Five Winters(79)

“I’ve just put the kettle on, if you want a hot drink, guys,” Jake told us from the doorway, and as if by silent mutual consent, Logan and I stowed our gardening tools away in the shed and headed inside.

Once we left the garden, Logan rarely spoke to me. If ever it was raining and we couldn’t work outside, I was lucky if I got more than a grunt out of him. But I didn’t mind. I understood. Logan had to be a lot of different people in his life, but just as long as he could be the Logan he was in the garden, I thought he would be okay.

In the kitchen, Jake handed me a cup of coffee. I took it gratefully.

“Thanks. You don’t realise how cold you are until you stop.”

We sat together for a moment, sipping our drinks. Then he asked, “Done all the dreaded Christmas shopping?”

“Most of it. Just the difficult ones left.”

“I bet they’re for men.”

I smiled at him. “They are, actually. How did you guess?” Mark and Gary, Sylvia’s boyfriend. Man friend. Gentleman caller. I hadn’t made up my mind how to refer to him yet.

“We’re difficult buggers,” Jake joked.

“What about you? Have you done yours?”

He nodded. “I’ve been a good boy. Got it done early. Though the kids only wanting money made it easier.”

“What have you got for Tish?”

Jake’s face lit up. Clearly, he was very pleased with whatever he’d bought for his girlfriend. “Ah, well, I’m not sure I ought to say. It’s a surprise, and she did say she might pop over this evening.”

Right on cue, the door opened, and Tish came in.

“Speak of the devil,” Jake said, opening his arms to give her a kiss.

“Who are you calling a devil?” Tish asked, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him back. “Hi, Beth. You all right?”

“Hi, Tish. Yes, I’m fine, thank you. Just thawing out.”

“Tell me about it. It’s almost too cold for the bike.”

Like Jake, Tish rode a motorbike. Also like Jake, she wore a leather jacket and had several tattoos, only hers were mainly of Disney characters and inspirational quotes.

Tish and Jake had met at a motorbike club in the spring and clicked straightaway. I was really happy for them. Jake was a good friend. I was glad nothing had happened between us—I’d have been using him if it had. Using sex to try to make myself feel better after the debacle with Mark. If Jake and I had gone to bed, we’d have been awkward with each other afterwards. Too awkward for me to volunteer at the centre. And that would have been a great shame.

I went over to the sink to wash my mug up. “Mind if I get off a bit early? I’m meeting up with Rosie to see the Regent Street lights.”

“Sure,” said Jake. “No problem. Tell her hi from me. And you have a great Christmas, yeah?”

I went over to give both him and Tish a peck on the cheek. “Thanks. And a very happy Christmas to you too.”

“See you in the New Year.”

I nodded, a tingle of excitement stirring in my belly at the thought of New Year. I hadn’t told Jake anything about my plans, in case they didn’t work out. I hadn’t told anyone about them except for Naomi and Rosie. And even they didn’t know I’d got an official date through, because I’d received the letter only today. I was going to tell Rosie tonight.

Rosie herself called me when I was waiting for the bus.

“You’re not ringing to cancel on me, are you?”

“Of course not. I’m ringing to tell you . . .”

“Hello, Bethy,” came a familiar voice in the background.

“Giorgio?”

“Yes,” said Rosie. “This one turned up out of the blue. Mind if he tags along with us?”

“Of course I don’t. It will be lovely to see him.”

“You see, cara,” I heard Giorgio say. “I told you this.”

I laughed. “The bus is coming. I’ll see you both under the Christmas tree.”

“Under the tree.”

“Ciao, Bethy.”

I was still smiling as I got on the bus and swiped my Oyster card. Giorgio coming along might mean I wouldn’t be able to tell Rosie my news, but it made me so happy to see my friend with her love. Last Christmas, Giorgio had surprised Rosie by declaring that he wanted a relationship with her more than he wanted to be a father, and ever since then, they’d spent every possible minute they could with each other, flying back and forth between London and Rome. Which meant I hadn’t seen her as much as I usually did, obviously, so the first hour of any meetup we managed to organise was always a sort of breathless catch-up. Especially after I joined Tinder.

Rosie loved hearing about my dating escapades. Though there hadn’t been any of those to talk about since July, not since Tom.

Just as I thought of Tom, my phone rang, and his name appeared on the caller display. I was tempted to reject the call, but experience told me my ex-boyfriend would only keep calling until I answered if I did that.

“Hi, Tom. I can’t speak just now; I’m on my way somewhere.”

“Oh. I hoped I could pop round with your Christmas present.”

I couldn’t hide my dismay. “Tom, we agreed we wouldn’t buy each other presents.”

“I know, but I didn’t think you really meant it. And I saw something perfect for you. I had to get it.”