Page 109 of Emma
“That would be perfect,” Emma said, her heart squeezing at how natural this was. Planning a meal together. Talking about food like a family. “I’ll ask her. And if there’s anything else you want, you just tell me, okay?”
Freya tilted her head, considering Emma’s words for a moment. “Yorkshire puddings. With gravy.”
Emma grinned. “Just because it’s you, I’ll make homemade ones. Even if it kills me.” As she checked her watch, Emma realised they’d been at the markets longer than they’d plannedto. They didn’t have a set time or a schedule to work with, but she didn’t want to overstep or push when it came to spending time alone with Freya. “We’d better head off. You ready?”
“Yep.”
They walked towards the exit, weaving through the crowd until the noise dulled. Emma watched Freya carefully sip her hot chocolate, a marshmallow moustache forming on her top lip.
“Hey, Emma?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I wear matching pyjamas with you on Christmas night? Like…after dinner. When we’re all stuffed and watching telly?”
Emma stopped dead, her heart stuttering. She stared down at Freya, who suddenly looked nervous at her own question.
“I just thought…” Freya fiddled with the sleeve of her coat. “I’ve never done that before. And you and Vanessa always look so cosy together at home. I’d like to be part of that.”
Emma blinked repeatedly, her vision blurring with tears she refused to let spill in the middle of the market. She crouched down slightly, resting a hand on Freya’s arm. “Freya, you don’t ever have to ask. Of course you can. Matching pyjamas, hot chocolate, and terrible Christmas films. I want all of that with you.”
Freya’s grin spread slowly. “Even the terrible films?”
“Especiallythe terrible films,” Emma laughed. “Though I should probably warn you that I cry at most of them.”
“I already knew that.”
Emma narrowed her eyes. “Did Vanessa tell you?”
“She didn’t have to. I saw you at the cinema last week, pretending you weren’t crying when the dog got sick in the film.”
Emma sighed. “Betrayed by my own tears.”
“I don’t care if you cry at films.” Freya nudged Emma gently with her elbow. “It’s better to cry than hold it in.”
Emma straightened again, her throat thick with emotion. “Then it’s settled. Matching pyjamas and a film.”
Freya beamed a smile as she gazed up at Emma. “Best. Christmas. Ever.”
As they made their way out of the market and onto the high street, Emma could only agree. This year was certainly shaping up to be the best yet. “And so many more of them to come.”
The driveback to Carmen and Ben’s was filled with the kind of conversation Emma never thought she’d be a part of. Freya had talked non-stop about the market…well, about how many marshmallows she’d managed to cram into her hot chocolate, proud of herself for eating so many. They’d joked about anything that came to mind, and Emma had laughed until her sides hurt. Tonight, looking at the kid in her passenger seat, Emma truly felt like a big sister.
When they pulled onto the drive, Freya’s energy shifted into a quieter kind of excitement. “Thanks for today,” she said, fiddling with the zip on her coat. “It was really fun.”
“I had fun, too.” Emma swallowed past the lump in her throat. The emotion every time Freya thanked her for something would lessen over time, but right now, it seemed it was here to stay. “You just call me whenever you want to do something again, okay?”
Freya grinned. “Okay.”
The front door opened before they’d even reached it. Carmen stood there with her arms folded, a scarf still looped loosely around her neck. “Well, look who it is. Just in time, too!”
Freya breezed past Carmen with a quick, “Hiya!” before disappearing into the warmth of the house. Emma hesitated onthe step, her nervesalmostgetting the better of her. “Sorry about the time. I didn’t realise how long we’d been gone.”
“Come in,” Carmen said, surprising Emma. “You’ll freeze out there.”
Emma stepped inside, the scent of baking surrounding her. She unwound her scarf, awkwardly glancing around, until Ben appeared from the kitchen with two mugs in hand.
“Oh, hi, Emma,” he said, offering one. “Hot chocolate? Freya said it’s tradition now.”
