Page 91 of The Christmas Competition

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Kerr

DAVE T DOG barked loudly when the turkey was brought out.

“Sit,” I told him sternly, and he obeyed. “Good boy,” I said, scratching behind his ear. “You’ll get a bit later on.”

Aileen had kindly said that Dave the dog could be with Nisa, my mum, and me for Christmas Day, which I was really grateful for. She and Drew were having some time to themselves to work things out. Probably spurred on by Nisa calling him and telling him he had better commit to his relationship with Aileen and their baby or she would render him incapable of fathering any future children. To be fair, he did seem to be bucking up and committing. Though only time would tell.

I brought the turkey to the table and started to carve while Nisa dished everything onto our plates.

She sent me a lustful look as she brushed past, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “I like how sternly you spoke to Dave T Dog just now. Maybe later you can do that with me, and call me a good girl when I obey.”

I raised an eyebrow, heat flaring through my veins, and I turned my head to give her a hard, swift kiss. “Do as you’re told and you’ll get more than praise as a reward.”

She sidled past, swaying her hips. “Sounds good to me.”

Mum came through from the living room, surveying the table. “Oh my, this looks lovely. Can I do anything to help?”

“Yes, you can sit right here and enjoy your dinner, sweetheart,” Nisa said, pulling out a chair and settling Mum in before fussing over her and making sure her plate was overflowing.

Pride and love practically overflowed from my chest at the way Nisa cared for my mum. Christ, I loved that woman. Both of them, in fact.

“Thanks, Nisa love,” Mum said, placing her napkin over her lap.

We sat down to tuck in to our Christmas dinner, the festive songs streaming in the background, tacky paper crowns sitting on our heads and intermittently slipping down to cover our eyes. Dave the dog relaxed under the table, no doubt keeping his eye out for any fallen scraps. I intermittently reached down to give my pal a wee scratch behind his ears.

At one point Izzy appeared behind the patio door, right on time. She had been coming round to my house about this time every afternoon that I was home, and I’d let her in for a treat and a pet. I had finally confessed to Nisa that this had been going on for roughly a year, and she had told me off for cheating on her with her cat. I told her that it was really the other way around, because my relationship with Izzy had started before our own had.

I let the cat in, giving her a treat, and she trotted into the living room to settle on her favorite spot on the sofa. Luckily Dave the dog adored her and she tolerated him with an air of disdain, so the balance was all in place.

After dinner we decamped to the living room, where we watched all the old Christmas favorites as well as the new offerings for that year. Every now and again I caught Mum looking at me in awe, as if she couldn’t believe her luck. I felt the same, both about her and Nisa.

Aisha FaceTimed us from Kirsty and Imran’s so that they could all wish us Merry Christmas. We were going to visit on Boxing Day and have Christmas dinner number two with them. Kirsty and Imran had been shocked about Aisha’s big travel plans, but she had been firm with them and told them in no uncertain terms that if they called Nisa to have a go at her about it, she would disown them. It had shocked Kirsty, and since then she’d had a bit of an epiphany, even apologizing to Nisa and now being careful about how she spoke to her. They still had their moments, but it was clear that despite previous behavior, Kirsty did care deeply for her eldest daughter. She just had an odd way of showing it. And Imran was used to taking her lead. I had noticed that he picked up more on the things Kirsty said, challenging her when she slipped. And Nisa had drawn a boundary also, not letting her mum get away with putting everything on her shoulders. And that boundary was the thing I was most pleased and proud of her for.

Mum’s social worker had given permission for an overnight stay, and we would take her back to the ward tomorrow before we went to Nisa’s parents’ house. Once there was a space, the hospital would discharge her to a nearby assisted living complex, and I had already set the process in motion for her things to be brought from Glasgow when the time came. We were going to drive Mum to Glasgow when she was up to it so that she could choose what she wanted to bring and also catch up with the friends and neighbors we had contacted to let them know she was safe and sound in Inverglen. Nisa had insisted she would come too, because she said there was no way she would let me and Mum do it alone. I knew she would be there for me. The woman had thrown herself into the frigid sea to “save” me when I was just out for a swim and had been there every step of the way to reconnect me with my long-​lost mum.

Nisa signed off of the call with her family, snuggling into my side. I pulled her close and kissed the top of her head, getting my fix of her floral citrus scent. I could stay wrapped up in it—​in her—​for days if I were allowed.

“Kerr,” she murmured from where her head lay against my chest, rising and falling with my breathing.

“Yes, love?”

“Do you fancy a little festive walk around the village, along the route of the lights competition? They posted a walking route on social media to see all the contenders before they announce the winner tomorrow.”

I shifted slightly so that she looked up to meet my gaze. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth as I arched a brow. “As in, you want to sabotage our competition?”

She tapped my arm, and even that playful touch had me burning for her. “No, silly! Just to revel in all the Christmassy goodness.”

I grinned, letting her fully know that I had only been messing with her. “That sounds like a great idea.” I looked over at where Mum was snoozing in the armchair, Izzy now settled in her lap. “Mum,” I said softly.

She opened her eyes. “Yes, Kerr love?”

The sound of her saying that still made my heart ache. But in a good way. “Nisa and I are going to walk round the village. Do you want to come with us?”

She lifted her eyes to the window, the dark afternoon studded with the lights across the road at Nisa’s place. “Hmm . . . no, I think I’ll stay here with Izzy and Dave,” she said, shining her smile on us. “I’m nice and cozy.”

“We won’t be long,” Nisa said as I stood and pulled her up with me, keeping her cuddled to my chest for a moment. “But if you need anything you just call one of our mobiles, okay?”