A Merry Little Christmas

Chapter 34

Merry

Merry hadn’t yet opened her eyes, but she could hear noises downstairs. Cole’s side of the bed was already cold; he must have been up for a while. The last time she’d checked, it was only six-thirty. Perhaps she’d drifted off and had another two hours’ sleep. She hoped so. It was Saturday, Woody was working at the shop, assisted by Harley, and neither she nor Cole had to be anywhere or do anything.

Tomorrow was Christmas Eve. The presents were wrapped, the house was decorated, and the last bits of food shopping were all done. The children would arrive tomorrow and then their last Christmas as a family of four would begin properly. And next week Cole would take her in to hospital for her induction appointment. Her hospital bag was packed with her clothing and toiletries, plus an even larger pile for the baby. Impossibly tiny nappies, the cutest vests with envelope shoulder poppers, and a few pastel-coloured babygros in the softest jersey imaginable. As she’d folded them into a pile, she’d had to pinch herself. These things were for her child, her baby.

She’d go into hospital as a pregnant woman and come out carrying her own baby in her arms. A mother, a parent to a tiny human who’d be entirely dependent on her. She felt a tightening across her chest and forced herself to relax. The baby was going to be born, come what may, there was no use worrying about it.

Relaxing was easier said than done. She formed a huge mound under the duvet now and had to sleep with a pillow underneath her knees to prevent her back from aching. Last night while she was in the bath, Cole had reminisced about the time he and his sister had seen a dead whale washed up on a beach. He’d sworn blind that it was pure coincidence that that particular memory had popped into his head. She wasn’t so sure. Anyway, not long now. Her stomach felt as tight as a drum.

‘But don’t come out today, please, baby,’ she murmured. ‘Hang on until after Christmas.’

Through the open bedroom door, she heard Cole whistling and slow and steady footsteps coming up the stairs. She hitched herself up the bed, hoping he was bringing tea with him.

Cole entered their bedroom with two mugs and set them on the nightstand beside her. ‘Your morning tea, madam.’

‘And that is why I married you,’ she replied, picking up one of the mugs and sipping it. ‘Ah, perfect.’

He was wearing his coat and when he perched on the edge of the bed next to her, she felt the cold radiating off him. He’d brought the smell of the outdoors in with him: fresh cold air and wood smoke.

He kissed her, cold lips and warm breath against her mouth, and she lifted her hand to his face, enjoying the roughness of his morning stubble.

‘And that,’ he said, parroting her tone, ‘is just the start of today’s many treats. You need to get up as soon as you’ve drunk your tea. We’ve got somewhere to be, and it’s been snowing, so the roads will be slippy.’

Merry beamed. ‘Snow! Is there a lot? Enough for sledging?’

He almost choked on his tea. ‘If you think I’m going to let you get the sledge out, you must be barmy.’

She laughed. ‘Darling, even I would draw the line at flying downhill in this state. I was thinking about the kids.’

‘I never know with you.’ He grinned. ‘And that’s why I married you. There isn’t much snow yet, but enough to slow down the traffic, which means we need to get moving.’

He opened the curtains so she could see the snow on the window frames, and she clambered out of bed for a better look.

‘So pretty,’ she said, leaning against him.

Hedges were hidden under white blankets, lamp posts had snowy hats and trees wore wintry layers on their branches. Spirals of smoke billowed from the chimney pots of neighbouring cottages and if it weren’t for the cars on driveways, Merry could be looking at a scene from the Victorian age.

The driveway to Holly Cottage was the only one which had been cleared and both of their vehicles were snow-free too. Cole had clearly been busy while she’d been lazing in bed.

‘More like pretty annoying,’ he replied. ‘The gritters never do the smaller lanes that really need it; if the temperature drops too much, the roads will be thick with ice. Scotland has had it really bad, some of the roads are closed completely.’

She gave him a bemused look. He was slightly obsessed with the weather, always kept an eye on it. His favourite was the shipping forecast; he’d memorised all the regions around the UK and tuned in religiously to the BBC to listen. ‘Why the interest in Scotland, we’re not going there, are we?’

He wrapped an arm around her waist. ‘Not likely. No, our destination is much closer to home, but it’s you who’s going somewhere, I’m just your chauffeur. Emily suggested that I booked you a day at the Enchanted Spa to help you relax. So that’s what I’ve done.’

‘No way! Oh, darling, that’s so sweet of you.’ Merry was touched, remembering her conversation with Emily about Frankie Goes to Hollywood and discovering the shared memory they had of Dad. ‘I’ve always wanted to go there. Nell and I have talked about spending a day there …’ She sighed. ‘Anyway, it’ll still be lovely. Ooh, perhaps Emily is free to join me.’

Her younger sister deserved a treat as much as her and it would be good to spend some quality time together.

‘Emily’s busy today with Will,’ said Cole. ‘I’d already suggested it.’

‘Oh.’ She wracked her brains trying to remember if Emily had said she was doing something; she’d only seen her yesterday. ‘I’ll text her to thank her then.’

‘Good plan.’ Cole kissed her cheek. ‘Do it from the car later. Emily also told me to book you a special pregnancy massage, which I’ve done. And there is a sleep room and plenty of sofas to curl up and relax on.’

Merry sighed with pleasure. ‘This sounds absolutely blissful. Thank you, darling.’

‘You’re welcome,’ he smiled smugly. ‘Oh and I nearly forgot, slide your hand under my pillow, there’s something for you.’

She gave him a mischievous look. ‘This isn’t one of your special surprises, is it?’

When they’d first got together, she’d told him how much she loved cherries and the next night he’d hidden a bottle of cherry-scented massage oil under her pillow and, once she’d found it, proceeded to massage her with it. Since then, hidden-under-the-pillow had become a part of their love lexicon, ranging from new pyjamas to edible bras and chocolate body butter.

‘I’m saying nothing.’ Cole grinned. ‘Except that you look very sexy when you do that smile.’

She bent over the bed, steadying herself with one hand and sliding her other hand underneath his pillow. ‘You did this on purpose, didn’t you, so you could peer up my nightie?’

‘I’m not complaining, that’s for sure. Shame looking is the only thing on the menu since your waters broke. Especially as, according to our antenatal lady, sex is one of the things you can do to bring on labour.’

‘I’d rather not bring on labour today, thank you very much. Not now I’ve got a massage booked.’ She pulled out a package from under his pillow. Inside was a pair of white slippers as soft as clouds. ‘Oh how gorgeous! I’ll be floating on air in these.’

‘Like a dainty little fairy,’ said Cole. ‘And not at all like a whale.’

She gave him a look that silenced him instantly.

‘Whoops. I should have stopped at fairy, shouldn’t I?’ He slapped a hand to his forehead so comically that she couldn’t help but laugh.

‘Correct.’ She put her hospital bag on the bed and unzipped it.

‘What are you doing?’ Her husband looked horrified. ‘It took me ages to get you to pack that.’

‘Don’t panic, I’ll take the things out and put them back in tonight.’ Merry started to empty it. ‘All I need today is a few toiletries and a snack or two, maybe my book.’

‘It’s a luxury spa. The place will be full of free toiletries and there’s a café for snacks. Please, Merry, do not unpack your bag, I won’t be able to relax all day,’ he pleaded. ‘Just stuff your book and a spare pair of knickers in your handbag. That’s all you need.’

She suppressed a smile at his earnest expression, quite touched by how nervous he seemed despite being far more experienced at childbirth than she was. She leaned forward until her tummy was touching his, and kissed him. ‘Fine. If it makes you happy, I’ll survive without my holdall.’

He blew out a breath. ‘Thank you. Now …’ He checked the time. ‘All I’ve got to do is get you there by nine. So get your skates on. To clarify, that’s a turn of phrase, not an order.’

‘Spoilsport. Can I have some Marmite on toast to eat in the car please?’

‘Coming up.’ He gave her one last squeeze before leaving the bedroom and jogging down the stairs.

Merry sighed. A day to laze around, relax and not to have to talk to a soul. After the stress of losing her dad and then attending the funeral, this was just what she needed. Absolute bliss.