Page 127 of All Wrapped Up
‘Well,’ I said, feeling genuinely touched. ‘He has. Ash really is truly wonderful and I can’t wait for you to meet him next weekend.’
‘We’re looking forward to that, too,’ Dad told me and I realised they weren’t going to need time to get used to the idea, after all. ‘And if we see Jill or Colin, would you mind if we mentioned it? Or would you rather tell them yourself?’
‘Given that the topic has come up between you before, I wouldn’t mind you telling them. Unless you think that would be passing the buck?’
‘Hardly,’ Mum said. ‘Let’s say, if we see them this week, we’ll tell them.’
‘And if we don’t,’ Dad finished up, ‘you can let them know after we’ve visited.’
That felt like a satisfactory plan and knowing how happy Mum and Dad were, I didn’t feel at all daunted by the thought of either them, or I, telling Jill and Colin now.
‘Sounds good to me,’ I therefore said. ‘I’ll see you next week!’
We signed off feeling excited that we were all going to be together again soon and under such happy circumstances.
‘So, they thought I was a good-looking chap, did they?’ Ash bragged, the next morning when he arrived in time for breakfast ahead of the Halloween celebrations in town.
He puffed out his chest and looked cock-a-hoop at the thought, which made me giggle.
‘They did,’ I confirmed as I handed him a plate loaded up with eggs, grilled Skylark Farm bacon, tomatoes and thick slices of buttered toast. ‘But I told them the photo was a lucky shot and up close you weren’t all that.’
I squealed as he put the plate down and then chased me around the kitchen and sitting room, with a spatula still in my hand and Pixie barking and joining in the fun.
‘I didn’t! I didn’t!’ I denied hotly, when he caught me and threatened to tickle me until I retracted the statement.
‘As long as you’re sure?’ he pretended to growl and tickled me anyway.
‘I am,’ I laughed, pushing him away as I caught my breath and then pulling him back again so I could kiss him. ‘I actually said you look even better close to.’
‘Well, that’s all right then,’ he said, kissing me with a passion that left my lips tingling and my appetite at an all-time high.
‘Now,’ I grinned, ‘eat your breakfast before it gets cold. And then perhaps we’ll see if we can find a way to work off some of the calories.’
He dropped me in an instant and grabbed his plate and cutlery which made me shake with laughter all over again.
‘The compost heap needs turning,’ I told him coquettishly once I’d recovered. ‘And I could do with more logs bringing in for the fire.’
‘Is that really what you had in mind?’ he laughed.
‘For now.’ I winked.
We headed into Wynbridge in plenty of time to check that everything was set up in the town hall for the first of the films that were going to be shown ahead of the Halloween procession. After that, there was going to be another screening and even later a fancy-dress party in the pub which, I’d been told, was Jeanie’s forte and an annual event now.
‘I’ll go and check the procession set up with Tom, shall I?’ Ash offered.
‘Yes, please,’ I said, as I looked over the lists attached to my trusty clipboard. ‘And I’ll make sure Kathleen and the others have the films the right way around.’
‘Oh crikey,’ Ash laughed. ‘Can you imagine if the two got muddled?’
‘Given that the first screening is for tots and the second for teens, it doesn’t bear thinking about.’ I shuddered, then raced off.
‘We’ll meet in the square when we’re done!’ Ash called after me and I waved.
With everything checked, checked and checked again, I walked over to the square and spotted Ash standing alone, with his hands in his pockets. He was wearing a burnt orange and brown chunky knit under his trademark waxed jacket, heavy boots and dark jeans and he looked utterly irresistible. In fact, I wasn’t going to resist him. He spotted me coming and bit his lip as I approached which did nothing to temper his appeal.
‘Hey, you…’ he started to say, but I wasn’t in the mood for words and I kissed him long and hard without drawing breath.
‘Hey yourself,’ I smiled up at him when we eventually broke apart.
