As the volunteers head for the car park, Lewis and Hathaway wait by the entrance for Laura.
Lewis squints at an ambiguous point in the distance. "You never let us score, that was all due to me superior skill."
"Well, you'll never know that, will you? I only let in that one other goal, and that was before I found my stride." James smirks at his guv'nor. He can tell the seed of doubt he just planted has firmly taken root.
Lewis eyes him obliquely, but says nothing. Then he smiles to himself. Hathaway enjoyed himself here today, I know. Let him think whatever he wants to think.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Laura hurries over after checking out. She appraises their flushed faces. "Looks like you two have been getting a workout. I heard there was a friendly footie match. Who won?"
Hathaway is still smug. "It was a two-two draw. But only barely."
Lewis snorts loudly.
Laura narrows her eyes. She can tell there's something not being said. Judging by James's smirk and Robbie's scowl, the joke is on the older man. She decides the spirit of Christmas requires her to pursue it no further.
She puts holiday music on the car stereo on the way home and they all sing along with the catchier numbers. Laura notices vaguely that Lewis is quiet all the way, and she frequently catches him looking at her.
When they arrive at Hathaway's flat, the younger man hesitates before getting out of the car. He's completely serious now.
"Sir, I want to thank you for challenging me to do this. You're right, I do feel good. I know I really helped that boy, Andy, today; made a real difference in his day."
"I remember the first year I did this, too. I knew right then it's how I want to spend me Christmas each year. I'm glad you found it worthwhile."
James shifts to a more teasing mode. "Yeah, it really puts me in a giving mood, wanting to be generous to the less fortunate." He wiggles his eyebrows with implication.
Lewis grimaces. "I scored that goal fair and square, Sergeant. Now get on inside before I have to prove who's better at making snowballs, too."
With a hearty chuckle, Hathaway turns and scoots to his door. "Happy Christmas to you both!" He waves his farewell and goes inside.
Laura is laughing softly and shaking her head. "You two are so competitive, it's amazing you can stay together as partners. Scored a goal on him, did you?"
"He's not man enough to admit it." Lewis sounds just a tiny bit unsure of himself.
"Now, now, where's your Christmas spirit, Robbie?"
He harrumphed a bit more. "Alright, then, I appreciate his generosity in making it look as though I scored that goal purely because of my skill. But if he were truly that generous, he'd let me think I'd done it meself."
They smile at each other and lapse into wordlessness, listening to the music as Laura drives Lewis home.