Page 125 of Kiss Me at Christmas
“Harriet! That’s fantastic!” Hesther gushed.
“You’re going to leave the school?” asked Leo’s mum.
“I don’t know yet. I need to think about it. I guess I need to decide where I’m most useful.”
“Here at the theater, of course!” Gideon exclaimed. The sentiment echoed around the table.
“I have responsibilities at the school too,” Harriet replied.
“Maybe you could incorporate the two, somehow?” suggested Hesther. “Work here but liaise with Foss and maybe even other schools.”
“Yes,” agreed Grace. “A place for youngsters like the famous five.”
“Which is how it all began in the first place.” James smiled. “With that first meeting in Evaline’s car when you suggested creating a safe space for the young people of Little Beck Foss.”
How could I forget!She smiled back at him.
“Does everyone automatically refer to us as the famous five now?” huffed Carly.
“Yes!” came the unanimous response followed by an explosion of laughter.
“Well, I have faith that whatever you decide will be for the best,” said Odette to nods and noises of agreement. “A very merry Nonspecific Winter Christmas Party to you all!”
It was late by the time James drove Harriet back to her flat, her plate of leftovers on her lap, his in the back seat. The snow was gentle, as though cherubs on fluffy clouds were blowing white feathers off their palms.
They parked outside the library. The street was deserted, though windows glowed with life behind the curtains.
“What are your plans tomorrow?” he asked.
“A quiet morning and then I’ll be going over to Emma and Pete’s for the afternoon. You?”
“Brunch with Lyra and then a quiet afternoon.”
“Sounds lovely.”
“I wondered if you’d like to join us for brunch. I know Lyra would love to have you there. And Morgan is keen to meet you. If that wouldn’t be too weird?”
She smiled.
“I think we are way past weird. In fact, I was going to ask if you’d like to join me at Emma and Pete’s for the afternoon. Their kids basically want to grill you.”
He chuckled. “Checking I’m good enough for you?”
“One hundred percent. Maybe I could brunch with you and then you could afternoon with me?” she wondered. “Then we’ll have properly met each other’speople. Aside from Maisy, of course—you have that pleasure to come.”
“I’d like that,” he said, taking her hand. “Very much.”
They sat quietly, gazing at one another. Harriet felt blessed not only for having met James but for all the people who had found their way to the theater. They made for a loud, messy, imperfect kind of gang, but she knew she could count on them to show up for each other on the bad days as well as the good and that if one in their number should stumble, many hands would shoot out to catch them. The knowledge was a warm, bone-deep comfort.
“On any other day I would invite you up,” she said finally. “But I think I’d like to finish this Christmas off in my own company, if you don’t mind?”
“Not one bit. You deserve some quality time with yourself. And tomorrow we’ll enjoy each other’s company even more for it.”
“Perfect.”
James walked her to her door, and they kissed beneath the cottony moon. Her flat was warm and cozy, and it welcomed her in. She changed into fleecy pajamas, poured herself a generous glass of chocolate Baileys, and piled a plate with leftovers to pick at. Then she snuggled under a blanket on her sofa, with only the twinkle lights from the tree and her reading lamp to light the room. The fire flickered in the hearth, and she sighed with contentment as she opened a book and began to read.
Epilogue
