Read Online Baby It's Cold Outside by Kerry Barrett - Free Book Online

think of her?’
    Caught on the hop, I wasn’t sure what to say.
    â€˜She seems genuine,’ I said lamely. ‘Parker’s great.’
    â€˜Well I don’t know,’ Barbara said. ‘This all seems a bit fishy to me. You’re too trusting, Jamie. Always have been. I need to think about all this. David, are you coming home now?’
    â€˜I’ll be there in half an hour,’ David said, making a face at Jamie.
    â€˜Goodbye Jamie,’ Barbara said, then she rung off.
    â€˜Well that went well,’ Jamie said, rolling his eyes.
    â€˜Oh, J,’ I said, getting up and going to sit next to him. ‘She’ll come round. She’s just protective of you, that’s all.’
    Jamie’s dad slapped him on the back.
    â€˜Everyone’s just looking out for you, son,’ he said. ‘So where is this little boy? Can I meet him?’
    Jamie looked thrilled.
    â€˜Of course you can,’ he said. ‘I’ll get him.’
    Jamie disappeared to find Parker, and David and I looked at each other.
    â€˜Holding up?’ he said to me.
    Once again I felt like crying at the sound of a friendly voice.
    â€˜Trying to,’ I said. ‘It’s been a nightmare. Tansy turning up and now the avalanche.’ I looked down at my bandaged wrist and shrugged, desperately trying not to cry.
    â€˜You’re strong, Esme,’ David said. ‘You’re doing so well. We’ll all help you and Jamie work things out.’
    I smiled at him gratefully, as Jamie came back in, holding Parker by the hand, Tansy following behind.
    â€˜Parker,’ Tansy said. ‘This is David. He’s Daddy Jamie’s dad. Which means he’s your grandpa.’
    I felt David flinch a bit at the word “grandpa” but he didn’t show it. He smiled at Parker. He was brilliant with kids and I knew he’d try his best to make friends.
    â€˜Hi Parker,’ he said. ‘I’m Grandpa. Isn’t it funny we’ve never met before now, but I think we’re going to get along, don’t you?’
    Parker eyed him warily.
    â€˜Slugs have four noses,’ he said.
    â€˜But butterflies smell through their feet,’ David said.
    They grinned at one another.
    Suddenly I felt exhausted, achy and very close to tears.
    â€˜I’m going to leave you to it,’ I said. ‘I need a bath and a lie down.’
    I kissed David on the cheek.
    â€˜Good luck,’ I said. He squeezed my hand.
    â€˜You too,’ he said.

Chapter 10
    I wallowed in the tub for ages, topping up the water when it cooled off and feeling the heat soothe my battered limbs – except for my bandaged left wrist, which I awkwardly kept draped along the side of the bath.
    My head was still tender and I was bruised all over from falling in the snow. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard the dreadful rumble and saw the people disappear in the cloud of ice. I suspected the emotional trauma of the day would take longer to heal than my bruises.
    I stretched my toes out and turned on the hot tap again, wriggling slightly so the warm water reached me quicker. I was, I thought, quite proud of myself. I’d always been a reluctant witch, wary of relying too much on my own powers and often preferring to do things the old-fashioned way. But today had shown me that spells and charms weren’t just about making the world work for you – they could work for others too. Of course I’d seen firsthand how many people Mum, Suky and Eva had helped over the years. And Harry was massively in demand at her swanky spa and on her website. But today, on that frozen hill, it had just been about saving lives. I’d never have thought I was capable of it. I was always doubting my abilities. But I’d done it. And I was pretty pleased with myself. I wondered if the people who had been buried in the snow were doing okay and made up my mind to ask Lou to find out. She could ring the local