Read Online Golden Christmas by Helen Scott Taylor - Free Book Online

That would be lovely. Thanks."
    Jonathan laughed. "You'll be taking me, I'm
afraid."
    "It'll be my pleasure," she said, realizing
that she really meant it.

Chapter Nine
    The
next two days flew by while Vicky spent nearly every waking hour in
Jonathan's company. She gave up running alone and instead they took
long walks around the Rosemoor gardens together, throwing a ball
for Honey and laughing at her exploits as she tracked rabbits and
tried to climb a tree after a squirrel. Every day they ate lunch or
dinner at the Fat Goose, chatted with Shelly, and visited the
puppies.
    Jessie was an adorable, mischievous bundle of
golden fur. She had worked her way into Vicky's heart, and she
couldn't wait to take her baby girl home. Jessie already seemed to
know who her new mum was. When Vicky walked into the kitchen at
Holly Cottage, her puppy would scramble out of the big dog bed and
scamper across the flagstones to be scooped into Vicky's arms,
eager for kisses and cuddles.
    On Christmas Eve, Vicky and Jonathan went to
the supermarket together and bought ingredients for a special
dinner of Moroccan lamb. Vicky had seen the recipe in a magazine
and read it out loud to Jonathan. When he said he'd like to try it,
she decided to prepare a romantic meal, with candles on the table
and soft music playing—something she hadn't done for years, not
since before she had Josh.
    She scored the shoulder of lamb, coated it in
a mix of olive oil, garlic paste, lemon juice, and ras el
hanout , a fragrant mix of Moroccan spices, and put the joint in
the fridge to marinate while they walked. Later she put it in the
oven on a low heat to cook slowly.
    Jonathan wanted to help, but she banished him
to his study to write the book about the history of Rosemoor Hall
he was working on, so she could make the meal herself as a treat
for him. She put tea lights in pretty glass holders she bought
specially, ones that were difficult to knock over and wouldn't burn
Jonathan if he accidentally touched them. Then she fitted her MP3
player in his dock and chose romantic music to play.
    Once she had taken the lamb out of the oven
and served, she went to Jonathan's study to fetch him.
    "It smells delicious," he said as she led him
through by the hand.
    "We're eating by candlelight. There are two
candleholders about three inches tall in the middle of the table.
One is purple and the other is yellow, and the flames on the tea
lights are glowing inside the glass. They're really pretty."
    As they shared dinner, Vicky confided how she
felt terrible about being so distant with her mum and dad. Jonathan
reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
    "I would go to see them more often, but they
have so many photos up that I can't bear to see, tons of Josh, and
some of me with Colin and Josh. They even have my wedding photo at
the top of the stairs."
    "Have you told them how you feel?"
    "I did mention the photos to Dad. He said
he'd speak to Mum, but it's not just that. Mum and Dad still live
in the house where I grew up. I started dating Colin when I was
fifteen. Part of our history together is in that house, and when we
got married we lived in the village. When I go there, I'm
overwhelmed by memories."
    "Maybe you can invite them to visit you,
then?"
    "There's no room in the tiny place I rent. I
don't really want them to see it, anyway." Vicky had sunk so low,
consumed by grief and a sense she should deprive herself of comfort
and happiness because Colin and Josh would never have it. She'd
pushed her parents away, knowing they would be shocked by her life
now.
    "You could ask them to meet you here after
Christmas. You could take them to lunch at the Fat Goose."
    Heat warmed Vicky's cheeks as she imagined
inviting her parents here. It was a nice idea, but this wasn't her
home. It would be like lying to them if she let them think this was
her life.
    "You cooked dinner, so I'll load the
dishwasher and make the coffee." Jonathan shooed her out of the
room, and she snuggled on