Page 38 of Christmas, Actually

‘Don’t you want to say goodbye properly?’ he asked.

‘No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. This is, well, it’s not gone as I expected. Perhaps it’ll be better next time—’ Mia said just as Charlie yelled. ‘Push me, Dad!’

Liam turned to nod at his son – but when he glanced over his shoulder intending to try to persuade her again, Mia had already gone.

‘The first order of the day is mulled wine!’ Nora declared joyfully as various members of the Hollythorpe village Christmas fayre committee shuffled into the sparkly village hall and took their places later that evening. Liam offered to take Clara’s coat, blocking Figgy from getting closer as he dropped his Christmas pudding and eagerly tried to get a sniff. He suspected his dog was falling for Clara – because his favourite toy was no longer enough of a distraction – and wanted to congratulate him on his good taste.

‘Do you think we should go for it?’ Clara whispered, giving him a soft smile. One that made him think of how she’d looked when she’d been under him, naked. She was like a balm to his soul, especially after this afternoon – but he had to be careful. His life was complicated – he didn’t want to make it worse by adding new love into the equation. Even if an urgent voice in his head was protesting that it might already be too late.

‘I can have a small one,’ Liam said recklessly because a drink would be good. He needed it after spending time in the park with Mia. He could always walk home from the meeting and leave his car in the high street. He’d have to take Charlie to preschool in the morning, which would mean leaving earlier so they could walk, but he could do it. It would almost be worth the headache, the chance to feel the tension in his body ease.

‘I was surprised to see you in the café with your ex-wife,’ Nora said loudly as she poured herself, Liam, Clara, Eleanor and Joe each a huge glass of the mulled wine.

‘It was just a quick meetup.’ Liam felt Clara flinch beside him and wished he’d mentioned it to her when he’d picked her up from The Cosy Christmas Shop. He hadn’t wanted to let Mia spoil his time with her — now he realised that had been a mistake.

‘I’ve made coffee,’ Eleanor advised as Nora handed the drinks around. ‘Heavily caffeinated,’ she muttered, raising an eyebrow when she saw how full her glass was. ‘I’m guessing we’re all going to need it. So—’ She took a small swig of the drink and her eyebrows levitated and she began to cough. ‘I’m sorry.’ She cleared her throat. ‘For getting you all out a day late for our meeting. As you know it’s Christmas season and I got a big delivery yesterday afternoon so spent the whole evening unpacking.’

There was a sudden scatter of paws on the wooden floor and Liam turned just in time to see a large, grey, furry shape with long ears dash into the cloakroom.

‘Is that Bugs?’ Eleanor asked, taking a second look at her drink. ‘Either that was a rabbit I just saw or I’ve started to hallucinate.’

‘It was him.’ Joe let out a long, suffering sigh. ‘Don’t worry about Bugs, he’s been getting out more recently – I think he’s enjoying seeing all the village Christmas decorations. He’ll find his way home again when he’s ready.’

‘As long as you’re sure.’ Eleanor smiled as her eyes drifted to the entrance at the end of the village hall just as her sister Hazel came running in looking flustered.

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry,’ she gasped. The snow that had been promising to fall earlier was obviously in full storm mode because she was covered in it, and Liam watched as she brushed icy sparkles from her coat before hanging it by the entrance. ‘The boys were arguing again.’ She sighed heavily.

‘About Kiera?’ Eleanor asked as her sister walked up to the table and began to unpack cakes, biscuits and mince pies from her bag.

‘Yes. I don’t know what to do.’ She dragged a hand through her hair. ‘They always used to get on so well.’ She looked exhausted. ‘I’ve no idea how to handle it.’

She sagged into a chair and Nora frowned. ‘That’s why I prefer animals,’ she muttered. ‘You need to let them fight it out. I’m guessing they’ll find their way back to each other. Realise the girl isn’t worth losing family over.’

Liam’s throat twitched. He could hardly offer advice on brotherly conflict, but he couldn’t hold back either. ‘You need to tell them to settle their differences,’ he ground out. ‘Life’s too short to let things come between brothers – no one’s worth that in the end.’ He thought about Mia and shook his head. He believed what he was saying, but that didn’t mean it applied to him making up with Graham. There was too much water under that particular bridge…

‘Do you think the girl might be enjoying causing trouble between them?’ Nora asked.

Hazel frowned. ‘I honestly don’t know. She’s a sweet thing, but it’s flattering being fought over, especially when you don’t have to deal with the fallout.’ Her mouth pinched. ‘I’ve tried to tell the boys that they’ve got plenty of time to find love, but despite my many, many years on this planet, I know nothing, apparently.’ She gave them a sad smile. ‘I’m thinking of making them battle it out with food – if Kiera can’t choose between them, perhaps they can bake and she can decide on her favourite dessert. May the best cook win kind of thing.’

‘Sounds like a good idea.’ Joe nodded. ‘She doesn’t even have to know about it. They could just present the desserts at the Christmas fayre and see which one she wants? Whoever doesn’t win can bow out gracefully.’

Hazel looked thoughtful. ‘They do say food is the best way to a person’s heart.’

‘And if that doesn’t work, they’ll at least have something delicious to eat to show for all that heartache.’ Joe chuckled.

‘I can suggest it, they’re both excellent cooks.’ Hazel smiled and watched with wide eyes as Nora poured her a glass of mulled wine without asking.

‘Any idea where Ezra is?’ Eleanor asked, glancing towards the entrance. ‘I’m not sure whether to start the meeting, or to wait for him to arrive.’

As if she’d somehow conjured him, the door suddenly swung open again and the bookshop owner strode in. He stopped so he could brush flakes of snow from his coat too before hanging it up. Then Ezra frowned as he zoomed in on Eleanor and he strode across the room shaking his head. He was carrying a large bag and when he got to the table, he turned it over, dumping out dozens of toy elves, many clutching bottles of drink, tinsel and baubles.

‘This is your doing,’ he said grumpily before turning to Clara and Liam. ‘And you as well. I heard what you said on the radio. Since then I’ve had dozens of visits from customers coming into the bookshop to hide these on my shelves.’ His eyes flashed.

‘Sorry, Ezra,’ Clara said, but he continued to rant.

‘Some have been reading, a few have brought cakes and sweets – one woman brought in extra tinsel and baubles – said it was about time I put my decorations up because the elves wouldn’t feel at home until I did.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘I told her to take her elves and glitter elsewhere – actually, I might not have been that polite.’ His cheeks flushed.

‘I thought we’d sold a lot of naughty elves today,’ Eleanor said as the corners of her mouth tipped up. ‘Hopefully, all your new visitors bought plenty of books while their elves were getting up to mischief?’