Page 77 of All We Want for Christmas
‘I need to tell you now that I have never in my life been inside a Peter Rabbit shop.’
Lara laughed. ‘No need to be scared, although you might be when you see the prices. Come on. Let’s do it.’
The reaction to two bikers entering the store was interesting. It wasn’t large and had lots of nooks and crannies, so Flynn filled the space quite quickly. There were glances from some of the more traditional customers and some admiring looks from others.
Half an hour later they emerged, Flynn carrying a large Peter Rabbit bag containing a Jellycat toy that had cost an eyewatering sum, two board books, and a Peter Rabbit-themed sleepsuit, dress and leggings chosen by Lara. Lara had also indulged, buying gifts for Jazz’s children and an old friend’s new baby.
With Esme catered for, Flynn was now fretting about what to get for Molly. Lara suggested they go into the bakery café for a spicy sausage roll and some stollen.
‘What do young women want for Christmas these days? I don’t want to get anything weird or fogeyish.’
‘Make-up, clothes, hair stuff, tech, books? I bet she’s so busy looking after Esme that she doesn’t have time for herself – and not much money.’
‘Money, I – that’s another thing. I need to think about helping to support them both.’
‘That’s not my area,’ Lara said. ‘I’ll leave that to you.’
‘I know what you’re thinking. I’ve thought it too. How do I know that Molly is really mine?’
‘I – I wasn’t thinking that,’ Lara said, taken aback that Flynn had admitted such a personal concern.
‘She offered to do a DNA test and I agreed. The results came back last week. She is mine.’ His smile broadened into one of pure happiness. ‘I always knew it. The timings are exactly right for her birthday and she looks like me – God help her – you have to admit that.’
‘Yeah. She does.’ Lara had thought it several times.
‘Or is that wishful thinking?’ he asked.
‘No, it’s understandable, and—’ She paused. ‘I’m so happy for you, Flynn.’
‘Thanks. Thanks for being so understanding. I’m sorry that things have turned out to be so complicated for us.’
Lara agreed but she would never ever wish away his joy, even if that joy reminded her again and again of what she might have had.
‘You know, two months ago, if you’d asked me if I wanted to discover a child I didn’t know about, I’d have laughed and been horrified. Why would anyone want that kind of bombshell in their life? Not me. I was free and single – still youngish – free to do what I wanted and—’
‘And now?’
‘Now I don’t know what I’d do without them. Though I still wake up in the morning, remember they exist, and think it can’t be true. But now theyarehere, I would never wish it any different. I just wish I hadn’t missed the earlier part oftheir lives. Oh no, I’ve made today all about them when I wanted it to be a day we could … enjoy as friends, with no pressure.’
Lara found it hard to reply. It was all about Flynn and his new family, and she got that, she totally did, and she felt for him – but this was his life, and while she might be helping him choose gifts for them, that was as far as her help could possibly go.
Having had lunch, they dived back into crowds even thicker than before. There was an air of urgency, panic even, but it all added to the festive buzz she loved at this time of year. A school choir was singing carols in the marketplace, the children bundled up in coats and bobble hats. The aromas of spiced hot apple and turkey rolls mingled with the tang of holly and mistletoe for sale on the greengrocers’ stalls.
Lara bought a small print of the Lakeland fells from an artist’s stall to give to a friend at home when she visited in the New Year, along with some orange and cinnamon soaps for Jazz and sloe gin for Luke. She’d sent her parents’ gifts with them to Australia and had had to be very creative, choosing small light items, such as jewellery. Come to think of it, she mustn’t go mad today because everything had to fit in the Harley’s top box.
Flynn had stopped and was looking at the butcher’s stall, where pheasants and rabbits hung from hooks.
‘What about Brenda?’ he asked, turning back to Lara. ‘I want to get her something small. I can’t go to her house empty-handed.’
‘Hmm … in my opinion, you probably can’t go wrong with some really nice chocolates, as long as she’s not allergic.’
‘She’s not allergic to whisky,’ Flynn said bluntly. ‘But I don’t think a bottle of single malt would be tactful. She might think I’m implying she’s an alcoholic.’
‘What about some nice whisky-flavoured chocs – some with liqueurs in?’ Lara pointed up the street at a large store whose windows were at least three shops wide. ‘I know the perfect place.’
It took Flynn almost as long to choose the chocolates from the Friars store as it had to decide on the baby gifts. They both walked out with bags full of delicious treats for not only Brenda but their friends and families.
‘Well, I’m going to need a second mortgage, but at least I’ve solved my Christmas present dilemma,’ Flynn said, eyeing the carrier bag of chocs ruefully. They’d decided to stroll down the lakeside path back to the bike. Lights had been strung between the street lamps and were twinkling as afternoon drew on.
