The Sh!te Before Christmas by Serena Terry

Author:Serena Terry [Terry, Serena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2022-10-12T17:00:00+00:00

19

Put me on the naughty list, please

‘Are you OK?’ Paul asks, one eyebrow raised.

‘Yes,’ I tell him, reaching over and giving him a peck on the cheek. ‘I just thought it was time I got my shit together and kicked off Christmas properly in this house. Things with Handley being a dick and Cat being MIA have had me moping around, and I realized I need to focus on what I can control, and that’s making things special for the wains and us.’ I swear I hear Amanda’s voice in my head urging me on. I’m sure that after the dramatics of the baby shower yesterday, he will have assumed I’d be in self-destruct pity-party mode all day. Can’t lie – normally that’s exactly how things would play out. He must be delighted to know he won’t have to spend the day talking me down, and it dawns on me that maybe that’s what he meant when he said I was draining.

Paul smiles, and for a change it is genuine and lovely and more than a little bit sexy. ‘No one brings Christmas magic the way you do, Tara.’

He pulls me into a hug and, even though there’s a faint whiff of morning breath in the air, I revel in the manliness of him as he holds me. I can feel that he loves me. This hug isn’t forced or out of duty, it’s one top-quality, all-in hug and I sink into it, not remembering the last time we hugged this way. I’ve missed it. And I’ve missed him. Yes, he’s been here, and we’ve slept in the same bed every night, but I don’t think either of us have been particularly present. And that might be more down to me than I’ve previously considered. Even I know I can be a total pain in the hole when I’m in my worst tired and needy mode.

I pull back and look up at him. ‘And you, Paul, are you OK?’

He nods. ‘Aye, love. I’ve had a lot on my mind, but it’s so good to see you smiling this morning.’

Our hug is hijacked by the two very excited boys (Nutella and sprinkles for breakfast equals sugar rush equals good luck, Miss Rose, I’ll no doubt be speaking to you later).

‘Daddeeeeeee,’ Jax squeals. ‘The Wee Donkey was hiding in the fridge with funny eyes.’

‘Was he now?’ Paul asks, hunkering down to eye level with the boys.

‘He was,’ Nathan says, butting in with a more corrective analysis. ‘He put googly eyes on all the fings like this.’ He makes his eyes go cross-eyed, which Jax tries to copy and they both look so ridiculous I can’t help but laugh.

‘Well, I can’t wait to see what the wee rascal has done,’ Paul says.

‘He’s a wee asshole,’ Jax parrots, clearly inspired by his big sister, and Paul tries to hold in his laughter and gives me a ‘WTF’ look. I mouth the word ‘Gemma’ at him and he nods, knowingly.

‘Jax, you know that’s not a nice word,’ I say softly.

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