Golden Christmas (11 page)

"Well, he does now." Vicky reached Jonathan's
door first and set down her bags. With an effort, she kept a smile
pasted on her face and held out her hand, determined to be friendly
so she didn't start off on the wrong foot with Jonathan's family.
"I assume you must be Gabriela. It's nice to meet you."

Instead of shaking hands, Gabriela narrowed
her beautifully made-up blue eyes and pinched her red lips. She
probably didn't realize that the wrinkles the expression created
added ten years to her. Without another word, she turned and
stomped away again.

Vicky watched her go, somewhat bemused.
"Okay. Strange woman." With luck, she wouldn't see much of her.

She carried her bags into Jonathan's
apartment and closed the door. "I'm here."

He appeared from his study, a smile lighting
his face. "I've nearly run the battery down on my watch, I've
checked the time so often. It's crawled since you texted you were
leaving Southampton. I thought something must be wrong."

"The only thing wrong is that I missed you
like crazy." Vicky ran into his open arms and kissed him, reveling
in the feel of his strong body against hers and his clean, spicy
smell.

When they finally pulled back and he smiled,
her heart fluttered with joy; she was so happy to be with him.

"I think I met the infamous Gabriela in the
corridor."

"I didn't know they were back. I wanted to
let Marcus know you were moving in before they bumped into you. Did
you introduce yourself?"

"I tried. When I told her I was your
girlfriend, she ran away."

Jonathan chuckled. "Marcus will be cool with
you staying, I'm sure. Do you have much to bring up from the
car?"

"A few more bags."

"Come on then. I'll help carry them up."

They went downstairs and Jonathan hauled the
heavy bags out of the car. He picked up the largest and carried it
while she tucked some coats under her arm and held her laptop
bag.

When they reached the upstairs corridor and
were nearly at Jonathan's door, Gabriela appeared, heading towards
them again. This time she had a dark-haired man in a suit with her.
By his resemblance to Jonathan, he must be Marcus.

"Footsteps?" Jonathan cocked his head,
listening.

"I'm assuming it's your brother and his
wife."

Jonathan put down the bag he was carrying and
Vicky did the same. They stood side by side, holding hands as the
welcoming
committee arrived.

"See," Gabriela snapped at her husband. "I
told you there was a woman, and you didn't believe me."

A sour expression settled on her delicate
features. In contrast, a smile of genuine pleasure lit Marcus's
face. He glanced at Vicky, looking slightly puzzled, before hugging
Jonathan. The warmth of the greeting left no doubt there was a
strong bond between these two men. She immediately warmed to
Marcus.

"Sorry, Jon. I meant to come straight up when
we arrived home, but I got waylaid. Have you been okay?"

"More than okay. I've had a fantastic
Christmas, thanks to this amazing woman." He slipped his arm around
Vicky's waist. "Marc, this is Vicky Jones," Jonathan said. "Vicky,
meet my big brother."

Marcus shook Vicky's hand. "Good to meet
you." He nodded at the bags. "Are you staying?"

"She's moving in with me," Jonathan said.

Marcus's eyebrows rose, and Gabriela
gasped.

"No way." Gabriela's tone was pure outrage.
"She's taking advantage. No doubt she thought Jonathan was an easy
target."

"That's enough." Marcus cast a quelling
glance at his wife.

Vicky stared at them, shocked by the
outburst, her cheeks heating. She was mortified that anyone would
think she was taking advantage of Jonathan, as if he'd let that
happen.
He's blind, not stupid
, she wanted to say, but she
managed to swallow back the angry words before they burst out. She
seriously didn't like Gabriela.

Jonathan must have sensed her mood. He kissed
her hair. "Ignore her," he whispered. "I do."

Her tension eased a little, but she was still
angry with Gabriela, who glared at her. Instead of glaring back,
Vicky pointedly looked at Marcus and returned his smile.

"It is quick," Marcus said, but his tone was
curious rather than critical.

"We met and fell in love." Jonathan shrugged.
"It's that simple."

"If you're sure, then I'm happy for you
both." Marcus kissed Vicky's cheek and hugged Jonathan again.
Gabriela stepped back, muttering under her breath before she
stomped away.

Jonathan squeezed Vicky's hand and turned to
her, smiling. To acknowledge him, she touched her fingers to his
cheek. It was a habit she'd developed naturally. He couldn't see
her smile back, so she gave him a sign.

Once Gabriela was gone, the mood lightened.
Marcus visibly relaxed and chatted with Jonathan about his
vacation, and Jonathan updated him on things at Rosemoor.

"Come in for a cup of tea," Jonathan said,
turning to his door.

Vicky hung up the coats she'd brought up from
the car and set her laptop bag on the sideboard. "You sit down and
catch up; I'll make the tea."

The two men settled at the kitchen table and
talked while Vicky boiled the kettle and made a pot of tea before
setting cups on the table with milk and sugar. She tipped
Jonathan's favorite oatmeal cookies on a plate and put it in front
of him, then took a seat and poured the tea.

"I was thinking," Jonathan said to his
brother, "I'd like a bit more of my own space. I might move into
the gatehouse, if you agree."

"Of course. That's cool. The estate can pay
to redecorate the place and refurbish the bathroom and kitchen for
you."

Vicky pushed a cup of tea towards Marcus and
their eyes met. "You're sure about this?" he said, the look in his
eyes warning she'd better not hurt Jonathan, but she didn't take
offense. He obviously cared about his brother, so he was bound to
be protective of him.

"Never been more certain." She gripped
Jonathan's hand on the table. "I love Jon and want to make him
happy."

Marcus smiled and nodded. "Then you have my
blessing."

In case of puppy toilet accidents, Vicky laid newspaper on the
wooden floor in the small entrance hall of Jonathan's apartment.
She straightened and studied her handiwork, excitement humming
through her. In a few hours Jessie would be here, sniffing around,
bonding with Honey, and settling in.

Having an upstairs apartment wasn't ideal for
a puppy, but Vicky planned to take Jessie out regularly for toilet
trips. In only a couple of weeks, they would move into the
gatehouse. Then things would be easier, as the house was surrounded
by its own dog-proof garden.

Vicky put the red tartan dog bed she'd bought
in the corner of the sitting room and tucked the dog toys inside
it. She made a mental note to always pick the toys up when Jessie
wasn't playing so Jonathan didn't trip.

"Jon, will you come here a moment?" When he
walked through from his study, she took his hand and led him to the
dog bed, let him feel the position of it with his foot and touch
the furniture and wall nearby so he could add the bed to his mental
map of the room.

"Okay. I should remember that," he said.

As they walked away, Honey trotted over to
check what they'd been doing. Vicky laughed. "Honey's found the new
bed."

"I bet she tries to get in it."

"You're right." Honey wedged her bottom in
the small bed and turned soulful brown eyes up at them. "She's so
big there's only room for her to sit in it. You should see the
guilty look on her face. She knows it's not for her."

Jonathan chuckled.

A knock on the door was followed by Marcus's
voice. "Okay to come in?"

"Of course," Jonathan said. "Honey's looking
forward to a walk with her uncle, aren't you, girl."

Marcus stepped into the sitting room, dressed
very differently from yesterday. Instead of tailored trousers and
jacket, he wore jeans and a thick oatmeal-colored sweater with a
green padded jacket over the top. Honey forgot the new bed and
trotted across the room to nuzzle Marcus's hand. He was going to
walk her while they picked up Jessie.

"I won't go far. I'll make sure I'm here when
you return with the new arrival."

Vicky folded the small red collar and lead in
her handbag, and they all traipsed downstairs. Honey raced ahead
with a ball in her mouth, eager for a game. The early morning chill
still hung in the air as they headed for Vicky's car.

"See you later." Marcus raised a hand, then
pulled on a wool hat, jogged across the gravel and down the steps
to the grass. He tossed the ball, and Honey took off after it.

When they arrived at Holly Cottage, Shelly
answered the door, looking flustered and pink cheeked. "Good
morning. Come in."

They followed her into the kitchen, and the
first thing Vicky noticed was the relative silence. Midnight's bed
seemed so empty with only two puppies in it. Midnight trotted over
to greet them, and the puppies followed.

Vicky crouched and gathered up her chubby
little pup in her arms. "Oh, Jessie, baby. Are you nearly the last
to go?" When the face wash ended, she kissed Jessie's ears and
neck. "I've missed you so much, little one, nearly as much as I
missed Jon."

Shelly laughed sadly. "Each one takes a
little piece of my heart when they go to their forever homes. It's
been quite an emotional week, saying good-bye to all my
babies."

"You're not keeping this one, then?" Jonathan
crouched and scooped up the small black pup jumping at his legs. He
cradled her in his arm like a baby and rubbed her tummy.

"I'd love to keep one, but it wouldn't be
fair to the pup when I spend so long at the pub every day. She
was
booked, but the couple had a family emergency and called
to say they couldn't take her after all. If I can't find anyone
local who wants her, I'll have to place an ad."

"I might have an idea." Jonathan deposited
the pup on the floor gently. "Give me twenty-four hours before you
advertise."

"That'll be great. I'd much rather sell her
to someone who's been recommended."

Shelly handed Vicky a small bag of the puppy
food Jessie was used to and a piece of blanket that smelled of
Midnight and her litter mates. Then Vicky carried Jessie out to the
car. Once Jonathan was settled in the passenger seat, she
reluctantly put her fur baby in his arms.

She would love to hold Jessie on the ride
home, but she had to drive. After they moved off, she glanced at
Jonathan petting the puppy and soothing her with gentle words. He
obviously enjoyed holding the squirming bundle of fur, so her
disappointment faded. Anything that made him happy, made her happy
too.

• • •

The car rattled over a cattle grid, then hummed on
the tarmac for a few minutes before turning onto gravel, a pattern
Jonathan recognized as home. When the car came to a halt, he gave
Jessie one last ear rub and held her out towards Vicky.

"You carry her out to meet Honey, if you
like."

He noted the conflict in her voice. She was
trying to be nice to him when she really longed to take Jessie.

"No. She's your baby. You take her. I don't
want to make Honey jealous."

"Oh, good idea." Vicky's hands brushed his as
she got a grip on the squirming pup, then she lifted Jessie from
his grip. "I guess we need to handle things carefully when we
introduce them. We don't want to put Honey's nose out of
joint."

"I doubt that'll happen. Honey is very laid
back." Jonathan climbed out, careful not to bump his head, and
circled the car, a hand to the cool paintwork. "Tell me what
Honey's reaction is, won't you?" This was one of those times when
he really wished he could see.

Vicky's fingers grazed his jaw, and he caught
her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. "Love you."

"Love you too." Her lips brushed his and were
gone too quickly. Every touch, every kiss, were little moments of
heaven to cherish, something he would never take for granted.

Footsteps thumped on the gravel, a tread he
knew as well as his own.

"Hello. You were quick." Marcus took his arm,
firm and steady. His brother had been his rock the last few years,
visiting him every day while he was in the hospital, adapting rooms
into an apartment for him, being there when he needed him—a
shoulder to cry on, literally, a couple of times. Yet Jonathan was
very aware that Marcus had his own cross to bear. Gabriela made his
brother's life miserable most of the time.

"Want to go down on the grass for the canine
meeting?" Marcus said.

"Yeah. That's safer than introducing them on
the gravel," Jonathan agreed.

He walked beside Marcus, following his
instructions about the steps. He stopped when he felt the grass
under his shoes.

"Vicky?" He angled his head, listening for
her.

"Right here. I'm holding Jessie, but Honey
definitely knows she's here. Hey, Honey, girl, we have a new friend
for you. Marcus, will you put Honey on her lead before I let Jessie
get down?"

"Of course." His brother moved away, and
Jonathan had that odd feeling of isolation when he knew people were
close, but he wasn't sure exactly where.

Vicky must have noticed his discomfort
because she said, "A few yards in front of you, Jon. Step
forward."

He did and felt her reassuring touch on his
arm.

"I'm going to squat down with Jessie," she
said.

He hunkered down as well and reached out to
touch Vicky's arm. Sliding his hand down, he found Jessie wriggling
in Vicky's grip, eager to get away.

"What's Honey doing?"

"Watching Jessie. Her tail's wagging and
she's interested. I'm letting Jessie move closer to touch
noses."