Chapter Nineteen
‘ R eady?’ Jasper took her hand as he reached out his other to the wrought-iron gate in front of them.
Robyn looked up at the large Victorian terrace, all ornate brickwork, bay windows and stained glass and covered in an abundance of twinkling white fairy lights. She could tell instantly that his family must love Christmas as much as Jasper himself did. She recognised the road from when she’d been driving around, looking for the bakery when she’d first arrived, but she hadn’t ventured this way since and the Victorian terrace was completely different to the older part of the bay where the streets were lined with thatched cottages. She nodded. She could do this. She’d come this far, and she’d be happy to meet anyone if it meant spending time with Jasper. Plus, it was a way of getting to know him better.
‘Great.’ The gate exerted a slight creak as he pushed it open.
Following Jasper through the small front garden, she could hear music wafting from the house out into the street, punctuated with laughter. Whoever was in there was having fun.
As they reached the front step, Jasper paused and turned to her. ‘I apologise in advance for any daft jokes my dad makes and for the onslaught of singing from my parents’ neighbour, Mr Banbridge.’ He grimaced.
Robyn took his hands in hers. If she wasn’t mistaken, she may have thought he was nervous. ‘Are you nervous?’
‘Not about you meeting my family, no.’ He smiled. ‘About you deciding you’d rather not give what we have between us a chance when you meet them, yes.’
Throwing her head back, she laughed. ‘Well, I can already tell they like Christmas as much as you.’ She touched a string of fairy lights draped over the porch.
‘Even more so, I’m afraid.’ He grinned.
She tried to keep a straight face. ‘And I’m guessing you’re rather hoping some of that Christmas joy will rub off on me?’
Tilting his head to the side, he shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips. ‘Maybe.’
‘Maybe?’
‘Okay, yes.’ He chuckled as he leaned forward and kissed her before drawing back. ‘But only because I want you to experience how I feel about this time of the year.’
She nodded. That’s all everyone seemed to want down here, Elsie, Diane, Brooke, everyone else at the bakery, Lizzie and Terrence from the care home. They all seemed to want her to enjoy the festive season. To really enjoy it. Not just to put a front on and pretend like she’d had to all these years. She swallowed. She’d only just met these people, and yet they seemed to care.
‘Let’s do this then.’ Waiting for her to nod again in agreement, Jasper pushed the front door open and was immediately greeted by Dasher, who jumped up at him, resting his paws on Jasper’s waist as his tail wagged vigorously.
‘Hello.’ Robyn fussed over Dasher as his attention turned to her. ‘I think he remembers me.’
‘Haha, yes I think so too.’
As Dasher left them to run back into the party, Robyn paused and took in her surroundings. The hallway was traditionally decorated, the floor with blue and white patterned tiles and picture rails on the walls, and the air was laced with mulled cider, spices and the distinct aroma of freshly cut ivy which was hung over the family photographs adorning the walls. Now they were inside, the music was even louder, and people chattered and laughed above the tunes playing. By the sounds of it, there were a fair few people too. A couple ran across the hallway, the man following his partner, both holding champagne flutes. Robyn glanced around. People must be in the rooms to her left and her right.
‘Jasper! You made it.’ A woman appeared from her left, and after placing her glass down on a long narrow wooden shelf, drew Jasper in for a huge hug before turning her attention to Robyn. ‘Hello, I don’t think we’ve met?’
‘Hey, Mum. This is Robyn. She’s volunteering at the bakery at the moment and has been helping out at the care home for the last few evenings.’ Jasper grinned as he placed his hand on the small of Robyn’s back.
‘Hi, nice to meet you.’ Robyn smiled, hoping she looked more confident than she felt inside. This was crazy! She and Jasper had shared their first kiss yesterday and now, today, hours later, she was meeting his mum. What had he been thinking in inviting her? What had she been thinking in accepting his invitation?
‘Wonderful to meet you, Robyn.’ Stepping forward, his mum hugged her around the shoulders before stepping back and retrieving her glass. ‘Help yourself to drinks and something to eat before coming on through. Uncle Bernie is just about to start one of his party games.’
‘Ooh, great.’ Jasper held his head in his hands before peeking through his fingers at Robyn and chuckling. ‘I’m sure you’ll love his party games.’
‘I’m intrigued now.’
Jasper’s mum laughed. ‘He does like to make sure everyone’s having fun. I’m Charlotte, by the way.’
Robyn watched as Charlotte disappeared into one of the rooms, presumably the living room, before she glanced back at the front door. Was it too late to change her mind and escape?
‘Hey, I’m not holding you hostage.’ Jasper chuckled as he held his hands up in front of him, his palms forward.
‘I know.’ She bit down on her bottom lip before rolling her shoulders back. She was here now, and this obviously meant a lot to Jasper, so the least she could do was to pretend she was enjoying herself. And she’d had enough practice at doing that.