make you feel better. Sit down here, I’ll pour you a cup.” Milly got Jake settled and made the phone calls it required to hire a solicitor.
The solicitor could make no promises but Milly had hope he might be home soon enough. That’s all she could promise Jake for now, just a little bit of hope. Jake helped her out in the shop for the rest of the day and then they watched as the rest of the shops and homeowners in town began to decorate their homes for the coming Christmas season. Milly had to wipe a tear away herself as the local council lit the village Christmas tree. That was supposed to be Callum’s job but Thomas, the corner shop’s new owner, stood in for him.
Milly had all of the lights off in the shop, having closed early, and she and Jake stood with an arm wrapped around each other, watching the fairy lights come on in each house. Then snow started to fall and Milly had to walk away. This had started out as such a wonderful, hope-filled day and then it went right downhill. Milly tried to hide her upset from Jake, the boy was upset enough and she wanted to be strong for him but the sight of the snow nearly broke her. She’d had dreams of Callum kissing her under the streetlights with the snow falling just like that and now he was so far out of reach she couldn’t even talk to him, much less kiss him.
Over the last few weeks she’d begun to have some hope that Callum had come to see her as more than just a friend. Little moments that may not have actually meant anything at all but meant the world to Milly. She knew what she wanted for Christmas this year and his acceptance of her offer for dinner was all the gift she’d needed. Now she didn’t know if that was going to happen or not. She’d just have to wait and see how things went. Turning off the lights she walked up the stairs with Jake, offered him a bedroom, and then they watched television until they both went to bed, their hopes dashed for the day as they knew it was far too late now for the solicitor to get Callum out of the grasp of the police tonight. Maybe tomorrow, Milly thought as she turned off her bedside lamp and cuddled with Daisy and Mildred. Edgar was with Jake in his room, the two curled into each other, sleeping soundly.
Chapter Two
Milly woke the next morning and for the first time since she’d had the dogs, she didn’t take them up to the hills. Edgar wasn’t even with them this morning, still snuggled with Jake, as the dogs ran and pranced at the park. Milly made sure to clean up after them, then took them back to the shop, letting them back into her flat. She knew Jake was up when she came back but he hadn’t come downstairs so she chose some music to put in a playlist, connected her mobile to her speakers, and began the process of making tea cakes and other assorted pastries that would go in her shop.
Normally Milly blasted a rather eclectic assortment of music that she sang and danced around her kitchen to, the routine an outlet, almost therapy for her. This morning she just didn’t have the heart for it, her thoughts constantly on Callum and wondering what he’d woken to. Milly had no experience with jail; she’d never been in trouble so she didn’t know if it was the same as the shows and films she’d seen where men were constantly in danger from other prisoners or if he was in a cell on his own. She’d barely slept a wink, worrying all night about Callum.
Realizing she’d been stood at the sink for several minutes washing the same cup, Milly shook herself and decided that she was not going to lose herself in melancholy. No, it was time to be proactive. Shifting her playlist to her normal fare she cranked the music up, took a batch of cakes that had been cooling on a rack and put them on the table and began her morning ritual. Milly, aware that Jake was upstairs, didn’t belt out the songs as she normally did but she gave them a good kicking as she applied fruits and toppings to the cakes. She swung her hips
The solicitor could make no promises but Milly had hope he might be home soon enough. That’s all she could promise Jake for now, just a little bit of hope. Jake helped her out in the shop for the rest of the day and then they watched as the rest of the shops and homeowners in town began to decorate their homes for the coming Christmas season. Milly had to wipe a tear away herself as the local council lit the village Christmas tree. That was supposed to be Callum’s job but Thomas, the corner shop’s new owner, stood in for him.
Milly had all of the lights off in the shop, having closed early, and she and Jake stood with an arm wrapped around each other, watching the fairy lights come on in each house. Then snow started to fall and Milly had to walk away. This had started out as such a wonderful, hope-filled day and then it went right downhill. Milly tried to hide her upset from Jake, the boy was upset enough and she wanted to be strong for him but the sight of the snow nearly broke her. She’d had dreams of Callum kissing her under the streetlights with the snow falling just like that and now he was so far out of reach she couldn’t even talk to him, much less kiss him.
Over the last few weeks she’d begun to have some hope that Callum had come to see her as more than just a friend. Little moments that may not have actually meant anything at all but meant the world to Milly. She knew what she wanted for Christmas this year and his acceptance of her offer for dinner was all the gift she’d needed. Now she didn’t know if that was going to happen or not. She’d just have to wait and see how things went. Turning off the lights she walked up the stairs with Jake, offered him a bedroom, and then they watched television until they both went to bed, their hopes dashed for the day as they knew it was far too late now for the solicitor to get Callum out of the grasp of the police tonight. Maybe tomorrow, Milly thought as she turned off her bedside lamp and cuddled with Daisy and Mildred. Edgar was with Jake in his room, the two curled into each other, sleeping soundly.
Chapter Two
Milly woke the next morning and for the first time since she’d had the dogs, she didn’t take them up to the hills. Edgar wasn’t even with them this morning, still snuggled with Jake, as the dogs ran and pranced at the park. Milly made sure to clean up after them, then took them back to the shop, letting them back into her flat. She knew Jake was up when she came back but he hadn’t come downstairs so she chose some music to put in a playlist, connected her mobile to her speakers, and began the process of making tea cakes and other assorted pastries that would go in her shop.
Normally Milly blasted a rather eclectic assortment of music that she sang and danced around her kitchen to, the routine an outlet, almost therapy for her. This morning she just didn’t have the heart for it, her thoughts constantly on Callum and wondering what he’d woken to. Milly had no experience with jail; she’d never been in trouble so she didn’t know if it was the same as the shows and films she’d seen where men were constantly in danger from other prisoners or if he was in a cell on his own. She’d barely slept a wink, worrying all night about Callum.
Realizing she’d been stood at the sink for several minutes washing the same cup, Milly shook herself and decided that she was not going to lose herself in melancholy. No, it was time to be proactive. Shifting her playlist to her normal fare she cranked the music up, took a batch of cakes that had been cooling on a rack and put them on the table and began her morning ritual. Milly, aware that Jake was upstairs, didn’t belt out the songs as she normally did but she gave them a good kicking as she applied fruits and toppings to the cakes. She swung her hips
Similar Books
