Page 105 of All Wrapped Up
‘I am right, aren’t I?’ Ash asked, as he peered over my shoulder. ‘That is it? It’s just that little bit there?’
He leant around me to run his finger along a line of print under one of the photos. ‘Yes,’ I said, ‘that’s all I can find, anyway.’
I turned around to look at him and he was standing so close, my nose practically met his chest.
‘Sorry,’ he said, taking a step back.
I turned back to the paper and scanned the page again, just to be sure. The main photograph was of Ash and I standing with the three shopkeepers who had won the ‘Best Dressed Window’ awards as decided by us, and there was a much smaller one of me with the words –Clemmie Bennett, Festival Organiser and curator of popular Insta account, @AutumnEverything.
‘Yep,’ I said again. ‘That’s it.’
The journalist, Jason’s nephew, had covered what he was supposed to and I was relieved that the festival hadn’t been shoved out of the limelight. With so many events still to come, it was paramount to keep pushing its popularity.
I looked up from the paper and turned around to find that Ash was staring at me.
‘What?’ I frowned.
‘You’re not regretting telling Lizzie and Jemma about Callum now there’s nothing been printed about him, are you?’ he asked.
‘Absolutely not,’ I firmly said. ‘And the account has been named anyway, so it was all bound to come out. Besides, my decision to talk to them was about sharing and ensuring I could say what I wanted to before the article was published and then relax into my new life here, remember?’
‘Yes,’ he said, and his shoulders dropped. ‘Yes, I remember. I just wanted to make sure you’re really feeling okay about it all.’
‘I am,’ I confirmed. ‘Of course, I would have preferred to keep the account anonymous, but it’s done now and I’m sure the messages will soon tail off.’
‘Good old foghorn, Joanne,’ Ash tutted. ‘It couldn’t have been anyone but her, could it?’
‘Hey,’ I said. ‘Don’t call her that.’
‘As I recall,’ Ash then laughed, ‘you were the one who called her that first.’
‘Only once.’ I blushed. ‘Ages ago and in private, so you can keep that to yourself.’
‘What will happen if I don’t?’ he asked, his blue gaze playfully fixed on mine.
‘I’ll never offer you another squash pasty again,’ I said, and looked away.
‘Not even a nibbled edge?’ he laughed again.
‘Not a nibbled anything,’ I said, more loudly. ‘Now get out of my way and I’ll make us some coffee.’
The room suddenly felt far too small for two people and one dog.
‘Come on, Pixie,’ he said, ushering her out. ‘We know where we’re not wanted.’
He only moved as far as the doorframe, which he then leant on, watching me organising drinks. I glanced at the paper again and then, for some reason, felt a rush of tears spring to my eyes and took a shuddering breath.
‘Hey,’ Ash said. ‘What is it?’
He came up behind me again and gently turned me around, taking my hands in his own.
‘Relief, I think,’ I whispered, as I tried to blink the tears away.
‘Relief?’
‘Yes.’ I swallowed. ‘I don’t really know why I kept quiet for so long because it’s such a relief to be able to openly say Callum’s name. I’ve kept him hidden for such a long time but now I can finally talk about him, if I want to, and it’s so freeing. You were right about my time with him being such a big part of who I am, Ash.’
He gave my hands a squeeze then let them go, but didn’t move away. ‘You loved him very much, didn’t you?’
