‘Hey. You were miles away.’
Pippa, staring dreamily through the kitchen window at a bouncing Maud in the garden trying to persuade Lola to play chase, melted as a pair of familiar arms slid around her. Gil rested his chin on the top of her head, and she felt his smile widen when he spotted the dogs. Lola was busy investigating a patch of perennials and ignoring Maud leaping behind her. Pippa marvelled at Maud’s energy, knowing the spaniel would crash in her bed the moment she hurtled indoors ready for a treat.
‘Oh, hi. I thought you were still in the shower.’ She leaned into him, happy for a moment’s distraction from her to-do list. They were hosting an ugly sweater party for the practice this evening and expecting a houseful.
‘Nope, I’m all yours for the rest of the day. Well, at least until I’m on call tonight. Hopefully, I won’t have to disappear in the middle of the party.’ Gil raised one arm until it was resting across her, one hand on her shoulder. ‘What else do you need me to do?’
‘You could sort out glasses and the cider for mulling please. I think we’re going to need plenty, it’s definitely turning colder. The caterers will be here at three to set up.’
‘No problem. I think my gran’s old jam pan is still around somewhere, I could use that for the cider.’
‘Give it a good scrub first, please.’ They’d cleared the house back in the autumn, and some of his gran’s possessions were safely stored away until a planned kitchen extension was complete. ‘Did you see Posy in her new rug? Pink is definitely her colour, she looked so cute.’
‘Cute is not the first word that comes to mind when I think of that pony,’ Gil replied drily. ‘Little bugger is more like it. She’s been pulling filthy faces at Flo, so I helped Harriet set up some electric fencing in the paddock first thing to keep them apart.’
‘I know, she told me.’ Pippa turned, smiling up at him as she wound her arms around his neck. ‘Thank you for not minding about Flo, and Harriet taking her on. She didn’t want Dorothy to end up with a pony on top of everything else she looks after, and neither of them could stand the thought of Flo left to starve in a field over winter, especially now we know she’s in foal. It doesn’t bear thinking about, what might have happened if they hadn’t brought her home.’
‘I love how you said home.’ He tucked Pippa’s hair behind one ear. ‘I can’t imagine ever living here without you.’
‘You don’t have to.’ Pippa’s smile widened at the look in those familiar, gorgeous blue eyes. How had they only been together for a few months, and yet the love she felt for him seemed timeless. As though Gil and this house had always been her life, and every step she’d taken so far had been leading her to him. ‘Our first office party together. It’s wonderful to see how much you’ve achieved at the practice already, and Erin has settled in so well.’
‘She has, and Oli’s great too, a team player just like her.’ Gil’s eyes narrowed and he grinned. ‘Is it just me, or do you think there’s something between them? Obviously it’s none of our business, but they do seem, I dunno, comfortable together.’
‘I know what you mean. But they were at university together, so maybe it’s just that. Elaine said they’d be a wonderful couple but Erin’s very focussed on her career, and obviously Oli’s not staying. She doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who’s into casual dating.’ Pippa couldn’t resist a quick kiss and Gil’s arms tightened around her before she tipped her head back to regard him. Quiet moments like this in their days were rare, between the practice and the pets, family and her gallery.
‘Have you managed to persuade Dorothy to join us tonight? I’ve offered to pick her up, so she doesn’t have to drive or come on the quad bike, but she just grunted and muttered something about not leaving the dogs. It’s not that I mind having her lot here as well, it just might get even more rowdy with a houseful of people, and that terrier’s a little monster. He’s bound to try and bite someone. Harriet said he was lying in wait for the Amazon driver the other day and the guy launched the parcel without getting out of the van. It landed in a puddle and Dorothy was still roaring at him when he took off.’
‘Clearly a driver who’s familiar with my great aunt’s place. She told me the same about tonight, I doubt she’ll change her mind. Parties are not her thing.’ Gil slowly shook his head. ‘So what time are you expecting Raf?’
‘About six if he doesn’t get held up, he’s driving.’ Pippa’s smile was a wistful one. ‘Did he tell you he’s planning to spend Christmas in Australia with Dad, after he and Cassie have taken the kids to Lapland? Apparently Tilly’s thinking of going too, so almost everyone will be there.’
‘He did, yeah. Do you mind? Being here, and not with the rest of your family?’
‘Only a tiny bit,’ she told him truthfully, pushing the quick sadness away. ‘I want to be where you are, and you need to be here. I’m sorry you won’t be seeing the boys though, with Luca spending Christmas with Joel in Australia too.’
‘I suppose I’m used to it now they’re grown up, and I was often on call over the holidays anyway. It would be amazing if there was a way we could all be together one year, without work getting in the way.’
‘It would. Hold that thought for another time.’ Pippa reluctantly eased free and stepped past him. ‘I’d better get on, Alfie will be here with his decks in an hour or so, and I still have mince pies to make. I want to be out of the way so he can set up.’
‘Pippa?’ Gil caught her hand, slowly drawing her to a halt. ‘Thank you, for everything. One day, yeah? I promise we’ll find a way for us all to be together at Christmas.’
© Suzanne Snow 2025
