Baby It's Cold Outside

Tansy ruffled his hair.

‘We’re kind of science geeks back home,’ she said. ‘My mom and dad both teach at the university.’

‘University?’ I said faintly.

‘Harvard,’ Harry said helpfully.

‘Oh,’ I said, feeling slightly inadequate despite my law degree.

‘Parker’s very interested in the world around him,’ Tansy explained. There was a pause as Harry, Louise and I all gazed at Parker who was dropping bits of toast on the floor and watching as Bella the cat sniffed them.

‘So we’ll be out of your hair soon,’ Tansy said. ‘I’ve just been online and I managed to book us into a hotel in Inverness for tonight – that’s nearby, right? But if you’ve not got anything on today, and if it’s okay with you, I’d like Jamie to spend some time with Parker before we go.’

‘Jamie’s my dad,’ Parker told me, his little brow furrowed. ‘But he didn’t know he was my dad until yesterday.’

‘No,’ I said. ‘He didn’t.’ I gave Tansy a fierce look that she ignored.

‘I have another dad,’ Parker said.

‘You do?’

‘His name is Michael. He and Mommy do kissing like this.’

He screwed his face up and gave the back of his hand a smacker. Harry snorted with laughter. Tansy looked embarrassed.

‘Michael’s my partner,’ she said. ‘We’ve been together since Parker was two so he’s like a dad to him.’

‘Jamie’s his dad,’ I said, feeling defensive suddenly.

‘I know,’ Tansy said. ‘There’s space in Parker’s heart for both of them.’

I eyed her suspiciously. Was there space in her heart for both of them? Was that what she was telling me?

‘I’m sorry,’ Tansy said, changing the subject suddenly. ‘I really had no idea it was your wedding this week. We’d planned to stay for two weeks but I’m going to call the airline and change our flights. We’ll be out of your way as soon as possible.’

I looked at Parker who was busy explaining how bees make honey to a rapt Harry. He was so little and he’d been dragged across the Atlantic and halfway round Scotland already. It didn’t seem fair to send him home again without getting to know his dad properly. And it certainly wasn’t fair to Jamie, who’d barely have time to get his head round Parker’s existence before he went away again.

‘Don’t go,’ I said, surprising myself. ‘Stay a bit longer. Talk to Jamie. He wants to meet Parker properly. Stay for the wedding if you like.’

Tansy shook her head.

‘Esme that is so sweet but this is a big week for you guys.’ She paused. ‘We won’t go straightaway though. I guess we could stay until Monday –or Tuesday – if we can get on a flight.’

I was awe-struck at her decisiveness.

‘Okay then,’ I said. ‘It’s a deal. I’m going to tell Jamie what’s happening, and then I’ll get out of your way – I want to go and see my dress anyway. You’ve got a lot to talk about.’

Chapter 5 (#ulink_bd9dd712-fb2e-56d2-a26c-47987b4132a0)

Feeling like a proper grown-up for once, and smug that I was handling this whole thing so maturely, I went upstairs to find Jamie. He was getting dressed and I waited for him to pull a jumper over his T-shirt, before I went to him and hugged him.

‘Tansy’s downstairs,’ I said. ‘I’m going to walk into town and see if my dress has arrived – give you some space to talk.’

Jamie kissed me.

‘Thanks for being so brilliant about all this,’ he said. ‘My head’s all over the place, but knowing you’re on my side really helps.’

I rubbed his back under his thick jumper.

‘Of course,’ I said. ‘I’m not going to let a teeny-tiny thing like an ex-fiancée and a son you didn’t know existed come between us.’

Jamie chuckled gratefully.

‘Come on then,’ he said. ‘I suppose I should go and meet Parker.’

‘He’s pretty special,’ I told him as we went downstairs. ‘Harry is smitten.’

‘Harry?’ Jamie said, incredulous at the thought of my un-maternal cousin being smitten with anyone under the age of thirty. ‘He really must be special.’

At the bottom of the stairs was Douglas, clad again in his thick jacket and hat. I stared at him in horror. With all the business with Tansy and Parker, I’d completely forgotten about my mother’s new “boyfriend”. Was he coming or going, I wondered. Had he been here all night? I shuddered at the thought.

‘Harry says you’re going into town,’ he said. ‘I’m going to come with you.’

I opened my mouth to say no, but Jamie elbowed me sharply in the ribs.

‘That’s a good idea,’ he said, smiling at Douglas. ‘The weather’s terrible – you can huddle together for warmth.’

I scowled at him, regretting how understanding I’d been about Tansy. Then I saw his scared face as he looked at the kitchen door and felt sorry for him again.

‘It’ll be fine,’ I said, squeezing his hand. ‘I’ll be home in an hour or so. I love you.’

Jamie gave me a quick kiss.

‘I love you too,’ he said. Then, without a backward glance, he disappeared through the kitchen door.

Douglas waited patiently as I put on a thin fleece, a thicker jacket, a beanie hat also made of fleece that was brilliantly warm, scarf, gloves and boots, then we stepped outside. It was freezing. It had obviously snowed all night, though it had stopped now. The sky was heavy and as white as the landscape. It was quiet and still and very beautiful.

‘Wow,’ said Douglas. ‘I’ve not seen snow like this for years.’

I took a step into the soft snow covering the garden path – it was almost up to my knees and I was thankful for my sturdy boots and thick trousers. We waddled towards the road in an undignified fashion.

‘There’s something magical about virgin snow,’ Douglas said. ‘I’ve always loved being the first person to make footprints.’

I looked at him and gave him a brief smile. I’d always loved it too, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.

Out on the street the snow was just as deep, obviously, a foot or more, with steep piles at the side of the road where the wind had blown the powder into drifts. A couple of cars had obviously driven up this far – Tansy’s taxi for one – before the snow had got too bad, but even their tracks were covered now.

Carefully we began to tramp down the hill, hugging the hedges of the houses we passed and using the branches for support.