Page 53 of The Perfect Gift

‘Does it snow here often?’ Frankie asked Ed as they began to unzip their coats and add them to the pile.

She was looking a little pale and Ed wondered if she was having second thoughts. It was too late for her to back out now without losing face so he decided not to ask how she was feeling and stick to the topic. ‘Most years we’re more likely to get rain than snow at Christmas, unfortunately.’

‘I saw a forecast that said there was a chance this year,’ Liam said as he began stripping off his outer layers.

‘They always say that and it never comes to anything,’ Rick replied with a shake of his head. ‘Those few times we’ve had anything like real snow here it’s usually end of January or early February.’ He removed his jumper and T-shirt, leaving himself in just his wetsuit. ‘Right, are we all ready?’

‘As ready as I’m going to be,’ Matt said. ‘Come on, let’s get on with it before we all freeze to bloody death.’

Frankie was visibly shivering next to him and Ed swept up his thick, waterproof robe and slung it around her shoulders. ‘Hang onto that until Rick gives us the go-ahead.’ She tugged it around herself and gave him a grateful smile.

There was a ripple in the crowd next to them and they all turned as a familiar voice called out, ‘Come on, now, let us through.’ As the harbour master, their father was used to issuing commands and people parted before him as obediently as the waves before Moses. He was wearing his full dress uniform, carrying Anya’s daughter, Freya, on his shoulders. She was wearing Jago’s cap, and holding it with two hands to stop it falling down over her eyes. The rest of the family followed in their wake, Ma and Pa included. Issy, Chloe, Anya and Kat made a beeline straight for Frankie, taking her to one side and talking in low whispers. Ed watched as her shoulders relaxed and each of them took turns in hugging her, pleased they’d been able to bolster her confidence when he’d not been able to find the right words.

Their dad swung Freya down and into the safe embrace of Ma, who placed her hands on the little girl’s shoulders so she could keep her close. Uncle Ryan stomped over and began stripping off his clothes. ‘Dad? What are you doing?’ Matt asked him as Ryan kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his trousers.

‘I can’t have the rest of you showing me up, now, can I? Especially not him.’ He paused to jerk a thumb in the direction of his brother, Jago. ‘He’d never let me hear the bloody end of it.’

Jago clapped a hand on Ryan’s shoulder and let loose his big, booming laugh. ‘Come on, little brother, let’s show these kids how it’s done.’ He turned to the crowd. ‘Are you ready?’ A cheer went up, but Jago shook his head. ‘I said are you ready?’ The cheer was louder this time. ‘Count us down from ten!’

‘Nine!’ the crowd chanted.

Frankie’s head shot up and she locked eyes with Ed.

‘Eight!’

He held his hand out and she hurried over to join him.

‘Seven!’

Chloe, Anya and Kat moved closer to the waterline and turned to face them, phones raised to catch the moment.

‘Ready?’ Ed squeezed Frankie’s hand, trying to ignore the butterflies starting in his own stomach.

‘Six!’

Frankie nodded and shrugged off the waterproof robe.

‘Five!’

They stepped forward and joined the ragged line the others had formed across the sand.

‘Four!’

‘This is bloody stupid,’ Matt ground out, but it didn’t stop him from taking a big step forward.

‘Three!’

They edged closer to the water’s edge. A wave lapped at Ed’s toes and it was all he could do not to shriek at how cold it was.

‘Two!’

‘No turning back now, lads!’ Jago called out, then let out another booming laugh as if he was having the time of his life. Knowing their dad, he probably was.

‘One!’

Frankie yanked her hand free of Ed’s and with a banshee’s scream she ran through the shallows then plunged head first into the nearest wave. Whoops and hollers from his madcap family echoed around as one after the other they plunged into the freezing waves. Ignoring the cold, Ed only had eyes for the spot where Frankie had vanished beneath the water. He was waist-deep and wading fast when she popped up out of the sea and tossed her head back, sending her hair flying back over her shoulders in a wave of salty spray. She held her arms wide and screamed again, the sound one of pure exhilaration and joy. ‘I did it! I did it!’ she yelled as Ed reached her.

‘You bloody well did!’ He was grinning so hard, his cheeks were aching, but it was impossible not to watch her.