Page 96 of All We Want for Christmas
Now he thought that the fact he’d survived the accident and that a vehicle had been close behind him on the lonely road was proof that his good luck had outweighed any curse that evening.
‘We all need a bit of good fortune at crucial moments,’ Henry said, cutting into his thoughts.
‘We sure do.’
Fiona glanced out of the window. ‘Oh, look. Your parents are back. We’ll leave you in peace.’
‘I’m sure they’d love to meet you,’ Flynn said, ‘and I can’t thank you enough for offering them somewhere to stay.’
‘When Lara mentioned it, we didn’t hesitate,’ Fiona said. ‘And if there hadn’t been a cottage vacant, they could have stayed in the castle.’
Flynn thought ruefully of how much his folks would have loved that. ‘Thank you.’
They talked a little while longer, with the Penhaligons telling him not to rush back to work, that the Spectacular was nearly over, and that everyone else would pick up the slack until he had recovered.
Henry eased himself up and patted his shoulder. ‘I expect this means we won’t see you dancing at the ball, eh?’
In all the chaos and confusion since the accident, Flynn had forgotten about the event. ‘Maybe not this year. I was looking forward to it too.’
As was Lara, he thought. He’d never dance with her now. Shit. He hadn’t wanted to dress up, but he had wanted to dance with her, although in the current complex circumstances, she might well want to avoid him.
‘At least you won’t have to worry about a costume,’ Henry said.
‘No, there’s that.’
‘Here are your parents. Get well soon. If you need anything at all, you only have to ask.’
Fiona opened the door to his parents and they had a brief chat together until the Penhaligons left.
‘They weren’t what we expected at all. Well, theyareposh – old-school posh,’ his father said. ‘But so normal and kind and not snooty at all and so generous. You’re lucky to have them as your employers.’
Then Flynn had to submit to being fussed over and served soup and toast until he was forced to confess he needed a ‘lie-down’, which consisted of him lying on his bed and messaging family, friends and people he hadn’t heard from for years, who somehow seemed to have found out about the accident. The whispers had grown, with one cousin under the impression he’d almost been decapitated and a former colleague from the theme park sure he’d been brought back to life at the roadside by a passing motorist who happened to be a heart surgeon.
Flynn banished these dark thoughts by scrolling through his phone, which these days lifted his mood instantly. He had pictures of Esme eating prune purée, Esme playing with wooden bricks, and Esme wearing the Peter Rabbit sleepsuit that Lara had encouraged him to buy. There were pictures of him with Lara at the launch of the lights, and one of them both at the Christmas dinner table with Mrs Danvers.
No wonder he felt exhausted and confused.
One minute he was Flynn the motorcycle tearaway, another a valued colleague, and another a grandfather.
The one person Flynn really wanted to be was the thing he didn’t think he dared to be: a lover and a partner with a future. Henry’s comment had made him think and think again. Hedidwant to dance with Lara at the ball. More importantly, he wantedherto want him to dance with her. Which meant he had to show her how the accident had made him rethink his life. But he’d messed her around so much, how could he regain her trust?
He now had another unexpected visitor.
Carlos appeared, looking sheepish and carrying a bag. Flynn hopped over to the door and opened it.
‘Sorry to make you get up. I won’t stay long,’ Carlos muttered, seeming reluctant to cross the threshold. ‘But we – the maintenance and tech teams and the apprentices – had a whip-round and we got you this.’ He handed the supermarket carrier to Flynn. ‘It’s some chocolates and some whisky, which you probably can’t have if you’re on medication.’ He nodded at the pill packet by the sofa. ‘Maybe you can drink it when the docs allow it.’
‘I’ll enjoy that, thanks,’ Flynn said, taking the rather nice bottle of malt from the bag and admiring it. ‘Tell everyone I’m really grateful for the presents and plan on being back on my feet – or at least back at work, as soon as I can.’
‘Yeah, well, you should look after yourself. That knee looks nasty and we heard you were lucky …’
‘Yes, I was … and I’m sorry to leave you in the lurch inthe middle of the Spectacular. I really will be back in a few days, but I know you’ll take it all in your stride anyway. You can manage without me.’
Carlos grunted. ‘We can all get on without you being under our feet for a while. We’ll do our best, but we’ll be glad when you’re back driving us nuts. Get well soon,boss.’
‘Mum, youmuststill go. I’mfine. Everyone is waiting on me hand and foot – I’m getting far too used to it. Have your holiday and come back and see me afterwards.’
Standing by his chair in her coat, his mother seemed to be, even now, in two minds about leaving him behind to go on holiday. ‘OK … if you’re 100 per cent sure?’
