Page 4 of Only for Christmas

He could have taken the advice of the travel agent and used public transport to head across town, experiencing a ride on one of London’s famous double-decker buses, or venturing underground to catch the Tube, but he was equally excited to hail a black cab. It was like being in a movie. Besides, he was still sleepy from jetlag, so a cab journey was safer. Falling asleep on a bus and ending up stranded in a remote area of England wasn’t the kind of adventure he was looking for.

He rubbed condensation away from the window so he could admire the view. London was just as he’d imagined. Centuries-old buildings, narrow streets and a veil of grey fog hanging down from the sky like a net curtain. A contrast between the old and new. The roads were crammed full of cars, trucks and more people with umbrellas than he’d seen in his life.

The cab driver blasted his horn and shook a fist at another driver who’d pulled out of a side turning. ‘Wanker!’ he shouted out the window, his insult resulting in a V-sign from the other driver. Lucas grinned. Yep, he was definitely in the UK.

When the cab pulled up at his sister’s address, he paid the driver, smiling when the cabbie saw the size of his tip. ‘Cheers, mate,’ he said, lifting his cap. ‘You gotta love the Americans.’

Exiting the cab, Lucas looked up and down the street. Nice area. Big houses, fancy front yards and expensive-looking vehicles in the driveways. Harper had done well for herself.

Walking up the long driveway, he admired the clipped hedges and landscaped borders, all dusted with a thin layer of white frost, like something from a Dickens novel.

He hadn’t seen his sister and nephews since they’d visited him in the States last fall, and he was excited to see them. His decision to take an extended vacation and spend some quality time in the UK wasn’t something he’d planned, but once he’d discovered Harper’s marriage was heading south, he’d booked a flight. The timing had worked out perfectly. His new position at the Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in Houston didn’t start until the new year, and although he could have gone travelling, or lazed about in London for the month, he’d applied for a licence to practise medicine in the UK. It would be cool to see how treatments differed between the countries. Besides, he’d go stir-crazy if he didn’t have something to do other than sightsee.

Despite ringing the bell three times, it took a while before anyone came to the door. Strange, as they knew he was coming.

When the door finally swung open, he was greeted by his eight-year-old nephew, Max, taller than he’d remembered, but still a bag of bones and with a mop of blonde curly hair.

‘Uncle Lucas!’ The kid launched himself at him, jumping up and clocking his uncle on the chin.

He hugged his nephew tight, drawing in the scent of crayons. ‘Hey, there, buddy. How you doing?’

Footsteps thudded across the wooden flooring and another blonde bullet smacked into him with a thud. Seven-year-old Elliot had joined the party, a mirror image of his older brother, but with a cheekier grin. A grin currently covered in chocolate spread, which quickly transferred onto the sleeve of Lucas’s cream sports jacket.

Among a huddle of hugging, kissing and both kids talking over each other at rapid speed, Lucas became aware of raised voices. He assumed it was the TV on too loud, but as the noise level of his nephews lowered, he could make out his sister and brother-in-law arguing. That wasn’t good.

Thankfully, the boys seemed oblivious. Or maybe they were just used to it. By all accounts, arguing had become commonplace in the Evans household lately. Another reason for him booking a flight. His sister needed an ally.

‘Do you want to see our bedrooms?’ Elliot looked up at him with a pair of huge blue eyes. ‘I have dinosaur wallpaper and new Lego to play with.’

‘And I have a drawing board,’ Max chipped in, swinging on his arm.

‘Sounds cool. But I’d better say hi to your mom first.’

Max’s eyes dropped to the floor. ‘Mummy’s arguing with Daddy. They told us to go to our rooms. We’re supposed to go to Daddy’s for the weekend, but I don’t think Mummy wants us to go.’

Elliot flinched when a door slammed down the hallway. There was a moment’s silence before the shouting started up again. The poor kid looked traumatised. They both did. His nephews weren’t as oblivious as he’d imagined.

Lucas dropped to his knees. At six foot, he towered over them. ‘How about this? You head up to your rooms, and I’ll go and speak to your mom and dad. Maybe I can find out what the problem is. How does that sound?’

‘Can you ask them to stop shouting?’ Elliot blinked away tears.

‘Sure thing, buddy.’ Lucas kissed his nephew’s forehead. ‘Head on up. This’ll be sorted in no time. Adults argue all the time. I’m sure it’s no big deal.’

The kid didn’t look convinced.

Hugging them both, he waited until his nephews had disappeared upstairs, before heading towards the shouting. He wasn’t overly enthusiastic at the idea of intruding on a domestic situation, but what else could he do? It wasn’t like he could walk away now he was here.

Slowly pushing open the hallway door leading to the kitchen, he could see Harper’s back. She was wearing oversized loungewear, with her hands raised and gripping her long wavy hair. On the other side of the kitchen island was her husband, Paul. He was wearing a work suit, looking irritated and angry. It wasn’t behaviour Lucas had seen before; his brother-in-law was usually a mild-mannered guy.

‘Sorry to interrupt, but you might want to keep the shouting down.’

The sound of his voice cut through the yelling and both parties swung around to face him.

‘Lucas!’ Harper flew across the kitchen and fell into his arms, sobbing so hard he struggled to hold her upright. ‘Thank God you’re here!’

Over the top of her blonde head, Lucas met Paul’s pained expression and offered him a sympathetic smile. ‘Timing was never my forte,’ he said, hoping to lighten the moment. ‘Your sons were pretty distressed hearing you two yelling at each other. I figured you’d want to know. I can’t imagine upsetting your kids is what either of you wants.’

Lucas braced himself for being told this was none of his business, but his sister just sagged against him, and his brother-in-law looked contrite. ‘You’re right. We’re out of line,’ Paul said, rubbing his face. ‘We should know better.’

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