Chapter 32

THIRTY-TWO

SUNDAY 17TH DECEMBER

Florrie opened her eyes, the remnants of sleep slipping away. In the next moment a feeling of excitement rushed through her. The day of the sleigh ride at Danskelfe Castle had arrived! Beside her, Ed was breathing deeply, cosy in the embrace of slumber, oblivious to the surprise that awaited him. She squinted at the alarm clock beside her until the numbers came into focus. It was seven thirty. Much as the bed was blissfully comfy, Florrie was already too wide awake for sleep to reclaim her. Plus, she was eager to get everything in place for when she could share her surprise with Ed. All she'd told him so far was that he needed to keep the day clear and that he shouldn't question it – just as she'd done with Jasmine.

She eased herself out of bed, being careful not to disturb him, wriggled her feet into her slippers and reached for her dressing gown.

By the time Ed had landed downstairs in his pyjamas almost half an hour later, Florrie had the table set and Christmas carols playing in the background. The mouth-watering aroma of bacon was floating around the kitchen, Gerty drooling from her vantage point in her bed.

‘Mmm. Something smells good.' He ran his fingers through his sleep-ruffled hair before making his way over to the oven where Florrie was tending a skillet full of sizzling bacon rashers. He wrapped his arms around her, delivering a kiss to the back of her neck, making her knees go weak.

‘Thought I'd treat us to a couple of bacon butties with a side order of scrambled eggs.'

‘Mmm. Perfect.' He kissed her again, sending delicious electric pulses firing through her. ‘Need a hand with anything?'

‘No, thanks, everything's under control. You just park yourself at the table and I'll bring this over to you in two ticks. Oh, and there's tea in the pot, by the way. Should be the perfect temperature.'

‘Sounds good. Morning, Gerty-Girl,' he said, pulling out his usual seat at the table and smiling at the Labrador. ‘Sleep well, lass?'

Gerty trotted over to him, pushing her head into his lap, her solid tail swishing across the floor and knocking the table leg.

‘Gerty, you know the rules when food's around.' Florrie gave the Labrador a mock stern look, pointing in the direction of her bed. Gerty's ears flattened, her expression saying, ‘Do you really mean that? Surely there's a bacon and scrambled egg butty for me?'

Florrie, holding back a giggle and attempting to keep her voice stern, said, ‘Gerty, bed.' Gerty looked up at Ed, as if expecting him to jump in on her behalf, before plodding her way slowly back to her squishy sheepskin bed where she flumped down with a harumph that was loaded with disappointment.

‘Full marks for trying, Gerty-Girl.' Ed chuckled as he poured tea into his mug.

‘That was delicious.' Ed patted his stomach having cleared his plate of every scrap of food. ‘Just what you need on a cold December morning.'

‘Glad you enjoyed it.' Florrie smiled, reaching for his plate, savouring the flavour of crispy bacon mixed with tomato ketchup that lingered in her mouth. She was raring to move on to the next stage of her plans.

‘I'll see to that, you stay where you are, grab yourself another cuppa.' Ed rested his hand on Florrie's, the warmth of his touch seeping into her skin and sending a shiver of delight through her.

‘Actually, I just need to get something.' She slipped into the living room, returning moments later with a neatly wrapped parcel, decorated with festive bows and ribbons that she'd secreted at the back of the Christmas tree.

‘Right then, come and sit back down, I've got a little something for you and it involves The Happy Christmas Memory Project.'

‘Oh?' Ed put the plate he'd been rinsing into the washing-up bowl, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

‘There you go, you can open this early.' Florrie waited for him to sit back down then pushed the parcel across to him, her heart dancing happily.

‘Okay,' he replied as he tugged at the ribbon. ‘Thank you. Though it does seem a shame when you've wrapped it so beautifully.'

‘I enjoy wrapping presents,' she said, her heart thumping with anticipation.

He released a roar of laughter as he lifted out a woollen jumper decorated with a cheerful-looking snowman complete with a robin perched on his floppy hat. ‘I love it!'

Florrie couldn't contain her giggles. ‘Thought you might.'

‘It's my first ever Christmas jumper and I couldn't have chosen better myself.' He leant across the table and kissed her, despite them both laughing.

‘It'll come in very handy for this.' She passed him an envelope she'd decorated with festive-themed stickers they stocked at the bookshop.

‘There's something else?'

She nodded, a mysterious glint in her eyes. ‘There is.'

Ed sat in stunned silence as his eyes landed on the contents of the envelope. Knowing his dyslexia would be holding things up for him, she jumped in. ‘I've booked us a sleigh ride at Danskelfe Castle. It's for quarter past three today and we're going with our posse of pals, including Chloe and Zak. And we're all wearing Christmas jumpers, hence the one you've just unwrapped.'

She studied Ed's changing expressions, his smile fading. He blinked quickly. ‘I… um…' His voice was thick with emotion as a tear rolled down his cheek.

‘Oh, Ed.' She reached across the table, taking his hand. ‘Why are you crying?'

He sniffed before clearing his throat. ‘I'm just blown away.' Another tear slid down to his chin, quickly followed by a third. ‘That you've done this for me… I'm… I mean… Ugh!' His gaze met hers, his lashes damp. ‘What… what I'm trying to say is, you're one amazing woman, Florrie. You constantly surprise me with your kindness.'

Gerty rushed over, nudging at him, whimpering at his distress. He reached down, smoothing his hand over her glossy black head.

‘Give over.' Florrie felt the warmth of a blush in her cheeks, the feel of his fingers as they squeezed hers. ‘It's nothing.' She gave a shrug. ‘It was Stella that mentioned the sleigh rides, which got me thinking it would be fab if we all went together – happy Christmas memories for everyone.' She went on to explain about what had been arranged for Jasmine and the kids.

‘I rest my case – you're the most thoughtful, kind-hearted person I've ever encountered.'

‘Hmm. I'm not so sure you'll still think that when I tell you, you're on washing-up duty.' She laughed, uncomfortable to have such praise lavished upon her.

Ed feigned a look of outrage. ‘In that case, I take it all back. You're a hard taskmaster!'