Snowbound With The Single Dad. Laura Iding

surprise. How do you know I still like surprises?’

      He gave her a little smile. ‘It’s an educated guess. Some things are just part of us—like our DNA. I’m working on the premise that the fundamentals haven’t changed.’

      They turned a corner and started walking along one of the main roads. It was busier now, the crowds jostling along all seeming to be headed in one direction.

      The strains of Christmas music could be heard above the buzz of the crowds around them. Jess stopped a few times to look at the Christmas displays in some of the shop windows. Finally, he placed his hand in the small of her back as he guided her around the corner and into George Square.

      ‘Oh.’ He heard the little bit of shock in her voice as the recognition of where they were sank in. The square was bustling, packed with people here to see the annual switching on of the Christmas lights. A huge tree stood in the middle of the square, already decorated and just waiting for the lights to be lit. The Lord Provost already stood on the stage, talking into a microphone and trying to entertain the crowds.

      ‘You brought me here? I can’t believe you remembered.’ Her voice had gone quiet, almost whispered.

      This had been one of their first dates, coming to see the annual switching on of the Christmas lights in George Square. He hadn’t planned this. He hadn’t even thought about it. But as he’d driven to the hospital tonight he’d heard the announcement on the radio about the switch-on. It had almost seemed like a sign—a message. He’d had to ask her to come along. If only to try and take a little of the sadness out of her eyes.

      ‘There’s so many families,’ she said as she looked around, dodging out of the way of a little girl with long blonde hair running straight for them.

      ‘Yeah, there always are.’ Lots of people brought their families to the turning on of the lights. It was entirely normal. But he couldn’t help catch the little edge of something else in her voice.

      ‘Over here.’ Callum put his hand on her back again and guided her over to one of the street-vendor stalls. The smells of cloves, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts were all around them. Callum bought two cups and handed one over to her.

      ‘Want to take a guess at what colour the tree lights will be this year?’

      Jessica leaned against one of the barriers, sipping her mulled wine and watching the people around them. It was obvious that her brain was trying to take in their surroundings. ‘They were purple the first year that we came here.’

      ‘And they were silver the year after.’ He kept his voice steady.

      ‘And red the year after that.’

      It was clear that they both remembered and for some reason it was really important to him that it was imprinted on Jess’s brain just as much as it was on his. Half of him had been sure she would know why he’d brought her here, while the other half had been in a mad panic in case she’d turned around with a blank expression on her face.

      ‘They were blue last year,’ he murmured, not really thinking.

      Jess spun round, the mulled wine sloshing wildly in her cup. ‘You were here last year?’

      Yes. He’d been here with Drew. But it had turned out Drew didn’t really like the turning on of the lights. It was almost as if there was a little flare of panic in Jess’s eyes. Did she think he’d been here with another woman?

      Maybe this was it. Maybe this was time to tell her about Drew. It seemed natural. It was a reasonable explanation for what he’d just said. But the look in her eyes, that and the wistful tone in her voice when she’d remarked on the families, made him think twice.

      ‘I was here with some friends.’

      ‘Oh.’ She seemed satisfied with that answer and rested her forearms back on the barrier.

      The crowd thickened around them, pushing them a little closer together as people jostled to get a better place at the barrier. Callum wound his arm around her waist, holding her firmly against him, to stop anyone coming between them. The countdown around them started. Ten, nine…

      It was the smallest of movements. Jess rested her head on his shoulder then a few seconds later he felt her relax a little more and felt some of the weight of her body lean against him.

      A grin spread across his face. It wasn’t like anyone could see it but it had been automatic and was plastered there for the world to see. Three, two, one.

      ‘Woah!’ The noise went around the crowd as the lights flickered on the tree, lighting up the square in a deluge of pink and silver.

      ‘Pink! It’s pink!’ Jess yelped, as the wine sloshed out of the cup and she turned to face him. Her eyes were sparkling, her excitement evident. It was the first time since he’d seen her again that she looked totally carefree. Totally back to normal.

      Her face was right in front of his, her brown eyes darker than ever before and their noses almost touching. He could see the steam from her breath in the cold night air. He placed his cup on the barrier and brought his hand to her hip, matching the hold of his other hand, and pulled her a little closer. He gave her a smile.

      ‘My plan worked. I told them that pink was your favourite colour and that you’d be here.’

      She let out a laugh and placed her hands on his shoulders. She didn’t seem annoyed by him holding her. She didn’t seem annoyed at all. In fact, if he wasn’t mistaken, she was edging even closer.

      Her dark eyes were still sparkling, reflecting the twinkling lights around them, ‘Oh, you did, did you? I bet that took a bit of planning, especially as you didn’t even know if I’d agree to come on a walk with you.’

      He pulled her even closer. ‘Oh, I knew. I was absolutely sure you’d come with me.’

      He could turn back the clock. He could flick a little switch right now and this could be thirteen years ago. Standing almost in this exact spot.

      She tilted her head to the side. ‘Well, that was a bit presumptuous, wasn’t it?’

      He shook his head. ‘I don’t think so. But this might be.’

      He bent forward. People around them were still cheering about the Christmas lights, breaking into song as the music got louder in the amplifiers next to them.

      But Callum wasn’t noticing any of that. The only thing he was focused on was Jess’s lips.

      And everything was just like he remembered. Almost as perfect.

      The last time round Jess had tasted of strawberry lip gloss, and this time she tasted of mulled wine. He could sense the tiniest bit of hesitation as he kissed her, so he took it slowly, gently kissing her lips, teasing at the edges until she moved her hands from his shoulders and wrapped them around his neck, kissing him right back.

      And then everything was perfect.

       CHAPTER EIGHT

      CALLUM LISTENED TO the NHS helpline music with growing impatience. It was funny how all rational thought flew out of the window when your child was in pain.

      Drew was clutching his stomach again. He was pale and feverish, and he couldn’t even tolerate fluids. But the pain was making him gasp and sob and Callum was feeling utterly helpless.

      He glanced at his watch. It would be nearly midnight by the time the NHS helpline put him through to one of the nurses—and he told Drew’s story again—then they would have to drive out to one of the GP centres. Who knew when his son would get some pain relief?

      No. He couldn’t wait that long.

      As a member of one of the emergency services, he hated it when people used the services irresponsibly. But this didn’t feel irresponsible.