"Do not even think about trying to find where I've stashed your Christmas present," Saffron warned Tony as the two worked on wrapping gifts for her parents, her father's partner Oliver and for Bubble and Squeak.
"No worries on that, my pet," he told her. "I enjoy surprises."
Saff looked skeptically at him, her eyes catching his as they sat beneath her Christmas tree, a fire crackling across the room in the fireplace. The scene was cozy, warm and appropriately festive.
"Mmmm-hmmm…"
"Don't believe me, 'ey? Well, you go get that present right now, 'and it to me right 'ere and see if I don't say 'No! I can't open it, Saffy, because to do so would ruin me Christmas!'"
That got Saffron laughing. She leaned over towards Tony, peeled the backing off a bright gift package bow and gently pressed it onto his mouth.
"Don't open that until Christmas, either," she teased.
Tony pursed his lips and, with a little puff, blew the bow away.
When he'd finished with the present he and Saff had bought for Bubble and Squeak, Tony looked about for something else to wrap. Seeing nothing, he got to his feet and headed to the fireplace, where he stoked the burning wood.
On the mantle, his eyes lit on a small, well-crafted wooden box. He'd never noticed this item before at the flat and, thinking it might be a rather sneaky way of Saffy having hidden his Christmas present in plain sight, Tony decided to have a bit of fun with her. Carefully picking up the box, he returned to where Saff sat, busily taping up a gift for her mother.
"Ey, uh… Saff… 'And me some of that paper there so I can wrap this box," Tony said, a cheeky grin on his lips. "Looks like a right special gift, 'ey?"
As she handed Tony the wrapping paper, he shook the little box at her, laughing. Saffron appeared stunned.
"Where did you find that?" she asked, her voice suddenly hollow.
"On the mantle," Tony said, grinning. "'Iding it from me, were you?"
"Put that down," she said, her face going stony.
Tony looked confused and, in trying to grasp the situation, absentmindedly held on to the box.
"I said put it down!" Saff snapped, reaching over to yank the box away. In doing so, Tony dropped it and the contents spilled onto the floor between them.
A shiny straight-edge razor, a well-worn leather strop, a small brush and a tin of shaving soap lay scattered among the bright wrapping paper, bows and ribbons.
"I … I'm sorry…" Tony stammered, sensing he'd done something terribly wrong.
Saffron appeared furious with him.
"Why couldn't you just leave it alone?" she demanded, her hands trembling as she started picking up the various items. "It's not yours to touch! You never know when to let things be!"
Swallowing hard, Tony quietly got to his feet.
"I, um… I guess I should head home, then," he said softly.
"Yes," Saff said, her voice tight and clipped. "You should."
Without another word, Tony made his way to the door, pulled on his coat and scarf and left.
Having replaced the items in the kit, Saffron closed it, placed it on the floor before her and, with tears welling in her eyes, silently stared at it.
It has to go, she thought. I've hung on to it for too long already.
She sighed, looking at the presents Tony had wrapped. The gifts were neatly stacked next to where he'd been sitting. She'd been looking forward all week to them spending the evening together, fixing up the gifts and just enjoying some quiet time. They'd both been suddenly swamped with last-minute pre-holiday work at their jobs and hadn't gotten to see one another like usual. Saffron had missed Tony more than she'd let on; she was used to having him around and when he wasn't with her, she felt an undercurrent of loneliness that left her depressed.
Burying her head in her hands, Saff let herself cry. Tony was a good man who loved her for who she was, faults included, and she loved him as well. Now she'd been unfair and cruel to him yet again because of something he didn't realize would hit her hard. Why did she take her anger out on him?
She wasn't angry with Tony. She was angry with Jack, still, for leaving her. For choosing his job over her. For refusing to listen to her. For doubting her.
Mostly, she was angry with herself for still letting it hurt after so many years. And for knowing that perhaps she'd pushed Jack away, in part, with the sort of outburst she'd just unleashed on Tony.
Christmas was now only a week away. Saffy knew she had to set things right with Tony, no matter what it took. As she could see the situation at the moment, there was only one thing for it.
She sniffed, wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and focused again on the shaving kit.