Read Online The Crystal Code by Richard Newsome - Free Book Online

his head in his hands. ‘I know. I meant to get her one. I thought about it every day for a week before we left. But the more I thought about it, the more I couldn’t do anything.’
    â€˜Target fixation,’ Ox said, nodding wisely. ‘Classic case.’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜I learnt about it in Assertiveness Training. It’s when you get so absorbed in a problem that you feel powerless to do anything about it,’ Ox said. ‘You were so concerned about how bad it would be if you didn’t get Felicity a present that you didn’t do the simple thing and get her one.’
    Gerald thought about what Ox had said. ‘Like me and that massive tree this afternoon,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t take my eyes off it. I knew I was going to hit it but I couldn’t do anything about it.’
    â€˜The brain’s a strange thing,’ Ox said. He helped himself to more apple pie and cream. ‘Sometimes it gets so obsessed with stuff that all sense and reason goes out the door.’
    Gerald glanced at the other side of the table, where the girls were chatting happily. Felicity caught his eye and gave him a cheeky wink. She was in the middle of a story that had the others in stitches. Ruby had her chin cupped in a hand, her face brushed with the warm light that flickered from the fireplace behind them. Almost in slow motion, her eyes wandered across to meet Gerald’s, and she gave him a smile that had him questioning everything he’d done since the end of summer.
    After coffee was served, the dinner guests started to break into groups. Eddie led a bunch of buddies to the billiards room, while Vi gathered a gaggle of friends in the lounge for more champagne and chocolate. The staff descended on the dining room for the monumental clean up. Mrs Rutherford guided Gerald and his friends down a long corridor into the east wing. At the end, she flung open double doors to a wood-panelled games parlour filled with pinball machines, arcade-style video games and even an old carnival shooting gallery with moving ducks and air pistols.
    They crowded the doorway, mouths agape.
    â€˜Gerald?’ Ox said, his eyes still bulging.
    â€˜Yes, mate?’
    â€˜I love you.’
    For the next two hours there was non-stop play. They cranked the music up and Sam established himself as the best shot in the group, pinging ducks with ease. At one point, Gerald snuck out and ransacked the house in search of something that would make do as a present for Felicity. As always, Mrs Rutherford came through. She found a pair of vintage emerald earrings that had belonged to his great aunt. ‘They’ll look beautiful on her, Master Gerald,’ she said, her eyes misting up.
    Gerald snuck back into the games parlour just as Sam shot a duck from clear across the room, sparking howls of disbelief from the others. Ox gave Gerald a ‘where have you been?’ look, but Gerald just patted his pocket and gave a quick thumbs up.
    The fire in the grate had burned down to embers and Ruby was leading the tally in an epic pinball challenge when Gerald crossed to the windows.
    Alisha joined him and hooked an arm through his. ‘It’s really tumbling down out there,’ she said. ‘Plenty of snow for a white Christmas in the morning.’
    Gerald watched the plump snowflakes as they trailed in from above. Alisha gave his arm a squeeze. ‘Thank you again for inviting me, Gerald. It’s been such fun.’
    â€˜No worries,’ he said. ‘And thanks for setting me straight on a few things. You’ve given me a bit to think about.’
    Alisha smiled, then tried her best Australian accent, ‘No worries, mate.’
    A clock on the mantelpiece struck the hour with Westminster chimes.
    â€˜Oh my goodness!’ Felicity cried. ‘It’s midnight! Happy Christmas everybody!’
    As the chimes continued towards twelve, embraces and kisses were exchanged. Felicity