Perfect Day by Sally Malcolm

Author:Sally Malcolm
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-14T15:57:48+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Christmas day dawned picture-postcard pretty, with a fresh fall of snow and misty skies in pastel shades of pink and blue.

Joshua took the drive slow—Finn was right about his tires—and pulled up in Sean’s driveway without incident. Frankly, he was impressed the car had started at all, but Don had promised him the new battery he’d installed would do the trick. So far so good.

He wasn’t sure what the dress code would be, so he’d opted for a smart shirt and then thrown a heavy sweater over the top. A little scruffy, but he liked it; it made him feel comfortable. God knew comfort was going to be in short supply for the next few hours.

He hadn’t seen Finn since the carol singing, three nights ago. Time had done its usual trick of stretching and twisting his memories, so now he couldn’t be sure if he’d imagined that needy rasp in Finn’s voice, or the startled look on his face as he’d backed away.

Even in the frosty morning, the memory made him hot all over. He wouldn’t allow himself to hope, but he couldn’t quash the feeling that something had almost happened.

So he approached the door to Sean’s house, bedecked by a generous wreath of real holly, with anxious anticipation. His fingers tingled as he pressed the doorbell. It played “Deck the Halls!” and Joshua grimaced. That was probably Finn’s idea.

“Joshua!” Sean grinned like the Ghost of Christmas Present when he flung open the door. “You came. Awesome!”

He smiled at Sean’s exuberance. “Of course, thank you for inviting me.”

Sean laughed and grabbed his shoulders, hauling him inside. “Hey, Joshua is here!” He called it out like the whole house had been waiting for the news. Joshua wondered how much he’d had to drink already. It was barely noon.

Tejana hugged him in the hallway, took his coat, and ushered him into the living room. It was unrecognizable from the austere space of his childhood, dominated by a huge Christmas tree that stood in front of the French doors that led out onto the lawn in summer. A couple of sofas and love seats were dotted around, a real fire crackled in the fireplace his father had never used, and boughs of holly lay across the mantelpiece.

Liz and Matt were already there, Matt plugged into his phone with headphones on while Liz talked to Don and his wife, Jude. Poor Matt—couldn’t be much fun spending Christmas with your mom’s new boyfriend. Joshua could hear Dee and her girls in the kitchen, and beneath their laughter rumbled Finn’s unmistakable voice.

“Hey, everyone,” Joshua said. “Merry Christmas.”

He shook hands with Don and kissed Jude on the cheek. Liz smiled and hugged him, then touched her son’s shoulder. “Matt—say hello.”

Matt glanced up and Joshua gave him a wink. “That a new phone?”

“For my sins.” Liz rolled her eyes and gave Matt’s hair an affectionate ruffle. “If he spent as much time practicing the piano as he does on Instagram...”

“He’d probably have no friends,” Joshua said.

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