Part 6 (1/2)
I chuckle. ”Really? It's that bad you have to result in a hamper?”
”Well, what else do you get a couple that has everything?” That's true. I often had this trouble with my grandparents.
”What about theatre tickets?”
”Tamzin, have you not met my parents? My mum hates s.h.i.+t like that and my dad falls asleep before seven once he's home from work. I'm surprised they're still together; her s.e.x life has gone to the grave since he changed jobs.”
I wrinkle my nose and try to think of anything other than what I am thinking. ”Thanks, now I've got an indecent image in my mind.”
”And you think I don't? She asked me the other day if Ann Summers does a decent range of s.e.x toys. I was nearly sick in my mouth.”
I throw my head back and laugh so hard. ”I'd love to have seen your face.”
”I couldn't look her in the eye for a week. I mean, Jesus, I don't need to know s.h.i.+t like that. It's enough to give anyone nightmares.”
”Well then buy her a decent vibrator and be done with it,” I joke.
She giggles. ”Already have. I've even labelled it from dad.”
As we head into John Lewis, the heat from the store lights and thunders of people causes my neck too flush. I rip my scarf off for the eighth time this evening as we head for the home department. My shoes have now officially murdered my feet as I walk like a drunk turkey across the hard floor. Evie, however, has skipped over to her next gift she's after. Her family's like the Walton's, everywhere you look you see another family member you didn't even realise she had. All cramped into a small living from in Hackney just a few streets down from me.
Her parents have been married for over twenty years and have five children. Evie being the second too youngest. I've lost count on grandchildren as Evie's sister in law Angie pops them out the cherries. Each year the shopping list doubles in names and stocking fillers.
”How about this for Frank?” she shouts, holding up a gla.s.s fruit bowl. ”Think he'll like it?”
”Sounds great.” Whoever, Frank is.
She comes back, fruit bowl under her arm and looking just as tired as I feel. ”Do you need to get anything in here?”
”No, I'm good. Although alcohol is calling.”
”Tell me about it. I'll just get this and then I'll treat you with a wet fantasy.”
The only wet fantasy I'm wanting involves the man that's waiting for me to call and not some dim-lit c.o.c.ktail bar in Soho. I'm surprised at how much I miss him. I could never get my head around my gran saying she felt the instant connection with my grandpa when they met in Wales. After swooning her at a holiday camp for two weeks, they exchanged addresses and wrote to each other for months before they met again. She said she knew by the first kiss he would be her first and only love, and with sixty odd years under their belt she was right.
I can't help but wonder if that would be the same with Noel, because we've only been together a short time and it feels like I've known him years. It's shaken me to the depths of my core as to how much I've come to depend on him already. I can't identify if it's because I'm waiting on his promise in which he said he'd deliver or if it's the fact he's knocked me on my a.s.s with his kindness and bedroom pleasures. He makes my heart skip a beat in the way he looks at me. As if I'm the only woman he's ever laid eyes on. As though I'd disappear if they should waver. Now my worry is if they should waver on the last day of December. And if they do, where does that leave me?
Noel.
”So where are we going exactly?” Tamzin's curiosity hasn't stopped since we left her house, and with me telling her to wear flat comfortable shoes it's only got her mind more curious.
”Just wait.” Tonight I wanted to do something from my Christmas tradition. We've enjoyed past remembrances that Tamzin use to do with her grandparents over the week but tonight is my turn to relive what I often did as a child.
As we turn into Hyde Park, I look up at the sky. The night seems darker as the thick blanket of snow clouds threaten the city. The air has a feeling of magic waiting to coat the streets in white. As a child I always knew when it would snow, I felt it in my bones. My mother always called me her little snow boy.
”Your dad made his official announcement today about retiring. Evie almost died.” Tamzin laughs, huddled up in her coat. ”She was convinced he was going to make us all redundant.”
”He said he was going to tease you all.” That was my dad through and through.
”So will it be an all-boys company now being that you have brothers?”
”Not exactly. My older brother Harry recently sold his percentage to James and I. Not that it went down to well with my mother. Harry has his own business in Paris and never had any interest in dad's line of work. He's what James and I call our semi-estranged brother that often left people with questions.”
”How come?”
”He's a thirty-eight-year-old fas.h.i.+on designer who's yet to come out the closet and thinks that by living away would stop the whispers. He's a good guy don't get me wrong but can also be a d.i.c.khead.” Us boys all got along just fine, but since William's pa.s.sing, myself and James grew closer while Harry found comfort in his friends. ”With James building his own business and growing his family with Karen, we agreed that I'd step in and take over as my own recruitment firms are running smoothly.” I can afford to step aside from my business as my team are excellent and always on point.
”It must be nice growing up with siblings. I often felt isolated. It's funny how the age of your guardians affected your popularity. My spare time was often spent alone in my bedroom.”
I take her hand, frustrated with the lack of skin connection through her gloves. ”Now I know where Charlie came from.”
”Hey! Don't diss Charlie, he was an excellent cat.” She beams. I notice she goes to speak but the view up ahead catches her eye. The smell of cinnamon and mulled wine hits my nostrils as coloured lights glow the skyline. Her eyes immediately light up like firecrackers as she squeezes my arm. ”Are we going to Winter Wonderland?”
”We are.” That old schoolboy excitement hits my stomach.
”I've never been here before.”
I'm a little taken back in surprise. ”You've lived in London your entire life and you've never been to Wonderland?”
”Noel, you forget I lived with old people. Fragile bones and hearing loss aren't good in places with busy crowds and loud music.” She chuckles. ”Besides my December's haven't been ones of enjoyment these last few years.”
”Well, we better make it one to remember then.”
Other than during the day there wasn't a best time to explore Winter Wonderland, London's largest festive celebration with rides, Christmas markets, ice kingdom and ice rink. Week nights and weekends are so busy you can hardly breathe, and the atmosphere and body heat doubles with bodies and over excited children.
Like every yearly tradition, my first stop in this magical mayhem is hunting down our old family friend Ted, an elderly man with a big belly and salt and pepper hair. Some say he's a traveller, always on the road and pitching up at every food festival available in the UK or worldwide. What many people don't know is that he lives in a six-bedroomed barn conversion in Buckinghams.h.i.+re and is absolutely loaded.
”Well, if it isn't the boy himself.” Ted chuckles, exiting his wooden cabin for our usual bear hug. ”I was just thinking about you. How are you doing, son?”
”I'm great thanks. Good to see you. How's business?”
”Well I've not slept in my own bed for the last thirty-two days but I can't complain.” His eyes leave mine and latch onto the beauty behind me. ”And who do we have here?”
”Tamzin King, Noel's acquaintance. Pleasure to meet you, Sir.”
Ted kisses Tamzin's hand through her glove and introduces himself. ”The pleasure is all mine, Miss King. Why are you with an a.s.s like him when you can have a stud like myself?” He jokes. ”If you ever get bored of him just call.” Tamzin lets out a little giggle as Ted goes back inside the cabin, giving me a wink on his way.
”I can a.s.sure you she won't get bored.”
”Sure about that?” She grins. I throw her a knowing look and turn back to Ted.
”A bag of my usual please, Ted. Make it a large, I have an extra mouth to feed.”
He nods, filling the large paper bag with patisseries that smell of Christmas fruit and spices. My mouth waters at the sight of them, already knowing that they're going to taste delicious. Placing my arm around Tamzin's back, I draw her to me. Her fresh flower aroma I can't get enough of lingers around us. ”I think acquaintance was a little formal don't you?”
Amus.e.m.e.nt dances in her eyes. ”Would you rather I'd said f.u.c.k buddy?”
I jerk her even closer with a grin. I want to have her so badly. My self-control is shot to pieces when I'm around her. ”It's a little better. Although, irresistible needs to be thrown in somewhere.”
”What makes you think you're that?”