Page 53 of A Little Light

Andi’s eyes welled with tears, but it wasn’t a sadness that anchored in her chest. It was…a second chance, perhaps? It was hope, and it was exciting. “I know.”

“So, what does Christmas look like for you this year?” Jean asked, crossing her legs. “Does Rachel have plans?”

“Oh, I have no idea. It’s not something we’ve spoken about. I’m sure she has plans, though. With friends or family.”

“And you?”

Andi cleared her throat. “I…don’t know yet. But I’ll be doing something. For sure. Sally has invited me to hers for dinner, so maybe I’ll do that. You’re off to your sister’s down south, right?”

“I am. She puts on a wonderful spread.”

“Well, then, I guess we’re all set for Christmas.” Andi wasn’t, she had no idea where she would be, but she had people around her who cared, and that was what mattered. If she did end up spending Christmas alone, then so be it. But it wouldn’t be as alone as it had been last year because the way Andi felt right now, she couldn’t possibly be alone. “I have some calls to make, and then I think we could probably have an early dart if you felt like it?”

Jean turned her watch towards herself. “An hour early? I like it. I’ll beat the traffic then.”

“Perfect. Let’s get cracking so we can get gone.”

Jean smiled and got to her feet. As she left Andi’s office, Andi lifted her phone and responded to Rachel’s text.

Thank YOU for a great weekend. I’d love to do it again soon. You just let me know when you’re available. I’m always around in the evening. Andi x

She rocked back in her seat, exhaling a contented sigh.

Are you busy after work tonight? x

Oh, Rachel potentially wanted to see her tonight? Perfect. Andi wouldn’t turn that down.

I’m not. And I’m planning to leave early since we’re winding down x

Andi gathered the paperwork to the side of her and piled it on the desk in front of her. If she could get things signed and sealed sooner, she would be out the door with plenty of time to spare.

This is probably a long shot, and I completely understand if you don’t want to, but I wondered if you’d like to come to my place and decorate the tree with me? I know that may be a tough thing for you to do, so there’s really no hard feelings if you can’t. I just thought I’d ask. Sort of because I could do with a hand, but mostly because I’d love to see you x

Decorate the tree? Oh, wow. Andi hadn’t decorated a tree for two years. She would love to be involved in that. She appreciated that Rachel understood the worry about Andi being at the loft, but she was learning to appreciate it…while no longer owning it. And like Rachel, she would love to see her, too.

I’d like that. What time? x

Andi signed off on the paperwork, adding it to the relevant envelopes.

Whenever you’d like to be here. I’m home now and not planning to leave the loft again tonight. x

Hmm. Should Andi offer to bring dinner? Or drinks? Of course she should.

Can I bring anything? x

Just yourself. I have everything else we need. See you soon! x

And just like that, Andi was spending another evening in the run-up to Christmas with a beautiful woman. Simple, but perfection.

See you soon x

* * *

“What do you think of this colour?” Rachel held a mass of tinsel in her arms, almost a sage green colour. Different, but very pretty. “Is it too non-Christmas?”

“I don’t think there’s such a thing as non-Christmas.” Andi beamed a smile from where she stood at the other side of the coffee table, detangling silver tinsel. “It’s a great colour. It’s different, I like it.”

Rachel wrinkled her nose, not quite sure. “Really? You’re not just being polite?”

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