Page 85 of The Rescue

Fiona’s eyes snap to me, and her face softens. I didn’t mean to shorten her name, it just slipped out, a habit hearing everyone else call her that. She pushes the larger ones at the front out of the way, whilst me and Dylan peer behind them. That’s when I spot it, the perfect one at the very back, crumpled and squished. I reach through the scratchy pine needles and grab the small tree and pull it to the front. It comes up to my knee and I know it will look perfect on Rabbie’s deep windowsill. No wonder it was hiding at the back being squashed by the bigger trees. People in Crossmackie have big enough houses for normal sized trees. It’s the saddest and limpest looking Christmas tree I’ve ever seen, and I love it.

Dylan props one of the floppy branches up with her finger, and lets it drop. “Crystal, you can’t use that, look at it.”

Dylan’s idea of Christmas is squeaky clean, perfect, not a single pine needle or bit of tinsel out of place. I don’t mind the more ugly looking decorations or the flaws because that’s what Christmas is to me. It’s a time to look back on memories and laugh about them. Hopefully, in the future Rabbie and I can look back at this and laugh about the ugly little tree.

“Why not? It’s the only one left that is small enough to fit on his windowsill. Besides, it has a certain type of charm about it.”

The wind is picking up, and Fiona pulls her jacket tight. “Come on, let’s go back in and bag everything up for you.”

We filter back into the shop safe from the blistering cold, and I start to wonder how on earth am I going to get all of this stuff past Rabbie and into the flat without him noticing. I know that as soon as he sees me coming through the back door of the cafe, he’ll want to stop what he’s doing and talk to me. Then he’ll see the bags and get curious, and then the surprise will be blown.

The plan starts forming in my head, I’ll get Dylan to go in the cafe, he always comes out the front to speak to her. I’ll get her to stall while I run up the stairs and start decorating before he finishes for the day. I run the plan by her while Fiona wraps the little tree in some brown paper, and puts the rest of the stuff in bags. She slides them over the counter towards me.

I fish my card out of my purse. “How much do I owe?”

Fiona shakes her head at me. “Nothing, it’s on us.”

Us meaning the collective of the group, and I can’t let her do that. I haven’t really paid for a single thing since I’ve been here. I don’t want people to think I’m taking them for a free ride. I wave my card at Fiona and she backs away from the counter with her hand raised.

“Fiona, I can’t let you do that. Please let me pay.”

“Dinny be daft. We all have eyes, and we’ve seen how happy you make him. Anyways, it’s for Rabbie, everyone and anyone would do anything for him.”

I huff out an exasperated sigh.

A small laugh escapes her. “Buy a few rounds at the pub later and we’ll call it even.”

“Deal. I plan on getting you so drunk for this.”

Fiona winks at me. “Oh no, because that would be the worst thing in the world.”

Dylan and I say our goodbyes to Fiona and rush back out into the freezing cold. It’s safe to say that fall is officially over and winter is here, and I think it’s finally time for me to admit defeat and buy some jeans or at least some stockings to wear under my denim shorts because my legs feel like icicles. I go over the plan with Dylan one more time before I head around the back of the cafe and wait until the coast is clear for me to quickly run up to the flat without Rabbie seeing me. Luckily for me, Rabbie always leaves the backdoor to his kitchen open because it gets too hot in there with it closed, and I can see into his kitchen from the end of the little lane behind the Sweet Treats. I make it round the corner just in time to see his tall, beautiful body disappear into the front of the cafe. I make this my chance to pick up my pace and sprint inside before he comes back into the kitchen and catches me. As soon as I make it safely upstairs, I drop the bags and the tree in the living room, and pull my phone out. I text Dylan letting her know I made it upstairs safely and she doesn’t need to stall anymore.

I spent the rest of the afternoon decorating the living room of Rabbie’s flat. I hung up the wreath on the wall, and laid the garland on the mantle with the fairy lights that Dylan lent me. The small, sad excuse of a Christmas tree sits on his windowsill. I was pleased with myself that I managed to decorate it with some mini baubles and left over tinsel from Dylan’s stash. Edie even came in to investigate and was particularly interested in the little tree. It didn’t take her long to sit next to it, gently swatting at the baubles with her fat fluffy paws. Admittedly she looked very cute doing it.

I finish just in time to lay out cookies on a plate, and turn down the mulled wine that has been simmering away on the stovetop. The flat smells delicious, and homely. I quickly give the room a once over, happy with the results I find myself eager to see Rabbie. I’ve been up here most of the day, and he still thinksI’m out. He must think I’m with Dylan at Thistle Down Farm. Usually if he knows I’m up here, he’ll always find an excuse to come up and see me at least a couple of times throughout the day.

I rush down the stairs taking two at a time, the excitement is too much for me to contain. I land at the bottom of the stairs with a soft thud, and Rabbie’s surprised face snaps up from his afternoon inventory checklist. I knew I’d find him exactly where he was, bent over that stainless steel island, forearms straining against the metal. I will never not be able to look at that kitchen island the same after that night. His face goes through a couple of emotions, the last landing on a large smile spread across his beautiful face.

He pushes himself up from the island, his rounded shoulders contort as he stands. “When did you sneak in?”

I try not to make it too obvious that I’m checking him out, and that I’m thinking about round two on the kitchen island.

“A while ago.” I admit.

He tucks the pencil behind his ear and rounds the kitchen island, his smouldering eyes not leaving mine. I try not to squirm under his gaze but, fuck the way he’s looking at me has me feeling hot and flustered.

“And you didn’t say hey to me? That’s rude, mo beag.” He closes the gap between us, and my mouth suddenly feels dry.

“I have a surprise for you,” I blurt out.

His eyebrow lifts and looks at me with suspicion. I’m trying to contain my excitement but I keep bouncing from one foot to another. I link his large hand in mine, and lead him to the stairs up to the flat.

“Come on, I’ll show you,” I rush him up the stairs.

He does as I say and follows me, he gently pats my butt as we walk up the stairs, and a pool of heat starts to settle in my belly.I open the door to the flat, I made sure I closed the door to the living room so he couldn’t see down the hallway.

“Is this surprise in the bedroom?” He whispers in my ear.

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