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GRACE
The terminal at Inverness Airport is small, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of London’s major airports, but because it’s Christmas Eve, there’s a buzz of excitement as travellers head home for the holidays.
I’ve only just collected my case when I’m pounced on by my brother and Johnny, who are here to drive me to Bannock.
“Grace! My baby sister! It’s been too long.” David wraps his arms around me in an almighty hug.
“Baby sister?” I laugh. “You’re only twenty minutes older than me. Has being apart from me for a couple of months made you sentimental? Wait, what am I saying? You’ve always been sentimental. Anyway, mind the bump!”
He springs back. “Of course. Sorry.” His gaze drifts downwards. My coat is open, my jumper stretched over my not insignificant belly. “You’re huge!”
“Thanks, David. Just what every woman wants to hear. I’m only twenty-three weeks. I’ve still got a long way to go.”
“Sorry about him!” Johnny shoots me a bright smile then draws me into a much gentler embrace. “He’s been looking forward to this reunion, and he loses his filter when he’s excited.”
“Oh, I know. If ever you need to blow off steam about some of his more irritating quirks, call me, anytime. We can vent together.”
Johnny winks then takes my case from me, putting down the retractable handle and lifting it instead.
“Such a gentleman!” I give David a playful nudge. “I notice you didn’t offer to carry it.”
David dismisses the criticism with a wave of his hand. “Grace, a while ago, I mentioned I like muscles, and the next thing I know, Johnny’s hitting the weights to impress me. I’ve got him wrapped around my little finger already. He can use his new strength to carry your case. You and I have to catch up.”
The slight blush that colours Johnny’s cheeks confirms this story is true.
David squeezes my arm. “Before we head outside, how was Mum this morning? I’m devastated she couldn’t come. We’ve never done Christmas without her.”
Mum had been planning to come up on the same flight as me, but a friend of hers recently received some troubling health news, and since this friend is divorced and childless, Mum didn’t want her to be alone on Christmas Day. She’s going to come up a few days later instead.
“She’s fine,” I say. “She seemed okay about it.”
“And . . . you told her, right? Please tell me you did. Whenever I speak to her on the phone, I dread I’m going to put my foot in it and accidentally mention the pregnancy.”
“Er . . .” I smile sheepishly.
“Grace! You can’t put it off forever. You said you’d do it before Christmas—this morning was your last chance.”
Earlier, I caught up with Mum at a café, since I won’t be seeing her tomorrow. I was planning to tell her, but I bottled it and kept on my big winter coat the entire time, disguising my bump.
“I’ll tell her when she comes up to Bannock. It’s only a few more days. This way, I can enjoy tomorrow without the inevitable drama that sharing the news would have caused.”
“Sis, I’m so happy to see you, but I’m so annoyed with you too! I arranged a surprise for you—an early Christmas present—but I’m no longer sure you deserve it. On second thoughts, you do. Follow me!”
The three of us head out of the terminal, the cold winter air nipping at my cheeks. I don’t mind, though, because—with a contented sigh—I admire the delicate snowflakes drifting down from the inky sky, creating a dusting of white on the ground.
“Snow on Christmas Eve! That’s a lovely surprise, David, although to be completely honest, I did notice it when getting off the plane. I’m also not sure you can take credit for organising it.” I give him a sly smile.
David smirks. “That’s not the surprise. He is.”
I turn, and my pulse quickens at the sight of the tall figure approaching, his blond hair peeping out from beneath a woolly hat, his stubbled cheeks flushed from the cold, his breath misting in front of him. Aidan!
With two long strides, he closes the distance between us and wraps me in his arms. He kisses me, his lips cool but delicious and leaving me craving more.
David claps and cheers, and Johnny joins in, although in a more restrained manner than my brother. Aidan grins at me, and despite the chill in the air, it warms my heart that he didn’t hold back but kissed me in front of these two. Aidan Stewart, the man who was once so opposed to relationships, has changed, and he’s not afraid of people knowing.
I place my palm against his face and rub his stubble, drinking him in. We’ve spoken every day by video call, but seeing him in person and being able to touch him, to kiss him . . . it just doesn’t compare.
“We’ll give you two lovebirds a minute,” David says. “See you in the car!”
