Page 46 of The Duke Who Saved Christmas
Yes to functional Christmas gifts. It was time we normalised that.
If I ever stood for Prime Minister, that would be my manifesto. Normalising giving useful items for Christmas. Making stockings a care package.
“Are those my waffles?” Beth rushed over, swiftly followed by Danny and Emily, Thomas’ mum.
Thomas barely had time to hold the polystyrene container out before she took it from his hands, opened it, and shovelled a forkful of goodness into her mouth with a happy moan.
I fought back a laugh. “Good?”
Emily smiled at her, touching her shoulder, then turned to me. “Sylvie, honey, it’s been a while.”
I was wrapped in a hug with just enough time to spare to hold my waffles out of the way, but that didn’t stop me getting some chocolate on her shoulder. “Oh, goodness,” I said, pulling back. “There’s chocolate on your shoulder. I’m sorry.”
Emily pulled back and twisted to look, then wiped it away. “No harm. It’s just sauce. How are you?”
“Oh, I’m good, thank you. You?”
“Fantastic.” Her smile was contagious. “Your grandma asked me to let you know that she and your gramps are going home. Something about tucking the pig into bed.”
“Of course, she needs tucking into bed.”
Hopefully it’d be the pig’s bed and not mine this time.
Emily laughed. “Did you enjoy the show?”
“She was like a three-year-old in a toy shop,” Thomas responded for me.
“Look at that,” I replied, looking at him. “I answered without saying a word.”
Emily cleared her throat, and I’d swear she was hiding a laugh. “Thomas, did you get me anything by any chance?”
He didn’t hesitate before he held out the last container that I knew for a fact washiswaffles. “The toppings have melted, but they’re just as good.”
Beth glanced at the container then at Thomas.
“I’ve already had mine,” he assured his mum with a smile.
Emily took the container with one of her stunning smiles and thanked him with a kiss on the cheek. “Shall we walk and see the lights?” she asked Danny, reaching down to stroke his hair.
“Yes!” he exclaimed. “Mumma, can we?”
Beth chucked him under the chin with a gentle laugh. “Can you walk and eat?”
“Yes!”
“Then let’s go,” she said, grinning.
Emily laughed when he skipped off, dragging her behind him, then turned to us. “Are you coming?”
I hesitated.
Shit.
I was going to have to walk home. I’d jumped in the back of Gramps’ car because of the snow.
Thomas must have seen me hesitate because he nudged me. “Did you drive here?”
“No. My car can’t handle snow.” I laughed under my breath. “I’ll have to walk home.”
