Page 64 of Only Ever You

“It’s good to see you again, Deacon. You’ve made quite a big name for yourself,” she says.

“Good to see you too, Lizzy.”

She smiles, and I nestle in closer to Pippa.

“Why don’t we get started?” Jean asks.

Lucas sits himself on the floor in front of the tree. “I’ll hand out the parcels.”

It only takes a minute, and the sound of tearing paper fills the room.

“Here you go, Pippa. There are two for you.”

Lucas passes everything to Pippa, and she hands me my parcel.

“You first,” I murmur.

She grins. “What’s this?”

“Open it and see.”

The bigger package gets opened first, and she shrieks when a new, top-of-the-line Kindle is revealed. She’s been talking about how the battery in hers isn’t lasting as long—although that’s not surprising given how glued she is to it—and I went all out because she’ll love it.

“Thank you.” She flings her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek before returning to the Kindle box.

I nudge her knee with mine. “Open the other package.”

This time, I watch her face for her reaction. I don’t want to make her cry, but this might send her over the edge.

“Deacon.” She gasps.

“What is it?” Lizzy asks.

“It’s a first-edition copy of Jane Eyre.”

I smile, and Pippa’s gaze hits mine. She swallows hard.

“I love this book.”

“I know. I do listen.” I chuckle.

“I’m not sure what to say. This is the best present I’ve ever got.”

I take her hand in mine and squeeze. “This is just the start, Pipsqueak.”

“Don’t call me that,” she mutters, but the amusement in her voice tells me she’s not offended.

She dives toward the tree and brings back a flat package.

“Here.” Pippa’s eyes shine with excitement when she hands me the parcel. “You’ll probably think it’s stupid after what you gave me.”

“There’s nothing you could give me that I’d think that about.”

“Open it first.” She grins.

I rip open the paper.

It’s a photo of us from the launch party. I’d almost forgotten about the photographer we usually hire to capture the night. My throat tightens looking at it.

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