The Christmas Wish by Lindsey Kelk

Author:Lindsey Kelk [Kelk, Lindsey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2022-08-26T17:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

‘Ahh, makes you grateful to be alive, doesn’t it? The fresh air, the green grass, the friendly sheep.’ Dad raised his arms high over his head, waving his walking stick like a finish line flag. ‘Is there anything nicer than a brisk stroll on Christmas morning?’

‘Jumping in the bath with the hairdryer still plugged in?’ I suggested, marching slowly behind him, all wrapped up in Mum’s coat. ‘Fingers crossed those sheep aren’t too friendly.’

When I woke up the next day, same place, same time, same bloody Christmas, I knew there was only one person’s wish left to grant.

Cerys Cordelia Megan Baker.

So naturally I volunteered to join my dad on a five-mile hike to delay the inevitable.

Seeing Michael had changed things. I was still sad, but sad with a full stop. For months, he’d been draining all my battery, like an app left open in the background, and now I could delete him for good which left more energy for other things, like walks with my dad, avoiding my sister and pretending my existence wasn’t defying the laws of space and time. I turned my face up to the soft shafts of sunlight that peeked through the clouds and for one brief, shining moment, with Jack Frost nipping at my nose, I felt good.

Right up until my feet slid out from underneath me and I landed flat on my back in a pile of sheep dung.

‘You all right down there, chicken?’

Dad stood over me, shaking his head as though I’d done it on purpose.

‘Grand,’ I replied without moving. ‘Thanks for asking.’

‘That’ll teach you to make fun of the sheep,’ he replied, poking at a pile of dung with his walking stick. ‘There’d better not be any on your mum’s coat or you’ll be buying her a new one.’

‘Thankfully I think most of it is in my hair,’ I said with a weak thumbs-up.

The silhouette of a man moved hurriedly towards us, his features blotted out by the low winter sun while a tiny white powder puff of a dog ran ahead, yapping loudly and dancing around me in a circle.

‘Mr Baker? Gwen? Are you OK?’

I held my hand over my eyes and squinted. Dev’s features came into focus as the dog hopped up onto my chest and settled right down.

‘Hello, stranger,’ I said.

‘Hello yourself,’ he replied, smiling when he saw I wasn’t injured.

Each time I saw him, I noticed something new. His beautiful grey coat, his exceptional forearms and today, the sprinkle of salt and pepper at his temples, only visible when the sun shone directly on his hair.

‘Did you fall or are you lying on the ground for fun?’ Dev asked as he and my dad offered up an arm each and hoisted me back up to my feet, the little white dog looping in circles around us.

‘You must not have heard about my new job as a government grass inspector,’ I replied. ‘All looks to be in order.’

Dad straightened his flat cap and gave Dev a knowing, manly nod.

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