Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 160356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 802(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 802(@200wpm)___ 641(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
He looks around, his wet lips pouting in thought. “Detention for you, Ms. Moore.”
“I’m guilty by association. Being led astray. Mixing with the wrong crowd.” I push my mouth to his, my arm around his neck to keep him there, feeling his lips stretch into a smile beneath mine. “We better get out of here before we’re found and–”
The door swings open, and the woman who took particular interest in us in the hall appears. “Oh, apologies.” She pulls her handbag closer into the crook of her bent arm. “I didn’t realise the room was occupied. Was I interrupting something?” Her eyes land on me, and it’s all I can do not to roll mine. “I’m sorry, we’ve not met.”
“Camryn, Melissa; Melissa, Camryn,” Dec says quickly, before starting to haul me out of the classroom. “Have a great Christmas, Melissa,” he calls, dragging me along.
“Don’t forget my canapés and mulled wine get-together tonight!” she calls. “Seven thirty.”
Do I see him shudder? “She’s friendly,” I muse, smiling when he throws a tired look back at me.
“Shut up,” he murmurs, taking us back through to the hall.
“Did you drag me into a classroom just to sneak a kiss?”
“Yes,” he answers unapologetically, his neck craning to see over the mass of heads. “Where is he?”
“There,” I say, spotting Dec’s little prawn standing on the edge of the stage, scanning the crowd.
“Daddy!” he yells when he spots us. Dec drops my hand, but that’s okay. He heads for the stage, and when he’s a few meters away, Albi launches himself off the edge, landing in Dec’s open arms perfectly. Trust. They are quite literally each other’s worlds. I’ve spent little time with both of them together, and yet I see no empty void a mother’s left to be filled. I never thought I’d have believed a child could be okay without their mother in their lives. Whether death, selfishness, or force took them away. Albi isn’t missing a mother, because Dec’s everything he needs.
“That was insane!” Dec exclaims, shifting Albi’s little butt onto his forearm. “You’re a natural, fella.”
“I know,” he says, easy, his pink-padded shoulders jumping up casually. “Did you sing?”
“All the words.”
“Father Christmas’s reindeers aren’t really dolphins, Daddy.”
“I know, mate.”
“And Father Christmas isn’t a merman. He’s a big fat man with a white beard.”
“I know.” Dec walks back over to me.
“That was so cool, Albi,” I say as Dec lowers him to the ground, kneeling in front of him.
“I’m going to give you two options,” he says, holding up two fingers, “and you have to pick one, okay?”
Albi jumps up and claps. “Okay.”
“You can stay at school, go to the party and see Father Christmas, or you can come on a date with me and Camryn.”
His head springs back, and he peeks up at me. “What’s a date?”
“We go for something to eat. Maybe a walk. Maybe stop at the Lego shop.”
His excited eyes widen, and he comes closer. “What about school, Daddy?”
Dec puts his fingers to his lips. “Shhh.” And Albi copies. “Come on.” Dec scoops him up, seizes my hand, and carries Albi through the crowd, pulling me along behind him. “Signing Albi Ellis out,” Dec declares when we make it to the reception area, taking the pen on the book and scribbling across the page.
“Oh, is he unwell?” the receptionist asks.
“Terrible. I really didn’t want him to come, but he insisted.” Dec drops the pen. “He didn’t want to let his classmates down.”
“Oh, how admirable.”
“We’re going on a date,” Albi declares, putting his finger to his lips. “Shhh.”
I snort behind Dec, and Dec laughs nervously. Guilty. “To the doctor’s, eh, fella? Because you’re poorly sick.” Dec makes fast work of escaping, and I follow behind, my smile breaking my face.
He puts Albi down and the moment he does, he gasps, his mitt-covered hands splaying his cheeks. “Father Christmas!” he cries. “How will he know what to bring me?”
“Well, I just so happen to know that after he’s visited your school, he’s going to be at Harrods.”
“Harrods?” Albi questions. “Where you buy your work suits?”
“That’s right.”
“Harrods?” I ask. “You need to be specially invited to see Father Christmas at Harrods.”
“Correct,” Dec murmurs, taking my hand and Albi’s with the other. “Up for it?” He looks at me. Hopeful. Wary.
I nod.
Why get off the rollercoaster now?
Our date is perfect. Father Christmas was magical, and an early dinner at the Rainforest Café was up there too. Albi insisted on wearing his prawn costume all day. I’ve swayed from heart-stopping happiness watching him soak up the magic of Christmas, to heart-pounding sadness that my boy isn’t alive to experience it as well.
And I’m proud of myself too. I’ve faced so many fears today, done what I thought would be impossible.
And, as I dreaded, I’m falling head over heels for Dec’s little boy.
On the drive home, I look back to see he’s sparked out in his seat, his head tipped back, his mouth catching flies. Exhausted. “All that chatter’s knackered him out,” Dec muses.