Hot Revenge Box Set 2

Michael wasn’t joking about the Christmas spirit. Clearly, we have arrived in the middle of the Threesome’s interrupted festivities. The tiles of the long, wide hallway, running right through the house, are heaped with stacks of holly, ivy and mistletoe. A fir tree, all of ten feet high, its branches tied with string, rests by one wall alongside bricks and a bucket of sand. Another one is already standing at the end of the hallway, framing the staircase and waiting to be decorated.

As we enter the lounge, James, looking rakish in an eyepatch, stands on a small set of steps, trailing fairy-lights over the star at the top of yet another tree. “Kirstie! Ryan! Good to see you. We’ll be right with you.”

He circles the star with the lights and passes them down to the waiting Richard who, on the other side of the tree, loops them once more through the branches.

On a side-table are all the signs of Christmas ‘in action’. Boxes overflow with tinsel and more lights. Glossy magazines are stacked beside another box filled with brightly coloured ornaments. The sideboard is stacked with bottles, chocolates and candied fruit, and Congratulations On Your New Baby cards. A large pink and beige rabbit flops enormous ears over a Welcome Cara! tag.

“We came to give our Congratulations,” I say, nodding towards the display of cards. “It looks like we weren’t the first.”

“And to wish you all a Merry Christmas,” adds Ryan.

James beams. “And both are very welcome. Just give us a moment. We’re all but done here.”

Richard passes the loop of lights back around the tree. “Indeed, they are… That’s the last of this string, James.”

James grunts, leaning back, surveying his handiwork then, adjusting the star, “Is that on straight?”

“Yes, it is,” says Ryan, accepting Richard’s outstretched hand as he disentangles himself from behind the tree. “Merry Christmas.”

“You too, Ryan.” Richard takes me at the shoulders and kisses my cheek. “Happy Christmas, Kirstie. Elizabeth and Charlotte have both been asking if you had been in touch. They’re looking forward to seeing you.” My balloon, bobbing on its string, bounces against his face. He chuckles, batting it away. “And I imagine one more balloon will find a home.”

I stand back, looking square into his face. “How is Beth?”

A smile folds up into his eyes. “Elizabeth is fine. And so’s Adam, despite his attempt at an early arrival. Right now, she’s spending most of her time with Charlotte, cooing over Cara. And Mitch keeps an eye on both of them.”

Ryan stands over the fire, rubbing his hands together, then spreads his palms, bathing them in the heat. “It’s good to be with friends when you need some support.”

“So it is,” says James. Charlotte’s tall, dark dom descends the ladder, moving carefully, as though he is a little stiff. “I’ll set Charlotte and Mitch loose with the rest of the decorations, now.” Then he eyes the still-shivering Ryan up and down. “Hot drink? Coffee? Chocolate? Mulled wine?”

Ryan blows air. “Mulled wine sounds a great idea.”

“Coming right up.” James stoops, placing a poker in the embers at the base of the burning logs. “Sit yourselves down. Make yourselves at home. I’ll be back in a minute.”

From out in the hall comes the babble of voices, then the door swings open. Charlotte appears, hugging a blanket-wrapped bundle. Then Mitch, followed by the hugely pregnant Beth with Michael supporting her. There is something about the way he touches her… one hand at the elbow, another at the small of her back…

What’s happening there?

Then I see Richard’s grey-eyed gaze on me. I tilt my head, just enough to ‘ask without asking’.

He smiles and nods slightly.

So… A Fivesome now…

Quite a family…

Michael breaks from Beth to help Charlotte, easing the ‘bundle’ from her arms as, moving slowly and with care, she takes her seat on the couch.

to get a measure of how she really is. Usually Charlotte vibrates with energy. But just now, there’s a pallid edge to her colouring

they

Michael is watching me, watching her, his face impassive as he passes the bundle back to his

She’s safe now…

Christmas…

Friends…

I inject as much enthusiasm as I know

Charlotte beams…

to show

lighting up, quite suddenly, she looks much more herself, her green eyes brilliant with enthusiasm. “Course you can.” She flips back a corner of the blanket

so beautiful…” she murmurs. “I still can’t believe

few days old, red-faced and with a thin swirl of dark

Charlotte’s jaw falls

Oh, crap…

she’s completely adorable...” I keep talking, trying to rescue myself from my faux pas… “… Like a puppy that you know is one day going to be all silky fur and sleek muscles. But when they’re just born, they all look like a furry sausage with a leg

laughing. “But people-puppies are never as cute as

I mumble.

tray. He sets it down on the coffee table.

off Scruffy, resting a hopeful snout on the edge of the table, then takes a knife to what looks like a large panettone loaf, snowy with powdered sugar. Examining a slice, he takes a sniff. “Smells

my favourite Christmas treats when I was a boy.” Then, taking the poker from the ashes, he plunges it

a measure into a mug, passing it to Ryan, then another to me. “Plenty

stick with just the one. I’ll be driving in

stay over if you’d like to.” James aims a finger at the darkening windows.

me then, “Thanks, James, but we don’t have a change of

glances at me, his forehead furrowing. “Of course…” His gaze lingers. “Is… something

of course not.” But Ryan speaks quickly, and

conversation, turning back to Charlotte. “Sorry if

always say every mother thinks her own baby is the most

quite well? I know you’ve

loaded and we both know it. “I'm fine,

rubs his nose. “We’re not

am a bit tired. Ryan and I have been out and about quite

half-way up a mountain. The only place you would pass by to would be a ski slope. You don’t have

polite.” I’m floundering.

I have said

regards me, sucking in his cheeks. I look to Ryan, but he

Here we go…

I… “We were looking at a

heads swivel

We’re… we’re looking to buy a place.

Michael holds out

the air with a fist. James looks utterly delighted, as do Charlotte, Mitch and