Page 29 of Christmas, Actually

‘I should have told you about Charlie,’ he began.

‘But you didn’t because…’ She sucked in a breath. ‘I’ve thought about this, you understand.’ She pouted as she concentrated and Liam lost his train of thought. ‘I’ve realised it would have been hard to trust someone after what your brother and wife did.’ Her shoulders tensed. ‘And you weren’t sure if you could trust me with Charlie. After all, he’s your child, the most important thing in your life.’

Liam nodded because Clara had just articulated it perfectly. Nobody had read him so well in years. ‘Yes,’ he said simply.

She jerked her chin, reached behind herself and opened the container he’d brought and found a brownie, then nibbled a corner while she studied him. ‘So I forgive you,’ she said finally. ‘And by the way please tell Charlie these are excellent.’ She waved the chocolate dessert.

Liam studied her face. He should be delighted with the ease of his apology. After all, he’d hardly had to say a word. But the way she’d simply…

‘No!’ he blurted and her eyebrows rose in unison.

‘What?’ she squeaked, jumping and spraying sprinkles onto the floor.

‘You shouldn’t. Forgive me so easily I mean, Clara, what I did was.’ He scratched his chin. ‘It was rubbish. I didn’t tell you about my son. I kept you in the dark. I even kissed you – or let you kiss me,’ he added quickly because she looked like she was about to argue. ‘But I kissed you back quite willingly.’ The memory of it lived inside him and suddenly his whole body felt like it had been electrified. ‘And liked it,’ he added and noticed her cheeks were now pink. ‘I don’t deserve your forgiveness – not that easily.’

‘So you want me to what, not forgive you?’ She cocked her head, looking confused.

‘Of course I want you to forgive me.’ He rubbed a hand across his eyes. He was tired – so tired – he’d barely slept, too eaten up by guilt about Clara and worry about Mia – what she was going to say when they met. ‘I don’t know, you deserved so much better from me. You deserved the truth. So make me work for it, make me suffer.’

The edge of her mouth tipped up and Liam’s did too because what he was asking for was ridiculous. But he didn’t like that she’d capitulated so easily. He’d been wrong and he deserved her ire. He wasn’t Hudson, he wasn’t looking to gaslight her – he wanted to meet this whole thing head on.

‘Fine.’ She wandered across the kitchen and took his half-full bowl from the counter and put it in the fridge, spoon and all. ‘I’m confiscating your trifle until you give me the apology I deserve.’ Her eyebrows knitted and she pouted and the concrete block that had been living in the pit of Liam’s stomach since the event in Nora’s pet shop suddenly lightened. ‘But I’ll warn you –’ She folded her arms. ‘– it should involve begging and… A lot more words.’

Liam grinned. He couldn’t help himself. ‘Okay, I’m so sorry. What I did was wrong. I did lie to you about my son by omission and I shouldn’t have, but I was hurt and afraid and it just seemed so much easier to keep you in the dark because telling you about him would have meant I was letting you into my life.’

‘Enough!’ Clara held up a palm. ‘That’s enough.’ Her expression turned serious. ‘I get it, but please don’t lie to me again, Liam. I value our friendship and our festive marriage far too much.’ Her lips curved, making something inside him thump. ‘I’m also a huge fan of the brownies, so please ask Charlie if he’ll bake me more – the sprinkles really work. Friends?’ she added, holding out a palm.

‘Friends,’ Liam said, taking it, trying not to think about the way their hands fitted so perfectly. Or that – for the first time in a long time – he wanted far more than friendship from someone, and the thought terrified him.

‘So, hello, lovely listeners, I’m Tom Berry, your host for today’s programme – and we’re here at Festive FM this afternoon talking about the upcoming Hollythorpe Christmas fayre which will take place on the twenty-fourth of December. We’ve got some very special guests in today who are going to tell us all about it.’ Liam glanced across the room at Clara who was grinning at the host. ‘I know a lot of our listeners have been excited about hearing from Hollythorpe’s very own Mr and Mrs Christmas. We’re going to open up the phone lines in a few minutes, but first I’d like to welcome you both to the show. Welcome.’ Tom opened his palms wide and gazed across the small table at Clara and Liam, who were both dressed in their festive attire.

‘Thank you,’ Liam and Clara said in unison. They were in a small studio in a community centre located a few miles outside of the Hollythorpe village. The whole room was kitted out with microphones and various equipment and looked very professional. Liam knew the show attracted a large local audience and he’d appeared on it in the past. Once to advertise his electrical business and twice as Mr Christmas to promote the Christmas fayre. The whole thing felt familiar, but oddly different because Clara was here.

‘That’s right,’ Clara said. ‘Are you going to come?’ She gave Tom a sparkling smile.

‘Absolutely.’ The host nodded, his eyes glittering. ‘It’s one of my festive highlights. So tell me, you two haven’t been… married –’ He made quote marks with his fingers. ‘– for very long. How are you enjoying being Mrs Christmas this year, Clara?’

She grinned. ‘I’ve loved every minute of it. We’ve met so many wonderful people – and animals too.’

The host smiled. ‘Of course Mr Christmas is an old hand. He’s been doing our festive events for a few years. What’s your favourite part of this time of year?’

Liam thought about the undecorated tree in his sitting room, about the pile of gifts he still needed to wrap, of Mia and Graham and the whole sorry mess he still needed to sort. Then he thought about Clara…

‘The people,’ he said, feeling his cheeks warm. ‘This time of year can be quite magical, you feel like the world is suddenly filled with endless possibilities. Things happen at Christmas that wouldn’t happen at any other time of the year — and everyone is so much happier…’ Him included. At least he was now that he’d sorted things with Clara.

Tom widened his eyes. ‘Well, I don’t think you’ve ever been quite so enthusiastic before, Mr Christmas, but that’s wonderful to hear,’ he teased. ‘When’s your next event together?’

‘On Saturday in The Mistletoe Magic Shop,’ Liam started.

‘If you want tickets, speak to Joe Abbott because it’s almost sold out!’ Clara finished, beaming at them both.

‘You sound just like an old married couple – finishing each other’s sentences,’ Tom joked and Liam’s eyes met Clara’s. She looked oddly pleased. There was a glow about her – had been since their conversation in the kitchen. ‘Do you think there’s a future for you both? Will you be back in Hollythorpe next year?’ Tom asked.

‘Oh well,’ Clara stuttered, looking surprised. ‘I mean that’s a long while away, but…’

‘I don’t think we should be talking about next Christmas yet,’ Liam said and Clara gave him a grateful look.

Liam would love Clara to stay in Hollythorpe, but there was a lot for them to sort out if that was going to become a reality. He was ready to admit he had feelings for her, suspected she might have feelings for him too. But she’d only just broken up with Hudson and still lived in New York. And the idea that Mia might be listening in now didn’t sit well with him either. They were divorced, but she’d intimated that she might like to discuss getting back together, which wasn’t going to happen in a million years. But if she thought he was developing feelings for someone else, she might make things difficult.