Page 20 of Christmas, Actually

‘That wouldn’t be the worst thing to happen, would it?’ he murmured because he was sure that was what his future held and he’d accepted it. Accepted that his life would be filled with Charlie, his work and his dog and that it would have to be enough. Opening his heart to someone again was far too risky. He wouldn’t survive being hurt and he had to think about Charlie. Which is why he had to be more careful around Clara. ‘But you’re never going to end up alone,’ he said and his voice sounded husky, surprising him again.

Liam wasn’t prone to blurting out his feelings, or to giving so much of himself away. There was just something about Clara – which probably meant he should try to avoid her as much as he could from now on.

He cleared his throat and glanced towards the refreshment table, where Hazel’s sons were almost coming to blows. ‘I wonder if we ought to circulate?’ There was a large crowd gathered there now, and Ezra was in the midst of it taking photos.

‘Sure.’ Clara took his arm and they both made their way towards the sea of people.

‘She likes me best!’ Danny, Hazel’s tallest son, said loudly as they approached. He nudged his twin who was standing beside him behind the trestle table.

‘She’s obviously more into me, she messaged me back earlier about a maths problem. You need to give up now,’ Sam retorted, his eyes sparking heat as he pushed Danny back just as he was placing a mince pie onto a plate. The whole lot went flying and Hazel hissed and gave her sons a hard stare.

‘Enough! You two have been fighting over that girl all morning. I suggest you take a step back and think about whether she’s worth risking your relationship.’ Her mouth was tight as she spun around and delivered a smile to an older man who was waiting patiently in the queue.

Liam wondered if his mother had still been alive, whether she would have said the same to him and Graham. Wondered if either of them would have listened. Now it was too late.

‘Easier said than done,’ Ezra said under his breath as he took another quick snap of Liam and Clara, before turning towards the Hollys so he could take a photo of them too.

‘Ah well.’ Mr Holly beamed. ‘Do you know I was gaga over my best friend’s wife before I met my real soulmate?’ He patted his wife on the arm. ‘It ruined our friendship, I even had to move away.’ His bushy eyebrows rose.

Ezra’s knuckles whitened as they tightened on his camera. ‘You did?’ he said, as he let it drop and rose to his feet, his forehead crumpling. Liam had never seen him look so vulnerable. ‘Did you ever get over it?’

‘Oh yes.’ Mr Holly beamed, looping an arm around Mrs Holly’s shoulder and pulling her into his side. ‘When I met this one,’ he said.

‘It wasn’t love at first sight.’ She frowned up at him. ‘I found him quite annoying at first and we weren’t compatible at all. But⁠—’

‘I won her over eventually,’ the older man said, finishing her sentence as if he’d been doing it his entire life. He gave Ezra a thoughtful look. ‘If you ever find yourself in a position where you have feelings for the wrong person⁠—’

‘It’s never. I mean.’ His shoulders slumped.

‘It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, dear,’ Mrs Holly said.

Liam glanced at Clara and realised she was staring at him, her eyes communicating silently that perhaps they shouldn’t be listening. But they couldn’t step away without it being obvious. Besides, he wanted to hear. There was a comfort in knowing you weren’t the only person to have made a mess of their life. And he liked the bookshop owner, hoped he might get a happily ever after one day. Just because Liam wouldn’t, it didn’t mean he didn’t want it for anyone else.

Ezra sighed. ‘I… she.’ He paused. ‘Married my best friend last Christmas. It was… really difficult.’ He rubbed his salt and pepper beard, pursing his lips. ‘I moved away and—’ He shrugged. ‘It’s got a little easier since then I suppose.’

‘It’ll be easier still if you let yourself meet someone else,’ Stan said seriously. ‘Just take a look around – find the person who annoys you most and perhaps give them a chance?’ He didn’t look like he was joking.

‘That doesn’t sound like a very good idea.’ Ezra frowned.

‘Is everything okay?’ Eleanor asked, sweeping into the small group, her long velvet red dress swishing around her legs.

‘Fine,’ Ezra said, reaching into the pocket of his coat and drawing out two elves before handing them to her. ‘I’d appreciate it if you’d stop leaving these in my shop,’ he grumbled, before spinning on his heels and marching into the crowd, leaving Eleanor staring after him looking a little taken aback.

‘Did I miss something?’ she asked. ‘He seems a lot more… grouchy than usual.’ She looked worried. ‘Is he okay?’

‘Nothing to see here, dear,’ Ethel said kindly. ‘I think our photographer is just a little overwhelmed. Sometimes Christmas can do that to a person, don’t you think?’ She winked. ‘He’s very handsome, isn’t he?’

‘I suppose…’ Eleanor said, gazing at the two limp elves she was now holding – her mouth buttoning and unbuttoning as if she were considering what to say next.

There was a sudden ringing sound and everyone turned to Clara. She flushed bright pink and pulled her mobile from her pocket. ‘Damn, it’s my mum,’ she said, her voice unsteady. ‘I’m so sorry, I’m going to have to take it or she’ll get upset.’ She gave them all a quick nod goodbye, before she headed across the crowded room towards the hallway, her skirts flying, leaving Liam wondering why she looked so worried – and why he suddenly had such a burning need to put a smile back on her face…

12

CLARA

‘I got a call from Hudson today,’ Maeve Frost, Clara’s mother said sharply as soon as Clara had picked up the phone. ‘And quite frankly, I’m not impressed.’

Clara’s heart seemed to drop to her knees as she swept through the double doors away from Eleanor, Liam, the Hollys and the rest of the residents of Evergreen House, before scouring the festive corridor trying to find somewhere private to talk. There wasn’t anywhere immediately obvious, so she wandered to the entrance and squirrelled herself away close to the wall beside a set of red velvet curtains. If she stood here, she was relatively hidden from view.