed another mug of tea, Dale looked at his watch. “I guess we’d better be going, then.”

  “You can stay for lunch if you like.” Glenda gestured at the fridge. “I’ve got an enormous ham in there. I can easily make some sandwiches.”

  “Thanks, Mum, but I know you’ve got visiting of your own to do.”

  “Yes, Glenda. There’s no getting out of visiting my cousin and his lovely wife.” Hank shook his head.

  “Are you going to see Ted and Alice?” Lucie asked, recalling Hank’s cousins from Birmingham.

  “We are indeed. And staying overnight, too.” Hank winked at Lucie.

  “Family, eh?” Glenda sighed. “We have to take the rough with the smooth.”

  Hank laughed. “That’s no way to speak about my side of the family. Ted can’t help being a bit rough around the edges. He means well.”

  “It’s the jokes, though.” Glenda shuddered. “The terribly obscene jokes.”

  “They are a bit rude, but we should be used to them by now.”

  “How Alice has put up with them all these years, I’ll never know.” Glenda tutted then led the way into the hall. “Oh! Would you look at that.” She pointed above Lucie and Dale’s heads.

  They both looked up.

  And Lucie sighed inwardly.

  “Oh! Mistletoe. How nice!” Dale exposed his neat white teeth in an exaggerated grin.

  “Now you have to kiss,” Glenda said.

  “It’s true,” Hank added. “’Tis the rule of Christmas.”

  “I’m not sure that’s true, Dad.”

  “It is, son. If you don’t kiss under the mistletoe, it’s bad luck.”

  Lucie looked at Glenda and Hank then at Dale. They really weren’t being given much choice here. If they declined, it would seem strange.

  Dale obviously realized it too.

  “Come here then, Quigley.”

  He held out his arms and she walked into them. His hands were warm on her shoulders and as he moved them up to her cheeks, her heart began to pound. She couldn’t believe he was going to do this; to kiss her, right in front of his parents.

  He held her gaze for a moment then leaned towards her.

  His scent washed over her; citrus, ginger, warm delicious male. It roused a hundred butterflies in her stomach.

  She closed her eyes.

  And melted as his warm lips met hers in the softest of kisses.

  The hallway spun as she breathed him in.

  Then…

  It was over as quickly as it had begun, and as Dale released her, she stumbled backwards and landed on her bottom on the stairs.

  “Luce! Sorry!” Dale took her hands and helped her up.

  “Dale! You dropped her,” Glenda scolded.

  “No I didn’t. She stumbled.” Dale pulled Lucie to his side and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

  “Well, just you mind you look after her in New York.” Glenda kissed her son on the cheek then did the same to Lucie.

  “Yes, take care, kids. It’s a big old city and you need to keep yourselves safe.”

  “Dad, we’re both grown ups now, you know.” Dale rolled his eyes.

  “You’ll always be my little boy.” Glenda patted his cheek and Lucie smiled. The fact that her six foot tall, thirty-four year old friend would always be Glenda’s li
ttle boy was just too amusing.

  “And you’ll always be our little Lucie,” Glenda added, bringing a lump to Lucie’s throat. “So take care and keep in touch. I want to know where you go, what you do and what it’s like. Enjoy the wedding and, of course, have fun!”

  Dale led Lucie to the door and they stepped out into the cold drizzle.

  “See you soon.” Dale nodded at his parents then walked to the van. Lucie was conscious of the fact that he still had his heavy arm draped around her.

  “Bye, darlings!” Glenda called to them.

  Lucie turned back to wave, and as Glenda closed the door, Lucie was certain she’d had tears in her eyes.

  “That went well,” Dale said.

  “Yes.”

  Dale opened the door for her then went around to the driver’s side, and as Lucie climbed into her seat, she pressed her fingers over her mouth where Dale’s kiss still tingled.

  “Yes, it did,” she whispered to herself.

  * * *

  “How are you feeling?” Lucie asked as she took a seat on a big squishy red sofa in the Coombes’ lounge.

  “Oh, I’m okay. A bit tired, I guess.” Phil yawned loudly.

  “Not you! Arianwen,” Lucie said, shaking her head. “I can’t believe the baby came early.”

  “Only six days early, so not too bad. It can go two weeks either way.” Arianwen adjusted her position on the sofa and grimaced.

  “Good timing, I think,” Dale said as he sat next to Lucie. “At least we get to meet baby number three before we head off to Manhattan.”

  “What I wouldn’t give to fly away for a week of glamour.” Phil rubbed his eyes. “Instead, I’m in for another two years of sleepless nights and early starts.”

  Arianwen frowned. “At least you don’t feel like your groin is on fire. I tell you… every single time I move, it stings.”

  “That sounds awful!” Lucie winced in sympathy. “Do you need anything from the pharmacy?”

  “It’s okay.” Arianwen shook her head. “I’ve got these special salts to put in the bath water, and as long as I pour a jug of water over myself when I pee, it doesn’t burn too badly.”

  Lucie glanced at Dale and was shocked at how pale he’d gone. “You okay?” she whispered.

  “Just all this talk of pain. Not my cup of tea.”

  She squeezed his arm. “Be strong.”

  “She needs to drink lots of water and to rest.” Phil got up and went to the door. “I’ll put the kettle on.”

  “So was the labour tough, then?” Lucie asked. “You said something last time we saw you… that it would be easy the third time around?”

  “Not this one. He’s huge!” Arianwen gestured at the crib in the corner of the room. “I didn’t even get a chance to fill the birthing pool. He came right out after twenty minutes of contractions, but in his hurry one arm was above his head.”

  “Like Superman?”

  “Yes, Dale, if that helps. It didn’t help me though… if you know what I mean.”

  Phil entered the room carrying what looked like a rubber ring. He handed it to his wife and she lifted herself a bit then slipped the ring underneath her.

  “Oh, that’s better.”

  “But the baby’s all right?” Lucie asked.

  “Yes. Strong as an ox.”

  “Takes after me.” Phil grinned as he peered into the crib. “You want to hold him?”

  “Wha… me?” Lucie glanced at Dale.

  “Yes, you.” Phil lifted a bundle from the crib then brought it over to Lucie. She stared at him, her stomach tightening.

  “I’m not that good with tiny babies.”

  “Well then, you’ll be fine with Sid. He’s not tiny.” Phil placed the bundle in her arms and Lucie gazed down into a scrunched up red face. She looked up again, intending to ask Phil to take the baby back but he’d gone. She couldn’t ask Arianwen to get up and take the baby when she’d just got settled, so instead, she had to sit tight.

  Dale asked after the other two boys and Arianwen said Phil’s mother had taken them out for lunch, to give them a few hours alone with the baby. It was crucial that their other sons feel as important as ever, and this was one way of doing that. Hopefully, when they returned, their parents would be able to give them some quality time while Phil’s mother helped out with baby Sid.

  “Dammit! Now I need the loo again. Won’t be long.” Arianwen got up and waddled out of the room, leaving Dale and Lucie literally holding the baby.

  Lucie gently pushed open the blanket around the baby to have a better look at him. His face moved in sleep, his ruby mouth pursing and his downy eyebrows moving up and down. He had a full head of black hair and tiny, dark pink ears that were flat against his head. As Lucie ran a finger over his hand, he grabbed hold of it instinctively and she gasped.

  “He seems to like you.” Dale spoke softly. He’d moved closer to Lucie and was leaning into her to get a closer look at the baby.

  “He’s asleep.”

  “Yes, but look how tightly he’s holding you, Luce.”

  “In his sleep.”

  “So you want one now?”

  “What?”

  “Does it make you broody?”

  Lucie gazed at the small person in her arms. He fit there perfectly. She lowered her head and inhaled. He smelt warm and clean, and like something she didn’t recognize; a scent that must be inherent to babies. Was this what she wanted? Did she yearn to be a mother? To create her own tiny being; to bring a life into the world for which she would be responsible.

  “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know?”

  “Well… he’s cute and everything, and he smells quite good, but I’ve never really had that deep maternal craving that I hear other women talking about. Maybe one day, if things are right, if the situation is right, then I’ll feel differently.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “What about you?”

  He smiled. “I don’t think men get that whole craving for a baby thing, do they?”

  “Really?”

  “Well… it’s different, isn’t it?”

  “I bet some men do. There must be men who want to be fathers, like really want to. Look at Phil.”

  “I guess so. But personally, I’ve never had an overwhelming desire. I mean… if it happens one day, then I guess I’ll be happy. If it doesn’t, I’m not sure that I’ll feel like I’ve missed out.”

  They sat there staring at the baby in silence.

  “Is there something wrong with us, Dale?”

  “How so?”

  “Well we’re both thirty-something, both single and we spend all our time together. Does that make us odd?”

  “Hey, Luce. What’s brought all this on?” He was so close to her that she could feel the heat of his breath on her cheek as he spoke.

  “Oh, I don’t know. Just with my childhood being so… irregular, I wonder if it’s ruined me. If I can’t have a normal life.”

  “What’s normal to one person is not normal to another. We’re all different. Not everyone needs to be a wife or husband, a mother or a father.”

  “Glenda will be disappointed.”

  “In me or in us?” He shrugged. “She has two perfectly nice grandsons. She doesn’t need more.”

  “I don’t think she sees it that way.”

  “Well, I think that whatever’s going to be will be. My mother will be fine whether she has more grandchildren or not. And anyway, this isn’t about her, it’s about you and me and what we want from life. You can’t do things just to make other people happy, you know. If you did, then you’d make yourself unhappy in the process.”

  Lucie nodded.

  “I think he’s waking up!” She froze as the baby started to wriggle in her arms. “Dale, help!”

  He moved in front of her and deftly took the baby from her arms. He lifted Sid as if the baby were made of feathers, then rocked him in one arm as naturally as if he’d fathered twenty children and brought the
m all up singlehandedly.

  “How do you know how to do that?” Lucie asked.

  “I have two nephews, remember.”

  “Where have Phil and Arianwen got to?” Lucie asked as she stood. “I thought we were having tea.”

  “Go take a look. I’ll watch this one.”

  Lucie went out into the kitchen and sighed as she saw the chaos. In front of the log burner was an empty birthing pool, a hosepipe hanging over the edge and stretching towards the taps. Dirty dishes were piled up next to the sink, and a heap of washing lay on the floor in front of the machine, while inside was a load that had clearly finished its cycle but been forgotten. “So this is what happens when you have a baby.” She rolled up her sleeves. “Time to help out.”

  Forty minutes later, she’d filled the dishwasher and put it on a hot cycle, folded up the birthing pool and tuck it behind the bench in the corner near the window, emptied the washing machine and sorted through the clothes so that some now aired on downstairs radiators, while others tumbled around in the drier next to the washing machine. As she was putting another load of bibs and babygrows on to boil, she heard footsteps.

  “Oh, Lucie, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened.” Phil traipsed into the kitchen, his eyes red and puffy, his face pale. “Ari went upstairs to use the loo and I went up to check on her. You know… she’s a bit under the weather… and she’d already gone and sat on the bed. I sat next to her for a moment and before I knew it, I was waking up. I’ve left her there, sleeping. She’s out cold.” He glanced around the kitchen. “Wow! You shouldn’t have done this, but thank you. It looks amazing.”

  “Don’t be daft, Phil. It was no trouble at all. You’ve had a new arrival and you have enough to do.”

  “My mother tried to tackle it when she got here this morning, but I wouldn’t let her. I told her I’d sort it when she took the boys out, but then Ari needed a bath and I had to help her while watching Sid. Then you came and…” He smiled. “Sorry. I’m just sleep deprived. No one ever tells you how badly the loss of sleep will affect you. But it’s like torture. You can’t think straight, you get emotional over ridiculous things like TV adverts and you walk around with your head full of cotton wool. I’ve been through it twice already and should have been more prepared this time, but even so… I did forget exactly how tough it is in the first few days.”