Page 19 of Christmas, Actually

‘Did I miss anything?’ Ezra panted as he skidded up beside them. His face was flushed and his attention immediately shot to Eleanor who was on the other side of the room. ‘Hazel’s here with the boys, she’s putting out the cakes. They argued the whole drive here.’ He rolled his eyes, looking irritated. ‘Love causes a lot of heartache, actually.’

It certainly did. ‘Did you find the elves?’ Liam asked, trying not to smile when Ezra’s expression darkened further.

‘Only two. I’ve brought them with me, but I’ve no idea what Eleanor’s done with the others. I’ve left a member of my staff searching for them.’ He huffed. ‘I didn’t want to be late for this.’ He patted the camera which he’d hung in the usual place. ‘I love coming here, it gives me faith that sometimes, despite all evidence to the contrary, relationships work.’ He sounded sad and Clara turned to look at him.

‘What do you mean?’ she asked, her eyes scanning his face.

He shrugged, flushing, clearly embarrassed that he’d just given something about himself away. ‘I don’t know. Look at them…’ Ezra pointed to a couple seated on two high-back navy chairs near to the back row.

‘Ethel and Stan Holly,’ Liam said. He knew them. Knew they’d been married for almost sixty years. The couple had moved into the home together and were inseparable. Even now they were sitting side-by-side holding hands.

Clara didn’t ask more because Joe Abbot finished his last trick, and Liam watched a woman dressed in a grey suit stride to the front before talking to the residents as Eleanor made her way around the room, chatting with everyone like they were old friends.

‘Exactly how many people does Eleanor know?’ Ezra asked.

‘I’m not entirely sure,’ Liam said. ‘She’s got a gift for bringing people together.’

‘She holds us all together,’ Clara said quietly. ‘I wonder who does the same for her.’

‘Probably the elves she keeps leaving around the village,’ Ezra joked. ‘One of the ones I found in my shop this morning was holding a tube of glitter glue. It was quite menacing.’

Liam didn’t get a chance to respond, because at that moment the manager finished her announcement and all eyes turned towards them. He braced himself for the start of their appearance. He went to take Clara’s arm and somehow their hands found each other instead. Then their fingers intertwined – making something inside him zing – and together they made their way to the front.

Liam felt dizzy as he took another spin around the small dance floor that had been set out in the main room – he’d been dancing with most of the female population of the home for the last half an hour and was getting tired. The Christmas event had gone off without a hitch – all the residents had joined in with the song and then they’d enjoyed rummaging for a gift through the Santa sack that Joe had slowly carried around the room. Now many of them were starting to drift off to enjoy the cake and hot drinks Hazel, Danny and Sam were serving.

Liam was twirled once again and found himself almost bumping into Clara as she pirouetted past in Mr Holly’s arms, looking pink-cheeked and out of breath. The look suited her.

‘Don’t you want to stop for refreshments?’ Liam asked his dance partner – whose name was Doris Sparkle – as she whizzed him around the floor, her full skirts swirling like butterfly wings.

'Not yet. I haven’t danced with anyone as handsome as you since I was in my twenties. The pickings are slim here, dear. I might be old, but I’m not stupid enough to pass up a chance like this. You’re good for my street cred – even if you are dressed as Mr Christmas,’ she joked, making him laugh. ‘How’s your love life? Are you and the gorgeous Mrs Christmas together for real?’ Doris pried as they continued to whirl and Liam tried to relax despite his gaze drifting to Clara who was laughing too. Her face was animated and Liam wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her look this happy. Suddenly he wished he was the one dancing with her, the one making her look like that. ‘She’s beautiful,’ Doris said, clearly noticing where his attention was directed.

Liam cleared his throat and dragged his eyes back to the small white-haired woman with glittering eyes. ‘She is. But she’s engaged to someone else.’ Plus, she lived in New York and he was sworn off women – he wouldn’t survive another heartbreak.

‘Oh, that didn’t stop me.’ Doris flushed. ‘I’ve been married four times and broke three engagements in between. Most of my fiancés were scoundrels. I’ve never had good taste in men.’ She grinned. ‘But I had a lot of fun in my time. Still do. Don’t forget to bear that in mind if you’re ever looking for a fling.’ She fluttered her eyelashes.

‘I will.’ Liam barked out a laugh. He was having a good time. There was something about this Christmas – about spending time with people whose life mission was simply to enjoy it – that was making him realise how little fun he had now. His brother, Graham, had often accused him of being too serious. Perhaps that’s why Mia had been attracted to his twin?

‘And now you’re frowning,’ Doris admonished, stopping dancing and beaming up at him. ‘I think we might need some cake to remedy that. Plus, there’s a gentleman I’ve got my eye on digging into the chocolate brownies. I think this might be the perfect moment for me to ask him for a dance.’ She giggled and dropped her arms from around Liam’s waist before walking slowly towards the trestle table where the refreshments had been laid out. As Liam was about to leave the dance floor too, Mr Holly glided towards him.

‘I think I’m going to take my dear wife to get some tea,’ he said seriously, taking Clara’s hand and placing it on Liam’s shoulder. ‘I suggest you both have a spin. She’s been staring at you for most of our dance anyway.’

Clara flushed and began to step back. ‘That’s not exactly true,’ she stuttered, looking embarrassed. ‘I was just checking on you, that’s all…’ she added as Liam found himself tugging her closer. He heard one of the women sitting on the front row of seats let out a long ahhh and felt himself flush.

Clara smelled good – sweet and fruity like her trifle – and Liam couldn’t help but shift closer as the music changed and slowed.

‘I’ve been watching you too,’ he said softly. ‘It’s all part of playing the part,’ he lied. He wondered whether Clara had been watching him because she felt sorry for him, or if she felt this same bone-deep attraction. If she couldn’t stop thinking about him either. Even if a relationship between them was impossible.

He’d obviously said the right thing because her shoulders softened and she moved in closer until her hair brushed the tip of his nose. ‘This has been fun,’ she murmured into his chest. ‘There are so many couples here. It’s been a surprise. I’ve no idea how so many of them have managed to stay together for so long.’ She sighed. ‘My parents left each other multiple times. Sometimes I wonder if it’s in the genes. Mr Holly told me the secret to a lasting relationship is knowing how to forgive.’

‘I think Mrs Holly once told me that you have to have a short memory too,’ Liam joked, even though that was exactly the advice she’d given.

‘I wonder if they’re both right. Maybe forgiving and forgetting is the only way,’ Clara said thoughtfully.

‘Not if the person who supposedly loves you cheats on you.’ Liam found himself pulling her closer. He had the feeling that Clara forgave far too easily. That was clear from the fact that she hadn’t already given the fiancé short shrift. Worse, it felt like she might be considering forgetting what had happened – despite Hudson refusing to even accept that he’d kissed someone else. And Liam wasn’t even going to think about the fact that her fiancé had ignored her last text. That wasn’t love. It was abandonment – manipulation of the worst kind.

He cleared his throat. ‘Not everyone deserves forgiveness, sometimes bad behaviour is a sign that people simply aren’t worthy.’ He thought about Graham and Mia – he’d never be able to forgive them.

Clara sighed. ‘But doesn’t that just mean we’re going to end up alone?’ she asked, stepping away for a moment so she could search his face. She looked stricken.