Page 34 of Forever Ink

Magnus looked up from where he was talking to Alice who was perched in his lap, listening with rapt attention. He had on the ugliest Christmas sweater I’d ever seen. It looked like it had been knitted by a crazed left-handed hedgehog with an evil agenda. Bits of wool stuck out in odd spots, and ugly mismatched patches made what I supposed were Christmas presents on it. It was so terrible it was brilliant.

“I was telling our Alice here that once we’ve gotten the fish prepared and in the fridge, maybe we could get started on baking the Christmas cookies.”

I sat down next to Mouse. “That would be awesome, just have to make sure Simon doesn’t eat them all,” I teased. His love of cookies was nearly as strong as Doc’s.

Magnus grinned. “That won’t be a problem. See, I’m going to send the boys out on their dirt bikes to bring in the last of the straggler girls. I know they’ll be hiding up by the waterfall. They can take Lizzie with them, she’ll make sure you get home.”

“Hope you’re not expecting me to ride one of those damnable things. Last time I tried I nearly broke my neck,” Doc muttered around his cup of coffee.

“No, we’re going to make sure the hay shed is ready for them and help guide the flock once it’s down from the hills. Mind you in all honesty, it’ll be Lizzie who’s doing the lion’s share of the work. I swear that dog could do it by herself if I let her.” Magnus reached down and scratched the top of Lizzie’s head, and she banged her tail on the floor in appreciation.

The puppies were curled up asleep by the fire, milk drunk and happy. I really wanted to go cuddle them but I held off, not knowing what Magnus wanted us to do first.

Simon stood at the wide counter, pouring himself a large mug off coffee. He had a smaller mug of tea for me.

“I thought they were all in. Saw most of the flock bunked down when I went to check the cows for you.” Simon dropped down into the chair alongside me, passing me my mug of tea.

“Ragnar broke out of his pen last night. The last I saw of the woolly bastard he was leading a group of nine ewes back up into the hills. The silly sod should know there is bad weather coming.”

“Dad, you give that ram way too much credit. I don’t know why he hasn’t ended up in a stew pot,” Mouse muttered, scooping out a huge spoonful of sugar to go in his coffee.

I had to hide a smile when I saw Callum arch an unimpressed brow. “You’ve already put two in there, now you’re just taking the piss. Put the sugar back.”

Mouse narrowed his eyes at Callum. “Not the boss of me.”

Before the two of them could launch into one of their arguments, Magnus cleared his throat loudly, “Before you lads head out, check the fence alongside the hay shed, I think that’s where the crafty bastard’s been getting out.”

Simon’s arm wrapped around me pulling me into his side. “You going to be okay?”

I nodded, sipping my tea. “Staying close to the farm and inside and warm sounds smart to me. You don’t want to go with them, Doc?”

“I spent too many years working A&E to willingly get on a motorbike. Hell, I don’t even like bicycles. Damn dangerous things. I don’t intend on moving from this spot until I’m needed. I have my kindle and a pot of tea,” Doc muttered. “Magnus, you promised me fresh scones today, but I don’t see them.” Doc looked more relaxed than I’d ever seen him, in a worn pair of jeans and sneakers no less, and a jumper nearly as ugly as the one Magnus wore.

“You’ll get your scones once we’ve sorted the sheep. We can bake them and the cookies at the same time. Now Rhys lad, did you want to come see how we get the Ribbe and Persetorsk ready?”

I kissed Simon on the cheek and quickly got up to follow Magnus to the wide centre island. He pulled a tray from the fridge, a large slab of pork belly resting on it. “I’m going to use this knife to score the skin, helps make it nice and crunchy.” I sat down on one of the stools next to the island and watched as Magnus cut long lines into the belly, then did it again at an angle, forming almost diamond shapes. Alice had come to join me, climbing up into my lap and we both watched, fascinated as Magnus talked about the Christmas traditions he had as a child.

Looking over I saw Simon watching us, smiling. I didn’t know what he was thinking about, but I knew I’d never felt so included. It was as if all the things I’d dreamed and wished for as a kid were finally happening—a loving family, a proper Christmas.

Grandad had tried for years to give me that but fighting against my father and Susan had been a vicious battle that always ended with them winning. Now though, I didn’t have to worry about what they wanted, and I couldn’t wait for Grandad to get here.

“Now Rhys, I want you to rub this mix of salt and pepper all over the skin and make sure you get it into the grooves I’ve cut. I’m going to go bring in some more wood so we can get the oven going. It needs a bit to get the old thing up to temperature.”

I focused on trying to rub the mix in like Magnus had showed. Alice had moved to the other stool, pointing out the spots I missed. I might have jumped a tiny bit when Simon wrapped his arms around me and kissed my cheek.

“Keep warm, Rhee, and try to save me some scones.”

I turned, trying to keep my salty hands from touching him, and kissed his nose “Promise, but fighting Doc off is going to be tough. I might need a reward later.”

“You’re silly, Uncle Rhee. We can protect the scones for you, Uncle Sy,” Alice piped up.

Simon grinned rubbing his belly. “My stomach thanks you in advance, Alice.”

He turned back to me and kissed me soundly, earning a giggle from Alice.

“All right Simon, stop harassing my help and go find my sheep, please.” Magnus came back with a basket of wood. He gave Simon a stern look, but his eyes twinkled in amusement.

I leaned into Simon’s space and whispered, “Keep warm, Daddy bear.”

---